In Bhagavad Gita 2.44, Krishna explains that those attached to enjoyment and power, whose minds are carried away by such words, cannot attain the resolute intellect fixed in samadhi.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां
तयापहृतचेतसाम्
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः
समाधौ न विधीयते ॥ २-४४ ॥
bhogaiśvaryaprasaktānāṃ
tayāpahṛtacetasām
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ
samādhau na vidhīyate
English transliteration bhogaishvaryaprasaktaanaam
tayaapahritachetasaam
vyavasaayaatmikaa buddhih
samaadhau na vidheeyate ॥ 2.44 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For those who are attached to enjoyment and power, and whose minds are carried away by such words, the resolute intellect is not established in meditative absorption.
Verses 2.42–2.44 form one sentence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानाम् bhogaiśvaryaprasaktānām | of those attached to enjoyment and power bhoga (enjoyment) + aiśvarya (power) + prasaktānām (attached) |
| तया tayā | by that (speech) |
| अपहृतचेतसाम् apahṛtacetasām | whose minds are carried away apahṛta (carried away) + cetasām (minds) |
| व्यवसायात्मिका vyavasāyātmikā | resolute |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | intellect |
| समाधौ samādhau | in samādhi |
| न na | not |
| विधीयते vidhīyate | is established |
Word-wise Chanting
- bho–gaiś–var–yap–ra–sak–tā–nāṃ 8 syllables bho-gaish-var-yap-ra-sak-taa-naam
- ta–yā–pa–hṛ–ta–ce–ta–sām | 8 syllables ta-yaa-pa-hri-ta-che-ta-saam
- vya–va–sā–yāt–mi–kā bud–dhiḥ 8 syllables vya-va-saa-yaat-mi-kaa bud-dhih
- sa–mā–dhau na vi–dhī–ya–te || 2-44 8 syllables sa-maa-dhau na vi-dhee-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 44
Context
Krishna completes the sentence begun in 2.42 and returns to the resolute intellect of 2.41.
Meaning
The conclusion is simple: a mind attached to pleasure and power cannot be steady. Desire pulls attention in many directions, so the intellect cannot settle in samādhi, the state of absorbed, unified awareness. Spiritual clarity requires a mind that is not constantly chasing rewards.
This explains why the Gita stresses detachment before meditation. It is not that pleasure is evil, but that a mind driven by it cannot become still. As desires lose their grip, the intellect naturally becomes collected and clear. Samādhi is less something we achieve than something that happens when the mind stops being pulled away.
In Practice
Before meditating or reflecting today, set aside one specific desire for the duration of the practice. Notice how much easier stillness becomes.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.