© 2025 All Rights Reserved. Blog by Bhagavad Gita Explanation
Chapter 02, Verse 60
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः |
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः || 2.60 ||
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
yatato hyapi kaunteya purusasya vipascitah |
indriyani pramathini haranti prasabham manah || 2.60 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca) |
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct
speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding
Arjuna.
|
|
यततः (yatatah) |
Striving (for self-control) |
|
हि (hi) |
Indeed |
|
अपि (api) |
Even |
|
कौन्तेय (kaunteya) |
O son of Kunti (Arjuna) |
|
पुरुषस्य (purusasya) |
Of a person |
|
विपश्चितः (vipascitah) |
One who is wise |
|
इन्द्रियाणि (indriyani) |
The senses |
|
प्रमाथीनि (pramathini) |
Turbulent, agitating |
|
हरन्ति (haranti) |
Carry away, overpower |
|
प्रसभं (prasabham) |
Forcefully |
|
मनः (manah) |
The mind |
Translation
“O son of Kunti, the senses are so turbulent that they can forcibly carry away the mind even of a wise person who endeavours to control them”
Context of the Verse
Mere knowledge is not sufficient; even a wise person can be controlled by the undisciplined senses; thus, it becomes evident to keep the senses restrained.
Key Teachings in This Verse
Indriya Pramathini (Senses Are Powerful); the senses are inherently turbulent and always crave external gratifications. Even seekers of wisdom are distracted by their senses. They Can Overpower Even the Wise (Vipascitah Haranti Manah); a learned person may comprehend the necessity of self-control, however the senses can hijack the mind and lead them astray if not careful. Self-Discipline is an Ongoing Battle (Yatato’pi); even a hardworking person (yatah) can easily have their mind pulled by external distractions. Therefore, it follows that self-control is a work in progress and is something we have to be vigilant over.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna tells Arjuna that understanding intellectually is not enough. He has to maintain command over his senses and concentrate in his duty (Dharma). If Arjuna allows his mental states and desires to control his actions, they will lead him away from the righteous path.
Explanation
So here Krishna is saying the condition of spiritualists who are not devotees, who are unable to engage their senses in the service of Krishna. Therefore, Krishna is saying even a spiritualist, a learned man, is trying to have control over his senses. So, how much a very learned man becomes an expert in this science, expert in this knowledge, but still the senses are so strong and forceful that they just drive away the mind. And we all should have experience in our life. We want our feelings to conform, our existence to conform. But the senses are so powerful and insatiable; they carry away the brain of a person violently. So, Krishna is cautioning that if the mind doesn’t engage in higher contemplation, then you will have to follow the dictate of the senses. So, therefore, hare Krishna advises how to obtain that higher taste.
Chapter 02, Verse 61
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः |
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 2.61 ||
tani sarvani samyamya yukta asita mat-parah |
vase hi yasyendriyani tasya prajna pratisthita || 2.61 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
तानि (tani)
|
Those (senses) |
|
सर्वाणि (sarvani) |
All |
|
संयम्य (samyamya)
|
Restraining, controlling |
|
युक्तः (yuktah) |
Steady, disciplined |
|
आसीत (asita) |
Should sit, remain |
|
मत्परः (mat-parah) |
Being devoted to Me (Krishna) |
|
वशे (vase)
|
Under control |
|
हि (hi) |
Certainly |
|
यस्य (yasya) |
One whose |
|
इन्द्रियाणि (indriyani) |
Senses
|
|
तस्य (tasya) |
His |
|
प्रज्ञा (prajna)
|
Wisdom |
|
प्रतिष्ठिता (pratisthita) |
Is firmly established |
Translation
“The person who has mastered all of his senses and is unshakeable in devotion to Me (Krishna) is the true sage.”
Context of the Verse
Now Krishna presents the remedy to the malady of restless senses that he spoke of in the previous verse.
Key Teachings in This Verse
The mastery of the five senses (Tani Sarvani Samyamya); such a sensible man is not controlled by the senses but controls the senses. That lack of order for our lives can drown our feelings, disrupt our routines, and challenge our self-control and self-discipline.
Mahabharata: Devotion to Krishna (Mat-Parah); Bhakti (devotion) is what he puts forward as an antidote to the distractions of the senses. not much effort is needed to keep the senses in check when the mind is fixed on a higher spiritual fact.
Firm Wisdom (Prajna Pratisthita); who mastered self-control and devotion such an one has unshakable wisdom. The outer temptations cannot shake their inner peace.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna compares Arjuna to someone who realizes they have mites or lice on their skin after scratching and tries to ignore it rather than distract himself with emotions and doubts, Arjuna should be focused on Krishna and duty as a warrior. He can be firm in wisdom and righteousness (Dharma) through devotion and discipline.
Explanation
Now Krishna is explaining how you will actually taste that higher pleasure. What do I do that seems to bring me that higher pleasure, greater than material enjoyment that is talked about here?
The senses have to be controlled, so that they can be engaged in my service. The senses are hence categorized as five. And including karma Indriyas and mind, which is also known as the sixth sense, sometimes ten. The mind is also one of the senses, so all the senses, including the mind, in my service, they have to be engaged. And this Krishna is explaining here, which is very clear. This is the highest idea of yoga, the highest conception of yoga practice. There are many kinds of yogis, but Krishna is warning that unless they come to the understanding of the personality of God and they come to the positive knowledge of the service of the Godhead, then if we engage in the service of some people, we get some pleasure. If you do not know God, what is God, and you do not serve God, you will never experience that which can save you from that troublesome materialistic enjoyment. In the service, of course, quite clearly, therefore, the senses have to be engaged in my service. This approach shall give you a higher taste. And for the ones whose senses are not involved, what does one make? Krishna explains next.
