Those whose intellect is fixed in That, whose mind is That, who are established in That, and who are devoted to That, go to the state of no return, their impurities washed away by knowledge.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 5.17
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिनकी बुद्धि तदाकार हो रही है, जिनका मन तदाकार हो रहा है, जिनकी स्थिति परमात्मतत्वमें है, ऐसे परमात्मपरायण साधक ज्ञानके द्वारा पापरहित होकर अपुनरावृत्ति परमगति को प्राप्त होते हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
तद्बुद्धयःwhose intellect is Thatतदात्मानःwhose mind is Thatतन्निष्ठाःsteadfast in Thatतत्परायणाःdevoted to That as the supreme goalगच्छन्तिthey goअपुनरावृत्तिम्to no returnज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाःtheir impurities washed away by knowledge
Read literallywhose intellect is That · whose mind is That · steadfast in That · devoted to That as the supreme goal · they go · to no return · their impurities washed away by knowledge
Understanding the verse
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Krishna repeats 'That' four times: intellect, mind, footing and devotion all fixed on the supreme, leading to no return.
When a person's mind, intellect, and whole focus are fully aligned with the supreme reality, knowledge clears away impurity and they reach a state beyond coming back.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna explains the path beyond action and error to Arjuna, who is still frozen. After saying knowledge burns away ignorance, Krishna adds that the fully aligned person reaches a state beyond return.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You sit in the car after the hardest conversation of your life, hands still shaking. Something in you has already chosen, and the old version of you cannot drive home with you.
The takeaway
“Fix your whole mind on the supreme, and knowledge washes the impurities away.”
Explore related themes: moksha(34 verses), jnana(24 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 5.17 mean?
When a person's mind, intellect, and whole focus are fully aligned with the supreme reality, knowledge clears away impurity and they reach a state beyond coming back.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.17?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (The Yoga of Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 5.17?
Verse 17 sits in Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "The Yoga of Renunciation". The chapter has 29 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 5.17 matter today?
You sit in the car after the hardest conversation of your life, hands still shaking. Something in you has already chosen, and the old version of you cannot drive home with you.
Krishna repeats 'That' four times: intellect, mind, footing and devotion all fixed on the supreme, leading to no return.
What this verse means
When a person's mind, intellect, and whole focus are fully aligned with the supreme reality, knowledge clears away impurity and they reach a state beyond coming back.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains the path beyond action and error to Arjuna, who is still frozen. After saying knowledge burns away ignorance, Krishna adds that the fully aligned person reaches a state beyond return.
What it looks like today
You sit in the car after the hardest conversation of your life, hands still shaking. Something in you has already chosen, and the old version of you cannot drive home with you.
“Fix your whole mind on the supreme, and knowledge washes the impurities away.”
Explore related themes: moksha (34 verses), jnana (24 verses)