A declaration · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“What feels sweetest first can become the harshest later.”
The pleasure that begins like nectar from contact between the senses and their objects, but ends like poison, is called rajasic pleasure.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallyfrom contact of senses and objects · which · that · at first · like nectar · in the end · like poison · that · pleasure · rajasic · is said to be
Pleasures that come from sensory contact can feel wonderful at first, but they often leave pain, restlessness, or disappointment afterward.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Verse 38 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
You open the app for one quick scroll after midnight, then another, then another. The rush feels harmless in the moment, but the next morning tells the truth.
Did you like this verse?
It trains you to judge pleasure by its full arc, not its first taste.
What this verse means
Pleasures that come from sensory contact can feel wonderful at first, but they often leave pain, restlessness, or disappointment afterward.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen while Krishna explains why not all happiness is equal. After describing higher, steadier joy, Krishna now names the kind that comes from sense contact: exciting at first, damaging later.
Why this verse still matters
You open the app for one quick scroll after midnight, then another, then another. The rush feels harmless in the moment, but the next morning tells the truth.
“Not every pleasure is worth trusting. Some delights borrow their sweetness from the future.”
Explore related themes: sattva (26 verses), tamas (18 verses)