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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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Liberation & destinyChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.702.72

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.71

Peace and the state of Brahman

विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः ।

निर्ममो निरहङ्कार स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥ ७१ ॥

vihāya kāmān yaḥ sarvān

pumāṁś carati niḥspṛhaḥ

nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ

sa śāntim adhigacchati

Translation

A person who has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego – he alone can attain real peace.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Real Desirelessness and Peace

  1. 1Only one who gives up desires for sense pleasure, claims of ownership, and false ego can attain real peace.
  2. 2Desirelessness means desiring to please Kṛṣṇa, not trying to stop all desires.
  3. 3We are Kṛṣṇa’s eternal servants. Everything belongs to Him and should be used for His satisfaction. This understanding brings real peace.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: peace and the state of brahman.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The soul's true destination is eternal.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: mokṣa, dhāma.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.71 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to liberation & destiny?

Practice

Reflect on what you want to remember at life's end.

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 2.69Peace and the state of BrahmanBG 2.70Peace and the state of Brahman

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.