Verse-36-37
Chapter 18 — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Verse 36-37
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
sukham tvidānīm trividham śrnu me bharatarṣabha
abhyāsādramate yatra duḥkhāntam ch nigacchati
yattadagre viṣamiva pariṇāme'mṛtopamam
tatsukham sāttvikam proktamātmabuddhiprasādajam
🕉 English Translation
Sukh ke sabhi teen prakaar jo,
Arjun!Mai ab tujhse kehta hun woh.
Dukh duur ho jata jisseh sabhi,
Abhyas se milta sukh hai vahi.
Lagta shuru mein hai vish ki tarah,
Parinaam mein hota amrit hee hai.
Mile tab hee jab atma ka ho dhyan,
Vahi satvic sukh hai aisa tu jaan.
📜 Translation
English
O Best of Bharatas Arjun! Now hear from Me the three types of happiness! The happiness in which one rejoices by practice and which brings all sorrows to an end–such happiness which though in the beginning appears to be like poison but is like nectar in its consequence, that happiness originating from the intellect dedicated to self-upliftment has been called to be satvic.
Happiness is the primary demand of life. This demand is of universal nature. Everybody desires happiness. None anywhere who may be of any of the four orders of life, caste, class, station of life, place, time, does not desire it–happiness is desired by all. This demand is common one for all. Whatever efforts a man makes he does for acquiring happiness; that is why this subject is extremely important and relevant. It is extremely essential to understand this. Invariably in the desire for happiness one makes oneself sorrowful. That is why, through the medium of the three distinctions of happiness, the Blessed Lord will go to the core of it. Read it carefully and understand it. These verses of the Gita which relate to happiness and unhappiness are a solution to several doubts. Not just doubts in fact these verses will provide a solution to the problems of life. With the assurance of hearing, the Blessed Lord, in the first verse on this topic, is stating the matter of getting freedom from unhappiness in a powerful voice.
In comparison to getting happiness all long for getting freedom from unhappiness. All desire that they should get happiness, but also should not face grief, that grief should remain away from them, there should be an end to all sorrows; for this everyone remains eager. The Krishna of the Gita catches the pulse of the human nature and before stating the three types of happiness creates enthusiasm and elation by saying that the satvic happiness is such that will cause the end of all sorrows. This fact definitely is worthy of attention that this happiness cannot be obtained by any material objects, etc. but by dwelling in the thoughts of the Supreme, remembrance of His name or by the practice of meditation. To take the mind away from the thinking about the worldly objects and to make it dwell in the Supreme is the best kind of practice. Though in the beginning of this practice one may encounter difficulties, but its results provide us with joy!
Satvic happiness is the real happiness. This is true. But birth after birth the nature of the mind is outward-going. It accepts the pleasure derived from sense as all. That is why in the beginning, this practice seems to be difficult; sometimes the external circumstances are not conducive and sometimes the inner dispositions do not allow the mind to engage in this. In the beginning sometimes one may experience lack of pleasure or monotony. It may also come to the mind that so much time has elapsed but nothing has been experienced, hence it should be abandoned lest it should so happen that one is neither on this side nor on that! Such conflicting thoughts bring restlessness to the mind. This experience of difficulty in satvic happiness is found to be experienced in the form of poison in the beginning.
In fact, in practice lies all the joy. 'Atmabuddhiprasadjam'–that is the state of happiness which arises from the clear understanding of the Self and is the very basis of real happiness. Either in the beginning or in the end or in every form, this state is of happiness only. Pieces of sugar are sweet both in the beginning and also in the end. Satvic happiness is for all states. The difficulty lies in removing the mind from the pleasures born of the worldly objects. Practice is undertaken also mainly for being engaged for this end. Keep on doing so. Do not give too much importance to initial struggles and sufferings. The thoughtful ones always act, keeping in view the ultimate end; be discerning! Develop competence in deliberating! Keep in mind the future joyful, spiritually beneficial results; constantly maintain practice. Whenever the mind starts going towards the world, at that very moment take it away from there. Make it concentrate in the Self or in the Supreme nature. Just have one single decisive thought in the mind, that too completely firm. Have faith that the real happiness in the form of experience of divine results can be had in a natural way.