Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Verse 4 (15.4)

Reflective Prompt:

To reach the eternal state where there is no return to worldly suffering, what mental qualities must be cultivated first?

▪ Option 1: Accumulating power, social influence, and material comforts.
▪ Option 2: Freedom from pride, delusion, attachment, and being centered in the Self.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Verse 4 (15.4)

tataḥ padaṁ tatparimārgitavyaṁ yasmingatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ tameva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadye yataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

ततः (tatah) — वह(then)
पदम् (padam) — पद(goal/state)
तत् (tat) — वह(that)
परिमार्गितव्यम् (parimargitavyam) — खोजना चाहिए(should be sought)
यइ (yasmin) — वह(where)
गताः (gatah) — जाकर(having gone)
न (na) — नहीं(not)
इवतइ (nivartanti) — वह(they return)
भूयः (bhuyah) — फिर(again)
तम् (tam) — वह(That)
एव (eva) — ही(indeed)
च (cha) — और(and)
आद्यम् (adyam) — आदि(original)
पुरुषम् (purusham) — पुरुष(Primal Being/God)
प्रपद्ये (prapadye) — मैं शरण लेता हूं(I surrender)

Line 2:

यतह् (yatah) — जो(from whom)
प्रवृत्तिः (pravrittih) — प्रवाह(the stream of creation)
प्रसृता (prasrita) — प्रवाहित(flowed)
पुराणी (purani) — पुरातन(ancient)

English: Beyond lies the Path, from which, when found, there is no return. This is the Primal God from from where this ancient creation has sprung.

Note:

Then, one should seek that goal reaching which they never return, surrendering to the primeval Purusha from whom this ancient creation streamed forth.

Learnings from Shloka 4:

Seek the Highest Goal:: Direct your efforts toward the eternal state from which there is no return to worldly bondage.
Surrender to the Source:: Surrender your ego to the primeval cosmic person (Purusha) who is the source of all existence.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 15.4 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary

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