Objects fall away from the self-denying person, but the taste for them remains. For the one who has seen the supreme reality, even that taste falls away.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.59
Hindi · हिन्दी
निराहारी इन्द्रियोंको विषयोंसे हटानेवाले मनुष्यके भी विषय तो निवृत्त हो जाते हैं, पर रस निवृत्त नहीं होता । परन्तु इस स्थितप्रज्ञ मनुष्यका तो रस भी परमात्मतत्त्वका अनुभव होनेसे निवृत्त हो जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
विषयाःobjects of the sensesविनिवर्तन्तेturn awayनिराहारस्यof the one without intakeदेहिनःof the embodied oneरसवर्जम्except for tasteरसःtasteअपिevenअस्यof this oneपरम्the supremeदृष्ट्वाhaving seenनिवर्ततेturns away
Read literallyobjects of the senses · turn away · of the one without intake · of the embodied one · except for taste · taste · even · of this one · the supreme · having seen · turns away
Understanding the verse
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Fasting removes the object yet leaves the taste, says Krishna; seeing the highest ends even that.
Stopping the senses is not enough. The outer attraction may fade, but the inner taste remains until a higher reality is directly seen.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna explains why mere suppression cannot solve inner bondage. Even if the senses are pulled back, the craving remains until a deeper vision replaces it.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
During a month-long vow, a man gives up sweets. The plate is gone, yet his mind keeps returning to jalebi. Krishna says the craving itself goes when he sees something higher.
The takeaway
“Real freedom comes from seeing more clearly, not just forcing restraint.”
Explore related themes: vairagya(51 verses), indriya(19 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.59 mean?
Stopping the senses is not enough. The outer attraction may fade, but the inner taste remains until a higher reality is directly seen.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.59?
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 2.59?
Verse 59 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 2.59 matter today?
During a month-long vow, a man gives up sweets. The plate is gone, yet his mind keeps returning to jalebi. Krishna says the craving itself goes when he sees something higher.
Fasting removes the object yet leaves the taste, says Krishna; seeing the highest ends even that.
What this verse means
Stopping the senses is not enough. The outer attraction may fade, but the inner taste remains until a higher reality is directly seen.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains why mere suppression cannot solve inner bondage. Even if the senses are pulled back, the craving remains until a deeper vision replaces it.
What it looks like today
During a month-long vow, a man gives up sweets. The plate is gone, yet his mind keeps returning to jalebi. Krishna says the craving itself goes when he sees something higher.
“Real freedom comes from seeing more clearly, not just forcing restraint.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), indriya (19 verses)