O best of the Bharatas, hear from me now about three kinds of happiness. The happiness that comes from practice, ends sorrow, and first feels like poison but later like nectar is called sattvic.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 18.36
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे भरतवंशियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन अब तीन प्रकारके सुखको भी तुम मेरेसे सुनो । जिसमें अभ्याससे रमण होता है और जिससे दुःखोंका अन्त हो जाता है, ऐसा वह परमात्मविषयक बुद्धिकी प्रसन्नतासे पैदा होनेवाला जो सुख सांसारिक आसक्तिके कारण आरम्भमें विषकी तरह और परिणाममें अमृतकी तरह होता है, वह सुख सात्त्विक कहा गया है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
सुखम्happinessतुindeedइदानीम्nowत्रिविधम्threefoldश्रृणुhearमेfrom meभरतर्षभO best of the Bharatasअभ्यासात्from practiceरमतेfinds delightयत्रwhereदुःख-अन्तम्end of sorrowचandनिगच्छतिattains
Read literallyhappiness · indeed · now · threefold · hear · from me · O best of the Bharatas · from practice · finds delight · where · end of sorrow · and · attains
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind to value disciplined practice that matures into freedom from suffering.
Krishna describes a higher kind of happiness: it grows through practice, brings lasting relief, and feels difficult at first but sweet in the end.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands shaken while Krishna finishes his teaching on the three qualities of life. After describing lower forms of steadiness, Krishna now turns to sattvic happiness — the kind that grows through practice and ends sorrow.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You keep returning to the meditation cushion even when it feels awkward and unrewarding. Weeks later, the mind settles, and the struggle that once felt heavy starts to feel like home.
The takeaway
“Real ease often starts as effort before it becomes relief.”
Krishna describes a higher kind of happiness: it grows through practice, brings lasting relief, and feels difficult at first but sweet in the end.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.36?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 18.36?
Verse 36 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 18.36 matter today?
You keep returning to the meditation cushion even when it feels awkward and unrewarding. Weeks later, the mind settles, and the struggle that once felt heavy starts to feel like home.
It shifts the mind to value disciplined practice that matures into freedom from suffering.
What this verse means
Krishna describes a higher kind of happiness: it grows through practice, brings lasting relief, and feels difficult at first but sweet in the end.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands shaken while Krishna finishes his teaching on the three qualities of life. After describing lower forms of steadiness, Krishna now turns to sattvic happiness — the kind that grows through practice and ends sorrow.
Why this verse still matters
You keep returning to the meditation cushion even when it feels awkward and unrewarding. Weeks later, the mind settles, and the struggle that once felt heavy starts to feel like home.
“Real ease often starts as effort before it becomes relief.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses)