desire

Chapter 02, Verse 70

श्रीभगवानुवाच:

आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं

समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् |

तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे

स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी || 2.70 ||

sri-bhagavan uvaca:

apuryamanam acala-pratistham

samudram apah pravisanti yadvat |

tadvat kama yam pravisanti sarve

sa santim apnoti na kama-kami || 2.70 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca)
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding Arjuna.
आपूर्यमाणम् (apuryamanam)
Being constantly filled
अचल-प्रतिष्ठम् (acala-pratistham)
Steady, unmoving
समुद्रम् (samudram)
The ocean
आपः (apah)
Waters
प्रविशन्ति (pravisanti)
Enter
यद्वत् (yadvat)
Just as
तद्वत् (tadvat)
In the same way
कामाः (kamah)
Desires
यम् (yam)
Whom
प्रविशन्ति (pravisanti)
Enter
सर्वे (sarve)
All
सः (sah)
He
शान्तिम् (santim)
Peace
आप्नोति (apnoti)
Attains
न (na)
Not
काम-कामी (kama-kami)
One who desires material pleasures

Translation

            “Like an ocean, it is full and settled, though many rivers flow into it, so the wise become peaceful, though many desires enter them. But note that the one who chases after desires never finds peace.”

Context of the Verse

            Krishna uses the ocean as a metaphor to explain the secret of inner peace.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            The role of ocean and sea as an image of fidelity. The language of the water is immeasurable, yet many rivers overflow into the sea. Likewise, a wise person does not get disturbed by desires and allows them to come and go without the desires touching the wise person.

            Non-Attachment is the Key to Inner Peace. The self-actualized individual may experience desires, but it does not use them as an excuse to act out in a less-than-ideal manner. They aren’t governed by hunger; they take it easy and are content.

            Your Life Is Driven By Desire: the desire gives you no peace. Simple things such as the ability to feel complete, fall in love, be present in the moment, and reciprocate with gratitude are purposeful gifts at the same time. How to Find True Peace True happiness comes not from obtaining desire.

Relevance to Arjuna

            Krishna tells Arjuna to be like the ocean; firm not affected by feelings and desires. Arjuna must act not controlled through grieving and connections but with wisdom and internal balance.

Explanation

            Just like many rivers come to the ocean but the ocean remains very placid; Krishna is telling. Ocean remains very Placid. Similarly, though so many desires will come to the body, but the one who does not try to satisfy that desire, he gets peace. The mind of materialistic enjoyment suggests many kinds of suggestions. He loses his Peace of Mind. Sensual enjoyment is not enjoyment, as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam. As we discussed previously. As we discussed previously, it is a mental fabrication. We have a demand for higher pleasure, and we settle for any higher pleasure we can find. And this enjoyment is not mandatory. It is addictive in nature. Nobody needs to be addicted.” However, we do get carried away as we start to follow those addictions. In the same way, there is no need to have any sort of material enjoyment, but once we begin enjoying it materially, the desires always keep increasing.
            For example, a patient with eczema has several wet sores on the body, and those are very itchy. However, if someone tries to scratch or rub that sore, the sensation of itch will only get worse. And if you scratch underneath the surface, it begins to bleed. The sore and the disease worsen. This is the nature of things. This is the reason that poor people are not as distressed as the rich, because a poor person has hope. I’ll be happy once I am rich. A rich person becomes hopeless. With thousands of sources, I’ve reached fame. And I try to enjoy as many sense objects as I could. Yet, why is there perishing in my life? What else can I do so that they are more distressed and they come into depression because they do not say, “Oh, what else do I do to become happy?” This is actually the nature of material happiness. This is like throwing butter into the fire. There is always a feeling of demanding more. Well, all fucks given, follows the every no one care today intakes 1 cigarette, 2 cigarettes, now have to 4 cigarettes its 8. There is no end to it. Less sex, more sex, kinds of sex. There is no end to it.
            JSo, that’s the line – understand, this is the nature of material happiness. The world’s best minds are educated by nobody. You had no clue after achieving the top position in fields, whatever exam in the country, they made the best of technical and business plans. They still do not know because without the merciful Lord - or in other words, without guidance. This knowledge is very difficult to understand, actually Krishna God is speaking of the impotent being, who is always trying to fulfil the flow of desire passing within the mind and body. He never reaches peace, for that is not the design. Material joys are just addictions. You don’t need them, but once you love it, you cannot live without them. So, one such person gets peace who is not disturbed because what is happening to him, he is underneath relishing a higher pleasure. How can this be so simply logical when people mention that what is day for us is night time for you, you are having other pleasures? It is common sense.

yoga

Chapter 02, Verse 71

विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान् पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः |

निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः शान्तिमधिगच्छति || 2.71 ||

vihaya kaman yah sarvan pumams carati nihsprhah |
nirmamo nirahankarah sa santim adhigacchati || 2.71 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
विहाय (vihaya)
Having abandoned
कामान् (kaman)
Desires
यः (yah)
One who
सर्वान् (sarvan)
All
पुमान् (puman)
A person
चरति (carati)
Moves, lives
निःस्पृहः (nihsprhah)
Free from cravings
निर्ममः (nirmamh)
Without possessiveness
निरहङ्कारः (nirahankarah)
Without ego
सः (sah)
He
शान्तिम् (santim)
Peace
अधिगच्छति (adhigacchati)
Attains

Translation

            “Whoever has given up all desires and wanders around without a sense of craving, attachment, or ego achieves supreme peace.”

