BhG 18.51-53

syntax

vivikta-sevī (dwelling in a solitary place) laghv-āśī (who eats little) yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ (whose words, body and thoughts are restrained) nityam (constantly) dhyāna-yoga-paraḥ (devoted to yoga of contemplation) viśuddhayā buddhyā (with purified intelligence) yuktaḥ (endowed)
dhṛtyā ca (and with firmness) ātmānam (self) niyamya (after restraining),
śabdādīn viṣayān (objects beginning with sound) tyaktvā (after abandoning),
rāga-dveṣau ca (and passion and hatred) vyudasya (after rejecting),
vairāgyam (of detachment) samupāśritaḥ (having taken shelter),
ahaṁ-kāram (egotism) balam (strength) darpam (pride) kāmam (desire) krodham (anger) parigraham ca (and property) vimucya (after giving up),
nirmamaḥ (without [the notion of] ‘mine’) śāntaḥ (peaceful) [bhūtvā] (after becoming)
brahma-bhūyāya (for the state of Brahman) kalpate (he is eligible).

grammar

 

 

buddhyā	–	buddhi 3n.1 f. –  with intelligence, thought, understanding, knowledge, idea, opinion (from: √budh – to wake, to perceive, to understand);
viśuddhayā	–	viśuddhā (vi-√śudh – to become pure) PP 3n.1 f. – with purified;
yuktaḥ	–	yukta (√yuj – to yoke, to join, to engage) PP 1n.1 m. – yoked, endowed with, engaged, suitable;
dhṛtyā	–	dhṛti 3n.1 f. – with firmness, determination (from: √dhṛ – to hold, PP dhṛta – held);
ātmānam		ātman 2n.1 m. – self;
niyamya	–	ni-√yam (to restrain) absol. – after restraining;
ca	–	av. – and;
śabdādīn	–	śabda-ādi 2n.3 m. – beginning with sound (from: śabda – sound; ādi – suffix: beginning with, etc.);
viṣayān	–	viṣaya 2n.3 m. – spheres, territories, scopes, sense objects, subjects (from: √viṣ – to be active, to perform);
tyaktvā	–	√tyaj (to abandon, to give up) absol. – after abandoning;
rāga-dveṣau	–	rāga-dveṣa 2n.2 m.; DV: rāgaṁ ca dveṣaṁ ceti – passion and hatred (from: √rañj – to be dyed, be excited, be delighted, rāga – colour, passion, affection, love, beauty; √dviṣ – to hate, dveṣa – hatred, enmity);
vyudasya	–	vi-ud-√as (to reject) absol. – after rejecting;
ca	–	av. – and;

*****

vivikta-sevī	–	vivikta-sevin 1n.1 n.; TP: yo viviktaṁ sevata iti – dwelling in a solitary place (from: √vic – to separate, PP vivikta – separated, kept apart, solitary; √sev – to dwell, to serve, seva – dwelling, service, resorting to, honouring; -in, -min, -vin – sufixes meaning one who possesses);
laghv-āśī	–	laghv-āśin 1n.1 m.; TP: yo laghv aśnātīti saḥ – who eats little (from: laghu – light, small; √aś – to reach, to eat, to enjoy, āśin – one who eats, enjoys; -in, -min, -vin – sufixes meaning one who possesses);
yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ	–	yata-vāk-kāya-mānasa 1n.1 m.; BV: yasya vāk ca kāyaś ca mānasaṁ ca yatāni santi saḥ – whose words, body and thoughts are restrained (from: √yam – to hold back, to restrain, PP yata – held back, restrained; √xvac – to speak, vāk – speech; kāya – body; √man – to think, manas – the mind, mānasa – related to mind, imagination, thoughts, mind);
dhyāna-yoga-paraḥ	–	dhyāna-yoga-para 1n.1 m.; BV: yasya dhyānasya yogaḥ paro ‘sti saḥ – for whom yoga of contemplation is the supreme (from: √dhyai – to think, dhyāna – meditation, contemplation; √yuj – to yoke, to join, to engage, yoga – yoga, yoking, application, a means; para – beyond, ancient, final, the best, the supreme);
nityam	–	av. – constantly, eternally, always (from: nitya – continual, eternal);
vairāgyam	–	vai-rāgya 2n.1 m. – freedom from passion, aversion; detachment (from: vi-√rañj – to discolour, to change affection, to become indifferent, rāga – colour, passion, affection, love, beauty);
samupāśritaḥ	–	sam-upāśrita (upa-ā-√śri – to  adhere, to lean on, to rest on, to depend on) PP 1n.1 m. – having taken shelter – of what? – requires accusative);

