Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 2 › Verse 61
Bhagavad Gītā 2.61: Steady wisdom
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः ।
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
tāni sarvāṇi saṃyamya yukta āsīta matparaḥ
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
Restraining all the senses, one should sit disciplined, intent on Me; for one whose senses are under control, wisdom is firmly established. The verse pairs self-restraint with devotion: control is steadied by having something higher to turn towards.
For children
Krishna says: “Be the boss of your eyes, ears and tongue, and keep God in your heart. Then your good sense will stay strong.”
Right after warning that the senses can drag away even a wise person (2.60), Kṛṣṇa says how to keep wisdom steady.
Word by word
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य — Holding all the senses in check
- tāni: those (the senses)
- sarvāṇi: all
- saṃyamya: having held in check
युक्त आसीत मत्परः — sit steady, with your heart set on Me
- yukta: steady, joined in practice
- āsīta: should sit, remain
- matpara: devoted to Me
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि — one whose senses are under control
- vaśe: under control
- yasya: whose
- indriya: sense
तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता — has wisdom that stands firm
- prajñā: wisdom
- pratiṣṭhita: firmly established
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.