Chapter 2 of 18
Transcendental Knowledge
The second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is Sankhya Yoga. This is the most important chapter of the Bhagavad Gita as Lord Krishna condenses the teachings of the entire Gita in this chapter. This chapter is the essence of the entire Gita. Sankhya Yoga can be categorized into 4 main topics - 1. Arjuna completely surrenders himself to Lord Krishna and accepts his position as a disciple and Krishna as his Guru. He requests Krishna to guide him on how to dismiss his sorrow. 2. Explanation of the main cause of all grief, which is ignorance of the true nature of Self. 3. Karma Yoga - the discipline of selfless action without being attached to its fruits. 4. Description of a Perfect Man - One whose mind is steady and one-pointed.
72 of 72 verses available
सञ्जय उवाच तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् | विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ||२-१||
Sanjaya describes Arjuna at his breaking point—overwhelmed by compassion, grief, and inner conflict, his eyes filled with tears. In that moment of despair, Krishna begins to speak, opening the guidance that will help Arjuna see beyond his confusion.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् | अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ||२-२||
Krishna challenges Arjuna’s collapse of courage at this critical moment. He reminds him that giving in to helplessness and confusion does not match his deeper strength or responsibility; instead, he must rise, see the situation clearly, and act with dignity.
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते | क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ||२-३||
Krishna tells Arjuna not to give in to the helplessness and fear that are stopping him from doing what is right. This kind of despair does not reflect Arjuna’s true strength; he must let go of this weakness of heart, rise with courage, and face his duty.
अर्जुन उवाच कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन | इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ||२-४||
Arjuna is torn because the people he must face in battle are Bhishma and Drona—elders and teachers he deeply respects. He cannot see how he can raise his weapons against those he feels should be honoured, even when they stand on the opposing side.
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके | हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ||२-५||
Arjuna feels that defeating or killing his revered teachers for the sake of a kingdom would make every victory feel morally stained. He says that even a life of hardship would be better than enjoying power, wealth, or pleasure gained by harming those he deeply respects.
न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः | यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषामस्- तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ||२-६||
Arjuna is torn between two painful outcomes: winning by killing his own relatives, or being defeated by them. Standing before the battle, he feels so overwhelmed that he cannot even decide which outcome would be worse, because life itself seems meaningless after the death of those he loves.
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः | यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||२-७||
Arjuna admits that grief and helplessness have clouded his judgment, and he can no longer see his duty clearly. Instead of pretending to have all the answers, he humbly asks Krishna to guide him as a teacher, seeking what will truly lead to his highest good.
न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद् यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम् | अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ||२-८||
Arjuna says that his grief is so deep that no success, wealth, power, or even the highest position in the world could soothe it. He recognises that external achievements cannot heal an inner wound caused by confusion, attachment, and sorrow.
सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप | न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ||२-९||
Sanjaya says that after pouring out his anguish, Arjuna tells Krishna, “I will not fight,” and falls silent. Though known as a great warrior, he is overwhelmed by grief and confusion; this silence marks the point where he can no longer rely on his own certainty and needs deeper guidance.
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः ||२-१०||
Seeing Arjuna overwhelmed with sorrow between the two armies, Krishna begins to speak. His gentle, almost smiling manner shows the calm assurance of a teacher who knows that even deep confusion can be cleared by true understanding.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे | गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ||२-११||
Krishna tells Arjuna that his grief comes from seeing death as the final end. A truly wise person understands that the deepest self is not destroyed when the body dies, and therefore does not become overwhelmed by sorrow for either the living or the dead. This is not a command to be heartless; it is an invitation to see life and loss with deeper understanding.
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः | न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ||२-१२||
Krishna tells Arjuna that the true Self is not limited to the birth and death of the body. There was never a time when Krishna, Arjuna, or these kings did not exist, and their essential being will not cease in the future. This teaching begins to loosen the fear and sorrow that come from seeing death as a complete ending.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा | तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ||२-१३||
The body keeps changing—from childhood to youth to old age—yet the conscious self within continues through these changes. Krishna says that death, too, is a transition into another body, so a person with steady understanding is not overwhelmed by grief or confusion about it.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः | आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ||२-१४||
Pleasure and pain, comfort and discomfort—like heat and cold—come and go because they arise from changing circumstances and sensory experiences. Krishna asks Arjuna not to be shaken by every passing feeling, but to face them with patience and inner steadiness.
यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ | समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ||२-१५||
Krishna says that real inner strength is not being shaken by every comfort or hardship that comes your way. A steady person learns to meet pleasure and pain with balance, and this steadiness prepares them to realise the deathless Self.
नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः | उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ||२-१६||
What is truly real does not disappear, and what is unreal has no lasting existence. Wise people learn to distinguish the eternal Self from the changing body, emotions, situations, and appearances; this clarity loosens the grip of grief and fear.
