Bhagavad Gita 2.44
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 44 of 72
भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम्। व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते॥
bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānāṃ tayāpahṛta-cetasām / vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ samādhau na vidhīyate
Minds absorbed in pleasure and power cannot settle into the resolute intelligence — they are carried away.
Word by word (4)
- bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānām
- — those deeply attached to pleasure and power
- tayā apahṛta-cetasām
- — whose consciousness has been stolen by that · 'Apahṛta' — stolen, carried off. The attachment itself robs the person of the discriminative capacity that would see through the attachment. A self-reinforcing trap.
- vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ
- — the resolute intelligence
- samādhau na vidhīyate
- — does not arise / is not established in samādhi · 'Samādhi' here = settled, single-pointed mind. The mind constantly pulled outward by pleasure and power cannot settle inward enough to develop the resolute buddhi.
'In the minds of those who are deeply attached to pleasure and power — and whose discrimination has been stolen by that attachment — the resolute intelligence does not arise; the steadiness of samādhi is not established.'
A modern analogy
Constant stimulation — news feeds, notifications, entertainment, the pursuit of the next thing — makes stillness neurologically difficult. The mind that is always being carried outward (toward the next pleasure, the next achievement) cannot develop the inward stillness from which the 'vyavasāyātmikā buddhi' (resolute, single-pointed intelligence) arises. This verse names that dynamic precisely.
Take with you
- 'Tayāpahṛta-cetasām' — those whose consciousness has been stolen by the flowery speech. The attachment itself prevents the discrimination that would see through the attachment.
- Samādhi (meditative stillness) requires freedom from the pull of pleasure and power — because the mind constantly pulled outward cannot settle inward.
- The teaching is not anti-pleasure but identifies pleasure-attachment as an obstacle to the resolute mind that Karma Yoga requires.
Public-domain translations (3) compare all →
In the minds of those who are much attached to pleasure and power, and who are robbed of discrimination by that, resolute determination is not established. [4]
Resolute devotion to the Supreme does not spring up in the minds of those who are addicted to the enjoyment of pleasures and power, for it is carried away by such things. [6]
Resolute determination is not found in the minds of those who are addicted to pleasure and power, and whose minds are carried away by such flowery talk. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The resolved mind is one. The unresolved mind branches endlessly — and arrives nowhere.
When mind follows the wandering senses, wisdom is carried away — like wind sweeps a ship off course.
Satisfied by knowledge and realisation, senses mastered, gold and mud equally seen — this is the true steadfast yogi.
Practising thus always, with a controlled mind — the yogi reaches the supreme peace of nirvāṇa, abiding in the Supreme.
Supreme bliss comes naturally to the yogi whose mind is fully at peace, passion quieted, stainless — Brahman-become.
With mind attached, practising yoga, taking refuge in Me — hear how you shall know Me fully, without doubt.
Verse 44 of 72 · back to Chapter 2