Chapter 2, Verse 55
श्रीभगवानुवाच | प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् | आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्ट: स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥55॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān | ātmany evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadocyate ||
"The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, when one fully renounces all the desires that have entered the mind, and remains satisfied in the Self alone by the Self, then he is called a man of steady wisdom."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 2.55 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 2.55 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
In this verse, Lord Krishna defines the 'Sthitaprajna' (one of steady wisdom). The core criteria are twofold: the total abandonment of mental cravings (mano-gatān kāmān) and finding absolute contentment within the soul (ātmanā tuṣṭaḥ). The analogy of the 'mirage' explains that material desires are endless and illusory; true bliss is not an external acquisition but an internal realization. Like a person who has found an ocean and no longer seeks a puddle, the enlightened soul is satisfied by the Self, through the Self.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 2.55?
The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, when one fully renounces all the desires that have entered the mind, and remains satisfied in the Self alone by the Self, then he is called a man of steady wisdom.