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् | विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ||२-१७||
Krishna says that the true Self—the conscious presence within every being—pervades all of existence and can never be destroyed. Bodies and circumstances may change, but this eternal reality remains untouched, giving us a deeper ground of courage beyond loss and fear.
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः | अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत ||२-१८||
The body is temporary and will one day end, but the Self within is eternal, cannot be destroyed, and is beyond full measurement or definition. Krishna therefore asks Arjuna not to let grief over mortal bodies make him abandon his rightful duty.
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम् | उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ||२-१९||
Krishna says that the true Self—the deepest spiritual reality within us—does not kill and cannot be killed. Bodies may act, change, and perish, but the Self is beyond physical birth and death; mistaking it for the body is the root of this misunderstanding.
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन् नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः | अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ||२-२०||
Your true Self is not the body, so it is never born and never dies. Bodies change and eventually perish, but the conscious Self remains eternal, unchanged, and beyond destruction. Krishna offers this teaching to loosen the fear and grief that come from seeing death as the end of a person’s being.
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम् | कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ||२-२१||
Krishna says that one who truly understands the Self as eternal, unborn, and incapable of being destroyed no longer sees death as the annihilation of a person’s real being. The body may perish, but the true Self neither kills nor can be killed; this wisdom helps Arjuna look beyond grief and act with clarity.
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि | तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा- न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ||२-२२||
Just as we replace old clothes when they are worn out, the eternal Self leaves behind a body that has completed its time and takes on another. Krishna uses this image to remind Arjuna that death is not the end of the true Self, so grief should be softened by understanding the soul’s continuity.
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः | न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ||२-२३||
Your true Self, the Atman, cannot be harmed by anything physical. No weapon can cut it, no fire can burn it, no water can soak it, and no wind can dry it. Krishna reminds Arjuna that the soul is beyond the changing conditions of the body and the material world.
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च | नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः ||२-२४||
The true Self within you cannot be harmed by any physical force or changed by the passing conditions of life. It is eternal, steady, and present everywhere; recognizing this deeper reality helps us face loss, fear, and change with greater inner peace.
अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते | तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि ||२-२५||
The true Self cannot be seen with the eyes, fully grasped by the mind, or changed by anything that happens to the body. Knowing that this inner reality is beyond birth and death, Krishna asks Arjuna not to be consumed by grief.
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम् | तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि ||२-२६||
Even if you see life only as a continuous cycle of birth and death, there is still no reason to be consumed by grief. Change and mortality are part of life’s natural order; accepting this truth with courage helps us face loss without losing our inner strength.
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च | तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||२-२७||
Everyone who is born will one day die, and death is followed by another birth in the ongoing cycle of life. Krishna reminds Arjuna that this reality cannot be avoided; recognising it does not erase love or loss, but it can help us meet grief with greater steadiness and wisdom.
अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत | अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ||२-२८||
Krishna reminds Arjuna that every body and life-form appears for a time and then passes from view; before birth and after death, it is not seen in the same way. This natural cycle of coming and going can soften our grief and help us face loss with a wider, steadier understanding.
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन- माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः | आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ||२-२९||
The true Self is so subtle and profound that people may speak about it, listen to teachings about it, or even glimpse it as something extraordinary—yet still not truly understand it. Realising who we are beyond the changing body and mind requires deeper reflection and inner experience, not merely hearing words.
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत | तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||२-३०||
Krishna reminds Arjuna that the true Self living within every body can never be destroyed. Bodies may perish, but the inner soul is eternal; seeing this deeper truth helps us meet death and loss with compassion and steadiness rather than helpless grief.
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि | धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||२-३१||
Krishna tells Arjuna not to shrink from his rightful duty. As a warrior, Arjuna is called to stand for justice in a battle that has become necessary; for him, there is no greater path than acting courageously for what is right, without being ruled by personal fear or sorrow.
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् | सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ||२-३२||
Krishna tells Arjuna that this is not a battle he has sought out for personal gain; it has come to him as a rightful duty. For a warrior committed to protecting justice, such a call is a rare opportunity to act courageously and uphold what is right, rather than withdraw out of fear or emotional pain.
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि | ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ||२-३३||
Krishna tells Arjuna that walking away from a just responsibility out of fear or emotional weakness is not true compassion. When we abandon the duty that is rightly ours, we lose our integrity and create the inner burden of having failed to stand for what is right.
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् | सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ||२-३४||
Krishna reminds Arjuna that walking away from a just duty will not bring real peace; it will leave a lasting stain on his honour. For someone known for courage and integrity, abandoning what is right can feel more painful than death itself.
