BG 18.38

The pleasure from the contact of the senses with the sense objects, which starts as nectar and ends as poison, is born of passion.

विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम्
परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम्

viṣhayendriya-sanyogād — from the contact of the senses and sense objects
- viṣhayendriya — the senses with the sense objects
- sanyogād — from the contact
yat — which
tad — that
agre — at first
’mṛitopamam — like nectar
amṛita-upamam
pariṇāme — at the end
viṣham — poison
iva — like
tat — that
sukhaṁ — happiness
rājasaṁ — of the quality of passion
smṛitam — is said to be

Now, Arjuna, hear further of the threefold division of pleasure.

[36]

That pleasure in a serene mind which starts like a poison and transforms into a nectar is said to be born of purity.

[37]

The pleasure from the contact of the senses with the sense objects, which starts as nectar and ends as poison, is born of passion.

[38]

The pleasure which deludes the self and arises from sleep, laziness, and inadvertence, is born of ignorance.

[39]

BG 18.38 Listen