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Bhagavad-gītā 2.53

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला । समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ॥ ५३ ॥
śruti-vipratipannā te
[shruti-vipratipannaa te]
yadā sthāsyati niścalā
[yadaa sthaasyati nishchalaa]
samādhāv acalā buddhis
[samaadhaav achalaa buddhis]
tadā yogam avāpsyasi
[tadaa yogam avaapsyasi]
Word-for-word
śruti — of Vedic revelation vipratipannā — without being influenced by the fruitive results te — your yadā — when sthāsyati — remains niścalā — unmoved samādhau — in transcendental consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness acalā — unflinching buddhiḥ — intelligence tadā — at that time yogam — self-realization avāpsyasi — you will achieve .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śruti-vipratipannā te
śruti
of Vedic revelation
vipratipannā
without being influenced by the fruitive results
te
your
yadā sthāsyati niścalā
yadā
when
sthāsyati
remains
niścalā
unmoved
samādhāv acalā buddhis
samādhau
in transcendental consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness
acalā
unflinching
buddhiḥ
intelligence
tadā yogam avāpsyasi
tadā
at that time
yogam
self-realization
avāpsyasi
you will achieve .
Important Words
  • śruti - vipratipannā — perplexed by śruti
    Compound — *bewildered by the Vedic word*. Vipratipanna is from vi-prati-√pad — to walk in conflicting directions. The buddhi has been pulled apart by the karma-kāṇḍa's multiple promises (verse 42-43). The verse names the disease.
  • niścalā — unmoving
    Nir + cala — without motion. The buddhi has come to stillness. Compare 6.19's nivātasthaḥ — a lamp in a windless place. The image of stillness is consistent across the Gītā.
  • samādhau — in samādhi
    Locative. Samādhi here is not eight-limbed-yoga's terminal trance specifically but the settled state of consciousness fixed on the Self / the Lord. The mind has been placed-together (sam-ā-dhā).
  • acalā — immovable
    Parallel to niścalā, doubled for emphasis. The buddhi is *un-moving and im-movable* — both negatives. The chapter is teaching what the right kind of stillness looks like.
  • avāpsyasi — you will attain
    Future of ava-√āp — to obtain, to reach. Yoga is *attained* — the verb is acquisitional. The verse closes the long karma-yoga argument with a personal promise: *you* will reach it.
When your mind is no longer disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas, and when it remains fixed in the trance of self-realization, then you will have attained the divine consciousness.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
When the intelligence stops oscillating between competing scriptural prescriptions and settles, motionless, in samādhi, then yoga itself has been reached. The competing voices of the Vedas dissolve into a single steady state.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Śruti-vipratipannā ('bewildered by śruti') captures the predicament of a mind that takes the Vedic karma-kāṇḍa literally — every text seems to claim a different reward, generating doubt and dispersion. Niścalā ... acalā are deliberate near-synonyms, emphasizing stillness. This verse ends Kṛṣṇa's karma-yoga teaching proper; it sets up Arjuna's question (2.54) about the sthita-prajña.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
ते बुद्धिः यदा श्रुति-विप्रतिपन्ना (सती) निश्चला अचला समाधौ स्थास्यति, तदा योगम् अवाप्स्यसि ।
te buddhiḥ yadā śruti-vipratipannā (satī) niścalā acalā samādhau sthāsyati, tadā yogam avāpsyasi |
When your intelligence, bewildered by (conflicting) Vedic statements, will stand unwavering and immovable in samādhi — then you will attain yoga.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
श्रुति-विप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला । समाधौ अचला बुद्धिः तदा योगम् अवाप्स्यसि ॥
śruti-vipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā | samādhau acalā buddhiḥ tadā yogam avāpsyasi ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
श्रुति-विप्रतिपन्ना śruti-vipratipannā श्रुति (f.) + विप्रतिपन्न (p.p.p. (past passive participle)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)f., tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound), 'bewildered by śruti' bewildered by Vedic teachings
ते te युष्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) gen.sg. (genitive singular) your
यदा yadā ind. (indeclinable), 'when' when
स्थास्यति sthāsyati √स्था fut. (future) 3sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice), 'will stand' will stand
निश्चला niścalā निश्चल (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)f., 'unwavering' unwavering
समाधौ samādhau समाधि (m.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in samādhi
अचला acalā अ + चल (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)f., 'immovable' immovable
बुद्धिः buddhiḥ बुद्धि (f.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) intelligence
तदा tadā ind. (indeclinable), 'then' then
योगम् yogam योग (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) yoga
अवाप्स्यसि avāpsyasi अव+√आप् fut. (future) 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) you will attain
Purport

