Bhagavad Gita On Person Who Has Achieved Self Realization

Bhagavad Gita chapter two mentions about a person who has achieved self realization. The behaviour and attitude of the person is mentioned in the chapter.

When a man has given up the desires of his heart and is satisfied with the Self alone, be sure that he has reached the highest state.

The sage, whose mind is unruffled in suffering, whose desire is not roused by enjoyment, who is without attachment, anger or fear – take him to be one who stands at that lofty level.

He who wherever he goes is attached to no person and to no place by ties of flesh; who accepts good and evil alike, neither welcoming the one nor shrinking from the other – take him to be one who is merged in the Infinite.

He who can withdraw his senses from the attraction of their objects, as the tortoise draws his limbs within its shell – take it that such a one has attained Perfection.

The objects of sense turn from him who is self-disciplined. Even the relish for them is lost in him who has seen the Truth.

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In the Bhagavad Gita, the concept of self-realization, or "Atma Jnana," is a central theme, reflecting the culmination of spiritual progress. A person who has achieved self-realization, known as a "self-realized soul" or "jnani," embodies several distinct characteristics and qualities. Below, I expand on the description of such a person according to the Bhagavad Gita:

Equanimity and Detachment

A self-realized person is free from attachment and aversion. They maintain equanimity in success and failure, pleasure and pain, and other dualities of life. In Bhagavad Gita 2.14, Krishna advises Arjuna to tolerate these dualities, as they are temporary and arise from sense perception.

Verse 2.14:

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।। 

Translation: O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

Steadfastness and Discipline

A self-realized soul is steadfast in their discipline (sadhana) and remains undisturbed by the fruits of their actions. They perform their duties without attachment to the outcomes, exemplifying the principle of Karma Yoga (the yoga of action).

Verse 2.47:

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।

Translation: You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.

Inner Peace and Satisfaction

A self-realized person finds peace and contentment within themselves, independent of external circumstances. They are described as having a steady mind (sthita-prajna) and experiencing inner bliss.

Verse 2.55:

प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान्।
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते।।

Translation: O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.

Compassion and Humility

A self-realized individual is compassionate towards all living beings and practices humility, seeing the divine presence in everyone.

Verse 5.18:

विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि।
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः।।

Translation: The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater (outcaste).

Freedom from Ego and Desire

They are free from ego and personal desires, acting selflessly for the welfare of all. Their actions are motivated by duty and compassion rather than personal gain.

Verse 3.17-18:

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः।
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते।।

Translation: But for one who takes pleasure in the self, whose human life is one of self-realization, and who is satisfied in the self only, fully satiated—for him there is no duty.

Unshakable Devotion

A self-realized soul possesses unshakable devotion to the Supreme Being (Bhakti Yoga). They understand the Supreme Reality (Brahman) and see all their actions as offerings to the divine.

Verse 9.22:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।

Translation: But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.

The Bhagavad Gita presents the self-realized person as an ideal to aspire towards. Such a person exemplifies equanimity, detachment, inner peace, humility, compassion, and unwavering devotion. Their life is a testament to the power of spiritual discipline and the transformative potential of true knowledge and devotion.