Nirmaana-mohaa jita-sanga-doshaa adhyaatma-nityaa vinivritta-kaamaah | dvandvair-vimuktaah sukha-duhkha-samjnair- gachchhanty-amoodhaah padam-avyayam tat ||5||
Translation
Those who are free from false prestige, illusion, and bad association, who are eternally engaged in spiritual knowledge, who are free from material desires, who are liberated from the dualities of happiness and distress, and who are unbewildered — they attain that eternal abode.
Word-by-Word Meaning
निः
without
मान
false prestige
मोहाः
and illusion
जित
having conquered
सङ्ग
association
दोषाः
the fault of
अध्यात्म
in spiritual knowledge
नित्याः
eternally engaged
विनिवृत्त
freed from
कामाः
desires
द्वन्द्वैः
from dualities
विमुक्ताः
liberated
सुख-दुःख
happiness and distress
संज्ञैः
known as
गच्छन्ति
attain
अमूढाः
unbewildered
पदम्
abode
अव्ययम्
eternal
तत्
that
Commentary
Commentary
Krishna now describes the qualities of those who successfully reach the eternal abode mentioned in the previous verse. This is a beautiful description of the qualifications for surrender, and it begins with freedom from false prestige (nirmana-moha).
The first qualification is the absence of false ego and delusion. The conditioned soul mistakenly believes itself to be the master of material nature, taking pride in social status, wealth, and bodily identification. When this illusion is dispelled through genuine spiritual knowledge, the process of surrender can truly begin.
The second qualification is victory over bad association (jita-sanga-dosha). Association shapes consciousness. When a person overcomes attachment to relationships and environments that pull them deeper into material entanglement — whether familial, social, or national — they become free to pursue the spiritual path wholeheartedly.
The third is constant engagement in spiritual knowledge (adhyatma-nitya). This is not occasional study but a way of life — perpetual awareness of the distinction between body and soul, between matter and spirit.
The fourth is freedom from material desire (vinivritta-kama) and from the dualities of pleasure and pain (dvandvair-vimuktaah). The person who no longer runs after pleasure or runs away from pain, who stands steady in all circumstances, is ready for the eternal abode. Such a person, amoodha — unbewildered, clear-minded — naturally arrives at the imperishable realm of the Supreme.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Bhagavad Gita 15.5 mean?
- Those who are free from false prestige, illusion, and bad association, who are eternally engaged in spiritual knowledge, who are free from material desires, who are liberated from the dualities of happiness and distress, and who are unbewildered — they attain that eternal abode.
- What is the Sanskrit text of Bhagavad Gita 15.5?
- The original Sanskrit verse is: Nirmaana-mohaa jita-sanga-doshaa adhyaatma-nityaa vinivritta-kaamaah | dvandvair-vimuktaah sukha-duhkha-samjnair- gachchhanty-amoodhaah padam-avyayam tat ||5||
- What are the key themes of this verse?
- This verse explores: supreme person, liberation, detachment, knowledge, eternal abode.