In Bhagavad Gita 2.61, Krishna teaches that one should restrain all the senses and sit in yoga with the mind fixed on Him, for one whose senses are under control has established wisdom.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य
युक्त आसीत मत्परः
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि
तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ २-६१ ॥
tāni sarvāṇi saṃyamya
yukta āsīta matparaḥ
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi
tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
English transliteration taani sarvaani samyamya
yukta aaseeta matparah
vashe hi yasyendriyaani
tasya prajnaa pratishthitaa ॥ 2.61 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Restraining all the senses, one should sit steadfast in yoga, intent on Me as the Supreme. For one whose senses are under control, wisdom is firmly established.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तानि tāni | them |
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| संयम्य saṃyamya | restraining |
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | steadfast |
| आसीत āsīta | should sit |
| मत्परः matparaḥ | intent on Me mat (Me) + paraḥ (as the Supreme) |
| वशे vaśe | under control |
| हि hi | indeed |
| यस्य yasya | whose |
| इन्द्रियाणि indriyāṇi | senses |
| तस्य tasya | his |
| प्रज्ञा prajñā | wisdom |
| प्रतिष्ठिता pratiṣṭhitā | is established |
Word-wise Chanting
- tā–ni sar–vā–ṇi saṃ–yam–ya 8 syllables taa-ni sar-vaa-ni sam-yam-ya
- yuk–ta ā–sī–ta mat–pa–raḥ | 8 syllables yuk-ta aa-see-ta mat-pa-rah
- va–śe hi yas–yen–dri–yā–ṇi 8 syllables va-she hi yas-yen-dri-yaa-ni
- tas–ya pra–jñā pra–tiṣ–ṭhi–tā || 2-61 8 syllables tas-ya pra-jnaa pra-tish-thi-taa
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 61
Context
After describing the power of the senses (2.60), Krishna gives the remedy.
Meaning
The remedy has two parts. First, restraint: gently gathering the senses so they do not run after every object. Second, devotion: sitting in yoga with the mind directed to the Divine, mat-para. Restraint without a higher focus is difficult to sustain; devotion gives the mind something greater to rest on.
This is the first time in the Gita that Krishna explicitly points to himself as the object of meditation. Self-control becomes much easier when it is held within love for the Divine. The senses are not merely suppressed; they are gathered and offered. Then wisdom becomes steady.
In Practice
Before meditating or praying today, gently withdraw the senses, then place your attention on the Divine in whatever form is meaningful to you.
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.