One who neither hates nor desires is always a renunciant. Free from opposites, such a person is easily released from bondage, O mighty-armed one.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 5.3
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे महाबाहो जो मनुष्य न किसीसे द्वेष करता है और न किसीकी आकाङ्क्षा करता है वह कर्मयोगी सदा संन्यासी समझनेयोग्य है क्योंकि द्वन्द्वोंसे रहित मनुष्य सुखपूर्वक संसारबन्धनसे मुक्त हो जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
ज्ञेयःto be understoodसःthat oneनित्यसंन्यासीalways-renunciantयःwhoनnotद्वेष्टिhatesनnotकाङ्क्षतिdesiresनिर्द्वन्द्वःfree from oppositesहिindeedमहाबाहोO mighty-armed oneसुखम्easilyबन्धात्from bondageप्रमुच्यतेis released
Read literallyto be understood · that one · always-renunciant · who · not · hates · not · desires · free from opposites · indeed · O mighty-armed one · easily · from bondage · is released
Understanding the verse
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Krishna defines the true renunciant as one who neither hates nor craves, whatever outward life they lead.
A true renunciant is not someone who abandons action, but someone who drops hatred and craving. Freedom comes when inner opposites no longer pull the mind.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna now sharpens the teaching. Real renunciation means inner freedom from hatred, craving, and the tug of opposites, whatever one's outward life.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A widower keeps his house and his job, yet stops resenting his brother over the old land case and stops wanting the plot back. Krishna would call him a renunciant already, since hatred and craving have loosened their grip.
The takeaway
“Drop hatred and craving, and you have renounced enough to be free.”
A true renunciant is not someone who abandons action, but someone who drops hatred and craving. Freedom comes when inner opposites no longer pull the mind.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.3?
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 5.3?
Verse 3 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 5.3 matter today?
A widower keeps his house and his job, yet stops resenting his brother over the old land case and stops wanting the plot back. Krishna would call him a renunciant already, since hatred and craving have loosened their grip.
Krishna defines the true renunciant as one who neither hates nor craves, whatever outward life they lead.
What this verse means
A true renunciant is not someone who abandons action, but someone who drops hatred and craving. Freedom comes when inner opposites no longer pull the mind.
Context & commentary
Krishna now sharpens the teaching. Real renunciation means inner freedom from hatred, craving, and the tug of opposites, whatever one's outward life.
What it looks like today
A widower keeps his house and his job, yet stops resenting his brother over the old land case and stops wanting the plot back. Krishna would call him a renunciant already, since hatred and craving have loosened their grip.
“Drop hatred and craving, and you have renounced enough to be free.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), karma sannyasa (11 verses)