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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
2.572.59

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.58

Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation

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.

Controlling the Senses

  1. 1One who withdraws the senses from sense objects, like a tortoise drawing in its limbs, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that steady Kṛṣṇa consciousness requires controlling the senses and following scripture’s do’s and do-not’s.
  3. 3Use the senses in the Lord’s service, not for personal satisfaction, and withdraw them otherwise.

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.

Sense control

The tortoise analogy describes sense withdrawal.

3

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.

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 2.60Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulationBG 2.61Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulationBG 2.55Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulationBG 2.56Qualities 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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Ask about BG 2.58 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

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.