The steady-minded sage is unshaken by sorrow, free from craving in joy, and beyond attachment, fear, and anger.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.56
Hindi · हिन्दी
दुःखोंकी प्राप्ति होनेपर जिसके मनमें उद्वेग नहीं होता और सुखोंकी प्राप्ति होनेपर जिसके मनमें स्पृहा नहीं होती तथा जो राग, भय और क्रोधसे सर्वथा रहित हो गया है, वह मननशील मनुष्य स्थिरबुद्धि कहा जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
दुःखेषुin sorrowsअनुद्विग्न-मनाःmind not agitatedसुखेषुin pleasuresविगत-स्पृहःfree from cravingवीत-राग-भय-क्रोधःgone beyond attachment, fear, and angerस्थित-धीःsteady-mindedमुनिःsageउच्यतेis called
Read literallyin sorrows · mind not agitated · in pleasures · free from craving · gone beyond attachment, fear, and anger · steady-minded · sage · is called
Understanding the verse
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Krishna's sage stays unshaken in sorrow, free of craving in joy, and clear of fear and anger.
Built onsthitadhiragaspṛha
01
In plain words
What this verse means
A truly steady person stays calm in hardship, does not chase pleasure, and is free from attachment, fear, and anger.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna asked what a person of steady understanding looks like. Krishna answers with a portrait of inner balance: the sage stays unshaken by pain, does not chase pleasure, and is no longer driven by attachment, fear, or anger.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A cricket captain loses a close final, then wins the next series. The steady one plays both weeks the same way, without sulking or gloating, and without fear or anger running the dressing room.
The takeaway
“You do not have to be ruled by every rise and fall. Calm can remain while life changes.”
A truly steady person stays calm in hardship, does not chase pleasure, and is free from attachment, fear, and anger.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.56?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.56?
Verse 56 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.56 matter today?
A cricket captain loses a close final, then wins the next series. The steady one plays both weeks the same way, without sulking or gloating, and without fear or anger running the dressing room.
Krishna's sage stays unshaken in sorrow, free of craving in joy, and clear of fear and anger.
What this verse means
A truly steady person stays calm in hardship, does not chase pleasure, and is free from attachment, fear, and anger.
Context & commentary
Arjuna asked what a person of steady understanding looks like. Krishna answers with a portrait of inner balance: the sage stays unshaken by pain, does not chase pleasure, and is no longer driven by attachment, fear, or anger.
What it looks like today
A cricket captain loses a close final, then wins the next series. The steady one plays both weeks the same way, without sulking or gloating, and without fear or anger running the dressing room.
“You do not have to be ruled by every rise and fall. Calm can remain while life changes.”
Explore related themes: sattva (26 verses), equanimity (23 verses), attachment (20 verses)