Qualities of a Sthitaprajna - Explained

In Bhagavadgita., Arjuna puts a question to Sri Krishna, in the 54th sloka of second chapter, Sankhya yoga :

      Sthitaprajnasya ka bhasa samadhisthasya keshava

      Sthitadhih Kim prabhaseta Kimasita vrajeta Kim - 2.54

      "What O keshava, is the description of a person of

      steady wisdom, mearged in samadhi? How does the person

      of steady wisdom speak, how sit, how walk?"

The rest of the verses till the end of the second chapter is devoted to answering this question by Sri Krishna, thus explaining to Arjuna the qualities of Stithaprajna -

(Desire-less) "When one completely casts away, O partha, all the desires of the mind, satisfied in the self alone by the self, then he or she is said to be one of steady wisdom." -2.55

Here Krishna clearly gives the hint - absense of  desire alone is not enough. It can be a pathological state. There may not be anything spiritual about it. There are cases in mental hospital, they live in a corner, don't want anything, immensed in themselves all the time. So Sri Krishna adds the second line - he or she is fully delightlyed in the self by the self. Because of that, I don't want anything. I have got something infinite with me. What can these petty things do for me. This is the actual idea.

(Situational Stability) “One whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after happiness, who has become free from blind attachment, fear and anger, is indeed the muni or sage of steady wisdom – Sthitahprajna.” -2.56

Here “Hanker after happiness” means ‘not carried away by ambition in happiness.’ Then Sri Krishna also mention about the three motins that are harmful to man – Raga (Desire), Bhaya(fear), Krodha(anger).

(Emotional Stability) “One who is everywhere unattached not pleased at receiving good, nor vexed at evil, his or her wisdom is steady.”       -2.57

Unlike animals, which reacts to the stimulus, we have the capacity to study the situation and discriminate before reacting. When that qualities is exercised, we get this kind of stability. The next sloka presents an example –

“When also, like the tortoise drawing its limbs, one can completely withdraw the senses from their sense objects, his or her wisdom becomes steady.”      -2.58

This and the next two verses is dedicated to control of senses –

(Perfect Self Control) “Sense objects fall away from the abstinent person, leaving the longing behind. But even that longing ceases when one realizes the supreme”  -2.59

“The turbulent senses, O son of Kunti, do violently snatch away the mind of even a wise man who is striving after perfection      -2.60

“The steadfast, having controlled them all, sits focused on Me as the supreme, his or her wisdom is steady, whose senses are under control”-2.61

The aspirants, the abstinent persons often does this mistake due to overconfidence that they can comfortably be in the midst of sense objects that are attractive, yet be unattached, after doing some spiritual disciplines. Thus falling prey to the dangerous senses. Whereas a sthitaprajna is capable of remaining unattached at all circumstances for he has realized the self and well established in it.

The next two verses, 2.62 & 2.63 tells how a person falls down from the ideal by having or developing attached to the sensory system.

(Tranquility) “But the self-controlled person, moving away sense objects with the senses under one’s restraint, and free from attraction and aversion attains to tranquility”      -2.64

“In tranquility, all sorrows are destroyed. For the intellect of one who is tranquil-minded is soon established in firmness”   -2.65

The verse 2.66 talks about importance of meditation. And 2.67, what happens if not meditated. 

Therefore, O mightly-aimed, his or her knowledge is steady, whose senses are completely restrained from their objects.”    -2.68

(Established in fullness of ego) “As into the ocean, brimful and still, flow the (flood) waters (of various rivers without agitatin the ocean), even so is the muni into whom enter all desires, he or she attains to peace and not the desirer of desires.”     -2.69

He might desire to eat a delicious food or even to establish a huge organization. But such desires does not make any disterbances inside, which is absolutely calm and steady. Such a mind is established in the universal ego, universal fullnesss, as illustrates in the shanti mantra – “Poorna midam, poornath poornamudatchathe,…”/ Thus he performs the actions in accordance with the will of the eternal divine as described by the shloka -2.50. This shloka defines that state as “Yogah KArmasu Kausalam – Dexterity in action.”

Though the sthitaprajna lives in the midst of the desirable objects, and the sense organs does their job of constantly bringing in the information about the desirable objects, the person attains peace and not become the desirer of the desirable objects.

(Oneness with Brahman) “This (state of sthitaprajna) is having one’s being in Brahman, brahmi sthitih, none, O son of Prtha, attains to this becomes deluded. Being established their in even at the end of one’s life, one attains to oneness with Brahman”.

Thus to summarise the qualities of sthitaprajna :

1.    Desireless, Satisfied in the Self.

2.    Situational Stability

3.    Emotional Stability

4.    Perfect Self Control

5.    In state of Tranquility

6.    Established in fullness of ego

7.    Oneness with Brahman.