CH 5, Verse 23

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Chapter 5

Verse 23

 

Shaknoteeh'aiva yah sodhum praak shareera-vimokshanaat

/

kaama-krodh'odbhavam vegam sa yuktah sa sukhee narah

//

 

He who is able, in this world, to resist the impulse

arising from lust and anger, before the fall of the

body, is steadfast in yoga; he is a happy man.

 

LESSONS FROM BHAGAVAD GITA – 52

>From the discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji

Compiled by: Swami Dattananda

Bhakti Mala, April 1997

 

Sense-enjoyments are not only the sources of pain and

sorrow, but they also have a beginning and an end.

That means sense-enjoyments are short-lived or

impermanent. What a joy when wealth or power comes

and what a sorrow when it is lost. What a joy when a

child is born and what a sorrow when it dies! Same is

the case with all material enjoyments that are

available in this world. Therefore the wise man or

the man of discrimination does not delight in sense

enjoyments. He experiences the ceaseless happiness

arising out of the Self and is absorbed in the bliss

of the Self.

 

As the sense-enjoyments are dangerous and the most

disastrous impediments in the path to supreme Godhead,

man must make the utmost effort to avoid them.

Therefore the Lord says: “He who is able, in this

world, to resist the impulse arising from lust and

anger, before the fall of the body, is steadfast in

yoga; he is a happy man” (Chapter 5, Verse 23).

 

Most of the people leading a worldly life find it

difficult to withstand the impulse of lust and anger

(Kama and Krodha) as their mind is weak. Lust and

anger lead man to the most terrible downfall. If he

is able to control them he can easily march towards

spiritual perfection. Therefore he has to bring them

under his subjugation by practicing Karma Yoga and

Jnana Yoga.

 

Kama is lust or craving for an object enjoyed earlier

which is a source of pleasure when it is heard of or

remembered. Anger arises out of the aversion for

things that obstruct one’s interests when they are

seen, heard of or remembered. He who is able to

resist the impulse of lust and anger, in this very

life, prior to death, is a yogi, a happy man. As the

urges born of lust and anger is unavoidable for any

living being, he should not relax his efforts to

resist and overcome them until his death. That is the idea.

 

 

 

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