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः | येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ||२-३५||
Krishna tells Arjuna that if he leaves the battle out of fear, the respected warriors who once admired him will believe he has lost courage and will no longer hold him in the same regard. He is reminding Arjuna that running away from a difficult duty can damage both one’s integrity and the trust others place in them.
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः | निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ||२-३६||
Krishna tells Arjuna that if he abandons his duty out of fear, his opponents will question his courage and strength and speak harshly about him. For a warrior who values honour, living with the pain of having failed his rightful responsibility can feel worse than facing the challenge itself.
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् | तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ||२-३७||
Krishna tells Arjuna to rise with firm resolve and do his rightful duty. Whether he dies or wins, he will not truly lose: an honourable death in a just cause leads to heaven, while victory allows him to restore order on earth. The point is not to chase either outcome, but to act courageously when duty calls.
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ | ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ||२-३८||
Keep your mind steady through pleasure and pain, profit and loss, success and failure. When you do what is right without being driven by the outcome, you can act with clarity and without the burden of wrongdoing.
एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु | बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ||२-३९||
Krishna now shifts from explaining the eternal Self to teaching the practical path of Karma Yoga. Act with a steady, clear mind, without being trapped by selfish expectations about results; this attitude frees you from the binding effects of your actions.
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते | स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ||२-४०||
On the path of selfless action and inner growth, no sincere effort is ever wasted. Even a small step—doing your duty with the right intention, without clinging to results—begins to free you from the deep fear and insecurity that come from living only for outcomes.
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन | बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् ||२-४१||
Krishna says that a clear purpose gives the mind focus and strength. When you know what truly matters and act with steady resolve, your thoughts become unified; but when the mind is indecisive and pulled by countless desires, it keeps scattering in many directions.
यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः | वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः ||२-४२||
Krishna cautions Arjuna against being carried away by impressive-sounding religious words that promise worldly rewards. When people treat rituals and their promised results as the whole truth, they miss the deeper purpose of spiritual wisdom: inner clarity, freedom, and connection with the Self.
कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम् | क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति ||२-४३||
Krishna warns against getting caught up in teachings that promise heaven, pleasure, status, or power through elaborate rituals. When desire is driving us, even good actions can become a way of chasing rewards and creating further attachment, instead of moving toward inner freedom.
भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम् | व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते ||२-४४||
When we become overly absorbed in comfort, luxury, status, or the promise of worldly rewards, our attention gets scattered. A mind pulled in many directions cannot develop the steady clarity needed for inner peace, focused action, and spiritual growth.
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन | निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ||२-४५||
Arjuna, do not let your life be ruled by the changing pulls of pleasure and pain, gain and loss, or constant worry about getting and keeping things. Stay grounded in clarity and inner balance, focus on what is right, and remain connected to your deeper Self.
यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके | तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः ||२-४६||
When someone directly realizes the Self, the deeper purpose of all spiritual teachings becomes clear to them. Scriptures and rituals remain valuable guides, but for one who has reached that inner wisdom, they are like a small well when water is available everywhere after a flood—useful, yet no longer the only source of nourishment.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||२-४७||
Your responsibility is to give your best to the work in front of you; the final result is never fully in your control. Do not act only for rewards, praise, or success, but do not use this teaching as an excuse to avoid action either. Focus sincerely on the effort, and meet outcomes with steadiness.
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय | सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ||२-४८||
Do your work with a steady mind, without tying your peace to whether you succeed or fail. Give your best effort, but do not let the result control your inner balance; this calm equality is what Krishna calls Yoga.
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय | बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ||२-४९||
Arjuna, acting with a clear, steady mind is far greater than acting only to chase results. Do your work sincerely, but do not make success, profit, praise, or failure the sole reason for doing it; people who live only for outcomes keep themselves trapped in disappointment and worry.
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते | तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ||२-५०||
When you act with a steady, wise mind instead of chasing rewards or fearing failure, your actions no longer bind you to pride over success or guilt over mistakes. So practise Yoga: bring presence, balance, and integrity to what you do. True skill in action is not merely getting results—it is doing your duty well without losing your inner peace.
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः | जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम् ||२-५१||
Wise people do their work with a steady, clear mind, without making their happiness depend on success, praise, or reward. By letting go of this attachment to results, they free themselves from the cycle of suffering and move toward a state of lasting peace.
यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति | तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च ||२-५२||
When your mind rises above confusion and mistaken beliefs, you will no longer be constantly pulled by every new opinion, teaching, or promise you hear. You gain the inner clarity to recognise what truly matters instead of chasing endless information and external answers.
श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला | समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ||२-५३||
When your mind is no longer pulled in different directions by conflicting ideas and advice, and becomes steady in inner awareness, you will attain yoga—the state of deep inner balance and union with the Self.
