Sankhya Yoga · Verse 55

Bhagavad Gita 2.55

Steadiness begins when desire no longer defines your sense of enough.

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

श्री भगवानुवाचप्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान् ।
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले हे पृथानन्दन जिस कालमें साधक मनोगत सम्पूर्ण कामनाओंका अच्छी तरह त्याग कर देता है और अपनेआपसे अपनेआपमें ही सन्तुष्ट रहता है, उस कालमें वह स्थितप्रज्ञ कहा जाता है ॥
English
The divine said: When a person gives up all desires that arise in the mind, and is satisfied in the true self by the true self alone, that person is called steady in wisdom.

What this verse means

A person becomes steady in wisdom when all mental desires are released and contentment comes from within, not from outside things.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna has asked what a truly steady person looks like. Krishna answers by describing the inner turning point: desire no longer rules the mind, and contentment comes from the true self itself.

Why this verse still matters

You finally get the promotion, the message, the praise — and still feel restless. This verse points to the deeper shift: stop waiting for outside approval to settle you.

The takeaway

There is relief in not needing anything extra to feel complete.

Word-by-word translation

श्री भगवानुवाच (the divine said) / प्रजहाति (gives up) / यदा (when) / कामान् (desires) / सर्वान् (all) / पार्थ (O Partha) / मनोगतान् (arising in the mind) / आत्मनि (in the true self) / एव (indeed) / आत्मना (by the true self) / तुष्टः (satisfied) / स्थितप्रज्ञः (steady in wisdom) / तदा (then) / उच्यते (is called)

Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), kama (23 verses)

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