UdyamGita

Mokṣha Sanyāsa Yoga

Chapter 18 - Verse 36,37,38,39

सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ |
अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र दु:खान्तं च निगच्छति || 36||
यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् |
तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् || 37||
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् |
परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम् || 38||
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मन: |
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् || 39||

Translation

O Superior among the Bharatas! Now listen to the three types of
happiness. That happiness which increases with practice, frees one from
distress, feels poisonous in the beginning and turns out to be nectar like
towards the end, is sattvic. This is achieved through peace of mind and the
express grace of the Lord Almighty.

Happiness arising out of the interaction between the sense organs
and the objects of gratification, which initially feels like nectar and turns
out to be poisonous in the end, is rajasic.

Happiness arising out of excessive sleep, lethargy, and forgetfulness,
which creates addiction from beginning to end is tamasic.

Unfiltered First Take

Saatvik happiness is one that tastes bitter because of the sacrifices one has to make and the hardships one has to go through to achieve the goal, but once the goal is achieved, its sweetness is eternal. In this process, the entrepreneur discovers his true self, his strengths and weaknesses, his likes and dislikes, his true passion, and true relationships.

Rajasik happiness comes from keeping the senses happy by feeding them what they desire. Though it may appear pleasant in the beginning, it eventually leads to a difficult life. The senses get accustomed to a certain type of gratification, and when they do not get what they want, the entrepreneur starts losing mental balance, which negatively impacts the business. There is also a high chance that this practice affects health, and when health is lost, everything else follows. Thus, continuous sense gratification always results in negative outcomes.

Tamasik happiness does not allow an entrepreneur to discover his true self. The happiness he derives from oversleeping, not completing tasks on time, being lazy, and not focusing on the finer details of tasks leads to frequent negligence, which can be disastrous for the business.

UdyamGita Interpretation

Krishna now addresses the most subtle pursuit of all—happiness. He makes it clear that not all happiness liberates, and not all pleasure is worth pursuing. Some forms of happiness end suffering, while others quietly create it.

Happiness, like knowledge, action, intellect, and willpower, is also governed by the three guṇas.

Business Insight

In entrepreneurship, happiness shows up as what keeps a founder going:

Sāttvik Happiness (Enduring Fulfilment)

This happiness feels bitter in the beginning. Sacrifices, discipline, delayed gratification, and sustained hardship dominate the early phase. But when the goal is achieved, the sweetness is deep and lasting. In this journey, the entrepreneur discovers his true self—strengths and weaknesses, real passions, authentic relationships, and what truly matters. This happiness refines, not intoxicates.

Rājasik Happiness (Addictive Pleasure)

This happiness comes from feeding the senses—comfort, luxury, status, indulgence. Initially it feels delightful, even motivating. Over time, the senses get conditioned and demand more. When gratification slows or stops, mental imbalance sets in, decision quality deteriorates, and stress rises. Health often pays the price—and when health collapses, business follows.

Tāmasik Happiness (Numbing Escape)

This is happiness that hides the self from itself. Oversleeping, laziness, procrastination, and negligence feel comforting in the moment but silently erode discipline and awareness. Missed details and delayed actions accumulate—and in entrepreneurship, such negligence can be fatal.

Leadership Lesson

Krishna’s warning is profound:

The happiness you chase today decides the suffering you face tomorrow.

Sāttvik happiness demands courage upfront but eliminates suffering later. Rājasik happiness borrows joy from the future and pays it back with interest. Tāmasik happiness numbs pain without solving it—and therefore prolongs it indefinitely.

Wise entrepreneurs choose long-term fulfilment over short-term comfort.

Key Takeaways

Happiness comes in three forms—and only one ends suffering
Sāttvik happiness is painful initially but eternally rewarding
Rājasik happiness gratifies senses but destabilizes mind and health
Tāmasik happiness numbs awareness through laziness and neglect
What feels good now may harm you later

Comments & Reviews

Share Your Thoughts

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!