The verse

Bhagavad Gita 16.23BG 16.23 · Chapter 16, Verse 23

Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga

A core teaching · grounding in mood · easy to enter

“Impulse cannot deliver what it promises.”

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

The verse

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः ।
न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥

Sanskrit recitation0:00

Whoever sets aside scripture and acts on desire alone does not attain perfection, happiness, or the highest state.

— Krishna

Bhagavad Gita · 16.23

Hindi · हिन्दी

जो मनुष्य शास्त्रविधिको छोड़कर अपनी इच्छासे मनमाना आचरण करता है, वह न सिद्धिअन्तःकरणकी शुद्धि को, न सुखको और न परमगतिको ही प्राप्त होता है ॥

Themes:Discipline Adharma

Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.

यःwhoeverशास्त्रविधिम्scriptural ruleउत्सृज्यhaving set asideवर्ततेactsकामकारतःunder the pull of desireनnotसःthat personसिद्धिम्perfectionअवाप्नोतिattainsनnotसुखम्happinessनnot

Read literallywhoever · scriptural rule · having set aside · acts · under the pull of desire · not · that person · perfection · attains · not · happiness · not

Understanding the verse

Whoever discards scripture and follows desire alone reaches neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the highest goal.

Built onDharma14Avidya

In plain words

What this verse means

Acting only on impulse, while ignoring wise guidance, blocks real fulfilment, lasting happiness, and the highest good.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

After warning Arjuna about the three inner gates of ruin, Krishna sharpens the point: a person who throws aside right guidance and follows desire alone will not reach inner fulfilment, happiness, or the highest aim. The battlefield crisis becomes a lesson in disciplined choice.

In your life

What it looks like today

A man who ignores his doctor and every rule of diet, eating whatever he craves, rarely ends up content. Krishna applies that logic to life: desire without guidance brings neither fulfilment nor happiness.

The takeaway

“Freedom without guidance is not freedom at all; it can quietly close every real door.”

Carry it with you