Bhagavad Gita · Sankhya YogaChapter 2, Shloka 65 (2.65)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते
प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते
॥ 2.65 ॥
prasāde sarvaduḥkhānāṃ hānirasyopajāyate
prasannacetaso hyāśu buddhiḥ paryavatiṣṭhate
Translation
"When there is prasada (clarity of mind), all his sorrows come to an end; for the understanding of one whose mind is serene (clear) soon becomes firmly steady on every side."
Interpretation
Two fruits. (1) The end of all sorrows; (2) the swift steadying of the understanding.
Shankaracharya: sorrow = ādhyātmikādīnām — of all three kinds: adhyatmika (from body and mind), adhibhautika (from other beings), adhidaivika (from nature/fate). The understanding paryavatiṣṭhate = ākāśam iva pari samantāt avatiṣṭhate — becomes established on every side, like space; ātma-svarūpeṇaiva niścalībhavati — becomes unwavering in the nature of the self itself. Then Shankaracharya gives the gist of the passage: therefore, with senses free of attachment and aversion, one should engage with unavoidable sense objects that are not contrary to scripture.
Ramanuja: when there is prasada, all sorrows prakṛti-saṃsarga-prayukta — arising from contact with prakriti (matter) — are removed. A serene mind = ātmāvalokana-virodhi-doṣa-rahita-manas — a mind free of the faults that obstruct seeing the self; then vivikta-ātma-viṣayā buddhiḥ mayi paryavatiṣṭhate — the understanding whose object is the self, distinct from prakriti, becomes steady in me.
Notice the order: first the mind becomes clear (prasada), then the understanding becomes steady. Muddy water keeps moving; in clear, still water you can see the bottom.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.