BHAGAVAD GEETA: 86 - Swami Advayananda.

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BHAGAVAD GEETA
Chapter - 2
Discourse – 2 (72 Slogas)
“Yoga of the SUPREME SELF”
Sri Veda Vyasaji

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Monday 19, Aug 2024, 06:20.
Discourse 2 | Yoga of the Supreme Self  
2.12   THE MAN OF STEADY WISDOM 
(Slogas 54-67, 14 No.
Slogam - 62: Q3: Without Matpara – the Slow Descent 
Post - 86.

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Slogam - 62: Q3: Without Matpara – the Slow Descent 

1 

Dhyaayatah vishayaan pumsah =  When a man thinks of objects 

2 

sangah teshu upajaayate; = attachment for them arises; 

3 

sangaat sanjaayate kaamah = from attachment desire is born; 

4 

kaamaat krodhah abhi-jaayate; = from desire arises anger ; 

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In case we refuse to take the help that the Lord has offered to us, namely, Matpara, 

then the following is the scenario that we must prepare for: 

 

In two mantras, 62 and 63, we have what is called the “Ladder of Descent”.  The first 

mantram gives the part where the descent is slow, gradual, almost imperceptible to the 

Sadhaka. The next mantram gives us the steep descent, where the crash comes so suddenly it is 

unstoppable, and the end result is inevitable. 

The Slow Descent:

 1

 Toying with Thoughts of Pleasure: All advertising thrives on this aspect of human 

life. Window shopping has its charm because of this. Advertisers know that repeated 

blasting of the mind with thoughts of pleasure plants desire in the mind. They exploit this 

principle in their advertising campaigns. Soon we yield and are ready for the next rung. 

2

 Attachment to Pleasure: Once a pleasure is tasted, rolling the thoughts of past 

enjoyment does the same thing as does advertising in planting a new seed. One’s own mind 

becomes the ‘Advertiser’! “I think it is a good idea” – says attachment. Constant churning of 

these thoughts is certain to whip up a harmless looking attachment into a demanding one. 

Where there was only “I”, now there is “I” + “x” in the mind. “X” is the object of attachment. 

3

 Desire for Pleasure: The thought of attachment or liking builds up and becomes “I 

must have it” – that is desire. Up to here it can still be reversed if the thought process is 

purified. If this reversal at this stage is not done, the desire rarely remains in the mind for 

long. Soon it prods the senses, which begin to start itching. 

4

 Taking Action to Acquire Pleasure:The  person, seeking to acquire the object of his 

desire, sets about making elaborate plans of action to obtain it. That is not too difficult a 

task. Soon he succeeds. He may succeed again, and again – perhaps many times. In fact, the 

success is part of the ploy to pull the unsuspecting person onward.  

Obstructed Desire Brings Anger : Then, sure enough, the day arrives when he meets 

with an obstacle that stands in his way . . . and then we have a visit from Anger. Anger is the 

other side of enjoyment. Desire fulfilled brings enjoyment; desire denied brings anger. 

The first visit may just bring some irritation. The next visit brings disappointment. 

The third becomes a source of pain. At this point, one decides that the obstacle has to be 

eliminated. The emotion of anger arises to deal with it. Anger may come in varying degrees 

of intensity depending on how intensely one wants a thing. Anger is no respecter of people – 

even if the Guru or one’s father stands in the way he gets the same treatment. When 

anger arises, the road is clear for a rapid descent down the Ladder. 

The anger is directed at the person or factor that obstructs one’s desire. There is no 

other reason for it to appear. It is not about the qualities of the other person but purely the 

denial of desire that causes this anger to arise. But Anger finds a reason – any reason – to 

get angry! 

The reasons Anger finds are termed justification. The other person is always blamed – 

he is like this or that; he hates me; he is jealous of me; what business has he to do that; 

and so on. The reasons given could be endless. But denial of desire is the real reason. 

Unfortunately, we are blinded to the real reason. 

What follows is described in the next verse. 

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Next

Slogam - 63:  Q3: Without Matpara – the Fast Descent 

Continued

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