Summary:

Chapter 2, Verse 67: The mind naturally reverts to old patterns when following the senses, robbing one of knowledge despite understanding the entanglement process. Like a boat pushed by winds, the untrained mind is easily carried away by desires, especially in uncomfortable situations or when others aren't changing as we wish. The solution is to notice when your mind is being carried away and identify specific areas needing strengthened knowledge or strategy.

Chapter 2, Verse 68: Knowledge becomes firmly established when senses are completely (intelligently) withdrawn from their objects – not through denial or suppression, but through wise regulation. Three intervention points exist: (1) Senses – replace unhealthy addictions with healthier ones and physically relocate away from triggering environments; (2) Mind – question willingness to face emotional consequences; (3) Buddhi – elevate yourself with higher vision, purpose, and duty that reinforces what you stand for.

Chapter 2, Verse 69: The difference between the wise and unwise is as stark as day and night, though they appear identical externally. The wise person (sthita-prajna) is awake to cosmic intelligence, connections across time, and the underlying order sustaining life. They align with this order, recognize the undivided reality, view challenges as growth opportunities, and understand the beliefs behind emotions. The unwise remain oblivious to these realities, seeing life as “me versus world,” complaining about circumstances, and experiencing jumbled emotions.

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 67:
When your mind regresses, bring it back

इन्द्रियाणाम् हि चरताम् यत् मनः अनुविधीयते ।
तत् अस्य हरति प्रज्ञाम् वायुः नावम् इव अम्भसि ॥ २-६७॥
indriyāṇām hi caratām yat manaḥ anuvidhīyate ।
tat asya harati prajñām vāyuḥ nāvam iva ambhasi ॥ 2-67॥

The mind that follows the wandering senses indeed robs the person of his knowledge, just as the wind carries away a small boat on the waters.

Mind returns to old patterns:

Even when you’re explicitly told process of getting entangled (as was in V62, 63, 66) — mind still returns to normal patterns when engaged in the world. Reason is the mind/senses needs more practice to remain thoughtful and considerate in uncomfortable situations. Until then, the mind is like a boat easily pushed by the winds of desire.

EG: When those you love are not changing, it takes your mind back to old stories. It’s never a problem when others are changing favourably (which is never).

Solution:

Notice your mind being carried away. Notice what SPECIFIC AREA needs strengthened knowledge or strategy, because not all situations take your mind away. Like the tortoise with the broken shell (mentioned in V65), your control is in the attitude and thought processes.

NEXT VERSE: Krishna says, knowledge will only stick when your senses are completely withdrawn (doesn’t mean denial or suppression– but intelligent regulation, or not exposing yourself for too long)…

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 68:
Complete (Intelligent) Withdrawal of the Senses

तस्मात् यस्य महा-बाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः ।
इन्द्रियाणि इन्द्रिय-अर्थेभ्यः तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ २-६८॥
tasmāt yasya mahā-bāho nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ ।
indriyāṇi indriya-arthebhyaḥ tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ॥ 2-68॥

Therefore, Arjuna, the mighty armed! the knowledge of one whose senses are completely withdrawn (mastered) from their respective objects is steady.

• Literal translation of verse: “Sense are completely withdrawn”. Impossible to “completely withdraw” because your senses are contacting objects all the time. Implied meaning is the wise person (sthita-prajna) doesn't ruminate on the objects because it's value is clear, and his purpose in life is clear.
• 3 Places we can intervene when unable to stay put (withdrawn):
  1. Senses:
     • Replace with healthy addiction: Since you have an addiction for certain tastes/sights/sounds/smells/sensations that may be unhealthy (meaning first need to acknowledge it’s not healthy) – create a more healthy addiction that brings subtler pleasures. Don’t eliminate, but replace. EG: From excess entertainment watching > pleasurable walk + positive audios. 
     • Physically move: Physically relocate to environment that doesn’t remind you or trigger the unhealthy or toxic addiction. People you hang out with, deeply affect your behaviour. People either lift your mind, or keep you exactly where you are, or regress you into old ways.
  2. Mind:
     • Ask yourself if you’re willing to deal with the emotional consequences?
  3. Buddhi:
     • Give higher meaning to life. Lift yourself up with a higher vision of life. Requires reinforcement of bigger picture of life, your purpose, your duty, and what you stand for.

NEXT VERSE: Compares the wise and the unwise….

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 69:
Wise Person is Like an Owl

या निशा सर्व-भूतानाम् तस्याम् जागर्ति संयमी ।
यस्याम् जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतः मुनेः ॥ २-६९॥
yā niśā sarva-bhūtānām tasyām jāgarti saṃyamī ।
yasyām jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśā paśyataḥ muneḥ ॥ 2-69॥

In that which is night for all beings, the one who is wise, who has mastery over oneself, is awake. That in which beings are awake, is night for the wise one who sees.

Verse:

What is day for the wise (what’s recognized by the wise), is night for unwise (isn’t seen by the unwise). And what’s day for the unwise (what’s true by the unwise), is night for the wise (the wise don’t see it that way).

Meaning:

Difference between wise and unwise is so large, it’s like day and night. Though both the wise (jnani) and unwise (ajnani) look exactly the same on the outside. In other words, unwise people are not awake (night) to realities that wise person is awake to (day).  

Comparing perspectives of wise and unwise person:

NEXT VERSE: What is wise person’s relationship with desire…

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Course was based on Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) home study course.

Recorded 27 April, 2025