Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Shloka 58

Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Devanagari script

मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि । अथ चेत्त्वमहंकारान्न श्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि ॥ १८.५८ ॥

Transliteration

maccittaḥ sarvadurgāṇi matprasādāt tariṣyasi | atha cet tvam ahaṅkārān na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi || 18.58 ||

Translation

ನನ್ನಲ್ಲೇ ಚಿತ್ತವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಿರಗೊಳಿಸಿದರೆ, ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಸಾದದಿಂದ ನೀನು ಎಲ್ಲ ದುರ್ಗತಿಗಳನ್ನು ದಾಟುವೆ; ಆದರೆ ಅಹಂಕಾರದಿಂದ (ನನ್ನ ಮಾತನ್ನು) ಕೇಳದೆ ಹೋದರೆ, ನೀನು ನಾಶವಾಗುವೆ.

Gita Press Meaning

मन को मुझमें लगाकर तुम मेरी कृपा से सब कठिनाइयों को पार कर जाओगे; परन्तु यदि अहंकार के कारण मेरी बात न सुनोगे, तो तुम्हारा पतन होगा।

Critical Edition Meaning

With your mind fixed on me, you will cross over all difficulties by my favor; but if, out of egoism, you will not listen, you will come to ruin.

Comparative Note

‘सर्वदुर्गाणि’ is often rendered as ‘all obstacles/dangers’ (ethical and spiritual impediments), not necessarily external threats. ‘विनङ्क्ष्यसि’ is interpreted as ‘perish/come to ruin’ and in commentarial traditions may mean spiritual downfall (loss of discernment) rather than physical destruction.

Word by Word

• मत्: of me / my
• Root: अस्मद्

• चित्तः: one whose mind (is)
• चित्तः: Karta
• Root: चित्त

• सर्व: all
• Root: सर्व

• दुर्गाणि: difficult passages / hardships / dangers
• दुर्गाणि: Karma
• Root: दुर्ग

• मत्: of me / my
• Root: अस्मद्

• प्रसादात्: from (my) grace / favor
• प्रसादात्: Apadana
• Root: प्रसाद

• तरिष्यसि: you will cross over
• Root: √तॄ (तॄ-तरणे)

• अथ: but / then / now
• Root: अथ

• चेत्: if
• Root: चेत्

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Root: युष्मद्

• अहंकारात्: from egoism / out of ego
• अहंकारात्: Apadana
• Root: अहंकार

• न: not
• Root: न

• श्रोष्यसि: you will listen / you will heed
• Root: √श्रु (श्रु-श्रवणे)

• विनङ्क्ष्यसि: you will perish / you will come to ruin
• Root: √नश् (नश्-नाशे)

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Bhakti
• Prasāda (divine favor)
• Ahaṅkāra (egoism)
• Śaraṇāgati (reliance)

Key Themes

• Grace and effort
• Ego as an obstacle to insight
• Soteriological assurance with devotion

FAQs

Psychological significance?

The verse frames egoism (ahaṅkāra) as a key psychological barrier: refusing guidance due to self-assertion leads to impaired judgment and self-defeating choices, whereas sustained attention on a stabilizing ideal (maccittaḥ) supports resilience.

Metaphysical meaning?

It presents a theistic soteriology: liberation-oriented progress is enabled by divine favor (prasāda) when the practitioner’s consciousness is oriented toward the divine; egoism disrupts receptivity to that transformative knowledge.

Contextual relevance?

Near the conclusion of the dialogue, Krishna summarizes the practical condition for Arjuna’s success: inner alignment and receptivity to instruction, contrasted with the destabilizing force of ego-driven refusal.

Modern Application?

As a nonsectarian practice, it can be read as: keep attention anchored in a higher value or disciplined framework, seek mentorship, and watch for ego-based resistance that blocks learning and constructive action.