Verse-61
Chapter 2 — Sānkhya Yog
Verse 61
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
tāni sarvāṇi saṁyamya yukta āsīta matparaḥ
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
Therefore, O seeker! Bringing all the senses under control and becoming of collected mind, wholly devoted to Me, sit intent on Me. Because the sage whose senses are under control his intelligence is firmly set.
Have unwavering faith! This state is not impossible. It is within our reach. Several noble souls have achieved this state. We can also follow suit. Keep your aim high. The inspiration from the Gita is for everyone. All of us are eligible for it! Then why lack in enthusiasm? Leave aside sloth; do not allow even a trace of doubt to plague your mind! Visualise how Shri Krishna lovingly replied Arjun's question with affection and intimacy reflecting his closeness to his devotee is giving the inspiration of His closeness.
'Kimaseet' How does the man of steady wisdom sit? In reply to the third question of Arjun the Blessed Lord through the example of a tortoise had guided Arjun that just like a tortoise on approach of the sensual objects withdraws its limbs from all sides and remains stable in the same way he should withdraw his senses on apprehending the approach of any sense stimuli. The Lord also warned Arjun against the craving for the sensual objects and due to them the overpowering of the senses and along with this. He also stated that on experiencing the Divinity the craving for sensual objects can be exterminated from inside. How is this made possible? The Lord is stating a very straight, clear and simple fact–'yukta aseet matparah'. No external orientation of mind. Put an end to the tendency to rush towards the sensual objects. There is no peace nor upliftment in this. Just as a mother tells a child–do not venture outside; you will fall into the drain, you will get drenched with the dirty water or you may get hurt somewhere. Therefore, sit close to me. Do not go away from me.
This statement of the Lord is like that of a loving mother. The embodied soul is unaware and cannot understand the difference between the delight of God's grace and worldly objects. The Blessed Lord is aware that the individual soul on distancing himself from Him can get embroiled in the impurities of the propensities, can stumble due to sorrow. That is why the Lord along with trying to explain the state of the man of steady intellect is also motivating the individual soul that the state of steadfastness of intellect is attainable only on the conquering of the sensual; therefore, disciplining all the senses from all sides sit near Me dedicatedly. Closeness to the Lord is life's joy and unfailing means to self-elevation. Distancing from the Lord is the state which dangerous and detrimental.