Verse-69
Chapter 2 — Sānkhya Yog
Verse 69
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
yā niśā sarvabhūtānāṁ tasyāṁ jāgarti saṁyamī
yasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśā paśyato muneḥ
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
What is night for all beings in that man of steady wisdom who is intend on the attainment of the All knowing, Eternal and Blissful Lord is awake and for the attainment of worldly pleasures for which all beings are awake, that to the sage who knows the Truth-Principle is like the night.
This verse of the Gita is extremely mysterious, profound and extraordinarily inspirational. Day and night, sleeping and awakening is not to be taken in an external sense. It is not proper to take them literally, neither does it sound reasonable. In any case the Gita is a philosophical, indicative and spiritual knowledge. 'Yah nisha sarvabhutanam'–what is night for all beings.
Looking from a reflective standpoint all beings keep on sleeping. For such people for whom the worldly objects and indulgences are all–how can they be expected to have interest in the association with spiritual persons, and be inclined towards meditating on God? What is life, how and why has it been given to us, what is the goal, how can one attain mental peace and from where? After all is said and done and also after harbouring so many desires and achieving them, there is no peace nor joy in life. Why after all? Not the least bit of thought is given to this extremely necessary question. There is total indiferrence towards this aspect. Everything else will be done except for associating with spiritual persons, singing religious songs or engaging in religious discussions. Neither the thought-process goes towards this nor is there time for this. Because for them this situation is dark like night to them! They are asleep towards this aspect.
'Tasyam jagriti sanyami' the discerning sage is awake in this situation. He is ever vigilant towards the values of life–what ought to be done, where to go, what is the destination–totally aware towards all these. Lest the inner connection with the Truth should break, rememberance is forsaken, the unreal world should enter the thoughts–the great sages are vigilant towards all these.
'Yasyaam jagriti bhutani' that towards which beings are awake. Attraction towards sensual objects–the thoughtful persons are totally free from concern towards them. All these being left to God's will, not in the least being concerned about it or giving thoughts to it! They close their eyes to all the sensual objects because they have understood rightly that contentment does not lie in material objects; in their eyes it is like the darkness of the night. 'Sa nisha pashyato muneh'. The knower of Truth is able to discern easily that knowledge is light, the ignorance is darkness; spiritual associations are enlightening and bad company are dark forces; worship is light and desire is darkness, devotion is light and attachment is darkness; turning inwards is light and outward-going tendency is darkness!