February25 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 2; Verses 2.67-2.68 (Day 56) Sankhya Yoga

 February 25 – Day 56

Verse 2.67-2.68

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते ।

तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ॥ २-६७॥ 

indriyāṇāṁ hi charatāṁ yan mano ’nuvidhīyate
tadasya harati prajñāṁ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi (2.67) 

இந்த்³ரியாணாம் ஹி ச¹ரதா¹ம் யன்மனோ‌னுவிதீ⁴யதே¹ |
த¹த³ஸ்ய ஹரதி¹ ப்¹ரஞ்ஞாம் வாயுர்நாவமிவாம்ப⁴ஸி ||67|| 

67. For the mind which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away his discrimination as the wind (carries away) a boat on the waters. 

Commentary: The mind which constantly dwells on the sensual objects and moves in company with the senses destroys altogether the discrimination of the man.  Just as the wind carries away a boat from its couse, so also the mind carries away the aspirant from his spiritual path and turns him towards the objects of the senses. 

तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः ।

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ २-६८॥ 

tasmād yasya mahā-bāho nigṛihītāni sarvaśhaḥ
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣhṭhitā (2.68) 

த¹ஸ்மாத்³யஸ்ய மஹாபா³ஹோ நிக்³ருஹீதா¹னி ஸர்வஶ: |
இந்த்³ரியாணீன்த்³ரியார்தே²ப்⁴யஸ் த¹ஸ்ய ப்¹ரஞ்ஞா ப்¹ரதி¹ஷ்டி²தா¹ ||68|| 

68. Therefore, O mighty-armed Arjuna, his knowledge is steady whose senses are completely restrained from sense-objects!

Commentary: When the senses are completely controlled, the mind cannot wander wildly in the sensual grooves.  It becomes steady like the lamp in a windless place.  The Yogi is now established in the Self and his knowledge is steady. (Cf. 3:7)

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda (verses 67-68):

Kṛṣṇa does not encourage us to run away from the world. It is the most unintelligent way of self-restraint, even if it were possible. Nor does he favour violent suppression of the senses and the mind. His yoga is one of intelligence and common sense. Elsewhere, he reminds us that the senses will always respond to the sense-objects and foolish, violent restraint is useless.

The wise aspirant will sincerely, silently and non-violently change his mental substance and effect sublimation of his nature. The yukta or yogi views the world from his point of union with or awareness of the reality; his inner values are radically different from the values of the worldly man. He is not carried away by emotions and sentiments, desires and cravings.

It is not easy; the old morbid habits must be changed. Here, a few practical hints can be of use. Make an involuntary habit voluntary. Then substitute a new mental response to external stimuli for the old response. Start the new habit with the greatest possible enthusiasm. Avoid slipping into the old habit. Exercise the new habit consciously and voluntarily as often as possible. In this process, you will come face to face with the conditioning which sustained the old habits. They will drop away, unwanted. The new, healthy habits will become effortless. You will go beyond all conditioning, and be established in the wisdom of God. 

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