Context of the Verse

            And Krishna explains the supreme path to peace; through the renunciation of desires, belongings, and pride.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            Giving up on pleasures (Vihaya Kaman Sarvan). The real peace comes from relinquishing all desire, not attempting to satisfy them endlessly. Based on external validation, a wise person has none. Detachment from attachment & ego (Nirmama Nirahankarah)

            The term Nirmama (not attached) means not clinging to people, things, and outcomes.

            Nirahankarah (without ego) means that we are not identifying with the false self or being prideful.

            The Road to Final Peace (Santim Adhigacchati) The person who is not attached ultimately has inner peace. No matter the circumstances, they stay calm and unbothered.

Relevance to Arjuna

            In Bhagavad Gita Krishna motivates Arjuna to be beyond all desires, attachments, and ego. In this way, by serving others, Arjuna will have peace and clarity instead of being swamped by passing emotions.

Explanation

            Material wants are addictive. Similar to rubbing or scratching moist eczema sore. It will only version the situation. So, one gives up material desires. And the sense of proprietorship is removed from him. That all things belong to God. Nothing belongs to me. It’s engagement in service for God, then he changes himself into an energy that possesses the spirit, thinking about the discovering process. I am this body. So, I’m somehow the dream body that I feel. I am this body, man, woman, beast. So, one gives up material desires. He loses the property as well as the false ego. He is able to understand. I am not this body. This identity is temporary. And then he knows I’m different. What is profit, what is loss? Nothing belongs to me. He is very very peaceful.

yagya

Chapter 02, Verse 72

एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति |

स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति || 2.72 ||

esa brahmi sthitih parth nainam prapya vimuhyati |
sthitvasyam anta-kale pi brahma-nirvanam rcchati || 2.72 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
एषा (esa)
This
ब्राह्मी (brahmi)
Divine, spiritual
स्थितिः (sthitih)
State of being
पार्थ (partha)
O Arjuna (son of Pritha)
न (na)
Not
एनाम् (enam)
This
प्राप्य (prapya)
Attaining
विमुह्यति (vimuhyati)
Becomes deluded
स्थित्वा (sthitva)
Being established
अस्याम् (asyam)
In this
अन्त-काले (anta-kale)
At the time of death
अपि (api)
Even
ब्रह्म-निर्वाणम् (brahma-nirvanam)
Liberation in Brahman
ऋच्छति (rcchati)
Attains

Translation

            “This is divine consciousness, O Arjuna. Once one has reached this point, one is never fooled again. A person, so established in it, even at the time of death, goes to his liberation (Brahmanirvana).”

Context of the Verse

            Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita ends with the description of the highest state of self-realization; one with absolute wisdom and peace.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            Brahmi Sthitih; The Divine State. At the state of self-realization, a person is free of desires, ego, and attachments. This leads to peace and wisdom, which is the end goal of life.

            It was called Freedom from Delusion (Nainam Prapya Vimuhyati); once one reaches this state, a person never falls into ignorance again. They are not affected by worldly ups and downs.

            At the moment of death, a righteous person is liberated (Anta-Kale pi Brahma-Nirvanam rcchati); even if an individual (a person) achieves this state at the moment of death. That is, no rebirth, merging with the eternal, blessed Brahman.

Relevance to Arjuna

            Krishna assures Arjuna that he who is a wise warrior, who functions selflessly, attains the highest peace. Arjuna’s best course of action, if he conducts his fight without his ego and attachment to the fruits of his actions, will be to not only fulfil his duty, but also attain liberation.

Explanation

            For intense hedonists, such a philosophy is fine, because there isn’t any life. Who understood that sense enjoyment can provide only frustration, and they are so much frustrated by material enjoyment. They want to stop this life. They simply want to detach from this material existence. And such philosophies advise that you end this material existence, after which you can no longer exist. There is nothing outside of that. But this is not the recommended path by the Bhagavad Gita here, the special type of positive life.

            For him, who is a diseased person, it is not enough to be free from this disease now, but he has to enjoy positively. He wants to eat now. He wants to walk around, to move around, to play, to enjoy with his family and friends. This positive liberation is called the Brahman Nirvana or Kingdom of God. We are made of earth and water and we live outside this human body we see a world where mostly there is a lot of water, and life in water is a reality. And then we see there is a world here which is mostly of fire, the sun, planet, and light; there is also fire on the sun. Now, as fire releases microscopic fire creatures, scientists find out the microbes which are there in fire, also like this. There are other species that live in a world entirely composed of fires. So, there is one planet that is 100% water. There is a universe that is entirely made of fire. There are planets like this. There is a planet where I reside that is entirely composed of spiritual energy and will you take a test Krishna. Not just material life is illusion, this is the positive knowledge of our spiritual life. Material forms are illusory. You are not this body; you are a soul. You do have a form, but that form is spiritual, and it is revealed when we leave this material body or this bodily concept of life. God is not just an energy; God is a person. To realize this spiritual nature and transfer oneself to a spiritual heaven-like planet, not to any dreary planet, is the main target of the most elevated yogi. That is what Krishna does recommend. If a person follows his yoga system as described by Lord Krishna, he reaches on spiritual planets where there is no time and therefore no fear, no sorrow, and always there is transcendental bliss of Krishna awareness.

            This concludes the second chapter, which is a summary of the Bhagavad Gita. Here, Karma Yoga is explained. A great idea has been explored in this sacred book to serve its purpose of Gyan Yoga and also hint of Bhakti yoga as we have so far talked, and still more beautiful instructions are waiting for us in the 3rd chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, which we shall discuss in the upcoming session.

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