The man who is full of faith, who is devoted to it, and who has subdued the senses obtains (this) knowledge; and having obtained the knowledge he attains at once to the supreme peace.
In simple words
Krishna says: "A person who has faith, who is dedicated, and who has their senses under control — that person gains this knowledge. And the moment they gain it, they reach deep, unshakable peace."
Word-by-word meanings
श्रद्धावान्the man of faithलभतेobtainsज्ञानम्knowledgeतत्परःdevotedसंयतेन्द्रियःwho has subdued the sensesज्ञानम्knowledgeलब्ध्वाhaving obtainedपराम्supremeशान्तिम्to peaceअचिरेणat onceअधिगच्छतिattains
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
Swami Sivananda
4.39 श्रद्धावान् the man of faith? लभते obtains? ज्ञानम् knowledge? तत्परः devoted? संयतेन्द्रियः who has subdued the senses? ज्ञानम् knowledge? लब्ध्वा having obtained? पराम् supreme? शान्तिम् to peace? अचिरेण at once? अधिगच्छति attains.Commentary He who is full of faith? who constantly serves his Guru and hears his teachings? who has subdued the senses surely gets the knowledge and ickly attains the supreme peace or salvation (Moksha). All the above three alifications are indispensable for an aspirant if he wants to attain to the supreme peace of the Eternal ickly. One alifiaction alone will not suffice. (Cf.X.10?11)
Swami Chinmayananda
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
# BG 4.39 — Translation of Meaning
Without qualification, no goal can be attained. By understanding the essential virtues described in this verse, it becomes clear why many seekers, despite practicing for years, fail to reach their goal. Faith, earnestness of devotion, and mastery of the senses—these are the three indispensable qualities through which we may hope to free ourselves from the bonds of human limitation and attain the divine state. Yet concerning the meaning of these three words, many contrary notions have spread.
**On Faith:** Many hypocritical teachers exploit the religious sentiments of common devotees under the guise of faith, accumulating wealth unjustly. By interpreting faith as blind belief, the intellectual and mental development of ordinary seekers is entirely neglected. Faith does not mean accepting without thought whatever is proclaimed as divine. According to Sri Shankaracharya, faith is that through which a person, by the teachings of scripture and the teacher, can obtain true knowledge of reality as it is.
**On Earnestness:** For any seeker advancing on the path of self-development, it is essential to direct full attention toward that path and keep the remembrance of the Divine in the heart. Mere intellectual study of the scriptures cannot purify the inner being. One must organize mind and intellect and live the life taught in the Upanishads.
**On Mastery of the Senses:** Without self-control, it is difficult to establish firmness in faith and knowledge. The senses draw us toward objects of desire. Once attached to worldly pleasures, it becomes impossible to maintain the higher values of life. To walk the divine path means to step out from the channels of sensory indulgence. These two ways of living are mutually opposed. Where one exists, the other is absent. Where the light of peace dawns in the heart, the darkness of disturbance born of worldly and animal tendencies is destroyed. Therefore, for the seeker, a life of self-mastery becomes imperative.
**Why renounce sensory pleasure and seek the divine goal?** In the initial stage of practice, the seeker remains at the level of intellect, and the intellect's function is to seek the cause of all things. Naturally, the thoughtful person will ask: what is the fruit of renouncing sensory pleasure? The second line answers this.
The seers who perceived the mantras of the Upanishads declare with certainty that the faithful, earnest, and sense-controlled person attains Self-knowledge. Here the Lord says that the fruit of this knowledge is supreme peace. As in the previous verse, no fixed time is given for attaining this peace, for it depends upon the seeker's effort. Yet it is certain that upon attaining knowledge, one swiftly attains supreme peace.
**On Supreme Peace:** "Supreme" means infinite. Therefore, supreme peace is that which never diminishes. In an age where wars are waged in the name of peace, it is no wonder if someone views this peace described in the verse with doubt. This is not the peace spoken of by politicians who negotiate peace from time to time, but it has a profound meaning from the perspective of psychology.
It is a well-known fact that every living being strives throughout life to gain ever-increasing happiness—from breathing and eating to the calculated efforts of establishing dominion over the entire world through war and destruction. Every human being's aim is the attainment of happiness. Not only humans, but animals and plants also labor for this. This means that without the inner impulse to gain happiness, no action is possible.
If all beings in the world strive to gain maximum happiness and protect it, then the highest goal of life should be eternal happiness, infinite bliss—such bliss where all struggle ceases, all desires are fulfilled, and all mental disturbances end forever. It is the desire for happiness that creates disturbances in the mind, and through the body, the human being acts in the external world. Upon attaining transcendent, eternal bliss, both mental disturbances and bodily suffering come to an end. Therefore, supreme peace means supreme bliss. This is the true goal of our life.
One should not harbor doubt in this matter, for doubt is a great sin.