Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 18 verse 38
Chapter 18 · Moksha Sanyasa Yoga

Sweet Now, Hollow Later · A Useful Pattern to Notice

विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् । परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥

viṣayendriya-saṁyogād yat tad agre 'mṛtopamam pariṇāme viṣam iva tat sukhaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam

Meaning

"Happiness arising from the contact of senses and their objects, sweet like nectar at first but bitter like poison in the end, is remembered as rajasic."

Explanation

The opposite pattern is also worth noticing — pleasures that feel great in the moment but leave a hollow or heavy feeling afterward. Both patterns are useful signals over time.

Today's Life Lesson

Pay attention today to which pleasures leave you feeling good afterward, and which leave a hollow feeling — let that guide your choices.

More verses to reflect on