Chapter 2, Verse 71
विहाय कामान्य: सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति नि:स्पृह: | निर्ममो निरहङ्कार: स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥71॥
vihāya kāmān yaḥ sarvān pumānścarati niḥspṛhaḥ | nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sa śāntim adhigacchati
"That man attains peace who, after rejecting all desires, moves about free from hankering, without the idea of ('me' and) 'mine', and devoid of pride."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 2.71 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 2.71 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
In this definitive verse, Lord Krishna identifies the four psychological anchors that prevent the soul from experiencing its inherent peace: Kama (desire), Spriha (longing/hankering), Mamta (possessiveness/mine-ness), and Ahankara (ego). True peace is not the result of accumulating desired objects, but the result of a state of consciousness where the thirst for 'more' has ceased. By shedding the false identity of being the 'owner' and 'doer,' an individual moves through the world (charati) with a sense of freedom, eventually attaining the ultimate tranquility that is unaffected by external fluctuations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 2.71?
That man attains peace who, after rejecting all desires, moves about free from hankering, without the idea of ('me' and) 'mine', and devoid of pride.