Sthitaprajna

स्थितप्रज्ञ
(A man of steadfast wisdom)

9 is an auspicious number for Hindus, as indeed 7 is for Christians. Vyaasa wrote 18 (a multiple of nine) PuraaNas. The Geetha has 18 chapters. The real message of Geethaa is in the first 18 Shlokas when the LORD begins His famous discourse. (Shlokas 12 to 29 of Chapter Two ) A Sthitaprajna is descibed in full in 18 Shlokas (No. 55 to 72 ) of the same chapter.

A Sthitaprajna is a man of steadfast wisdom - the bedrock of human perfection. You feel drowned in his presence - his silence is golden.

Shloka No. 55 - When a person has given up the last vestige of desire from his mind, he becomes a Sthitaprajna. He is happy in himself, happy by himself (Just as you enjoy with the children in their make-believe games, he takes life as a game. Win or lose, it is a game to be enjoyed).

Shloka No. 56 - No calamity can shake him. No success can excite him. The master of lust, fear and anger, he is free and happy all the time.

Shloka No. 57 - Auspicious or inauspicious, he is untouched by circumstances. He does does go
out to flatter people nor can flattery ensnare him.

Shloka No.58 - Like a tortoise which withdraws its limbs inside its shell, his senses are under his control and never led astray (He knows God is not approachable by senses. He knows whatever is sensed by senses is transitory and not worth pursuing).

Shloka No.59 - Senses sense his mature sense and drop away .( SENSES here stand for five senses together. SENSE is a verb , to inderstsnd correctly. Mature SENSE is singularly plural standing for our five senses of perception. )Not the least tempted by wordly objects.

Shloka No. 60 - The senses however keep biding their time, to pounce on him at any moment of weakness. But he is ever alert and does not swerve from his chosen path.

Shloka No. 61 - Like an experienced charioteer controlling horses, he keeps his senses under control.

Shlokas No. 62 and No.63 - Do not dwell on any thought. A persisting thought on any object gives rise a desire to possess it. An unsuccessful attempt to get at it, brings in the fangs of anger. This affects the mental balance, leading to indiscrimination and, consequently, loss of peace of mind.

Shloka No. 64 - Peace of mind is possible only when you enjoy the God-given gifts with senses under your full control.

Shloka No. 65 - The mind stabilizes as desires, anger and the like disappear.

Shloka No. 66 - How can you expect yor intellect to perform right if the senses are let loose? How can the mind stabilize if tossed by senses? How can you taste bliss and lasting peace with a disturbed mind?

Shloka No. 67 - Like a boat cast adrift by the wind, the mind is cast adrift by the senses.

Shloka No. 68 - Sense objects keep tempting. But never allow the senses to follow them.

Shloka No. 69 - The wise man is always awake when the ignorant are sleeping. He is asleep to the world enjoyed by the ignorant.

Shloka No. 70 - An ocean receives water from rivers all over the world. It does not cross its boundaries. A Sthitaprajna is an ocean of peace and bliss. Happiness and unhappiness of the world are insignificant to him and do not affect him in the least. Can a cupful of milk make an ocean white? Can a cupful of drain water pollute an ocean?

Shloka No. 71 - Give up the sense of ego - renounce and rejoice!

Shloka No. 72 - Hold on to this state of Brahman until death. Death will hold no fear for you. It will honour you and escort you to God.