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Bhagavad-gītā 2.68

तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ६८ ॥
tasmād yasya mahā-bāho
[tasmaad yasya mahaa-baaho]
nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ
[nigriheetaani sarvashah]
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas
[indriyaaneendriyaarthebhyas]
tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
[tasya prajnaa pratishthitaa]
Word-for-word
tasmāt — therefore yasya — whose mahā - bāho — O mighty-armed one nigṛhītāni — so curbed down sarvaśaḥ — all around indriyāṇi — the senses indriya - arthebhyaḥ — from sense objects tasya — his prajñā — intelligence pratiṣṭhitā — fixed .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmād yasya mahā-bāho
tasmāt
therefore
yasya
whose
mahā - bāho
O mighty-armed one
nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ
nigṛhītāni
so curbed down
sarvaśaḥ
all around
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas
indriyāṇi
the senses
indriya - arthebhyaḥ
from sense objects
tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
tasya
his
prajñā
intelligence
pratiṣṭhitā
fixed .
Important Words
  • mahā - bāho — mighty-armed one
    Vocative. Used at moments of strong instruction (cf. 2.26). The hero is reminded of his strength precisely when the instruction calls for the highest discipline. The arm that bends the Gāṇḍīva is the arm that can hold the senses.
  • nigṛhītāni — fully controlled
    Past participle of ni + √grah — to grasp downward, to seize and hold under. *Held down*. Stronger than saṁyamya — not just restrained but firmly clasped beneath.
  • sarvaśaḥ — in every way
    Adverbial. The control is *total* — every direction, every sense, every occasion. The verse closes the loopholes that verse 67 opened: not one wandering sense survives.
  • indriya - arthebhyaḥ — from the sense-objects
    Ablative plural — *away from sense-objects*. Echoes verse 58. The senses are *pulled back from* the objects; that is the action of nigṛhīta.
  • pratiṣṭhitā — fully established
    The chapter's recurring word (cf. 2.57, 58, 61). Repeated as the final refrain. Each verse in this stretch ends with prajñā pratiṣṭhitā — the same image, approached from a different angle each time.
Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence.
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)
The conclusion of the boat-image (2.67): close the wind off completely. Total restraint of senses from objects — sarvaśaḥ, in every way — is the only safe ground for fixed wisdom.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
This is the third occurrence of the refrain tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā (cf. 2.57, 2.58, 2.61). The compound nigṛhītāni from ni-√grah ('to hold down firmly') is stronger than the saṁyamya of 2.61 — it indicates not merely controlling but completely restraining. Sarvaśaḥ closes any loophole: every sense, all the time, in every direction.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे महा-बाहो! तस्मात् यस्य इन्द्रियाणि सर्वशः इन्द्रिय-अर्थेभ्यः निगृहीतानि, तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ।
he mahā-bāho! tasmāt yasya indriyāṇi sarvaśaḥ indriya-arthebhyaḥ nigṛhītāni, tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā |
Therefore, O mighty-armed, he whose senses are completely restrained from sense-objects — his wisdom is firmly established.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
तस्मात् यस्य महा-बाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः । इन्द्रियाणि इन्द्रिय-अर्थेभ्यः तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
tasmāt yasya mahā-bāho nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ | indriyāṇi indriya-arthebhyaḥ tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
तस्मात् tasmāt तद् (pron. (pronoun)) abl.sg. (ablative singular) therefore
यस्य yasya यद् (rel.) gen.sg. (genitive singular)m. whose
महा-बाहो mahā-bāho महा + बाहु (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular), bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) O mighty-armed
निगृहीतानि nigṛhītāni नि+√ग्रह् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.pl. (nominative plural)n., 'restrained' restrained
सर्वशः sarvaśaḥ ind. (indeclinable), 'completely' in every way
इन्द्रियाणि indriyāṇi इन्द्रिय (n.) nom.pl. (nominative plural) senses
इन्द्रिय-अर्थेभ्यः indriya-arthebhyaḥ इन्द्रिय (n.) + अर्थ (m.) abl.pl. (ablative plural), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound), 'from sense-objects' from sense-objects
तस्य tasya तद् (pron. (pronoun)) gen.sg. (genitive singular)m. his
प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता prajñā pratiṣṭhitā प्रज्ञा (f.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) + प्रतिष्ठिता p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)f. wisdom is established
Purport

One can curb the forces of sense gratification only by means of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or engaging all the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As enemies are curbed by superior force, the senses can similarly be curbed, not by any human endeavor, but only by keeping them engaged in the service of the Lord. One who has understood this – that only by Kṛṣṇa consciousness is one really established in intelligence and that one should practice this art under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master – is called a sādhaka, or a suitable candidate for liberation.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
68. He who completely restricts the senses from the sense objects, O mighty-armed one, is fixed in prajña.
Commentary

He who controls his mind restricts his senses from sense objects. He is fixed in intelligence. O might-armed one (mahā-bāho), just as you control your enemies with your strength, you should also control your mind.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
68. He who completely restricts the senses from the sense objects (by fixing the mind on Me), O mighty-armed one, is fixed in prajña.
Commentary

One whose mind is fixed on Me can become established in ātmā (prajñā pratiṣṭhitā). O mighty armed one, just as you conquer the enemies, you should conquer the senses. From these verses it should be understood that conquest of the senses takes place spontaneously for the perfected sthita prajña by absorbing the mind in bhagavān. But it will arise from practice for the person aspiring to attain the state of sthita prajña.

