Sthitaprajna - Gita Chapter 2 Verse 70

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Verse 70:

apuryamanam acala-pratistham samudram apah pravisanti yadvat

tadvat kama yam pravisanti sarve sa santim apnoti na kama-kami

 

He attains peace into whom all desires enter as waters enter the ocean

which, filled from all sides, remains unmoved; but not the man who is

full of desires.

 

Verse 70 contains the essence of the Vedantic philosophy in a nutshell.

This verse in poetic form uses a powerful simile to describe the

qualities of the True Nature of the Jiva in no uncertain terms. English

Translation of verse 70 by Dr. Radhakrishnan: "He unto whom all desires

enter as waters into the sea, which, though ever being filled is ever

motionless, attains to peace and not he who hugs his desires."

 

The science of Vedanta expressed in Gita combines both the scientific

rationale and the mystic experience. We can possibly apply scientific

rationale to explain rains, rivers and oceans. Science explains why

water is essential for the survival of life in this planet. Scientists

also predict the time, location and the amount of rain falls with a

higher level of precision than ever before. They can also explain why

rain waters fill the rivers and why rivers can't be recognized when they

reach the ocean. But science has its own limitations. When scientific

explanations stop, mystic experiences start. Some of us while standing

at the banks of the river, we experience inner peace and tranquility.

The reasons for inner peace and tranquility is beyond the scope of

science. When we stand before the Ocean, we are able to witness the

boundless beauty and wonder of the nature filled with Divinity.

 

Science identifies water as the material connection between rain,

river, ocean and life. The subtle connection between material objects

and life is mystic. Mysticism can be experienced but can never be

explained! Scientists will be able to prove that there can be no life

without water. But scientists could not disagree with the Vedantic claim

that there is no life without consciousness! When rivers reach the

ocean, rivers lose their identities. When we realize Brahman, we become

Brahman. Ocean is a good visual image of infinity, it is motionless,

silent and serene. Ocean is always full and we can neither overfill nor

empty the ocean!

 

The nerve center for human desires is the mind which undergoes changes

with spiritual growth. Rain waters represent the desires. River

represents spiritual life. . When we adopt the spiritual path of life,

we divert our desires to satisfy community We are able to evolve a sense

of direction and a destination. The waters of the rivers flow through

the planet for the survival of humans, animals, plants and insects. The

spiritual person also proceeds the life with the only desires and

actions for the betterment of the society. When the spiritual person

reaches the ultimate destination, (Brahman) he (she) loses the identify.

The spiritual person attains Brahman with fulfilment of all desires and

reaches the motionless state of the Ocean.