When this one draws the senses fully back from sense-objects, like a tortoise withdrawing its limbs, wisdom is steady.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.58
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिस तरह कछुआ अपने अङ्गोंको सब ओरसे समेट लेता है, ऐसे ही जिस कालमें यह कर्मयोगी इन्द्रियोंके विषयोंसे इन्द्रियोंको सब प्रकारसे समेट लेता हटा लेता है, तब उसकी बुद्धि प्रतिष्ठित हो जाती है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
यदाwhenसंहरतेwithdrawsचandअयम्this oneकूर्मःtortoiseअङ्गानिlimbsइवlikeसर्वशःfrom all sidesइन्द्रियाणिthe sensesइन्द्रियार्थेभ्यःfrom sense-objectsतस्यof that oneप्रज्ञाwisdomप्रतिष्ठिताsteadfast
Read literallywhen · withdraws · and · this one · tortoise · limbs · like · from all sides · the senses · from sense-objects · of that one · wisdom · steadfast
Understanding the verse
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A tortoise pulling in its limbs is Krishna's picture of senses drawn back from their objects.
Wisdom becomes stable when the senses are pulled back from the things they chase, just as a tortoise draws in its limbs.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna has been describing the person whose understanding no longer wavers. Here he gives the image: like a tortoise, the wise one draws the senses away from their objects, and the mind becomes steady.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
The week before exams, a student walks past the cricket match, the cinema and the chai stall. She is drawing her senses in like a tortoise, for now, so her mind can stay on the work.
The takeaway
“You do not need to chase every attraction. Real steadiness begins when attention comes home.”
Wisdom becomes stable when the senses are pulled back from the things they chase, just as a tortoise draws in its limbs.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.58?
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 2.58?
Verse 58 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 2.58 matter today?
The week before exams, a student walks past the cricket match, the cinema and the chai stall. She is drawing her senses in like a tortoise, for now, so her mind can stay on the work.
A tortoise pulling in its limbs is Krishna's picture of senses drawn back from their objects.
What this verse means
Wisdom becomes stable when the senses are pulled back from the things they chase, just as a tortoise draws in its limbs.
Context & commentary
Krishna has been describing the person whose understanding no longer wavers. Here he gives the image: like a tortoise, the wise one draws the senses away from their objects, and the mind becomes steady.
What it looks like today
The week before exams, a student walks past the cricket match, the cinema and the chai stall. She is drawing her senses in like a tortoise, for now, so her mind can stay on the work.
“You do not need to chase every attraction. Real steadiness begins when attention comes home.”
Explore related themes: indriya nigraha (14 verses)