To say that one is in samādhi is to say that one has fully realized Kṛṣṇa consciousness; that is, one in full samādhi has realized Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. The highest perfection of self-realization is to understand that one is eternally the servitor of Kṛṣṇa and that one’s only business is to discharge one’s duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person, or unflinching devotee of the Lord, should not be disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas nor be engaged in fruitive activities for promotion to the heavenly kingdom. In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one comes directly into communion with Kṛṣṇa, and thus all directions from Kṛṣṇa may be understood in that transcendental state. One is sure to achieve results by such activities and attain conclusive knowledge. One has only to carry out the orders of Kṛṣṇa or His representative, the spiritual master.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
53. When your intelligence is indifferent to the Vedas because of being fixed, and you are situated in samādhi, then you will attain the status of jīvan-mukta. [Note: With discussion of samādhi the topic now switches to jñāna-yoga. This will be made clear in the next chapter.]
Commentary

At that time, you will become detached from hearing about all sorts of material and Vedic subjects, because of being averse to the agitation created by these subjects (niścalā). And your intelligence will be fixed in samādhi (samādhau acalā), as described in the sixth chapter. At that time, by achieving direct realization, you will achieve the status of jīvan-mukta (yogam avāpsyasi).

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
53. When your intelligence, fixed on knowing ātmā after hearing, devoid of thoughts of attaining or not attaining, becomes fixed in the mind, you will attain realization of that ātmā.
Commentary

“When my heart is purified by performance of actions while being indifferent to results, I will attain knowledge of ātmā. But when will I have direct realization of that ātmā?” When your intelligence, completely perfected (vipratipanna) through statements of śruti such as tam etaṁ vedānuvacanena brāhmaṇā vividiṣanti yajñena dānena tapasā nāśakena (Brāhmaṇas seek to know the Lord by study of the Vedas, by sacrifice, by charity, by austerity, and by fasting. Bṛhad Āraṇyaka Upāniṣad 4.4.22 ), which explain that action brings knowledge of ātmā (śruti), and when the intelligence becomes devoid of doubt and contrary conceptions about objects (acalā) and remains without motion (niścaḷā) in the mind or in concentration (samādhau) like a flame in a windless place, then you will attain the yoga characterized by realization of ātmā (yoga). The meaning is this. Activities performed without craving for results produce steadiness in knowledge (jñāna niṣṭhā) also known as sthita prajñatā. This sthita prajñatā or jñāna niṣṭhā is realization of ātmā.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

When one's consciousness becomes "vyavasa‑atmika buddhih", fixed in consciousness on the fact that he is a soul, then the vedic injunctions of prescribed duties "do this, do that" will not disrturb him and he will actually be situated in the divine consciousness. This detachment in knowledge while working, the Buddhi‑yoga Section, is finished with text 53. And now Arjuna asks some questions:

[ E ‑ STHITA PRAJNA ‑‑SAMADHI. FIGHT! BECOME FIXED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS (2. 54‑72) 1 ‑ Arjuna asks Krsna four questions about one whose consciousness is merged in transcendence: What are his symptoms? How does he speak? How does he sit? How does he walk? (54) ]

Because Krsna has taught about attaining the divine consciousness (samadhi), unflinching intelligence in Krsna consciousness, Arjuna asks four questions:

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: 5 Benefits of acting in Buddhi-yoga

