Arjuna said: O Keshava (Krishna), what is the description of one of steady wisdom (sthita-prajña) who is established in samadhi? How does the steady-minded one speak, how does he sit, how does he move?
Synthesis
This is Arjuna's most important question in the entire Gita, and it sets up one of the most celebrated passages in Sanskrit literature. The question is profoundly practical: not 'what is the philosophy of wisdom?' but 'what does wisdom look like from the outside?' Arjuna asks about speech, posture, and movement — the embodied, visible signs of inner realization. The term 'sthita-prajña' (one of steady wisdom) becomes the touchstone of chapters 2 through 6. By asking this question, Arjuna transforms the conversation from abstract metaphysics to lived reality. Krishna's answer in the following verses gives us one of the most practical portraits of psychological and spiritual health in any tradition. This is the only verse in this section spoken by Arjuna.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara notes that Arjuna's question is the perfect question at the perfect moment. Having heard the philosophical teaching on the immortal Self, Arjuna now asks: how is this knowledge expressed in a living human being? The description of the sthita-prajña that follows is Shankara's primary evidence for the concept of jīvanmukti — liberation while still in the body.
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
The best question to ask of any philosophy or self-help teaching is: what does the ideal person produced by this teaching look like day-to-day? Judge wisdom by its fruits in daily behavior.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"What does a truly wise person look like in daily life?"
- ?"How can I tell if I'm making spiritual progress?"
- ?"What are the visible signs of inner peace and wisdom?"
- ?"How does a sthita-prajña — a person of steady wisdom — actually behave?"