Gita : Ch-2. Slo-70.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-2. ( Samkya-yogam )


Slokam-70. ( A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.)

Very  important Slokam.




Apuryamanamacalapratishtham


samudramapah  pravisanti  yadvat


tadvat  kama  yam  pravisanti  sarve


sa  santimapnoti  na  kamakami.




apuryamanam  acalapratishtham  =   filled  throughout  ( always )  steadily  situated;

samudram  =  to  the  ocean;

apah  =  water  of  different  rivers;

yadvat  pravisanti  tadvat  =   enter  as,  so;

sarve   kamah   =   all  desires;

yam  pravisanti  =   unto  whom   enter;

sa  santim  apnoti  =  that  person  achieves   peace;

kamakami  na   =  to  one  who  desires  to  fulfill desires, is  not  ( not  gains  peace ).                  




The ocean is full unto itself and always maintains the same form even though countless rivers enter into it. Whether the rivers enter or do not enter, the ocean is unaffected and undergoes no difference. Similarly when the senses of one in transcendent meditation come in contact with sense objects such as sound and it enters into the sense vector of hearing and is apprehended by the ears such a one still remains peaceful and maintains an equipoise state of consciousness. In other words the sublime satisfaction derived from direct soul cognition precludes any disturbance from the senses or agitation towards sense delights. Whether sense objects are experienced by the senses or not experienced by them one in transcendent meditation will not be affected and will not be subject to any disturbance. But Lord Krishna is saying that this state can never be attained by one who is kamakana full of lascivious desires or is controlled by the same, for such a being can never achieve peace.


It could be further postulated that since such a being has no interest in sensual pursuits how then are the objects of the sense experienced like seeing sights, hearing sounds, smelling scents etc. in the course of ones daily routine. Here Lord Krishna states that just as the ocean is unaffected is unaffected by the waters of innumerable rivers flowing into it; similarly the introspective yogi is unaffected by the experiences of sense objects which are manifesting due to the influence of both positive and negative reactions to actions which were performed in the previous lifetime and which in the present lifetime come of their own accord. One who is thus self controlled has achieved peace of mind and is thereby unaffected by association of these sense objects; but this is not the case for one who is desirous of sensual enjoyment.


The way in which those situated in transcendent meditation experience the objects of the senses is explained in this verse by Lord Krishna. Whoever remains unaffected by sense objects even when they approach incessantly, who is not overwhelmed by them, who does not endeavour for them, who is not at a loss due to their absence, who is unchanged like the ocean which does not increase no matter how many bodies of water enter it and which does not decrease if no other bodies of water enter it endeavouring for neither. Such a one as this can attain peace. This is the meaning.



Even while experiencing interaction with the senses, one who does not transgress the boundaries of desire, like the ocean which remains steadfast within its boundaries destined by creation, then such a one is not bound by theses desires. One is then liberated from these desires. Ka means to become selfish. Hence one whose desires are self-centered is known to be the selfish one. All desires are not contrary to liberation nor are all desires opposed to liberation. In the absence of desires it is not possible to live a normal life. Since attaining peace from endless desires is liberation itself, subsequently develops eternal faith in the Supreme Lord. Verily this is truth.


Thus one situated in yoga attaining the state of transcendent meditation ceases from pursuing sensual objects because they have mastered the senses and have them under controls. But the question may arise that if in one developed by yoga sense objects naturally come to and are experienced then one may be deviated and cease to remain in the transcendent state. Lord Krishna refutes this doubt by this verse. As water entering the ocean does not affect or change the ocean; likewise the yogi immersed in transcendent meditation is unaffected and unchanged by those things interacting with the senses which are destined to come due to previous karma or by fate. Although they may be experienced they in themselves are not powerful enough to generate any change or deviation internally. Thus such a one has attained peace in the form of liberation from extreme joy as well as misery because the desires causing actions which are the cause of all types of misery are terminated but ones devotedness to the yoga does not deviate and does not terminate. Contrarily one who is inclined to ruminates over and hankers after sensual enjoyments can never find peace and incessantly revolves in the material existence buffeted hither and thither by the negative and positive reactions of their own desires.

To be continued  ....