Bhagavad Gita 2.71 — Vihaya Kaman Yah Sarvan — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 2.71 — विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
विहाय
vihāya
giving up, abandoning
कामान्
kāmān
material desires
यः
yaḥ
who
सर्वान्
sarvān
all
पुमान्
pumān
a person
चरति
charati
lives, moves about
निःस्पृहः
niḥspṛihaḥ
free from hankering
निर्ममः
nirmamaḥ
without a sense of ownership
निरहंकारः
nirahankāraḥ
without egoism
सः
saḥ
that person
शान्तिम्
śhāntim
perfect peace
अधिगच्छति
adhigachchhati
attains
Complete Translation
That person attains peace who, abandoning all desires, moves about without longing, without the sense of ownership, and without egoism.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 71
Author: Bhagavan Sri Krishna (as recorded by Maharishi Veda Vyasa)
Period: Ancient (part of the Mahabharata, c. 5th–2nd century BCE in present form)
As Chapter 2 draws to a close, Krishna completes his portrait of the enlightened sage with this verse on desirelessness. It answers Arjuna's question about how the wise live and act, declaring that peace belongs to those who have surrendered craving and ego. The verse is cherished as a concise map from desire to liberation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.71 promise?▼
It promises that whoever gives up all desires and lives without longing, without possessiveness (nirmama) and without egoism (nirahankara) attains perfect peace. Peace is the natural result of letting go.
What do nirmama and nirahankara mean?▼
Nirmama means free of the sense of 'mine' — non-possessiveness toward people and things. Nirahankara means free of egoism — the false identification of the self with body, status and achievements. Together they describe the egoless sage.
How is this different from suppressing desires?▼
Krishna speaks of transcending desire through wisdom and detachment, not forced suppression. When the heart is satisfied in the Self, desires fall away naturally, leaving genuine, effortless peace.
Why is this verse so important?▼
It is the climactic formula of the sthitaprajna section and a complete teaching on attaining shanti. It immediately precedes the famous verse on the brahmi sthiti, the state of being established in Brahman.
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