Worldly vs Enlightened
Published:
The Geeta Shlok (Bhagavad Gita 2.69) reads as follows:
Sanskrit:
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी। यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः॥
Transliteration:
Yā niśhā sarva-bhūtānāṁ tasyāṁ jāgarti sanyamī Yasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśhā paśhyato muneḥ.
Meaning in English:
That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled person is awake. The state in which all beings are awake is night to the introspective sage.
Interpretation:
This shloka emphasizes the difference in perception between a spiritually wise individual and ordinary people. The “night” and “day” metaphor reflects contrasting states of awareness:
For the worldly: They are awake to material pursuits but asleep to spiritual reality.
For the enlightened sage: They are awake to spiritual truth while being indifferent to material attractions.
This verse highlights the inner detachment and higher awareness of a self-realized soul compared to the common worldly outlook.