अर्जुन उवाच स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव | स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ||२-५४||
Arjuna asks Krishna how a person with truly steady wisdom lives in the world. He wants to understand the practical signs of inner peace: how such a person speaks, rests, and acts when their mind is firmly rooted in spiritual clarity.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् | आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ||२-५५||
Krishna says that steady wisdom begins when we stop being ruled by the endless wants arising in the mind. A person who discovers contentment within, rather than depending completely on possessions, praise, comfort, or outcomes, becomes inwardly stable and free.
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः | वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ||२-५६||
A person of steady wisdom does not fall apart when life becomes painful, nor become restless chasing pleasure when things go well. Free from compulsive attachment, fear, and anger, they remain inwardly balanced through both hardship and happiness.
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् | नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-५७||
A person with steady wisdom does not become emotionally dependent on favourable events or bitter toward unfavourable ones. They meet success and failure, comfort and difficulty with inner balance, because their peace is not controlled by changing circumstances.
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः | इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-५८||
A person’s wisdom becomes steady when they can draw their senses back from tempting sights, sounds, pleasures, and distractions—just as a tortoise pulls in its limbs when needed. This does not mean running away from the world; it means having the inner control not to be pulled wherever desire leads.
विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः | रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते ||२-५९||
Simply avoiding pleasures or cutting yourself off from temptations may remove them from your life, but the inner craving can still remain. That deeper attraction fades only when you experience something higher and more fulfilling—the peace and joy of the Self.
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः | इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ||२-६०||
Even a thoughtful person who is sincerely trying to stay disciplined can be pulled off course by powerful sensory urges. Krishna reminds us not to become overconfident: self-control takes steady awareness and practice, because distractions can seize the mind before we realise it.
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः | वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-६१||
Bring all your senses under wise discipline and keep your mind anchored in the Divine. When cravings and impulses no longer pull you in every direction, your understanding becomes steady, clear, and dependable.
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते | सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ||२-६२||
What we repeatedly dwell on begins to hold our attention and create attachment. That attachment turns into craving, and when craving is blocked or unfulfilled, it can quickly become anger. Krishna points to the chain early: guard your thoughts before they grow into emotions that disturb your peace.
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः | स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ||२-६३||
Anger does not stay limited to one moment—it clouds the mind and makes us forget what we know, value, and stand for. When clear judgment is lost, we can make harmful choices and damage ourselves and others. Krishna warns us to pause and regain inner clarity before anger takes control.
रागद्वेषविमुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन् | (or वियुक्तैस्तु) आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति ||२-६४||
Real self-control does not mean running away from the world or denying every pleasure. It means engaging with life while keeping your senses and mind under your own guidance, free from compulsive likes and dislikes. When attraction and aversion no longer control you, you naturally gain inner calm and clarity.
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते | प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते ||२-६५||
When the mind becomes calm and inwardly peaceful, suffering begins to lose its hold on us. In that clarity, our judgment settles quickly, helping us respond wisely instead of being carried away by worry, desire, or emotional turmoil.
नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना | न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ||२-६६||
When the mind is scattered and pulled in different directions, clear understanding and deep reflection become difficult. Without inner focus, peace cannot grow—and without peace, lasting happiness remains out of reach. Krishna reminds us that real well-being begins by steadying the mind, rather than endlessly chasing external comforts.
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते | तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ||२-६७||
When the mind keeps chasing whatever the senses see, hear, taste, or desire, it loses its clarity and good judgement. Like a boat blown off course by strong winds, a person can be pulled away from what truly matters by one unchecked impulse.
तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः | इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-६८||
Krishna says that real inner clarity comes when we do not let our senses constantly pull us toward tempting sights, pleasures, and distractions. This is not about rejecting the world, but about having enough self-control that our choices are guided by wisdom rather than impulse.
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी | यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ||२-६९||
Most people stay absorbed in worldly pleasures, status, and constant stimulation, but these hold little attraction for a person with self-control and clear inner vision. Instead, the wise person is awake to the deeper truth of the Self—the very reality that others often overlook or ignore.
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् | तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ||२-७०||
Just as rivers keep flowing into the vast ocean without making it overflow or lose its stillness, a person of inner steadiness lets desires and experiences come and go without being controlled by them. Real peace belongs not to someone who chases every desire, but to one who remains complete within.
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः | निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ||२-७१||
Real peace comes when we stop being driven by endless wants and the constant need to possess or control things. A person who lets go of craving, “this is mine,” and the ego’s demand to be important can move through life with a calm and free mind.
एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति | स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति ||२-७२||
Krishna says this is the state of a person rooted in the highest truth: they are no longer shaken by cravings, fear, or confusion. Even if someone becomes firmly established in this inner clarity at the very end of life, they attain lasting freedom and union with the Divine.
