Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, Shloka 65
Sankhya Yoga
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते । प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते ॥ २.६५ ॥
prasāde sarvaduḥkhānāṁ hānir asyopajāyate | prasannacetaso hy āśu buddhiḥ paryavatiṣṭhate || 2.65 ||
In prasāda (serene clarity), the destruction of all sorrows arises for him; for one whose mind is tranquil, the intellect soon becomes firmly established.
In serenity (prasāda), all sorrows are destroyed for him; for one whose mind is tranquil, the intellect soon becomes steady.
With clarity/serenity, the cessation of all sufferings arises for him; for the one with a brightened mind, understanding quickly becomes firmly established.
Prasāda is variously rendered as ‘grace,’ ‘serenity,’ or ‘clarity’; the verse emphasizes an inner affective-cognitive shift (mind becomes clear, then intellect stabilizes) rather than an external intervention.
FAQs
The verse sketches a sequence: calmness reduces distress, and reduced distress supports stable judgment. It reads like a model of affect regulation enabling clearer cognition.
While not explicitly metaphysical, it supports the soteriological claim that inner serenity is a condition for steady discriminative insight (buddhi), which in the Gītā is tied to liberation-oriented knowledge.
It continues the teaching on steadiness of mind and intellect in Yoga, explaining how tranquility functions as a prerequisite for firm understanding.
It can be read as recommending practices that cultivate composure (e.g., mindful attention, disciplined habits) so decisions are less driven by agitation.