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

Defines a man of steady intelligence – Senses are always searching for satisfaction in sense objects,

therefore one whose senses are restrained from their objects is of steady intelligence

Focus of Learning

(a) Correct technique for controlling mind is engaging all the senses in Krishna consciousness

e.g. Ambarish Maharaja

(a) Without Krishna consciousness there is no peace

Real peace formula is given in Bg. 5.29
Krishna is the only enjoyer
As the supreme proprietor
As the real friend of all living entities
Without Krishna consciousness there cannot be a final goal for the mind and disturbance is due to want of an ultimate goal

(b) Krishna consciousness is a self-manifested peaceful condition which can be achieved only in

relationship with Krishna

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF TEXT 2.66

The contrast between Text 2.66 & 2.65 strengthens Krishna’s argument. If the mind and intelligence

deviate from meditation on Krishna, there can be no question of happiness. Deviating from thoughts of

Krishna and contemplating sense objects results in becoming overwhelmed by desires for material

enjoyment

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
2.68 Since the evils arising from the activities of the organs have been described, tasmat, therefore; mahabaho, O mighty-armed one; tasya, his, the sannyasin's; prajna, wisdom; pratisthita, becomes established; yasya, whose; indriyani, organs; sarvasah, in all their varieties, differentiated as mind etc.; nigrhitani, are withdrawn; indriya-arthhyah, from their objects such as sound etc. In the case of a man of steady wisdom in whom has arisen discriminating knowledge, those which are these ordinary and Vedic dealings cease on the eradication of ignorance, they being effects of ignorance. And ignorance ceases because it is opposed to Knowledge. For clarifying this idea, the Lord says:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
2.68 Therefore, in the way described above, he whose mind is focussed on Me the auspicious object for meditation, and whose senses are thery restrained from sense-objects in everyway, in his mind alone wisdom is firmly set. Sri Krsna now speaks of the state of attainment by one whose senses are subdued and whose mind is serene.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
2.64-68 Raga-dvesa-etc. upto pratisthita. Here the purport is this : He, who controls his mind, is not tossed by the waves of wrath etc., even while he is enjoying the sense-objects; hence he alone is a man of Yoga, a man-of-stabilized-intellect. Extraordinary is the man of Yoga, even while he is attending to the worldly business. While examining this point, the characteristics mark of his (man of Yoga), is briefly related by the Supreme Lord-
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
2.68 Therefore, O mighty-armed Arjuna, his knowledge is steady whose senses are completely restrained from sense-objects.
Commentary

2.68 तस्मात् therefore? यस्य whose? महाबाहो O mightyarmed? निगृहीतानि restrained? सर्वशः completely? इन्द्रियाणि the senses? इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः from the senseobjects? तस्य his? प्रज्ञा knowledge? प्रतिष्ठिता is steady.Commentary When the senses are completely controlled? the mind cannot wander wildly in the sensual grooves. It becomes steady like the lamp in a windless place. The Yogi is now established in the Self and his knowledge is steady. (Cf.III.7).

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
2.68 Therefore, O mighty-armed one, this wisdom becomes established whose organs in all their varieties are withdrawn from their objects.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
2.68 Therefore, O Might-in-Arms, he who keeps his senses detached from their objects - take it that his reason is purified.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 2.58 BG 3.6 BG 6.24 SB 3.28.7 SB 7.15.36 SB 11.14.42 CC Madhya 24.65 CC Madhya 24.143 CC Antya 20.43 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.1.1BRS 1.2.115
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
He whose senses are fully withdrawn from sense objects has firm intelligence — this is the state to cultivate.
Practical Applications
  • Identify one sense at a time and bring it under fuller restraint over a season.
  • Track your buddhi's firmness against your senses' restraint — they correlate.
  • Refuse the modern lie that maximum sensory engagement is freedom.
Reflection Questions
  • Which sense, if more restrained, would most strengthen my buddhi?
  • Where am I confusing sensory abundance with spiritual freedom?
Analogy

A king whose army is fully under his command — not skirmishing on its own, not deserting, but standing in formation — is a king at peace. The mahā-bāhu with senses nigṛhīta on every side is this king. His prajñā does not need to fight; it stands.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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