Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Verse 17 Meaning
Their intellect absorbed in That, their self being That, established in That, with That as their supreme goal, they go whence there is no return, their sins dispelled by knowledge.
BG 5.17
तद्बुद्धयस्तदात्मानस्तन्निष्ठास्तत्परायणाः। गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः
tad-buddhayas tad-ātmānas tan-niṣhṭhās tat-parāyaṇāḥ gachchhantyapunar-āvṛittiṁ jñāna-nirdhūta-kalmaṣhāḥ
Meaning
Their intellect absorbed in That, their self being That, established in That, with That as their supreme goal, they go whence there is no return, their sins dispelled by knowledge.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 5.17 Mean?
Their intellect absorbed in That, their self being That, established in That, with That as their supreme goal, they go whence there is no return, their sins dispelled by knowledge. The teaching here extends the chapter's central concern with liberation. Classical commentators have noted how this verse bridges philosophical understanding with practical guidance. The verse operates on multiple levels.
On the surface, it addresses Arjuna's immediate situation. At a deeper level, it articulates a universal principle about renunciation in action that applies to every person navigating the complexities of moral and spiritual life. What makes this teaching enduringly relevant is its refusal to separate the spiritual from the ordinary. The very situations that challenge us become the ground of practice when approached with the understanding this verse provides.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 5.17?
The comparison between renunciation of action and selfless action, showing both lead to liberation.
Key themes in this chapter include Renunciation, Inner peace, Equality.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 5.17 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with renunciation
- •When practicing inner peace amid uncertainty
- •When applying equality to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 5.10
He who does actions, offering them to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf is not tainted by water.
BG 5.18
Sages look with an equal eye on a Brahmana endowed with learning and humility, on a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even an outcaste.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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