*****

ahaṁ-kāram	–	ahaṁ-kāra 2n.1 m. – ego, egotism, pride (from: aham – I; √kṛ – to do, kāra – a doer);
balam	–	bala 2n.1 n. – strength;
darpam	–	darpa 2n.1 m. – pride, arrogance (from: √dṛp – to be extravagant, to be proud);
kāmam	–	kāma 2n.1 m. – wish, desire, pleasure (from: √kam –to wish, to love, to long for);
krodham	–	krodha 2n.1 m. – anger, wrath (from: √krudh – to be angry);
parigraham	–	parigraha 2n.1 m. – taking, attaining, household, property (from: pari-√grah – to take hold, to embrace);
vimucya	–	vi-√muc (to liberate, to release) absol. – after giving up;
nir-mamaḥ	–	nir-mama 1n.1 m. – without [the notion of] ‘mine’, unselfish, uninterested (from: niḥ – out of, away from, without; mama – my);
śāntaḥ	–	śānta (√śam – to calm, to put to an end, to destroy) PP 1n.1 m. – tranquil, peaceful;
brahma-bhūyāya	–	brahma-bhūya 4n.1 ṁ.; TP: brahmaṇo bhūyāyeti – for the state of Brahman (from: √bṛh – to increase, brahman – spirit, the Vedas; √bhū – to be, bhūya – being);
kalpate	–	√kḷp (to be fit for, to correspond, to be able) Praes. Ā 1v.1 – he is eligible;

textual variants

śabdādīn viṣayāṁs → śabdādi-viṣayāṁs (objects beginning with sound);
vyudasya → niyamya (after holding back);
laghv-āśī → labdhāśī (who eats what is obtained);
yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ → jita-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ / yattva-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ (who conquered words, body and thoughts / );
kāmaṁ krodhaṁ → kāma-krodhau (desire and anger);
kalpate → kalpyate (is eligible);

The first and second pada of verse 18.53 are similar to the first and second pada of verse BhG 16.18;
the fourth pada of verse 18.53 is the same as the fourth pada of verse BhG 14.26.

Śāṃkara

seyaṃ jñānasya parā niṣṭhocyate, kathaṃ kāryā iti—
buddhyādhyavasāya-lakṣaṇayā viśuddhayā māyā-rahitayā yuktaḥ sampannaḥ | dhṛtyā dhairyeṇa ātmānaṃ kārya-karaṇa-saṃghātaṃ niyamyaś ca niyamanaṃ kṛtvā vaśīkṛtya, śabdādīn śabda ādir yeṣāṃ tān viṣayān tyaktvā | sāmarthyāt śarīra-sthiti-mātra-hetu-bhūtān kevalān muktvā tato’dhikān sukhārthān tyaktvā ity arthaḥ, śarīra-sthity-arthatvena prāpteṣu rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca parityajyaś ca |

tataḥ—
vivikta-sevī araṇya-nadī-pulina-giri-guhādīn viviktān deśān sevituṃ śīlam asyeti vivikta-sevī | laghv-āśī laghv-aśana-śīlaḥ | vivikta-sevā-laghv-aśanayoḥ nidrādi-doṣa-nivartakatvena citta-prasāda-hetutvād grahaṇam | yata-vāk-kāya-mānaso vāk ca kāyaś ca mānasaṃ ca yatāni saṃyatāni yasya jñāna-niṣṭhasya sa jñāna-niṣṭho yatir yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ syāt | evam uparata-sarva-karaṇaḥ san dhyāna-yoga-paro dhyānam ātma-svarūpa-cintanam, yogaḥ ātma-viṣaye ekāgrī-karaṇaṃ tau paratvena kartavyau yasya sa dhyāna-yogaparo nityaṃ nitya-grahaṇaṃ mantra-japādy-anya-kartavyābhāva-pradarśanārtham, vairāgyaṃ virāgasya bhāvo dṛṣṭādṛṣṭeṣu viṣayeṣu vaitṛṣṇyaṃ samupāśritaḥ samyak upāśrito nityam eva ity arthaḥ |

kiṃ ca—
ahaṃkāram ahaṃkaraṇam ahaṃkāro dehādiṣu tam, balaṃ sāmarthyaṃ kāma-rāga-saṃyuktaṃ—netarat śarīrādi-sāmarthyaṃ svābhāvikatvena tat-tyāgasyāśakyatvāt—darpaṃ darpo nāma harṣānantara-bhāvī dharmātikrama-hetuḥ hṛṣṭo dṛpyati dṛpto dharmam atikrāmatīti smaraṇāt | taṃ ca, kāmam icchāṃ krodhaṃ dveṣaṃ parigraham indriya-mano-gata-doṣa-parityāge’pi śarīra-dhāraṇa-prasaṅgena dharmānuṣṭhāna-nimittena vā bāhyaḥ parigrahaḥ, taṃ ca vimucya parityajya, paramahaṃsa-parivrājako bhūtvā, deha-jīva-mātre’pi nirgata-mama-bhāvo nirmamaḥ, ata eva śānta uparataḥ, yaḥ saṃhṛta-harṣāyāso yatir jñāna-niṣṭho brahma-bhūyāya brahma-bhavanāya kalpate samartho bhavati

