Bhagavad Gita · Sankhya YogaChapter 2, Shloka 53 (2.53)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला
समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि
॥ 2.53 ॥
śrutivipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā
samādhāvacalā buddhistadā yogamavāpsyasi
Translation
"When your understanding, bewildered by hearing many kinds of statements, becomes settled — unwavering and immovable — in samadhi (the self), then you will attain yoga."
Interpretation
Nishchala and achala — why two words? Shankaracharya: nishchala — free of distraction and restlessness; achala — free even of alternatives (doubt). That is, the understanding neither wanders here and there nor sways in doubt.
"Samādhi" — what is it here? Shankaracharya: samādhīyate cittam asminn iti samādhiḥ ātmā — that in which the mind is placed is the self; that is, the understanding becomes steady in the self.
Ramanuja — the sequence of knowledge and action. Ramanuja gives a clear sequence: knowledge of the self born of scripture → karma-yoga → the discipline of knowledge called sthita-prajñatā → yoga (seeing the self, the vision of the self). In a mind made pure by the practice of unattached action, the understanding becomes unwavering, focused on the eternal, subtle reality different in kind from everything else — then "yoga", that is, the vision of the self, is attained.
The meaning of "yoga" here: Shankara — viveka-prajñā, samādhi; Ramanuja — ātmāvalokana (seeing the self). That is, here yoga is an attainment, not merely a method.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.