Verse 5.23
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
शक्नोतीहैव यः सोढुं प्राक्शरीरविमोक्षणात्। कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं स युक्तः स सुखी नरः।।
Transliteration (IAST)
śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṁ prāk śarīra-vimokṣaṇāt। kāma-krodhodbhavaṁ vegaṁ sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ।।
Word-by-Word Meanings
शक्नोति-is able
सोढुम्-to withstand
शरीरविमोक्षणात्-before liberation from the body
कामक्रोधोद्भवम्-born of desire and anger
वेगम्-force/impulse
सुखी-happy
Translation
One who is able to withstand the force born of desire and anger, here in this world before giving up the body - that person is a yogi, that person is happy.
Commentary
Krishna emphasizes that mastery over desire and anger must be achieved while still embodied - not postponed to some future state. The ability to resist these powerful impulses is the mark of a true yogi. This is a practical test of spiritual progress available to everyone.
Themes
yogakarmamoksha