Clarity — Lesson 12

The beginning of a steady mind (Gita 2.55)

Verse

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् ।
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥ २.५५ ॥

Transliteration

śrībhagavān uvāca
prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha manogatān
ātmany evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadocyate

Meaning

Krishna said: When a person gives up all desires arising in the mind, and is satisfied in the Self alone, then he is said to be one of steady knowledge.

Sandhi-vigraha

प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान् ।
आत्मनि एव आत्मना तुष्टः स्थित-प्रज्ञः तदा उच्यते ॥

Anvaya

हे पार्थ, यदा सर्वान् मनोगतान् कामान् प्रजहाति,
आत्मनि एव आत्मना तुष्टः भवति,
तदा सः स्थित-प्रज्ञः उच्यते।

Key Words

prajahāti — gives up
kāmān — desires
manogatān — arising in the mind
ātmani eva — in the Self alone
ātmanā tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied in oneself
sthita-prajñaḥ — one of steady knowledge

Teaching

Krishna now describes the result of clarity. When a person understands the Self, they are no longer dependent on external things for completeness. Desires do not disappear because of suppression, but because the sense of lack is gone. The person is content in themselves. This inner fullness is the mark of a steady mind.

Connection to Clarity

Clarity leads to freedom from dependence. When I believe I am incomplete, I seek fulfillment outside. When I understand my nature as whole, that seeking drops naturally. This verse shows the first sign of true understanding.

Reflection

Do my desires come from a sense of lack? What would it mean to feel complete within myself?