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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.532.55

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.54

Arjuna asks about the self-realized person

Jīva · The soul

अर्जुन उवाच

स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव ।

स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ॥ ५४ ॥

arjuna uvāca

sthita-prajñasya kā bhāṣā

samādhi-sthasya keśava

sthita-dhīḥ kiṁ prabhāṣeta

kim āsīta vrajeta kim

Translation

Arjuna said: O Kṛṣṇa, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Signs of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Arjuna asks how one whose consciousness is merged in transcendence speaks, sits, and walks.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that a Kṛṣṇa conscious person has distinct signs in speech, thought, feeling, and actions.

  3. 3

    Speech is the most important sign: such a person speaks only of Kṛṣṇa and matters related to Him. Other signs follow automatically.

Key points from the purport

Arjuna asks four questions as to how to recognize a person situated in Krishna consciousness (Self- realized soul) or ‘Sthita-prajna’ (One in divine consciousness)

Arjuna’s four questions are:

General symptoms (Answered in 2.55)

How does he speak (Answered in 2.56-2.57)

How does he sit (Answered in 2.58-2.59)

How does he walk (Answered in 2.64-2.71)

a

Importance of the word ‘symptom’ — There are symptoms of rich man/ diseased man / learned man, similarly symptoms of a self-realized soul are addressed here

b

Most important symptom is how he speaks — Speech is the most important quality of any man

c

Immediate symptom of a Krishna conscious man — He speaks only of Krishna or of matters relating to Him

Further reading

Sthita–Prajna / Samadhi — Fight!

Become fixed in Krishna Consciousness

By working in Buddhi-yoga one attains ‘material detachment’ and the ‘equipoised platform of liberation’ called Samadhi

Chapter 2, section V: Sthita–Prajna / Samadhi — Fight!
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arjunaḥ uvācaArjuna said
  2. sthita-prajñasyaof one who is situated in fixed Kṛṣṇa consciousness
  3. kāwhat
  4. bhāṣālanguage
  5. samādhi-sthasyaof one situated in trance
  6. keśavaO Kṛṣṇa
  7. sthita-dhīḥone fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness
  8. kimwhat
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.54 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 1.46The bow falls
Live this todayThe Art of All WorkA practice from BG 2.50, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
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  3. Lead
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