Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verses 57–60 — 24/Oct/2019
Chapter 2 — Verse 57
yaha sarvatraanabhisnehastattpraapya shubhaashubham
naabhinandati na dveshti tasya pragnaa pratishthitaa
Summary
One who is without attachment everywhere, on meeting with good or bad, is neither happy nor sad, he is of steady knowledge.
The one of steady knowledge can be called as a sage also. The sage will not be attached to even the life of his own body. He is devoid of all attachment and aversion when good and evil occur to him. He does not seek one nor shuns the other. This kind of wisdom, free from depression or happiness is of stable.
Even if a person is very calm, balanced in his demeanour and seems in control, its very easy to see him lose control the moment his health fails or something befalls him. A sage who is of steady wisdom is not affected by this at all. He is also not affected if say, he won a million dollars or lost everything he owned. This kind of detachment is not something that can come normally or through practice. This can come only when he has realised the Self as the Supreme.
Chapter 2 — Verse 58
yadaa samharate chaayam koormodgaaneeva sarveshaha
indriyaaneendriyaarthebhyastasya pragnaa pratishthitaa
Summary
Like the tortoise which withdraws its limbs from all sides, he withdraws his senses from the sense-objects then he is of steady knowledge.
A tortoise withdraws all its limbs at the slightest hint of danger. Similarly, when a person can withdraw his senses from their objects then, he is of steady mind. Again what is being said here is not something that can come of practise. People can practise giving up some luxuries but not all. Say, for example somebody gave up his car and goes by walk everywhere for some reason. But, this does not mean he has given up all his senses. He might still hanker after a house or some possession. The idea expressed here is to give up all senses or desires and be detached from it all which can happen when a person has attained the Supreme.
Chapter 2 — Verse 59
vishayaa vinivartante niraahaarasya dehinaha
rasavarjam rasopyasya param ghashtvaa nivartate
Summary
The sense objects turn away from an abstinent man but not the longing. But, his longing also leave him upon meeting the supreme.
There are people either to attain the Supreme or for any reason abstain from sense objects. Like a lifelong brahmachari who has swore off marriage and the opposite sex. Or a person who has left his responsibilities and run off into the hills to seek the lord. Both these people may seem like a person of steady wisdom as they can turn away from sense objects. But, if the brahmachari secretly wishes to be married but is only showing brahmacharya outwardly its of no use. Similarly, it is not about abandoning responsibilities and running away from it which can help attain the Supreme but utter devotion as a karma yogin can get that person there. Arjuna also talked about abandoning the war and running away. This verse is kind of Krishna’s way of saying just abstinence will not help remove the longing. Only meeting or attaining the Supreme can even remove the longing for the senses in a sage.
Chapter 2 — Verse 60
yatato hyaapi kounteya purushasya vipashchitaha
indriyaani pramaatheena haranti prasabham manaha
Summary
The turbulent, dangerous senses, O son of Kunti, forcibly carry away the mind of a wise man even while striving to control it.
Even a wise man is susceptible to the senses. Even if he is trying to control them, but, if he is inclined to the senses, then, they can forcibly carry away the mind elsewhere and thus lose the focus and steadiness of knowledge needed to attain the Supreme. This is in reference to people who may be trying to master being in control but the moment they falter or think they have mastered and let loose, the senses take over and send them back to their original state.
