Bhagavad Gita 16.23 meaningTwo kinds of character
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Acting on every impulse never brings real happiness.”
What it means
“Whoever ignores the wisdom of the scriptures and acts on impulse reaches neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the highest goal.”
The original Sanskrit
यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः । न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् ॥
yaḥ śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartate kāmakārataḥ na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṃ na parāṃ gatim
Translations
Literal translation
Ignoring the precept of the scriptures, he who acts under the impulsion of passion,-he does not attain perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme Goal.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
जो पुरुष शास्त्रविधि को त्यागकर अपनी कामना से प्रेरित होकर ही कार्य करता है, वह न पूर्णत्व की सिद्धि प्राप्त करता है, न सुख और न परा गति।
Swami Tejomayananda
Go deeper
Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
Loading commentaries…
Keep reading · 16.24“So let timeless wisdom be your guide in deciding what to do and what not to do. Understand what it teaches, then act accordingly in this world.”