A core teaching · grounding in mood · easy to enter
“Master the surge before it masters you.”
Whoever can withstand the surge of desire and anger here before the body falls, is a disciplined person and is truly happy.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallyis able · here itself · who · to endure · before the body’s release · born from desire and anger · impulse/surge · that one · disciplined, integrated · that one · happy · person
A person who can endure the rush of desire and anger before death is truly disciplined and truly happy.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (The Yoga of Renunciation).
Verse 23 sits in Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "The Yoga of Renunciation". The chapter has 29 verses in total.
At a property hearing, a man listens as his cousin lies about their grandfather's will, and the anger rises hot. Krishna calls the one who can bear that surge without being swept off disciplined and happy.
Did you like this verse?
Whoever can bear the surge of desire and anger before the body falls is a yogi and happy.
What this verse means
A person who can endure the rush of desire and anger before death is truly disciplined and truly happy.
Context & commentary
Arjuna is being taught how to live without being ruled by inner storms. Krishna says the person who can bear the surge of desire and anger before death arrives has found real steadiness.
What it looks like today
At a property hearing, a man listens as his cousin lies about their grandfather's will, and the anger rises hot. Krishna calls the one who can bear that surge without being swept off disciplined and happy.
“Real strength is not suppressing feeling, but not letting it drive your next move.”
Explore related themes: kama (23 verses), self mastery (16 verses), krodha (11 verses)