1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min
Study a Verse
Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.61
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः ।
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ६१ ॥
tāni sarvāṇi saṁyamya
yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi
tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
One who fully controls the senses and fixes the mind on Kṛṣṇa has steady intelligence.
Prabhupāda explains that complete sense control is possible only through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfection of yoga.
King Ambarīṣa controlled his senses by using them in the Lord’s service. Follow his example by hearing about Kṛṣṇa and serving Him.
This verse provides contrast between process of dry renunciation and devotional service
“Steady Intelligence” defined
One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control
And fixes his consciousness upon ‘Me’
Highest conception of Yoga perfection is Krishna consciousness
E.g. Durvasa Muni (yogi) vs Ambarisa Maharaja (Krishna conscious devotee) – Ambarisa Maharaja engaged fully his senses in Krishna’s service and thus silently tolerated Durvasa Muni’s injustice
“Mat-para” — It implies all senses and mind are engaged in relationship with Krishna
e.g. Ambarisa Maharaja (Ref. SB 9.4.18-20)
Ref. Baladeva Vidyabushana who is another ‘mat-para’ devotee remarks: “Senses can be completely controlled only by strength of devotional service”
Analogy of ‘devotional service’ compared to ‘Vishnu as fire’ — Just like fire burns all to ashes, similarly Vishnu in the heart of a yogi burns all impurities
Therefore the aim of real Yoga is “Devotion to Supreme Personality of Godhead” and “Meditation on Vishnu” and not void
Become fixed in Krishna Consciousness
By working in Buddhi-yoga one attains ‘material detachment’ and the ‘equipoised platform of liberation’ called Samadhi
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Sense control
Krishna directs control of the senses toward consciousness of Him.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 2.61 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?
Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.