Chapter 02, Verse 62
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |
सङ्गात्संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते || 2.62 ||
dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate |
sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodhobhijayate || 2.62 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
ध्यायतः (dhyayatah) |
Thinking about, contemplating |
|
विषयान् (visayan) |
Sense objects |
|
पुंसः (pumsah) |
Of a person |
|
सङ्गः (sangah) |
Attachment |
|
तेषु (tesu) |
Towards them (sense objects) |
|
उपजायते (upajayate) |
Arises, develops |
|
सङ्गात् (sangat) |
From attachment |
|
संजायते (sanjayate) |
Develops, is born |
|
कामः (kamah) |
Desire, lust |
|
कामात् (kamat) |
From desire |
|
क्रोधः (krodhah) |
Anger
|
|
अभिजायते (abhijayate) |
Is born, arises |
Translation
“When a person thinks of the sense objects, there is an attraction to them. From attachment comes desire (lust), and from desire stems anger.”
Context of the Verse
Now Krishna covers how the lack of control of the senses leads to agitation and suffering.
Key Teachings in This Verse
The mental derangement following chain reaction:
- Dhyana (Dhyayatah Visayan); When we ponder on sense objects repeatedly, they become part and parcel of our mind;
- So we develop attachment (Sangah Upajayate); then our attachment leads to craving them and beginning to desire them.
- Desire (Kamah Sanjayate); this attachment then manifests as strong desire (kama), and we become restless.
- Krodhah Abhijayate; if the desire is not achieved, comes frustration and anger.
Why is this dangerous? Because love makes us driven and clammy, bound to outside things. Their judgment is clouded by anger; they would fall deeper.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna also reminds Arjuna that obsessing over loss, gain, or pleasure, can only lead to attachment and (too much) anger. Rather than that, a man must be free from disturbance to the mind by following duty (Dharma) and showing devotion (Bhakti).
Explanation
Therefore, one who is not Krishna conscious is being influenced and bogged down by the false sense of urges and desires, for the objects of the senses.
What is my relation to the bank if a cashier is passed out? I’m not the proprietor. If he sees lots of money, he wants to have for himself, he will lust. So a Krishna conscious person when he sees any object of the senses, he thinks, “How can I serve Krishna with this?” This also has a subtle message about attachment. I want to have fun and strong desire. Desire has evolved to relish feeling the sense objects, and then the lust isn’t satisfied.
Chapter 02, Verse 63
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः |
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || 2.63 ||
krodhad bhavati sammohah sammohat smrti-vibhramah |
smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso buddhi-nasat pranasyati | 2.63 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
क्रोधात् (krodhat) |
From anger |
|
भवति (bhavati ) |
Arises, occurs |
|
सम्मोहः (sammohah) |
Delusion, confusion |
|
सम्मोहात् (sammohat) |
From delusion |
|
स्मृति-विभ्रमः (smrti-vibhramah) |
Loss of memory (forgetfulness of wisdom) |
|
स्मृति-भ्रंशात् (smrti-bhramsat) |
From loss of memory |
|
बुद्धि-नाशः (buddhi-nasah)
|
Destruction of intellect (loss of discrimination) |
|
बुद्धि-नाशात् (buddhi-nasat) |
From destruction of intellect |
|
प्रणश्यति (pranasyati) |
One perishes (spiritual downfall) |
Translation
“Anger leads to delusion, delusion to loss of memory, loss of memory to loss of intelligence, and when intelligence is lost, one perishes.”
Context of the Verse
Krishna goes on discussing this vicious circle starting from lost control over thoughts and desires.
Key Teachings in This Verse
The Path to Destruction: You fall from wisdom into the follies of Anger (Krodha), Delusion (Sammoha), Loss of Memory (Smrti Vibhrama), Loss of Intellect (Buddhi Nasa), and Spiritual Ruin (Pranasyati). Why is this important? Anger clouds judgment. Its true purpose is forgotten by a confused mind. One who lacks wisdom, makes the wrong choices, which leads to downfall.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna cautions Arjuna: If he lets emotions, anger, grief, overrun him, he will lose clarity and veer from his duty. Arjuna should not be agitated, excited or passionate, but cool, calm, collected and focused on Dharma.
Explanation
So here Krishna is warning the yogis who are not engaged in the service of Krishna. After that they think about the sense object, they get attached, they lust, if there is lust anger arises, and then ensues the confusion of memory, in which memory if confused all intelligence is also lost. Intelligent loss falls very low on physical pedestal. The advanced yogis can also reach the stage of peace and transcendence, but they cannot remain on that level and come down because of the little agitation caused by the mind, a little thought of sense objects, and they fell down as it happened with Vishwamitra. He was in meditation, A great Yogi and even when he heard very pleasant ringing sound of her bells of ankle belt then he was unable to continue in meditation and he spent time with her. And then after so many, many, many years later he said what mistake I have committed. I had been doing so well with my spiritual life. Similarly, ‘Sabhari muni’. This high-level muni could even meditate inside the water. So, he was sitting in the water in order to stay away from distractions, but in the water, he was searching for fish mating. And then he lost control of the mind’s suggestion. He came out married to many, many princesses. He lost both his spiritual growth. Hence, although these yogis were imbibed into a very high or Brahmic platform they were not able to stay. They fell down.