Bhagavad Gita 5.3

Verse 3

ज्ञेयः स नित्यसंन्यासी यो न द्वेष्टि न काङ्क्षति | निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते || ३ ||

Transliteration

jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī yo na dveṣṭi na kāṅkṣati nirdvandvo hi mahā-bāho sukhaṃ bandhāt pramucyate

Synonyms

jñeyaḥ—should be known; saḥ—he; nitya-sannyāsī—always a renunciant; yaḥ—who; na—never; dveṣṭi—hates; na—nor; kāṅkṣati—desires; nirdvandvaḥ—free from all dualities; hi—certainly; mahā-bāho—O mighty-armed one; sukham—happily; bandhāt—from bondage; pramucyate—is completely liberated.

Translation

He who neither hates nor desires should be known as a perpetual renunciant. Free from all pairs of opposites, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he is easily liberated from bondage.

Multi-Tradition Commentary

Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita)

The eternal renunciant is not defined by external dress or lifestyle, but by inner freedom from raga (attachment/desire) and dvesha (aversion/hatred). The pairs of opposites — pleasure and pain, honour and dishonour — bind the soul. One who abides in the Lord, seeing all experiences as His gift, transcends these dualities and is freed from the cycle of birth and death.

Practical Application (Modern Life)

True renunciation is an internal posture, not an external costume. Practice observing when you are pulled toward craving or pushing away in aversion during your day. Each moment you rest in equanimity between the two, you are practising nitya-sannyasa.

Chapter Content

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