Chapter 5Verse 17 of 29

Bhagavad Gita 5.17

तद्बुद्धयस्तदात्मानस्तन्निष्ठास्तत्परायणाः । गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः ॥

tad-buddhayas tad-ātmānas tan-niṣṭhās tat-parāyaṇāḥ | gacchanty apunar-āvṛttiṃ jñāna-nirdhūta-kalmaṣāḥ ||

Translation

Those whose intellect is in that, whose self is in that, who are firmly fixed in that, whose only object is that, go, with their sins shaken off by knowledge, to where there is no return.

Four locatives in tat, the demonstrative pointing to the highest. Tad-buddhayaḥ, intellect on that. Tad-ātmānaḥ, self in that. Tan-niṣṭhāḥ, established in that. Tat-parāyaṇāḥ, devoted entirely to that. The verse builds the inner address brick by brick. Jñāna-nirdhūta-kalmaṣāḥ, sins shaken off by knowledge. The image is physical: shaking dust from a cloth. Apunar-āvṛtti, no return. The verse names the cumulative effect of the four locatives, not as a magical reward but as the natural arrival point.

Reflection

Which of the four is the next one for you to actually move into, not just visit?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Five

Ask the Gita about this verse →