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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 23 (16.23)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 23 (16.23)

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः । न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम् | | १६-२३ | |

yaḥ śhāstravidhimutsṛijya vartate kāmakārataḥ na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • यः (yah) — जो(who)
  • शास्त्रविधिम् (shastra-vidhim) — शास्त्र विधि(the rules of the scriptures)
  • उत्सृज्य (utsrijya) — छोड़कर(neglecting/casting aside)
  • वतए (vartate) — वतए(acts)
  • कामकारतः (kama-karatah) — कामना से प्रेरित(driven by desire)
Line 2:
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • सः (sah) — वह(he)
  • सिद्धिम् (siddhim) — पेर्फेच्तिओन्(perfection)
  • अवाप्नोति (avapnoti) — प्राप्त करता है(attains)
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • सुखम् (sukham) — सुख(happiness)
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • परम् (param) — परम(supreme)
  • गतिम् (gatim) — गति(state/goal)

English: But he who neglects the commands of the scriptures, and follows the promptings of strong desire, he does not reach perfection, happiness or the final goal.

💡 Commentary Note

One who disregards the guidelines of scriptures (Shastras) and acts under the impulse of desire, attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the highest goal.

Learnings from Shloka 23:
  • Disregarding Shastra:: Rejecting objective moral guidelines in favor of personal whims leads to chaos and suffering.
  • No True Joy:: Sensory gratification without ethical rules cannot produce stable mental peace or happiness.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 16.23 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary