Chapter Overview
After Arjuna's collapse in Chapter 1, Krishna begins His teaching. This chapter covers three major sections:
- Verses 1-10: Arjuna surrenders as a student; Krishna begins teaching
- Verses 11-38 (Sankhya): The philosophy of the eternal soul - why grief is inappropriate
- Verses 39-72 (Yoga): The path of action (Karma Yoga) and the qualities of a wise person (Sthitaprajna)
Major Teachings Introduced
- The Eternal Soul (Atman): The soul is never born, never dies, and cannot be killed
- Karma Yoga: Right to action, not to fruits; work without attachment
- Equanimity (Samatvam): Evenness of mind in success and failure
- Sthitaprajna: The characteristics of one established in wisdom
Key Verses to Study
ashochyan anvasochas tvam prajna-vadams cha bhashase
"You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead."
Krishna's first teaching: grief is based on misunderstanding of reality.
na jayate mriyate va kadachin nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
"The soul is never born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it ever cease to be. The soul is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain."
The fundamental teaching on the immortal nature of the self.
vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grhnati naro 'parani
"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."
The most famous analogy for understanding reincarnation.
karmany evadhikaras te ma phaleshu kadachana
"You have the right to work only, but never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction."
The most famous verse in the Gita. The entire science of Karma Yoga in one shloka.
yoga-sthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
"Perform your duty established in yoga, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga."
Krishna's definition: Yoga is equanimity (samatvam yoga uchyate).
prajahati yada kaman sarvan partha mano-gatan
"O Partha, when a man completely casts off all the desires of the mind, and is satisfied in the Self alone by the Self, then he is said to be one of steady wisdom."
Arjuna asks what a wise person looks like; Krishna describes the ideal state in 18 verses.
The Sthitaprajna: Person of Steady Wisdom
Arjuna's question in verse 54 ("What are the signs of one whose consciousness is established in wisdom?") leads to Krishna's beautiful description:
- Content in the Self alone (2.55): Needs nothing external for happiness
- Undisturbed by sorrow (2.56): Remains steady in misfortune
- Free from attachment, fear, anger (2.56): The three main disturbances removed
- Withdraws senses like tortoise (2.58): Complete control over sense engagement
- Taste for sense objects fades (2.59): Experience of the Supreme removes lower desires
- Not disturbed by desires (2.70): Desires may arise but don't disturb peace
- Attains Brahma-nirvana (2.72): Liberation even at moment of death