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Bhagavad gita II: shloka 55
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Bhagavad gita II: shloka 55
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From: lchiluku@ucsd.edu (R. & L. Chilukuri)
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Date: 14 Apr 1995 06:02:11 GMT
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From news@network.ucsd.edu Fri Apr 14 01: 51:19 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: Univ of California at San Diego
BG AS IT IS:
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
prajahat yada kaman
sarvan partha mano-gatan
atmany evatmana tustah
sthita-prajnas tadicyate
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Partha, when a man gives up
all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental
concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the
self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.
M.R. Sampatkimaran in Gita Bhasya of Ramanuja:
When one completely gives up all desires which have affected his mind, O
Arjuna (Partha), and becomes pleased in himself with himself, then he is
said to be of steady understanding.
Swami Chinmayananda:
The Blessed Lord said: When a man completely casts off, O Partha, all the
desires of the mind, and is satisfied in the Self by the Self, then he is
said to be one of steady Wisdom.
A.G. Krishna Warrier in SankaraBhasya:
When one wholly discards desires of the heart and becomes exclusively
content with the Self, one is called a sage of stable wisdom, O Arjuna!
Questions and comments:--------------------------
"when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification" --
Is it not true that desire for wealth-progeny-fame is more entrenched
than sense-gratification. Often sense-gratifications can be almost
forgotten (even overcome), in the pursuit of fame and other egoistic
desires.
Giving up desires does not mean not having objectives or goals. Perhaps a
sthita prajna is free of expectations and attachment to the goal (as in
karma yoga or in devotional service).
contentment in the self by the self --- It is easy to interpret this in
light of advaita, since the sthita prajna is full (poorna) and hence
really cannot "gain" anything.
Sankara uses the phrase "contrentment that is independent of external
gains". There is no "external" for a sthita prajna, and hence no
"external gain".
Prabhupada says "remains satisfied in himself by realizing himself to be
the eternal servitor of the Supreme Lord". I know that it is wrong to
take a shloka out of context, but it is difficult to see how this
particular shloka implies service to Krishna.
Ramanuja introduces a fresh concept: "Steady understanding. This is ther
climax of firm devotion to knowledge". Perhaps he intends to signify the
Supreme (Brahman or Krishna) with the word "Knowledge".
How can a sadhak apply this shloka in his daily life? Through devotional
service or karma Yoga?
It sure is difficult to give up desire!
Krish Chilukuri
