Gita 06.22 – Seek the achievement beyond hankering and lamentation

Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-22-seek-the-achievement-beyond-hankering-and-lamentation/

yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ
manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena
guruṇāpi vicālyate (Bg 6.22)

Word-for-word:
yam — that which; labdhvā — by attainment; ca — also; aparam — any other; lābham — gain; manyate — considers; na — never; adhikam — more; tataḥ — than that; yasmin — in which; sthitaḥ — being situated; na — never; duḥkhena — by miseries; guruṇā api — even though very difficult; vicālyate — becomes shaken

Translation:
Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty.

Explanation:
yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ: Upon attaining which, there is no greater gain.
manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ: one understands no other attainment as superior.
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena: Being situated in which, even by great misery,
guruṇāpi vicālyate: one is not shaken.

This verse gives a two-point definition of supreme success. Everyone desires success in life, but its meaning varies from person to person. For an Indian student, success may mean going to America and obtaining U.S. citizenship; for someone else, it may mean becoming a business magnate. In this way, different people hold different ideas of success.

Yet, underlying all these pursuits is a common longing: to attain something after which there is no further craving. Once achieved, it brings lasting satisfaction. This is the first aspect of success—an achievement that leaves no further hankering (yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ).

Typically, in this world, whatever we achieve is invariably followed by a craving for more. Someone may come first in class and then aspire to be first in the entire school. A person may become the wealthiest in the locality and then desire to be the wealthiest in the city, the country, the continent, the world—even in the world’s history. Yet, inevitably, that person also becomes history. Death comes, all the accumulated wealth is left behind, and the soul departs naked and empty-handed, going to its next destination according to its karma.

In this world, no matter what we achieve, the hankering for more never ceases. Likewise, no matter how much one attains, there is always the fear of being afflicted by misery. Kṛṣṇa states here that when one becomes properly situated, the first result is freedom from hankering. Having attained this gain (yaṁ labdhvā), one no longer thinks that there is anything greater still to be achieved (manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ). This is perfection—one becomes satisfied in that state. Such is the understanding Kṛṣṇa imparts.

When one attains this state, there is no more hankering because the soul becomes deeply satisfied and spiritually enriched. The soul feels, “This is all I need; I am completely fulfilled.” The spiritual realization reached at this stage of perfection is such that nothing higher is required. This is truly the perfection of life. If we must aspire for any achievement, it should be this—the attainment that ends all hankering. Otherwise, no matter what we accomplish, the craving for more will never cease.

Having become situated in this state (yasmin sthito), one is not disturbed or shaken even by great misery (na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate). In this world, no matter what we achieve, we are never beyond the reach of suffering. Even the wealthiest person in the world can be shaken by a financial upheaval that wipes away his or her fortune. A cricket superstar may lose an entire career through a single slip, a fall, or a fracture. Sometimes an injury is so critical that one may never return to the field at all.

Thus, in this world, whatever we achieve, we remain vulnerable to misery and can be shaken at any time. Therefore, there is always the lurking fear of lamentation (śocati).

Essentially, Kṛṣṇa is conveying that this stage of yogic perfection is the stage of “na śocati, na kaṅkṣati” (Bg 18.54). The term “na kaṅkṣati” is explained here by yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ—having achieved this, there is nothing more to attain. Similarly, yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate refers to “na śocati,” indicating that one is not disturbed even by great misery.

When we achieve something in the outer world, that achievement is external to us and can be taken away at any time—which inevitably happens sooner or later. In contrast, when we achieve something internally—such as devotion in relationship with Kṛṣṇa, self-realization, or God-realization—this inner achievement cannot be taken away. Here, Kṛṣṇa is referring specifically to self-realization; He has not yet spoken of His position as the Supreme Lord at this point. Once we gain such inner wealth, whether it is self-realization or God-realization, it becomes inalienable, residing securely within us. This is why such an achievement is free from lamentation—it cannot be lost.

And thus, at the stage of yogic perfection, one becomes free from śocati and kaṅkṣati. This is the truly worthwhile achievement that we should aspire for. This does not mean that we abandon all other goals. We have our careers, our families, and within these, not only responsibilities but also ambitions. We want our children to grow into wonderful people, devoted souls, contributors to society, and well-established individuals. We have these aspirations, and there is nothing wrong in pursuing them.

However, these goals should be subordinated and harmonized with our pursuit of transcendence. We recognize that the ultimate happiness, the highest achievement that brings lasting fulfillment, is attained through love for Kṛṣṇa. Without this, all other achievements remain temporary and cannot provide true fulfillment.

Therefore, if we allow ourselves to remain caught up in material achievements, we will be unable to progress in our spiritual journey—our movement toward Kṛṣṇa and self-realization.

If other achievements distract us from this ultimate spiritual goal, they will not free us from hankering and lamentation. In fact, the greater the material success, the stronger the craving for something even bigger. The hankering only intensifies. Moreover, the more we achieve, the greater the lamentation when we lose something. In this way, we remain entangled, never going beyond the reach of misery. Instead, we sink deeper into it, as our attachment grows stronger.

However, when we keep Kṛṣṇa as our foremost goal—speaking here in the context of devotees—moving beyond hankering and lamentation, we gradually come to recognize that Kṛṣṇa Himself is our true wealth. As Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura expresses in the song Ātma-Nivedana Tuwā Pāde: āmi to’ tomāra, tumi to’ āmāra, ki kāja apara dhāne: “My Lord, I am Yours, and You are mine. What else do I need in my life?”

We reach a stage where nothing else is needed—this is the stage of perfection. Even when the greatest miseries of old age, disease, and death occur, we understand that these affect only the body. By then, we have realized ourselves as souls in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. We are absorbed in that relationship, delighting in it, and thereby able to tolerate and transcend bodily pains. Ultimately, we attain Kṛṣṇa’s abode, where we become forever free from all bodily and worldly miseries.

Thank you.