Sankhya Yoga · Verse 44

Bhagavad Gita 2.44

Craving scatters the mind before wisdom can settle.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम् ।
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
उस पुष्पित वाणीसे जिसका अन्तःकरण हर लिया गया है अर्थात् भोगोंकी तरफ खिंच गया है और जो भोग तथा ऐश्वर्यमें अत्यन्त आसक्त हैं, उन मनुष्योंकी परमात्मामें निश्चयात्मिका बुद्धि नहीं होती ॥
English
For those whose minds are carried away by pleasure and power, steadfast determination in meditation does not arise.

What this verse means

People who are pulled toward pleasure and power lose clear judgment. Their mind cannot settle into steady focus on the supreme reality.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen before war. Krishna explains why some people never reach firm understanding: their minds are stolen by pleasure and power, so they cannot rest in steady insight. This verse names the inner obstruction before the next instruction.

Why this verse still matters

You open your phone for one quick check, and an hour disappears into wanting more. The mind that keeps chasing reward cannot hold a steady line.

The takeaway

Clarity returns when craving stops steering the mind.

Word-by-word translation

भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानाम् (of those attached to enjoyment and power) / तया (by that) / अपहृतचेतसाम् (whose minds have been stolen) / व्यवसायात्मिका (one-pointed, resolute) / बुद्धिः (intellect) / समाधौ (in meditation / absorbed stillness) / न (not) / विधीयते (arises / is established)

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