yaṁ labdhvā chāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vichālyate
yam — which;
labdhvā — having gained;
cha — and;
aparam — any other;
lābham — gain;
manyate — considers;
na — not;
adhikam — greater;
tataḥ — than that;
yasmin — in which;
sthitaḥ — being situated;
na — never;
duḥkhena — by sorrow;
guruṇā — (by) the greatest;
api — even;
vichālyate — is shaken
In this verse from the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains something very important about achieving a deep spiritual connection through practice, known as yoga. He says that once a person (referred to as a yogi) reaches this special state, they feel a joy and satisfaction that is far greater than anything you can get from the material world—like money, possessions, or fame.
Let’s break it down a bit more. When this yogi realizes their true spiritual nature, they understand that nothing in this world can compare to the happiness they feel from this connection to the Divine, or God. For example, imagine someone who wins a huge lottery. At first, they might feel tremendous joy and think that nothing could ever feel better than that money. But this verse tells us that the happiness from spiritual realization is much deeper and long-lasting than any temporary happiness from material gains.
Moreover, once the yogi is settled in this spiritual happiness, they become strong inside. No matter what troubles come their way—like losing a loved one, facing financial difficulties, or experiencing anything bad—they remain calm and are not shaken. The worst kind of sorrow, described as 'heavy sorrow' in this verse, doesn’t disturb them because they know that their true self, the essence of who they are, is not affected by these physical and emotional ups and downs.
This state also means that the yogi feels a kind of happiness that is steady and unchanging, despite the changing world around them. For instance, if you think about someone who is always worried about losing their nice car or their job, you can see how that worry makes them unhappy. In contrast, a yogi who has experienced this higher state of awareness doesn’t get caught up in such worries. They are more focused on their connection with the divine essence of everything, and this creates a sense of peace within them.
So, in essence, Krishna is teaching us that true happiness comes not from the fleeting pleasures of the world, but from finding a deeper connection with ourselves and something greater than ourselves. This realization turns a yogi into someone who can face life’s biggest challenges without losing their sense of joy and purpose.