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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
2.602.62

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.61

Qualities of steady wisdom and sense regulation

तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः ।

वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ६१ ॥

tāni sarvāṇi saṁyamya

yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ

vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi

tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā

Translation

One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Steady Intelligence Through Devotion

  1. 1One who fully controls the senses and fixes the mind on Kṛṣṇa has steady intelligence.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that complete sense control is possible only through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfection of yoga.
  3. 3King Ambarīṣa controlled his senses by using them in the Lord’s service. Follow his example by hearing about Kṛṣṇa and serving Him.

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

Krishna directs control of the senses toward consciousness of Him.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.61 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 2.60Qualities 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 2.61 — 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.