1. Freedom from good and bad reactions (2.50)

2. Freedom from cycle of birth and death (2.51)

3. Indifferent to Vedic rituals (2.52)

4. Realisation of relationship with Krishna as eternal servitor (Samadhi) (2.53)

5. Goes back to Godhead (2.72)

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
2.53 If it be asked, 'By becoming possessed of the wisdom arising from the discrimination about the Self after overcoming the turbidity of delusion, when shall I attain the yoga of the supreme Reality which is the fruit that results from Karma-yoga?', then listen to that; Yada, when at the time when; te, your; buddhih, mind; that has become sruti-vi-pratipanna, bewildered, tossed about, by hearing (the Vedas) that reveal the diverse ends, means, and (their) relationship, i.e. are filled with divergent ideas; sthasyati, will become; niscala, unshakable, free from the trubulence in the form of distractions; and acala, steadfast, that is to say, free from doubt even in that (unshakable) state; samadhau, in samadhi, that is to say, in the Self samadhi being derived in the sense of that in which the mind is fixed; tada, then, at that time; avapsyasi, you will attain; yogam, Yoga, the enlightenment, Self-absorption, that arises from discrimination. Having got an occasion for iniry, Arjuna, with a view to knowing the characteristics of one who has the realization of the Self, [By the word samadhi is meant the enlightenment arising from discrimination, which has been spoken of in the commentary on the previous verse. The steadfastness which the monks have in that enlightenment is called steadfastness in Knowledge. Or the phrase may mean, 'the enlightenment achieved through meditation on the Self', i.e. the realization of the supreme Goal.] asked:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
2.53 Here 'Sruti' means hearing (and not the Veda). When your intellect, which, by hearing from us, has become specially enlightened, having for its object the eternal, unsurpassed and subtle self - which belongs to a class different from all other entities -, then the intellect is firmly fixed, i.e., in a single psychosis and stands unshaken. In such a concentrated mind, purified by the performance of duties without attachment, will be generated true Yoga, which consists in the vision of the self. What is said is this: Karma Yoga, which presupposes the knowledge of the real nature of the self obtained from the scriptures, leads to a firm devotion to knowledge known as the state of firm wisdom; and the state of 'firm wisdom;' which is in the form of devotion to knowledge, generates the vision of the self; this vision is here called Yoga. Arjuna, thus taught, estions about the nature of 'firm wisdom' which constitutes the means for the attainment of Yoga and which itself is attainable through Karma Yoga which consists in work with detachment, and also about the mode of behaviour of a man of 'firm wisdom.'
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
2.52-53 Yada te etc. Sruti-etc. At the time, when the determining facult with regard to the Yoga is attained, the clear sign of recognizing it, is this : An attitude of futility about the revealed literature that has to be listened to, that has been listened to and that is being declared. What has been declared by the above is this : 'This present view of yours about the ruination of your race is out of place and it is due to the influence of your deceptive notion, born of mental impressions created by your listening to the teachings of those scriptures that favour the observers who are fallen deep into the course of ignorance. But, that view shall vanish when the respect for such a teaching disappears.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
2.53 When thy intellect, which is perplexed by the Veda text, which thou hast read, shall stand immovable and steady in the Self, then thou shalt attain Self-realisation.
Commentary

2.53 श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना perplexed by what hast heard? ते thy? यदा when? स्थास्यति shall stand? निश्चला immovable? समाधौ in the Self? अचला steady? बुद्धिः intellect? तदा then? योगम् Selfrealisation? अवाप्स्यसि (thou) shalt attain.Commentary When your intellect which is tossed about by the conflict of opinions regarding the Pravritti Marga (the path of action) and the Nivritti Marga (the path of retirement or renunciation) has become immovable without distraction and doubt and firmly established in the Self? then thou shalt attain Selfrealisation or knowledge of the Self (AtmaJnana).

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
2.53 When your mind that has become bewildered by hearing [S. takes the word sruti in the sense of the Vedas.-Tr.] will become unshakable and steadfast in the Self, then you will attain Yoga that arises from discrimination.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
2.53 When the intellect, bewildered by the multiplicity of holy scripts, stands unperturbed in blissful contemplation of the Infinite, then hast thou attained Spirituality.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 6.20 BG 12.8 BG 18.51-53 SB 1.2.18 SB 3.28.21 SB 11.14.27 CC Ādi 7.84 CC Madhya 8.225 CC Madhya 22.137 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.3.10BRS 1.2.180
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
When your mind, no longer disturbed by Vedic flowery promises, stands fixed in samādhi, then you have reached yoga.
Practical Applications
  • Notice that real yoga is the steadiness of mind, not the volume of activity.
  • Cultivate stillness even after attaining knowledge — knowledge alone is insufficient.
  • Begin a daily practice in which you sit silently for even five minutes in remembrance.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is my mind still moved by promises and preferences I claim to have outgrown?
  • What practice would settle my buddhi into the samādhi this verse describes?
Analogy

A flag fluttering in a thousand directions finally drops still as the wind dies. The buddhi long pulled by śruti-vipratipanna — the conflicting interpretations of revelation — settles, niścalā, into samādhi. The flag was never the wind; once the wind is gone, the flag is exactly where it always was.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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