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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.69
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी ।
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ॥ ६९ ॥
yā niśā sarva-bhūtānāṁ
tasyāṁ jāgarti saṁyamī
yasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni
sā niśā paśyato muneḥ
What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
What is night for all beings is waking time for the self-controlled sage; their waking time is night for the sage.
People absorbed in sense pleasure are asleep to self-realization, while the thoughtful sage finds spiritual pleasure in steady progress.
The sage continues self-realization without being disturbed by material happiness or distress.
Krishna gives an analogy — Although sensory engagements appear similar for self-realized soul and materialist – there is difference of day and night
Two classes of intelligent men
Those involved in material action for sense gratification – They are asleep to self- realisation
They dream of varieties of sense pleasures
Sometimes they feel happy and sometimes distressed
Those who are introspective and awake to self-realisation – They are always indifferent to materialism
They feel transcendental pleasure in gradual advancement of spiritual culture
Always undisturbed and indifferent to materialistic happiness and distress
Texts 2.69 & 2.70
Unlike common man, actions of Buddhi-yoga are not driven by selfish desire. Krishna now gives an example to illustrate this nature of sthita-prajna (self-realised soul)
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.
Key ideas: mokṣa, dhāma.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 2.69 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to liberation & destiny?
Reflect on what you want to remember at life's end.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.