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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
2.592.61

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.60

Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation

यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः ।

इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥ ६० ॥

yatato hy api kaunteya

puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ

indriyāṇi pramāthīni

haranti prasabhaṁ manaḥ

Translation

The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Strong Senses, Mind on Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1The powerful senses can forcibly carry away even a wise person's mind despite efforts to control them.
  2. 2Even great sages can fall into material enjoyment. Without engaging the mind in Kṛṣṇa, one cannot stop such activities.
  3. 3Engaging the mind in Kṛṣṇa’s service brings spiritual joy, making material enjoyment distasteful.

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 senses can forcibly carry away the mind.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.60 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 2.58Qualities 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 2.60 — 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.