In Bhagavad Gita 2.64, Krishna teaches that a disciplined person who moves among sense objects with senses under control, free from attachment and aversion, attains inner serenity.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
रागद्वेषविमुक्तैस्तु
विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन्
आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा
प्रसादमधिगच्छति ॥ २-६४ ॥
rāgadveṣavimuktaistu
viṣayānindriyaiścaran
ātmavaśyairvidheyātmā
prasādamadhigacchati
English transliteration raagadveshavimuktaistu
vishayaanindriyaishcharan
aatmavashyairvidheyaatmaa
prasaadamadhigachchhati ॥ 2.64 ॥
Variant reading: रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु
Translation / Meaning
But a person of disciplined mind, moving among the objects of the senses with senses under control and free from attachment and aversion, attains inner serenity.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| रागद्वेषविमुक्तैः rāgadveṣavimuktaiḥ | free from attachment and aversion rāga (attachment) + dveṣa (aversion) + vimuktaiḥ (freed) |
| तु tu | but |
| विषयान् viṣayān | sense objects |
| इन्द्रियैः indriyaiḥ | with the senses |
| चरन् caran | moving among |
| आत्मवश्यैः ātmavaśyaiḥ | under self-control ātma (self) + vaśyaiḥ (controlled) |
| विधेयात्मा vidheyātmā | one of disciplined mind |
| प्रसादम् prasādam | serenity, clarity |
| अधिगच्छति adhigacchati | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- rā–gad–ve–ṣa–vi–muk–tais–tu 8 syllables raa-gad-ve-sha-vi-muk-tais-tu
- vi–ṣa–yā–nin–dri–yaiś–ca–ran | 8 syllables vi-sha-yaa-nin-dri-yaish-cha-ran
- āt–ma–vaś–yair–vi–dhe–yāt–mā 8 syllables aat-ma-vash-yair-vi-dhe-yaat-maa
- pra–sā–da–ma–dhi–gac–cha–ti || 2-64 8 syllables pra-saa-da-ma-dhi-gach-chha-ti
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 64
Context
After describing the downward chain (2.62–2.63), Krishna presents its positive opposite.
Meaning
The steady person does not avoid the world. He moves among sense objects, using the senses fully, but free from rāga and dveṣa, attachment and aversion. The senses are under the control of the Self, not the other way round. The result is prasāda: clarity, serenity, a grace-filled peace.
This verse shows that the Gita’s ideal is not escape from the world but freedom within it. We can eat, see, hear and enjoy, but without being driven by craving or repulsion. A variant reading has rāgadveṣaviyukta, with the same meaning. Serenity comes not from avoiding life but from engaging with it freely.
In Practice
During an ordinary pleasure today, such as a meal or a walk, notice the experience fully without craving more or rejecting anything. Taste the serenity that comes.
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.