Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 51-53

बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च |
शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च || 51||
विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानस: |
ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रित: || 52||
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् |
विमुच्य निर्मम: शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते || 53||

buddhyā viśhuddhayā yukto dhṛityātmānaṁ niyamya cha
śhabdādīn viṣhayāns tyaktvā rāga-dveṣhau vyudasya cha
vivikta-sevī laghv-āśhī yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ
dhyāna-yoga-paro nityaṁ vairāgyaṁ samupāśhritaḥ
ahankāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ parigraham
vimuchya nirmamaḥ śhānto brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

buddhyā—intellect; viśhuddhayā—purified; yuktaḥ—endowed with; dhṛityā—by determination; ātmānam—the self; niyamya—restraining; cha—and; śhabda-ādīn viṣhayān—sound and other objects of the senses; tyaktvā—abandoning; rāga-dveṣhau—attachment and aversion; vyudasya—casting aside; cha—and; vivikta-sevī—relishing solitude; laghu-āśhī—eating light; yata—controls; vāk—speech; kāya—body; mānasaḥ—and mind; dhyāna-yoga-paraḥ—engaged in meditation; nityam—always; vairāgyam—dispassion; samupāśhritaḥ—having taken shelter of; ahankāram—egotism; balam—violence; darpam—arrogance; kāmam—desire; krodham—anger; parigraham—selfishness; vimuchya—being freed from; nirmamaḥ—without possessiveness of property; śhāntaḥ—peaceful; brahma-bhūyāya—union with Brahman; kalpate—is fit

buddhya vishuddhaya yukto dhrityatmanam niyamya cha
shabdadin vishayans tyaktva raga-dveshau vyudasya cha
vivikta-sevi laghv-ashi yata-vak-kaya-manasah
dhyana-yoga-paro nityam vairagyam samupashritah
ahankaram balam darpam kamam krodham parigraham
vimuchya nirmamah shanto brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

Translation

BG 18.51-53: One becomes fit to attain Brahman when he or she possesses a purified intellect and firmly restrains the senses, abandoning sound and other objects of the senses, casting aside attraction and aversion. Such a person relishes solitude, eats lightly, controls body, mind, and speech, is ever engaged in meditation, and practices dispassion. Free from egotism, violence, arrogance, desire, possessiveness of property, and selfishness, such a person, situated in tranquility, is fit for union with Brahman (i.e., realization of the Absolute Truth as Brahman).

Commentary

Shree Krishna has been explaining how, by performing our duties in the proper consciousness, we can attain perfection. He now describes the excellence that is required for the perfection of Brahman-realization. He says in that state of perfection we develop a purified intellect that is established in transcendental knowledge. The mind is controlled due to not indulging in likes and dislikes. The senses are restrained, and the impulses of the body and speech are tenaciously disciplined. The activities for bodily maintenance, such as eating and sleeping, are wisely held in balance. Such a yogi is deeply contemplative, and hence prefers solitude. The ego and its lust for power and prestige are dissolved. Constantly engaging the mind in transcendence, the yogi is tranquil and free from the bonds of desire, anger, and greed. Such a yogi attains realization of the Absolute Truth as Brahman.