Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The White Hindu

Home
Hindu
Scripture Study: Bhagavad Gita, book two verses 70-72

Scripture Study: Bhagavad Gita, book two verses 70-72

Last updated on: June 9, 2015 at 6:46 am by Ambaa Choate

Scripture Study: Bhagavad Gita, book two verses 70-72 2015-06-08T20:48:07-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We are doing a scripture study together: reading along through some scriptures and discussing the passages.

From the Winthrop Sargeant translation of The Gita…

70. Like the ocean, which becomes filled yet remains unmoved and stands still
As the waters enter it,
He whom all desires enter and who remains unmoved
attains peace; not so the man who is full of desire.

71. The man who abandons all desires
Acts free from longing.
Indifferent to possessions, free from egoticism,
He attains peace.

72. This is the divine state, Arjuna.
Having attained this, he is not deluded;
Fixed in it, even at the hour of death,
He reaches the bliss of God.

End of Book II

Notes on the Sanskrit

“The man who is full of desire” is the word kaamakaami, which is literally translated as “desirer of desires.”

“Peace” is of course Shantim, i.e., Shanti

Interestingly, the “bliss of God” is brahmanirvanam. Notice the word “Nirvana” in there, as in the Buddhist word for the ultimate truth. Literally meaning to cease to exist or “blown out” like a candle. The complete word here means basically to lose oneself completely in God.

Commentaries of Gurus

The ocean is full unto itself and always maintains the same form even though countless rivers enter into it. Whether the rivers enter or do not enter, the ocean is unaffected and undergoes no difference. Similarly when the senses of one in transcendent meditation come in contact with sense objects such as sound and it enters into the sense vector of hearing and is apprehended by the ears such a one still remains peaceful and maintains an equipoise state of consciousness…The word kamas means desires or those things which one wishes to enjoy such as taste or touch. Lord Krishna is instructing that whoever can relinquish these desires is free from craving, free from my-ness the conception that these things are mine and free from I-ness, my-ness and the conception that I am this body. Such a one not bewildered does misidentify the physical body as being the soul, rather such a one perceives the soul and attains peace. –Ramanuja’s Commentary

Here it is clearly stated that one who has internally renounced the desire for sense objects equipoise by the association of those coming on their own accord and not hankering for those that are not appearing on their own accord, free from false ego of thinking doership and devoid of any conception of proprietorship of anything, accepts whatever comes as a result of past actions, attains peace of mind. –Sridhara Swami’s Commentary

Lord Krishna extolling the virtues of the process of spiritual knowledge concludes chapter two with this verse enunciating the performance of actions by being unattached to their rewards. This state of consciousness leads to self-realisation and brahmi the ultimate truth. Having achieved this one never again deluded by the material energy. Nor does one experience the feeling of I or mine in relationship with the physical body. Even if one becomes established in this state at the last moment when death has come still one will achieve the eternal spiritual attainment. –Kesava Kasmiri’s Commentary

My Thoughts

I just absolutely love the images in these verses. The ocean unmoved by water coming into it or not, is a great metaphor for a person in deep stillness and satisfaction.

It’s impressive to think that one could be fixed in such a state at all times, even at death. I definitely aspire to be that calm in the face of death.

Previous Post

June 4, 2015

Standing Still in the Midst of Action

Next Post

June 10, 2015 My New Favorite Cookbook

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: The Corinthians were told that if Christ has not been raised, their preaching and faith are useless.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE