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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.552.57

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.56

Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation

दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्न‍मनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः ।

वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थिधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ॥ ५६ ॥

duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ

sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ

vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ

sthita-dhīr munir ucyate

Translation

One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

A Steady Mind

  1. 1A sage of steady mind is undisturbed by suffering, not carried away by happiness, and free from attachment, fear and anger.
  2. 2Such a sage goes beyond mental speculation and stays in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, knowing that Kṛṣṇa is everything.
  3. 3He accepts suffering as the Lord’s mercy and happiness as His grace, remaining determined to serve Him even when his efforts fail.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation.

What it teaches

Theme summary

A disciplined mind is one's best friend.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.56 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.

4

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 2 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.55Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulationBG 2.57Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulationBG 6.35Practice and detachment

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

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.