Rāmānuja

buddhyā viśuddhayā yathāvasthitātmatattvaviṣayayā yuktaḥ, dhṛtyā ātmānaṃ niyamya ca viṣayavimukhīkaraṇena yogayogyaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā, śabdādīn viṣayān tyaktvā asannihitān kṛtvā, tannimittau ca rāgadveṣau vyudasya, viviktasevī sarvair dhyānavirodhibhir vivikte deśe vartamānaḥ, laghvāśī atyaśanānaśanarahitaḥ, yatavākkāyamānasaḥ dhyānābhimukhīkṛtakāyavāṅmanovṛttiḥ, dhyānayogaparo nityam evaṃbhūtas san ā prāyāṇād aharahardhyānayogaparaḥ, vairāgyaṃ samupāśritaḥ dhyeyatattvavyatiriktaviṣayadoṣāvamarśena tatra tatra virāgatāṃ vardhayan, ahaṃkāram anātmani ātmābhimānaṃ, balaṃ tadvṛddhihetubhūtavāsanabalaṃ, tannimittaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parigrahaṃ vimucya, nirmamaḥ sarveṣv anātmīyeṣv ātmīyabuddhirahitaḥ, śāntaḥ ātmānubhavaikasukhaḥ, evaṃbhūto dhyānayogaṃ kurvan brahmabhūyāya kalpate sarvabandhavinirmukto yathāvasthitam ātmānam anubhavatītyarthaḥ

Śrīdhara

tad evam āha buddhyeti | uktena prakāreṇa viśuddhayā pūrvoktayā sāttvikyā buddhyā yukto dhṛtyā sāttvikyā ātmānaṃ tām eva buddhiṃ niyamya niścalāṃ kṛtvā śabdādīn viṣayāṃs tyaktvā tad-viṣayau rāga-dveṣau vyudasya buddhyā viśuddhayā yukta ity ādīnāṃ brahma-bhūyāya kalpata iti tṛtīyenānvayaḥ |
kiṃ ca vivikteti | vivikta-sevī śuci-deśāvasthāyī laghvāśī mita-bhojī etair upāyair yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ saṃyata-vāg-deha-citto bhūtvā nityaṃ sarvadā dhyānena yo yogo brahma-saṃsparśas tat-paraḥ san dhyānāvicchedārthaṃ punaḥ punar dṛḍhaṃ vairāgyaṃ samyag upāśrito bhūtvā |
tataś cāhaṃkāram iti | virakto ‚ham ity ādy ahaṃkāraṃ balaṃ durāgrahaṃ darpaṃ yoga-balād unmārga-pravṛtti-lakṣaṇaṃ prārabdha-vaśāt prāpyamāneṣv api viṣayeṣu kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parigrahaṃ ca vimucya viśeṣeṇa tyaktvā balād āpanneṣu nirma
maḥ san śāntaḥ paramām upaśāntiṃ prāpto brahma-bhūyāya brahmāham iti naiścalyenāvasthānāya kalpate yogyaś ca bhavati

Viśvanātha

buddhyā viśuddhayā sāttvikyā dhṛtyāpi sāttvikyātmānaṃ mano niyamya | dhyānena bhagavac-cintanenaiva yaḥ paro yogas tat-parāyaṇaḥ | balaṃ kāma-rāga-yuktaṃ na tu sāmarthyam | ahaṅkārādīn vimucyety avidyoparamaḥ | śāntaḥ sattva-guṇasyāpy upaśāntimān iti kṛta-jñāna-sannyāsa ity arthaḥ | jñānaṃ ca mayi sannyaset (BhP 11.19.1) ity ekādaśokteḥ | ajñāna-jñānayor uparamaṃ vinā brahmānubhavānupattir iti bhāvaḥ | brahma-bhūyāya brahmānubhavāya kalpate samartho bhavati

Baladeva

taṃ prakāram āha buddhyeti | viśuddhayā sāttvikyā buddhyā yuktas tādṛśyā dhṛtyā cātmānaṃ mano niyamya samādhi-yogyaṃ kṛtvā śabdādīn viṣayāṃs tyaktvā tān sannihitān vidhāya rāga-dveṣau ca tad-dhetukau vyudasya dūrataḥ parihṛtya | vivikta-sevī nirjana-sthaḥ laghvāśī mita-bhuk yatāni dhyeyābhimukhīkṛtāni vāgādīni yena saḥ | nityaṃ dhyāna-yoga-paro hari-cintana-nirataḥ | vairāgyam ātmetara-vastu-mātra-viṣayakam | aham iti | ahaṃkāro dehātmābhimānaḥ | balaṃ tad-vardhakaṃ vāsanā-rūpam | darpas tad-dhetukaḥ prārabdha-śeṣa-vaśād upāgateṣu bhogyeṣu kāmo ‚bhilāṣaḥ, teṣv anyair apahṛteṣu krodhaḥ | parigrahaś ca tat-karmakaḥ | tan etān ahaṅkārādīn vimucya nirmamaḥ san brahma-bhūyāya guṇāṣṭaka-viśiṣṭa-svātma-rūpatvāya kalpate tad anubhavati | śānto nistaraṅga-sindhur iva sthitaḥ