Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 37 भगवद् गीता अध्याय 18 श्लोक 37 यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम्। तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम्।।18.37।। English Translation - Swami Sivananda 18.37 That which is like poison at first but in the end like nectar that happiness is declared to be Sattvic, born of the purity of ones own mind due to Self-realisation. English Commentary - Swami Sivananda 18.37 यत् which? तत् that? अग्रे at first? विषम् poison? इव like? परिणामे in the end? अमृतोपमम् like nectar? तत् that? सुखम् pleasure? सात्त्विकम् Sattvic? प्रोक्तम् is declared (to be)? आत्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् born of the purity of ones own mind due to Selfrealisation.Commentary Agree vishma iva In the beginning it is attended with much pain as one has to abandon the sensual objects and comforts and practise severe austerities and rigorous Sadhana. He has to undergo a severe ordeal when he practises Yama? Niyama? Tapas and various other vows. He has to cultivate dispassion or indifference to sensual pleasures. This gives him much pain at first. The practice of concentration and meditation also gives pain the beginning. Subjugation of the senses is also very troublesome. Nux vomica is very bitter. One feels much discomfort when he takes a mixture that contains nux vomica. But he derives much pleasure in the end when he gets vigour and good appetite and when his dyspepsia is cured. Even so the aspirant drinks the nectar of immortality in the end? attains the highest knowledge? rejoices in the,Self to his hearts content and enjoys supreme peace and eternal bliss.Proktam It is declared by the wise.Atmabuddhiprasadajam Born as purity of ones own intellect or born of the direct? perfect and clear knowledge of Brahman or the immortal? selfluminous? eternal and supreme Self or the Absolute. The individual self experiences Sattvic happiness when it realises union with the highest Self.The pleasure so born is Sattvic. (Cf.VI.1?2) Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 18.37Yattadagre vishamiva parinaame’mritopamam; Tatsukham saattwikam proktam aatmabuddhiprasaadajam. Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 18.37yat—which; tat—that; agre—at first; viṣham iva—like poison; pariṇāme—in the end; amṛita-upamam—like nectar; tat—that; sukham—happiness; sāttvikam—in the mode of goodness; proktam—is said to be; ātma-buddhi—situated in self-knowledge; prasāda-jam—generated by the pure intellect