श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता २.५५ — प्रजहाति यदा कामान् — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता २.५५ — प्रजहाति यदा कामान्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
श्रीभगवान् उवाच
śhrī bhagavān uvācha
the Supreme Lord said
प्रजहाति
prajahāti
casts off, completely discards
यदा
yadā
when
कामान्
kāmān
desires, selfish cravings
सर्वान्
sarvān
all
पार्थ
pārtha
O Partha (Arjuna, son of Pritha)
मनः-गतान्
manaḥ-gatān
of the mind, dwelling in the mind
आत्मनि
ātmani
in the Self
एव
eva
only, alone
आत्मना
ātmanā
by the Self, by the purified mind
तुष्टः
tuṣhṭaḥ
satisfied, content
स्थित-प्रज्ञः
sthita-prajñaḥ
one of steady wisdom, one whose intellect is firm
तदा
tadā
then, at that time
उच्यते
uchyate
is said, is called
Complete Translation
श्री भगवान् ने कहा — हे पार्थ! जिस समय पुरुष मन में स्थित सब कामनाओं को भलीभाँति त्याग देता है और आत्मा से ही आत्मा में सन्तुष्ट रहता है, उस समय वह स्थितप्रज्ञ कहलाता है।।
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 55
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
Toward the close of the Sankhya Yoga chapter, Arjuna asks Krishna how a person of steady wisdom speaks, sits and walks. Krishna answers with a luminous portrait of the sthitaprajna, beginning here: such a one has abandoned all the mind's desires and is utterly content within the Self. These verses became the classic description of the enlightened sage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main teaching of Bhagavad Gita 2.55?▼
Krishna teaches that a person of steady wisdom (sthitaprajna) is one who has cast off all selfish desires of the mind and is fully content within the Self alone. True and lasting fulfillment comes not from external acquisitions but from resting in one's own inner being.
Who is a sthitaprajna?▼
A sthitaprajna is a sage of steady, established wisdom — one whose intellect is firm and unshaken by pleasure or pain. Verse 2.55 is the first of several verses (2.55–2.72) in which Krishna describes the qualities, conduct and serenity of such a realized person.
Does this verse ask us to give up all desires?▼
It points to freedom from selfish, binding cravings of the mind that disturb inner peace. The aim is not lifeless suppression but a natural fullness in which one no longer depends on external objects for happiness, having found complete satisfaction within the Self.
How can I apply this verse in daily life?▼
Practise turning inward for contentment instead of chasing one desire after another. When the mind craves, gently remind yourself that lasting peace is found within. Over time this cultivates the steady, serene mind of the sthitaprajna and frees you from restlessness.
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