That happiness is called sattvic, which seems like poison at first and like nectar in the end, born from clarity of the discerning mind and the peace of inner understanding.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 18.37
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे भरतवंशियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन अब तीन प्रकारके सुखको भी तुम मेरेसे सुनो । जिसमें अभ्याससे रमण होता है और जिससे दुःखोंका अन्त हो जाता है, ऐसा वह परमात्मविषयक बुद्धिकी प्रसन्नतासे पैदा होनेवाला जो सुख सांसारिक आसक्तिके कारण आरम्भमें विषकी तरह और परिणाममें अमृतकी तरह होता है, वह सुख सात्त्विक कहा गया है ॥
Themes:
Word by word
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
यत्whichतत्thatअग्रेat firstविष-इवlike poisonपरिणामेin the endअमृत-उपमम्like nectarतत्thatसुखम्happinessसात्त्विकम्sattvicप्रोक्तम्is saidआत्म-बुद्धि-प्रसाद-जम्born from the peace of self-understanding
Read literallywhich · that · at first · like poison · in the end · like nectar · that · happiness · sattvic · is said · born from the peace of self-understanding
Understanding the verse
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Poison at first, nectar at the end: Krishna's image for the happiness born of a clear mind.
A calm, clear happiness may feel difficult at first, but it ends in deep relief. It comes from a mind that sees clearly and settles inwardly.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna now distinguishes the three kinds of happiness, showing that the highest one begins with discipline and inner clarity, even if it feels bitter before it ripens.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You start therapy, meditation, or a hard conversation and feel worse before you feel better. The discomfort is not a sign of failure; it may be the beginning of real ease.
The takeaway
“What feels hard now may be the very thing that brings lasting ease.”
A calm, clear happiness may feel difficult at first, but it ends in deep relief. It comes from a mind that sees clearly and settles inwardly.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.37?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 18.37?
Verse 37 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 18.37 matter today?
You start therapy, meditation, or a hard conversation and feel worse before you feel better. The discomfort is not a sign of failure; it may be the beginning of real ease.
Poison at first, nectar at the end: Krishna's image for the happiness born of a clear mind.
What this verse means
A calm, clear happiness may feel difficult at first, but it ends in deep relief. It comes from a mind that sees clearly and settles inwardly.
Context & commentary
Krishna now distinguishes the three kinds of happiness, showing that the highest one begins with discipline and inner clarity, even if it feels bitter before it ripens.
What it looks like today
You start therapy, meditation, or a hard conversation and feel worse before you feel better. The discomfort is not a sign of failure; it may be the beginning of real ease.
“What feels hard now may be the very thing that brings lasting ease.”