5.22 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 5, Verse 22

In Bhagavad Gita verse 5.22, Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as "Kaunteya" (son of Kunti) and reveals a profound truth about the nature of sensory pleasures. The verse states that enjoyments arising from contact with material senses are actually sources of misery, having both a beginning and an end, and therefore the wise do not delight in them.

Krishna uses the Sanskrit term "duḥkha-yonaya" (womb of misery) to describe these sensory pleasures, creating a powerful metaphor. Just as a womb eventually gives birth, these pleasures inevitably give birth to suffering. This may seem counterintuitive at first, as most people naturally pursue pleasure and avoid pain. However, Krishna is inviting Arjuna to develop a deeper understanding of how temporary gratification actually perpetuates a cycle of dissatisfaction.

The fleeting nature of sensory pleasures is emphasized by the phrase "ādy-antavantaḥ" - having a beginning and an end. Think about enjoying a delicious meal - the pleasure is intense but brief. Once finished, the satisfaction fades, often leaving a craving for more. This pattern repeats with virtually all material pleasures, whether from food, entertainment, social validation, or material possessions. The temporary nature of these experiences creates a perpetual cycle of desire, brief fulfillment, and renewed emptiness.

What makes this verse particularly insightful is how it challenges our conventional understanding of pleasure and pain. We typically view them as opposites, but Krishna reveals they are actually interconnected - the very things we pursue for pleasure become the sources of our discontent. The enjoyment derived from sensory experiences is like a sandwich with thick, dry bread and a thin, barely noticeable filling. We endure the tasteless bread to reach the filling, but the overall experience remains unsatisfying because the enjoyment is so brief and overshadowed by the effort required to attain it.

This verse doesn't advocate for complete renunciation of all enjoyment, but rather illuminates the consequence of attachment to sensory pleasures. When we depend on external circumstances for happiness, we subject ourselves to the inevitable fluctuations of those circumstances. The intelligent person ("budhaḥ") recognizes this pattern and chooses not to invest their happiness in these temporary experiences. Instead, they turn inward to cultivate a more sustainable source of joy.

In practical terms, Krishna is encouraging us to examine where we seek fulfillment. Are we constantly chasing after the next sensory experience, only to find ourselves perpetually unsatisfied? Or are we developing the wisdom to recognize this cycle and seek a more enduring happiness? This verse doesn't ask us to reject the world, but to engage with it wisely, understanding the limited nature of material pleasures without becoming dependent on them.

Krishna's teaching here connects to his broader message about finding lasting peace through spiritual realization rather than external acquisition. By understanding the inherently unsatisfying nature of sensory pleasures, we can begin to redirect our attention toward cultivating inner contentment that isn't subject to the same cycles of temporary gratification and renewed craving. This shift in perspective represents a key step on the path to genuine freedom and lasting happiness that transcends the fluctuations of material existence.