सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ | अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति ||
sukhaṁ tv idānīṁ tri-vidhaṁ śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha abhyāsād ramate yatra duḥkhāntaṁ ca nigacchati
Translation
Now hear from Me, O best of the Bharatas, the threefold distinction of happiness — that happiness in which one rejoices through practice and by which one comes to the end of suffering.
Interpretation
The final threefold analysis: happiness (sukha) itself, which is the ultimate end that all beings seek. The Gita's approach to happiness is sophisticated: not all happiness is equal, and not all paths to happiness lead to the end of suffering. The key phrase: 'by which one comes to the end of suffering' (duhkhantam ca nigacchati). True happiness ends suffering rather than merely postponing it. This distinguishes genuine happiness from pleasure — pleasure often creates future suffering; genuine sattvic happiness dissolves suffering at the root.