Chapter V · Śloka 26
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम् |
अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ||
अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ||
kāma-krodha-viyuktānāṃ yatīnāṃ yata-cetasām |
abhito brahma-nirvāṇaṃ vartate viditātmanām ||
abhito brahma-nirvāṇaṃ vartate viditātmanām ||
For the ascetics who are freed from desire and anger, who have controlled their minds, and who have known the Self — the peace of Brahman is present on all sides.
The word abhitaḥ — on all sides, everywhere around — captures something important: liberation is not a point one reaches and then must maintain. For the one who knows the Self, nirvāṇa is not ahead or behind but surrounding them completely, always already present.