Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 23 (BG 4.23) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

In this verse, the manner in which the qualities of the wise person are described—through an enumeration of their characteristics—itself points toward the path of spiritual practice. All classical scriptures follow a particular style of presenting teachings in aphoristic form. Within this tradition, scholars of scripture are especially attentive to the selection of symbolic words, and they find joy in arranging these words in a specific sequence. The verse under consideration is an example of this. The divine nature that the sages attained was not some novel achievement obtained from an unknown source. This perfection is the inherent, self-evident nature of all beings, which they merely recognized. Through attachment to external objects, we have exiled ourselves from the kingdom of our own true nature. The wise person is one who is completely free from attachment to the limited world. Most seekers lack clear understanding regarding liberation. We ourselves create bondage for ourselves. The cause of all manner of bondage is our attachment to objects of sense. The individual soul experiences contentment and happiness only through the enjoyment of sense objects. This is why it becomes attached to them. In this way, from the perspective of body, mind, and intellect, it becomes bound successively to external objects, emotions, and thoughts. The wise person is free from all of these. Only through discrimination between the eternal and the non-eternal, by recognizing one's true eternal nature, and by establishing oneself in that recognition, can liberation from the bondage of attachment to objects be attained. When ignorance-born attachment is destroyed in the light of wisdom born of discrimination, the perfected person becomes free from the chains of sensory pursuits and unethical conduct. Such a person continues to act throughout life with the spirit of sacrifice—that is, with selfless service and the attitude of offering. Lord Krishna declares that for one who acts for the sake of sacrifice, all actions dissolve without creating new desires. The Lord has here expanded the meaning of the term "sacrifice" as used in the Vedas, making it more universal in application, so that its relevance extends throughout the entire world. Not only ritual sacrifices and oblations, but all actions performed with the spirit of service, free from ego and selfishness, are included within the domain of sacrifice. In the six verses that follow, approximately twelve types of sacrifice are described, which every individual can practice everywhere, in all circumstances, and within their own sphere of activity. Explaining why the actions of the wise person dissolve without producing reaction, it is said: