February15 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 2; Verses 2.54 (Day 46) Sankhya Yoga

 Characteristics of a Man with Steady Wisdom

Lesson 2.7 (Verse 54-72)

February 15 – Day 46

Verse 2.54

अर्जुन उवाच ।

स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव ।

स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ॥ २-५४॥ 

Arjuna uvācha
sthita prajñasya kā bhāṣhā samādhisthasya keśhava
sthita dhīḥ kiṁ prabhāṣheta kim āsīta vrajeta kim (2.54)

 அர்ஜுன உவாச¹ |

ஸ்தி²த¹ப்¹ரஞ்ஞஸ்ய கா¹ பா⁴ஷா ஸமாதி⁴ஸ்த¹ஸ்ய கே¹ஶவ |
ஸ்தி²த¹தீ⁴: கிம்¹ ப்¹ரபா⁴ஷேத¹ கி¹மாஸீத¹ வ்ரஜேத¹ கி¹ம் ||54|| 

Arjuna said:

54. What, O Krishna, is the description of him who has steady wisdom and is merged in the Superconscious State? How does one of steady wisdom speak? How does he sit? How does he walk? 

Commentary: Arjuna wants to know from Lord Krishna the characteristic marks of one who is established in the Self in Samadhi; how he speaks, how he sits, how he moves about.

The characteristic marks of the sage of steady of wisdom and the means of attaining that steady knowledge of the Self are described in the verses from 55 to 72 of this chapter.

Steady wisdom is settled knowledge of one’s identity with Brahman attained by direct realization. (Cf. 15. 21, 27)  

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda:

The state of unruffled wisdom or cosmic consciousness is within the apprehension of neither thought nor speech. One cannot grasp it by thought nor can it be described in words. Teaching or instruction necessarily involves description. If that is ruled out, how is anyone even to aspire to cosmic consciousness?

Hence, our great scriptures are replete with stories illustrative of the ideal man. For instance, even the simple virtue of ‘endurance’ can be misunderstood to suggest impotent submission. What is the difference between enlightened surrender and helpless slave-mentality? Outwardly both of them might look similar. To bring out the inward distinction, we have the stories of the trials and tribulations which the Pāṇḍavā had to endure.

In reply to Arjuna’s query, Kṛṣṇa gives the vital characteristics of a sage: they are illustrated in great detail in the lives of Rṣabha, Jada Bhārata, and devotees like Prahlāda and Sudama. It is from their personal example that we derive direct inspiration. They can (and should) only inspire (breathe into) us. Having received the breath of religious life, we should live it and not even try to compare ourselves with or blindly copy them.

Study of the lives of great saints is the greatest spiritual tonic or food, which no yoga aspirant can afford to neglect. Spiritual truths live in them. Studying their lives and studying scriptures bear the same relation as eating sugar and eating paper with the word ‘sugar’ written on it – without, of course, discounting the value of scriptural study, which has its own place of secondary importance in the aspirant’s life. 

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