Guest guest Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 || Shree Hari || Ram Ram || 2-58 || yadaa samharate chaayam, kurmo 'ngaaneeva sarvasah indriyaanindriyaarthebhyas, tasya prajnaa pratisthitaa " As a tortoise, withdraws its limbs from all sides, the same way, when he (Karma Yogi) detaches completely his senses from the sense-objects, his intelligence is firmly established in wisdom. " Comment: The Self stays always and continuously the same (AS-IS) and the body is constantly and perpetually changes; therefore, there is no change in the nature, the essence of either of these. But when the Self identifies with the body, then there is effect and impressions of the body and the world on the intellect. When the identification with `me' and `mine' are gone then the effect of body and the world on intellect is gone and the intellect becomes steady. With the steadiness in intellect then the Self gets situated in Its own natural state. From " Gita Prabodhani " in Hindi, page 57 by Swami Ramsukhdasji ---------------------- Verse 58, Chapter 2 is as follows; Yadaa = when Samharate = draws in Cha = and Ayam = this one (Yogi) KoormaH = tortoise Angaani = limbs Iva = like SarvashaH = on all sides IndriyaaNi = senses Indriya –ArthebhyaH = from sense objects Tasya = his (intelligence) Pradnyaa = wisdom Prati-Shthitaa = is established in English translation:- When just like a tortoise draws in its limbs on all sides, he who withdraws his senses from sense objects, his intelligence is said to be firmly established in wisdom. Comment: This verse addresses Arjuna's questions: `How does a Yogi whose intelligence is firmly established in wisdom act? How does he conduct himself in this mortal world?' Lord Krishna compares the conduct of a Yogi whose intelligence is firmly established in wisdom, to the conduct of a tortoise as a simile. A tortoise is a symbol of slow and steady progress. It moves about slowly and carefully but remains always alert in its every movement. At the slightest perception of an external threat, as a measure of self protection from its predators, a tortoise withdraws its four legs, head and tail under its hard shell with spontaneity and dexterity. A tortoise is self sufficient in organising such a preventive measure without any external help. Similarly, a Yogi whose intelligence is firmly established in wisdom withdraws his five sensory organs namely eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin and the sixth special sensory organ i.e. the mind as a preventive measure from relentless onslaughts of worldly temptations. His intellect remains always alert and yet synchronized and tuned with the Self. He remains unaffected and untarnished master in any given situations and circumstances. He does not allow vicissitudes of `Maayaa / Prakriti' i.e. Mother Nature to overpower him under any circumstances. Please refer verse 7 from chapter 15 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, wherein Lord Krishna has offered a unique and novel definition of the mind: " ManaH ShashthaaNi IndriyaaNi " i.e. the mind is the sixth sensory organ. It reminds me of a famous tale of a hare and a tortoise narrated by Aesop in ancient Greece. The story concerns a hare who one day ridiculed a slow-moving tortoise. In response, the tortoise challenged his swift mocker to a race. The hare soon left the tortoise far behind and confident of winning, he decided to take a nap midway through the course. When the hare woke up, he found that his competitor the tortoise crawling slowly but steadily, had already won the race. This is precisely what happens in real life as well. Many Bhogis (as opposed to Yogis), indulge in various activities related to sense objects, but in the end realise that they have lost the race. This is presented in a poetic form in a famous song of late Mukesh in the film `Teesari Kasam' which is, " Ladakapan Khela Men Khoyaa, Javaani Neenda Bhara Soyaa, Budhaapaa Dekha Kar Royaa, Yaheen Kissaa Puraanaa Hai " i.e. It is indeed an old story that every ordinary person plays in the childhood, enjoys sleep in the youth and finally comes to utter grief in the old age. Many people make a firm resolve that they will study Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta at a later stage in life while continuing their over indulgence in material comforts and sensual pleasures. Sooner or later they realise that had they studied it in their early youth, the human life would have been so much meaningful and a rewarding and enlightening experience. In summary, a complete mastery over his senses, under the suzerainty of his intellect which is in the union with the Self, is the hallmark of an enlightened person. " Poisonous snakes fatally hurt people. But the snake charmer handles them as if they were no creatures of consequence. More than that, he has quite a few of them coil, creep and writhe about his body. The senses likewise are undependable and treacherous too, in the case of an ordinary person. But the senses are ever tame and subservient to the knower of the Aatman. " ………..Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa Thanks & Best Regards, Shrikant Joshi ----------------------- || Shree Hari || Ram Ram All Sadhaks can participate in discussion / clarification of the verses. OTHER REQUESTS FROM SADHAKS - Please feel free to take the lead in any of these areas so that all sadhaks may benefit. - Introduction to Chapters (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK SANJIVANI) - Chapter Summary - Principles and Laws emanating from it.(N.B. VYAS) - Summary of Chapter from Sadhak Sanjivani " AS IS " - Yes, Epilogue / Important Facts in each verse good to bring out. - Any subtle thoughts / interpretation (MIKE) - In-depth explanation of " Om Tat Saditi Srimadbhagavadgitaasu, Upanishadsu..... " is a very good idea. (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK SANJIVANI) From Gita Talk Moderators Ram Ram ----------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 || Shree Hari ||Ram Ram Link - Here Bhagwaan begins to answer the third question - how a man of steadywisdom (sthith pragynaa, equanimous person) sits? || 2-58 || yadaa samharate chaayam koormo'ngaaneeva sarvasahindriyaanindriyaarthebhyastasya prajnaa pratisthitaa || 58 || Just like a tortoise, withdraws its limbs from all sides, similarly this karmayogi detaches completely the senses from sense-objects in all aspects, hiswisdom thereafter becomes steady (stable, equanimous). 58 Comment: — 'Yadaa samharate chaayam koormo'ngaaneeva sarvasahindriyaanindriyaarthebhyastasya prajnaa pratisthitaa— Here, the purpose of the illustration of the tortoise is, that as a tortoisewithdraws its six limbs — four legs, a tail and a head — into the shell toprotect itself against possible dangers, at that time just the back (i.e.shell)is seen. Similarly an enlightened one also withdraws the five senses and onemind from their individual sense-objects. If even the slightest mental affinitywith senses remains, then he cannot be a man of stable wisdom. Here the verb 'samharate', has been used, to emphasize the fact, that the man ofsteady wisdom entirely and completely disconnects from the senses. In otherwords, he does not even think of worldly pleasures. In this verse the term 'yadaa' has been used but 'tadaa' is not used. The reasonis, that when the senses are withdrawn from their sense-objects, the Self isrealized axiomatically, because it is not bound by time and related constraints.This 'anubhav' realization is not the fruit of any action or of sacrifice. Itis not a realization that 'comes into being'. Therefore the word 'tadaa' whichdenotes time, has not been applied, as it is not necessary. Time is of theessence where a particular thing is dependent on another thing. Just like ifthere is Sun in the sky, but if one's eyes are closed the sun is not seen, andimmediately on opening the eyes the sun is seen, then here in the Sun and theEyes the relationship is not one of action and it's cause and effect. In otherwords it is not because the eyes opened that the Sun came into being. The Sunis ever present, but it is only due to the eyes remaining closed that the Sunwas not seen. Similarly, when the senses are drawn away from the sense objects,the realization of the ever present universal Consciousness element (Paramatmatattva) or Self-realization or God-realization is axiomatic. It is beyond thereach of senses. The point is that this essential element that is axiomatic, ispresent AS-IS even while engaged in sense pleasures and having affinity withsense objects. However, being veiled by the curtain of sense pleasures, thatrealization does not take place. And immediately on unveiling the curtain theever-present consciousness element is realized / revealed. From "The Bhagavadgita - Sadhak Sanjivani" in English, page 210 by SwamiRamsukhdasji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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