In Bhagavad Gita 2.54, Arjuna asks Krishna to describe the person of steady wisdom: how such a person speaks, sits and walks.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा
समाधिस्थस्य केशव
स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत
किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ॥ २-५४ ॥
sthitaprajñasya kā bhāṣā
samādhisthasya keśava
sthitadhīḥ kiṃ prabhāṣeta
kimāsīta vrajeta kim
English transliteration sthitaprajnasya kaa bhaashaa
samaadhisthasya keshava
sthitadheeh kim prabhaasheta
kimaaseeta vrajeta kim ॥ 2.54 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: O Keshava, what is the description of one who is established in wisdom and absorbed in samadhi? How does one of steady mind speak, how does he sit, how does he walk?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| स्थितप्रज्ञस्य sthitaprajñasya | of one of steady wisdom sthita (established) + prajñasya (of wisdom) |
| का kā | what |
| भाषा bhāṣā | description |
| समाधिस्थस्य samādhisthasya | of one established in samādhi samādhi (absorption) + sthasya (established) |
| केशव keśava | O Keśava |
| स्थितधीः sthitadhīḥ | one of steady mind sthita (steady) + dhīḥ (mind) |
| किम् kim | how |
| प्रभाषेत prabhāṣeta | speaks |
| किम् kim | how |
| आसीत āsīta | sits |
| व्रजेत vrajeta | walks |
| किम् kim | how |
Word-wise Chanting
- sthi–tap–ra–jñas–ya kā bhā–ṣā 8 syllables sthi-tap-ra-jnas-ya kaa bhaa-shaa
- sa–mā–dhis–thas–ya ke–śa–va | 8 syllables sa-maa-dhis-thas-ya ke-sha-va
- sthi–ta–dhīḥ kiṃ pra–bhā–ṣe–ta 8 syllables sthi-ta-dheeh kim pra-bhaa-she-ta
- ki–mā–sī–ta vra–je–ta kim || 2-54 8 syllables ki-maa-see-ta vra-je-ta kim
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 54
Context
Krishna has described the goal of yoga (2.53). Arjuna now asks a practical question that opens the famous description of the sthitaprajña (2.55–2.72).
Meaning
Arjuna wants to know what such a person is like in real life. How can one recognise someone of steady wisdom? How do they speak, sit and move? It is a natural question: teachings become real when we can see them embodied.
The remainder of Chapter 2 answers this question. The sthitaprajña is the Gita’s portrait of a liberated person living in the world. Arjuna asks about outer behaviour, but Krishna will answer mostly in terms of inner qualities, because outer signs flow from inner states.
In Practice
Think of someone you know who seems steady and wise. Notice how they speak and act, and choose one quality to cultivate in yourself.
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.