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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 ›
Mind & yogaChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.58

Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation

Jīva · The soul

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ५८ ॥

yadā saṁharate cāyaṁ

kūrmo ’ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ

indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas

tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā

Translation

One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.

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

Controlling the Senses

  1. 1

    One who withdraws the senses from sense objects, like a tortoise drawing in its limbs, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that steady Kṛṣṇa consciousness requires controlling the senses and following scripture’s do’s and do-not’s.

  3. 3

    Use the senses in the Lord’s service, not for personal satisfaction, and withdraw them otherwise.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 2.58–59

Answers the third question — How does he sit?

This implies “How he restrains his senses and mentality”

Answer: He uses his senses only for Krishna’s service. Based on higher taste he can control his senses

Anology: Tortoise and Devotee – Implies to keep senses always in service of Lord and withdraw the senses when not required (2.58)

a

Test of a yogi/devotee/self-realized soul (2.58) — He is able to control senses according to his plan

b

Two analogies for self-controlled yogi — (2.58)

Tortoise and Devotee (Refer to translation)

Snake Charmer, Senses and Serpents (purport) – He never lets the senses loose, but control senses (which are like venomous serpents) under do’s and don’ts, just like a snake charmer controls a snake FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 2.58 – 2.59 continued…

c

Restraining is difficult, because taste of sense objects still remain (2.59)

This is the cause of falldown for Impersonalists or those in Astanga-yoga

Analogy: Restriction of diseased patient from some food item – patient still has taste for it

d

Restrictions are only good in neophyte stage, because — (2.59)

On advanced platform one develops a higher taste and it becomes easier to restrain the senses, one automatically loses taste for pale things

What kind of higher taste recommended

One who has tasted the Lord’s beauty in the course of his advancement such a person loses all taste of dead material things

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. yadāwhen
  2. saṁharatewinds up
  3. caalso
  4. ayamhe
  5. kūrmaḥtortoise
  6. aṅgānilimbs
  7. ivalike
  8. sarvaśaḥaltogether
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

  • Sense control

    The tortoise analogy describes sense withdrawal.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.58 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayGive the Senses Real EngagementA practice from BG 2.62, close to this verse

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