Chapter 5, Verse 20
न प्रहृष्येत्प्रियं प्राप्य नोद्विजेत्प्राप्य चाप्रियम् | स्थिरबुद्धिरसम्मूढो ब्रह्मविद् ब्रह्मणि स्थित: ॥20॥
na prahṛṣyet priyaṁ prāpya nodvijet prāpya cāpriyam | sthira-buddhir asammūḍho brahma-vid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ
"A knower of Brahman, who is established in Brahman, should have his intellect steady and should not be deluded. He should not get delighted by getting what is desirable, nor become dejected by getting what is undesirable."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 5.20 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 5.20 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
This verse defines the state of 'Jivanmukti'—living liberation. It emphasizes equanimity (Samatvam) as the hallmark of one who has realized the Absolute (Brahman). To be 'Sthira-buddhi' means the intellect is no longer tossed by the dualities of likes and dislikes. This state is reached either through the rigorous discipline of discrimination (Jnana Yoga) or through total surrender to the Divine Will (Bhakti Yoga), where every occurrence is viewed as Prasada (grace). The core teaching is that our internal state should not be a hostage to external circumstances, whether they are conventionally 'good' or 'bad'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 5.20?
A knower of Brahman, who is established in Brahman, should have his intellect steady and should not be deluded. He should not get delighted by getting what is desirable, nor become dejected by getting what is undesirable.