In Bhagavad Gita 2.71, Krishna says that the person who gives up all desires and moves about free from longing, without the sense of “mine” or ego, attains peace.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्
पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः
स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥ २-७१ ॥
vihāya kāmānyaḥ sarvān
pumāṃścarati niḥspṛhaḥ
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ
sa śāntimadhigacchati
English transliteration vihaaya kaamaanyah sarvaan
pumaamshcharati nihsprihah
nirmamo nirahankaarah
sa shaantimadhigachchhati ॥ 2.71 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The person who gives up all desires and moves about free from longing, without the sense of “mine” and without ego, attains peace.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| विहाय vihāya | giving up |
| कामान् kāmān | desires |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सर्वान् sarvān | all |
| पुमान् pumān | person |
| चरति carati | moves about |
| निःस्पृहः niḥspṛhaḥ | free from longing |
| निर्ममः nirmamaḥ | without the sense of “mine” |
| निरहङ्कारः nirahaṅkāraḥ | without ego nir (without) + ahaṅkāraḥ (ego, sense of “I”) |
| सः saḥ | he |
| शान्तिम् śāntim | peace |
| अधिगच्छति adhigacchati | attains |
Word-wise Chanting
- vi–hā–ya kā–mān–yaḥ sar–vān– 8 syllables vi-haa-ya kaa-maan-yah sar-vaan-
- pu–māṃś–ca–ra–ti niḥs–pṛ–haḥ | 8 syllables pu-maamsh-cha-ra-ti nihs-pri-hah
- nir–ma–mo ni–ra–haṅ–kā–raḥ 8 syllables nir-ma-mo ni-ra-han-kaa-rah
- sa śān–ti–ma–dhi–gac–cha–ti || 2-71 8 syllables sa shaan-ti-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 71
Context
Krishna summarises the qualities of the sthitaprajña just before the chapter’s conclusion.
Meaning
Two key words describe the free person: nirmama, without the sense of “mine,” and nirahaṅkāra, without the ego that says “I am the doer.” These two, possessiveness and self-centredness, are the roots of bondage. When they are released, a person moves through the world freely and peacefully.
The verse does not ask us to stop living or acting, but to stop clinging. We can use things without claiming them as “mine,” and act without inflating the “I.” Such freedom brings a light-hearted peace that does not depend on possessions or success.
In Practice
Today, when you think “this is mine,” add silently “for now, entrusted to me.” Notice how it changes your sense of ownership.
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.