निर्वाण
Nirvana
nirvāṇa / nibbāna (Pali)
In simple words
Nirvana literally means 'blowing out', like a flame. In Buddhism it is the end of craving and suffering. The Gita also uses the word for the peace of union with Brahman.
What is it?
Nirvana is the Buddhist name for the cessation of suffering and of the fires of greed, hatred and delusion. Early texts describe nirvana during life (with the aggregates remaining) and final nirvana at death, and are reticent about describing it positively. Jain tradition uses nirvana for the liberation of a soul at the end of its last life. The Gita speaks of brahma-nirvana, peace or extinction in Brahman, for one established in the Self.
Scholar’s note
Theravada treats nibbana as the unconditioned element (asankhata dhatu). Mahayana schools reinterpret it: Nagarjuna states that there is not the slightest difference between samsara and nirvana when both are seen as empty; Yogacara speaks of non-abiding nirvana. The Gita's brahma-nirvana (2.72, 5.24–26) predates or parallels Buddhist usage; scholars debate the relation. Jain nirvana is the kevalin's final release to the summit of the universe.How its meaning differs
Nibbana is the unconditioned: the complete ending of craving and rebirth, realised by the arahant.
Nagarjuna holds that nirvana is not a separate place or thing; understood through emptiness, samsara and nirvana are not two.
Nirvana is the soul's final release from all karmic matter, after which it rests in omniscience and bliss at the top of the universe.
In the Gita's brahma-nirvana, Advaita sees the extinction of the individual's separation and abidance as Brahman, which is the fullness of being and bliss, not nothingness.
Devotional readers of Gita 6.15 connect nirvana with the peace that abides in God.
Where it appears in the Gita
The Brahmic state — no more delusion
ब्राह्मी स्थिति—फिर मोह नहीं
एषा ब्राह्मी स्थिति: पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति।
This is the Brahmic state; attaining it, one is never deluded, and abiding in it even at the time of death, one reaches the peace of Brahman.
यह ब्राह्मी स्थिति है; इसे प्राप्त होकर कोई मोहित नहीं होता और अन्तकालमें भी इसमें स्थित हो जाय तो निर्वाण ब्रह्मकी प्राप्ति हो जाती है।
5.24योऽन्त:सुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तज्र्योतिरेव य:।
जो मनुष्य (केवल) परमात्मामें सुखवाला (और) (केवल) परमात्मामें रमण करनेवाला है तथा जो केवल परमात्मामें ज्ञानवाला है, वह ब्रह्ममें अपनी स्थितिका अनुभव करनेवाला (ब्रह्मरूप बना हुआ) सांख्ययोगी निर्वाण ब्रह्मको प्राप्त होता है।
5.25लभन्ते ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृषय: क्षीणकल्मषा:।
जिनका शरीर मन-बुद्धि-इन्द्रियोंसहित वशमें है, जो सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके हितमें रत हैं, जिनके सम्पूर्ण संशय मिट गये हैं, जिनके सम्पूर्ण दोष नष्ट हो गये हैं, (वे) विवेकी साधक निर्वाण ब्रह्मको प्राप्त होते हैं।
5.26कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम्।
काम-क्रोधसे सर्वथा रहित, जीते हुए मनवाले (और) स्वरूपका किये हुए सांख्ययोगियोंके लिये सब ओरसे (शरीरके रहते शरीर छूटनेके बाद) निर्वाण ब्रह्म परिपूर्ण है।
6.15युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानस:।
वशमें किये हुए मनवाला योगी मनको इस तरहसे सदा (परमात्मामें) लगाता हुआ मुझमें सम्यक् स्थितिवाली (जो) निर्वाणपरमा शान्ति है, (उसको) प्राप्त हो जाता है।
Where else it appears
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Trace the idea from one source to the next.
- 1ConceptदुःखDukkha — suffering, unsatisfactorinessNirvana is defined as the cessation of dukkha.
- 2Thinkerगौतम बुद्धSiddhartha Gautama, the BuddhaThe Buddha's awakening and teaching of the path to cessation.
- 3Thinkerनागार्जुनNagarjunaMadhyamaka's non-difference of samsara and nirvana.
- 4Gita verseBhagavad Gita 2.72The Gita's brahma-nirvana: the state that remains even at death.
- 5Gita verseBhagavad Gita 5.24One whose joy and light are within attains brahma-nirvana.
- 6Conceptमोक्षMoksha — liberationCompare with the Hindu concepts of liberation.
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