अर्जुन उवाच स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव। स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम्।।2.54।।
arjunaḥ uvāca sthita‑prajñaḥ kā bhāṣā samādhi‑sthasya keśavaḥ sthita‑dhīḥ kiṁ prabhāṣeta kim āsiḥ vrajeta kim
Translation
Arjuna said: O Keshava, what is the language of one whose wisdom is steady, what is the speech of one established in meditation? How does one whose intellect is steady speak, remain, and walk?
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; sthita‑prajñaḥ — one whose wisdom is steady; kā — what; bhāṣā — language; samādhi‑sthaḥ — one established in meditation; keśavaḥ — O Kṛṣṇa; sthita‑dhīḥ — one whose intellect is steady; kiṁ — how; prabhāṣeta — speaks; kim — how; āsiḥ — remains; vrajeta — walks; kim — how
Understanding the Verse
In this poignant question, Arjuna seeks to understand the outward manifestation of inner spiritual stability. He addresses Keshava, a name of Lord Krishna, asking how a person who has attained a steady state of wisdom (sthita‑prajña) and deep meditation (samādhi) expresses himself in everyday life. The verse highlights a fundamental inquiry in the Gita: the relationship between inner enlightenment and external conduct.
The term "sthita‑prajña" denotes a soul whose intellect is unmoved by the dualities of pleasure and pain, success and failure. Such a person perceives reality through the lens of divine consciousness, seeing the self as inseparable from the Supreme. Yet Arjuna wonders how this profound inner state translates into language. Does the enlightened individual speak in riddles, or with simplicity? The answer, given later in the Gita, is that the enlightened speak truthfully, without attachment, using words that uplift rather than bind.
"Samādhi‑stha" refers to one who is firmly rooted in meditation, whose mind is calm and undisturbed. This state does not imply physical inactivity; rather, it signifies a mental composure that remains intact amidst external turmoil. Arjuna's curiosity about the "bhāṣā" (language) of such a person underscores a practical concern: how can one maintain divine poise while engaging with the world? The Gita teaches that the language of the realized is one of compassion, clarity, and detachment, reflecting the truth that all actions are offerings to the Divine.
When Arjuna asks "kim prabhāṣeta" (how does the wise speak), "kim āsiḥ" (how does he remain), and "kim vrajeta" (how does he walk), he is probing the three dimensions of conduct: speech, demeanor, and movement. These are the primary ways a person interacts with the material world, and mastering them is essential for a yogi. The ensuing verses describe the yogi as one who remains unaffected by praise or criticism, who walks with purpose but without ego, and whose speech is free of falsehood.
Thus, this verse serves as a bridge between metaphysical philosophy and everyday practice. It invites seekers to contemplate not only the lofty goals of spiritual attainment but also the tangible expressions of those goals in daily life. By internalizing the qualities of a sthita‑prajña and a samādhi‑stha, a practitioner can embody the teachings of the Gita, making the divine presence evident in every word spoken, every step taken, and every thought nurtured.
