In Bhagavad Gita 2.55, Krishna says that a person is called steady in wisdom when he gives up all the desires of the mind and is satisfied in the Self by the Self.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रजहाति यदा कामान्
सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान्
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः
स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥ २-५५ ॥
prajahāti yadā kāmān
sarvānpārtha manogatān
ātmanyevātmanā tuṣṭaḥ
sthitaprajñastadocyate
English transliteration prajahaati yadaa kaamaan
sarvaanpaartha manogataan
aatmanyevaatmanaa tushtah
sthitaprajnastadochyate ॥ 2.55 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, when a person gives up all desires that arise in the mind, and is satisfied in the Self by the Self alone, then he is called one of steady wisdom.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रजहाति prajahāti | gives up completely |
| यदा yadā | when |
| कामान् kāmān | desires |
| सर्वान् sarvān | all |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| मनोगतान् manogatān | arising in the mind manas (mind) + gatān (gone into) |
| आत्मनि ātmani | in the Self |
| एव eva | alone |
| आत्मना ātmanā | by the Self |
| तुष्टः tuṣṭaḥ | satisfied |
| स्थितप्रज्ञः sthitaprajñaḥ | one of steady wisdom |
| तदा tadā | then |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–ja–hā–ti ya–dā kā–mān– 8 syllables pra-ja-haa-ti ya-daa kaa-maan-
- sar–vān–pār–tha ma–no–ga–tān | 8 syllables sar-vaan-paar-tha ma-no-ga-taan
- āt–man–ye–vāt–ma–nā tuṣ–ṭaḥ 8 syllables aat-man-ye-vaat-ma-naa tush-tah
- sthi–tap–ra–jñas–ta–doc–ya–te || 2-55 8 syllables sthi-tap-ra-jnas-ta-doch-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 55
Context
Krishna begins his answer to Arjuna’s question (2.54) with the most essential mark of steady wisdom.
Meaning
The first and deepest mark of the sthitaprajña is inner contentment. Desires that arise in the mind are released, and the person rests satisfied in the Self, by the Self. Their happiness does not depend on anything outside. This is not the suppression of desire but the discovery of a fullness that makes desire unnecessary.
We normally seek satisfaction in objects, achievements and relationships. The sage has found it at the source: in the Self, which is fullness itself. From this contentment, actions arise freely, without compulsion. This verse invites us to look for satisfaction not outward but inward.
In Practice
Sit for five minutes without seeking anything: no thought, no goal. Notice whether a quiet contentment is already present.
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.