Verse 18.37 : Moksha Sanyasa Yoga "Liberation and Renunciation"
Verse 37 of 78
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The Translation
“That happiness which in the beginning is like poison, but in the end is like nectar, born of the clarity of one's own intellect—that is declared to be in the mode of goodness (Sattvik).”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna defines Sattvik happiness. In Vedic culture, this was the peace of the sage, achieved through the early struggles of self-discipline, study, and meditation, culminating in the nectar of self-realization (atma-jnana).
Practical Application
1
Choose a long-term goal or discipline today over a quick pleasure, accepting the temporary effort as a path to peace.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- Can you identify an area in your life (e.g. learning a skill, establishing a habit) that felt like 'poison' initially but became a source of 'nectar' later?
- Why is 'mental clarity' (prasāda) a more stable source of happiness than sensory excitement?
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18.37
यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम्
Shankara comments that spiritual disciplines (like yama, niyama, and meditation) require painful effort at first because they oppose our deep-seated sensory habits. Hence, they feel like poison. But when the mind is purified, it gains direct realization of the Atman, producing the nectar of infinite peace. This happiness is born of the self-purification (prasada) of the intellect.