Chapter 2, Verse 57 (Bhagavad Gita 2.57)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्। नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता
Transliteration
yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehas tat tat prāpya śhubhāśhubham nābhinandati na dveṣhṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣhṭhitā
Word Meanings
yaḥ—who; sarvatra—in all conditions; anabhisnehaḥ—unattached; tat—that; tat—that; prāpya—attaining; śhubha—good; aśhubham—evil; na—neither; abhinandati—delight in; na—nor; dveṣhṭi—dejected by; tasya—his; prajñā—knowledge; pratiṣhṭhitā—is fixed
Translation
He who remains unattached under all conditions, and who neither rejoices when encountering good nor recoils when encountering evil, his wisdom is firmly established.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse describes the state of a Sthitaprajna, or one whose consciousness is anchored in the Divine rather than the fluctuating circumstances of the world. It teaches that true spiritual maturity lies in transcending the duality of likes and dislikes, which are the primary causes of human suffering. By remaining equanimous, the seeker stops reacting to external events and instead observes them from a place of inner stillness. This shift transforms the ego from a reactive entity into a stable witness, allowing one to maintain peace amidst life's inevitable chaos. Ultimately, it signifies the liberation of the mind from the bondage of expectations and emotional volatility.