Bhagavad Gita 2.64

[Paramananda das]

TEXT 64 rāga-dveṣa-vimuktais tu viṣayān indriyaiś caran ātma-vaśyair vidheyātmā prasādam adhigacchati

SYNONYMS rāga—attachment; dveṣa—detachment; vimuktaiḥ—by one who has been free from such things; tu—but; viṣayān—sense objects; indriyaiḥ—by the senses; caran—acting; ātma-vaśyaiḥ—one who has control over; vidheyātmā—one who follows regulated freedom; prasādam—the mercy of the Lord; adhigacchati—attains.

TRANSLATION One who can control his senses by practicing the regulated principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord and thus become free from all attachment and aversion.

PURPORT It is already explained that one may externally control the senses by some artificial process, but unless the senses are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, there is every chance of a fall. Although the person in full Kṛṣṇaconsciousness may apparently be on the sensual plane, because of his being Kṛṣṇa conscious, he has no attachment to sensual activities. The Kṛṣṇa conscious person is concerned only with the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, and nothing else. Therefore he is transcendental to all attachment. If Kṛṣṇa wants, the devotee can do anything which is ordinarily undesirable; and if Kṛṣṇadoes not want, he shall not do that which he would have ordinarily done for his own satisfaction. Therefore to act or not to act is within his control because he acts only under the direction of Kṛṣṇa. This consciousness is the causeless mercy of the Lord, which the devotee can achieve in spite of his being attached to the sensual platform..

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

This verse answers the question, “How does the sthita prajna go?” (vrajeta kim) The Lord explains that it is not a fault to accept the objects of the senses, if it is done with controlled senses, with absence of attachment of the objects in the mind. According to Amara Kosa, vidheya means “submissive, situated in words, compliant, controlled, well behaved, polite, and equal.” One whose mind (atma) is submissive to instructions (vidheya atma), (who contacts objects with senses controlled by the mind, senses devoid of attachment and repulsion), attains peace (prasadam). Contacting the sense objects is not a fault. Rather it is a good quality for one who does so with control. In other words, for the sthita prajna, accepting the renunciation of enjoyment of objects, either by withdrawal of the senses (asana) or by engaging the senses (vrajana), is beneficial.

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary

The control of the senses which has been prescribed as the means of acquiring perfect knowledge and spiritual intelligence is being concluded. By addressing Arjuna as O mighty armed one, Lord Krishna is indicating that just as Arjuna exercises control of the enemy in battle; he must likewise exercise control of the senses as well.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya Madhvacarya's

Commentary Lord Krishna is declaring that only by control of the senses in all respects can wisdom be achieved.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

Therefore in the way that it has been definitively expounded by Lord Krishna, whosoever achieves communion with Him the most exalted reality for meditation will surely in every way have their senses abstracted and completely oblivious to the objects of the senses. Thus so qualified to them will come installation of wisdom and so established they will become fit to attain the eternal soul. The achievement of one who has subjugated their senses and whose mind is situated in sublime serenity is discussed in the next verse.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

By previously establishing the depreciating effects of the senses in affecting the mind and degrading the intellect, Lord Krishna now concludes this topic by explaining that the problem to be addressed is the senses and that one who has the potency to restrain their senses from their sense objects is one who is situated in transcendent meditation.

Tamala Krsna: 64: "One who can control his senses by regulative principles and who is free from attachment and aversion can attain the mercy of God." Prabhupada: Yes. We have fallen down. How we have fallen down? Fallen down to the platform of sense enjoyment. Therefore you have to begin rising up from the senses, controlling of the senses. That is the way of self-realization. Either you practice yoga or practice bhakti, devotional service, the beginning is to control the senses. So the yogis and other methods, they are trying to control the senses by force. "I shall go to the Himalayas. I shall not see any more beautiful woman. I shall close down my eyes." These are forceful. You cannot control your senses. There are many instances. You don't require to go to Himalaya. You just remain in Los Angeles city and engage your eyes to see Krsna, you are more than a person who has gone to Himalayas. You'll forget all other thing. This is our process. You don't require to change your position. You engage your ears for hearing Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you'll forget all nonsense. You engage your eyes to see the beauty of the Deity, Krsna. You engage your tongue for tasting Krsna prasadam. You engage your legs to come to this temple. You engage your hands to work for Krsna. You engage your nose to smell the flowers offered to Krsna. Then where your senses will go? He's captivated all round. The perfection is sure. You don't require to control your senses forcibly, don't see, don't do it, don't do it. No. You have to change the engagement, the status. That will help you. Go on. Tamala Krsna: Purport. "It is already explained that one may externally control the senses by some artificial process, but unless the senses are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord there is every chance of a fall. Although a person in full Krsna consciousness may apparently be on the sensual plane, actually, because of his being Krsna conscious, he has no attachment to or detachment from such sensual activities. The Krsna conscious person is concerned only with the satisfaction of Krsna and nothing else. Therefore he is transcendental to all attachment or detachment. If Krsna wants, the devotee can do anything which is ordinarily undesirable, and if Krsna does not want, he will not do anything which he would have ordinarily done for his own satisfaction. Therefore to act or not to act is within his control because he acts only under the dictation of Krsna. This consciousness is the causeless mercy of the Lord which the devotee can achieve in spite of his being attached to the sensual platform."

[Paramananda das]

the regulative principels of freedom is also the 4 regulative principles