The verse

Bhagavad Gita 2.72BG 2.72 · Chapter 2, Verse 72

Sankhya Yoga

A declaration · expansive in mood · builds on earlier teachings

“Steadiness in the supreme reality ends confusion, even at life’s edge.”

The verse
एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति ।
स्थित्वाऽस्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति ॥

Arjuna, this is the Brahmic state. Having reached it, one is never deluded. Remaining established in it even at the end of life, one attains freedom in the supreme reality.

— Krishna
Bhagavad Gita · 2.72
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पृथानन्दन यह ब्राह्मी स्थिति है । इसको प्राप्त होकर कभी कोई मोहित नहीं होता । इस स्थितिमें यदि अन्तकालमें भी स्थित हो जाय, तो निर्वाण शान्त ब्रह्मकी प्राप्ति हो जाती है ॥
Themes:EquanimityDelusion
Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.

एषाthisब्राह्मीof Brahmanस्थितिःstateपार्थArjunaनnotएनाम्thisप्राप्यhaving attainedविमुह्यतिis deludedस्थित्वाhaving remained establishedअस्याम्in thisअन्तकालेat the end of lifeअपिevenब्रह्मनिर्वाणम्freedom in Brahmanऋच्छतिattains

Read literallythis · of Brahman · state · Arjuna · not · this · having attained · is deluded · having remained established · in this · at the end of life · even · freedom in Brahman · attains

Understanding the verse

Krishna names the brahmic state: once reached, delusion ends, and even at death it holds.

In plain words

What this verse means

A person who reaches this steady inner state is no longer confused. Even at life’s end, that steadiness leads to freedom in the supreme reality.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

After Krishna describes the still mind that no longer chases desire, he names the result for Arjuna: this is the Brahmic state. A person established in it is free of confusion, and even death cannot undo it.

In your life

What it looks like today

In a hospital corridor, a son waits outside the ICU where his mother lies. Panic keeps rising. Krishna speaks of a steadiness that holds even at the end of life, and that is the ground to stand on.

The takeaway

“A clear mind can stay steady even at life's end.”

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Krishna teaching the Sankhya — the eternal nature of the self
Chapter 2 · The Yoga of Knowledge
Sankhya Yoga
72 verses
Read all verses in this chapter →

Explore related themes: equanimity (23 verses), delusion (19 verses)

Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.72 mean?

A person who reaches this steady inner state is no longer confused. Even at life’s end, that steadiness leads to freedom in the supreme reality.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.72?

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 2.72?

Verse 72 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 2.72 matter today?

In a hospital corridor, a son waits outside the ICU where his mother lies. Panic keeps rising. Krishna speaks of a steadiness that holds even at the end of life, and that is the ground to stand on.

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