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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

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Mind & yogaChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized

2.54 2.56

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.55

Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation

Jīva · The soul

श्रीभगवानुवाच

प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् ।

आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥ ५५ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

prajahāti yadā kāmān

sarvān pārtha mano-gatān

ātmany evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ

sthita-prajñas tadocyate

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Pārtha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

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

3 study points

Satisfied in Devotional Service

1
A person in pure transcendental consciousness gives up all desires for sense pleasure born from mental invention and finds satisfaction in the self alone.
2
Sense desires cannot be stopped artificially. They naturally subside through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service to the Lord.
3
The spiritually advanced person remains happy by knowing himself as the Supreme Lord’s eternal servant and serving Him.

Key points from the purport

Answers first question “General description and characteristics of a self-realized person”

He gives up all material desires of sense gratification born of mental concoction

Thus purified in mind one finds satisfaction in the self alone

How does one give up all material desires

One does not give them up artificially

But by complete engagement in Krishna Consciousness as eternal servitor

Ref. SB 5.18.12 – Without Krishna consciousness one is sure to take shelter of mental concoctions and has no good qualities

How one finds satisfaction in the self alone

By realizing eternal servitorship to the Supreme Lord

He has no sense desires from petty materialism

Related Analogies to illustrate the above two points (Ref. 2.60 purport)

Analogy for complete satisfaction: “Satisfied Hunger” (2.60 purport)

E.g. “Yamunacarya and Ambarisa Maharaja” (2.60 purport) – By Krishna consciousness one is free from all material desires and all good qualities manifest