Bhagavad Gita 2.58यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः।इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
yadā sanharate chāyaṁ kūrmo ’ṅgānīva sarvaśhaḥ
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣhṭhitā
Sanskrit recitation
A steady mind in a noisy world · 2.54–2.72 · Teaching
Translation
When, like the tortoise which withdraws all its limbs on all sides, he withdraws his senses from the sense-objects, then his wisdom becomes steady.
Hindi translation
जिस तरह कछुआ अपने अङ्गोंको सब ओरसे समेट लेता है, ऐसे ही जिस कालमें यह कर्मयोगी इन्द्रियोंके विषयोंसे इन्द्रियोंको सब प्रकारसे समेट लेता (हटा लेता) है, तब उसकी बुद्धि प्रतिष्ठित हो जाती है।
Meaning
Withdrawal of the senses is Pratyahara or abstraction. The mind has a natural,tendency to run towards external objects. The Yogi again and again withdraws the mind from the objects of the senses and fixes it on the Self. A Yogi who is endowed with the power of Pratyahara can enter into Samadhi even in a crowded place by withdrawing his senses within the twinkling of an eye. He is not disturbed by tumultuous sounds and noises of any description. Even on the battlefield he can rest in his centre, the Self, by withdrawing his senses. He who practises Pratyahara is dead to the world. He will not be affected by the outside vibrations. At any time by mere willing he can bring his senses under his perfect control. They are his obedient servants or instruments.
After Swami Sivananda
A steady mind in a noisy world· 2.54–2.72→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 2.54Arjuna said, "O Krishna, what is the description of one who has steady wisdom and is…
- 2.55The Blessed Lord said, "When a man completely casts off, O Arjuna, all the desires of the…
- 2.56He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not long for pleasures, and is free…
- 2.57He who is everywhere without attachment, upon encountering anything good or bad, neither…
2.58When, like the tortoise which withdraws all its limbs on all sides, he withdraws his…
- 2.59The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man, leaving the longing behind;…
- 2.60The turbulent senses, O Arjuna, can violently carry away the mind of a wise person, even…
- 2.61Having restrained them all, he should sit steadfast, intent on Me; his wisdom is steady…
- 2.62When one thinks of objects, attachment to them arises; from attachment, desire is born;…
- 2.63Anger leads to delusion, which causes loss of memory; this, in turn, leads to the…
- 2.64But the self-controlled man, moving among objects with the senses restrained and free from…
- 2.65In that peace, all pains are destroyed; for the intellect of the tranquil-minded soon…
- 2.66There is no knowledge of the Self for the unsteady, and no meditation is possible for the…
- 2.67For the mind, which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away his…
- 2.68Therefore, O mighty-armed Arjuna, his knowledge is steady whose senses are completely…
- 2.69That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled man is awake; when all…
- 2.70He attains peace into whom all desires enter, just as waters enter the ocean which, filled…
- 2.71That person attains peace who, abandoning all desires, moves about without longing,…
- 2.72O son of Pritha, this is the eternal state, the Brahmic seat. Attaining this, one is not…
Word-by-word→
- cha
- and
- iva
- as
- ayam
- this
- tasya
- his
- yadā
- when
- prajñā
- divine wisdom
- aṅgāni
- limbs
- kūrmaḥ
- tortoise
- sanharate
- withdraw
- indriyāṇi
- senses
- sarvaśhaḥ
- fully
- pratiṣhṭhitā
- fixed in
- indriya-arthebhyaḥ
- from the sense objects
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