Bhagavad Gita 2.68

[Paramananda das]

TEXT 68

tasmad yasya maha-baho nigrhitani sarvasah indriyanindriyarthebhyas tasya prajna pratisthita

SYNONYMS

tasmat--therefore; yasya--of one's; maha-baho--O mighty-armed one; nigrhitani--so curbed down; sarvasah--all around; indriyani--the senses; indriya-arthebhyah--for the sake of sense  objects; tasya--his; prajna--intelligence; pratisthita--fixed.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, O mighty-armed, one  whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady  intelligence.

PURPORT

As enemies are curbed by superior force,  similarly, the senses, can be curbed not by any human endeavor, but only by  keeping them engaged in the service of the Lord. One who has understood  this--that only by Krsna consciousness is one really established in intelligence  and that one should practice this art under the guidance of a bona fide  spiritual master--is called sadhaka, or a suitable candidate for  liberation.

from Srila Prabhupadas lecture on this sloka:

Tamala Krsna: 68: "Therefore, O mighty armed, one whose senses are restrained  from their object is certainly of steady intelligence."

Prabhupada: Yes. Now, one whose  sense are restrained... This human life is meant for restraining the senses.  Tapah. This is called tapasya, penance. Suppose I am habituated to some type of  sense gratification. Now, I take to Krsna consciousness. My spiritual master or  the scripture says, "Don't do this." So in the beginning, I may feel some  inconvenience, but if you can tolerate that, that is tapasya. That is tapasya.  Tapasya means I am feeling some inconvenience, bodily, but I am tolerating. That  is called tapasya. And this human form of life is meant for that tapasya. Not  that because my senses are demanding this satisfaction, I shall immediately  offer. No. I shall train myself in such a way that my senses may demand, "My  dear sir, give me this facility," I will say, "No. You cannot have." This is  called gosvami or svami. At the present moment, everyone, we are, we have made  our svami or master the senses, and when you actually become the master of the  senses, then you are svami or gosvami. That is the significance of svami and  gosvami. It is not the dress. One who has controlling power, one who is not  dictated by the senses, one who is not servant of the senses. My tongue is  dictating, "Please take me to that restaurant and eat sticks." What is that  sticks? Devotee: Steak.

Prabhupada: Steak? What is that  spelling?

Devotee: S-t-e-a-k.

Prabhupada: So anyway... Or that  fried chicken. Yes. So tongue is dictating me. But if you can control your  tongue, "No. I'll give you sweetballs. Don't go there." (laughter) Then you'll  become master of the senses. You see? The others are trying that "Don't go  there," only. That is impossible. The tongue must have something beautiful.  Otherwise it is not possible. That is artificial. If the tongue, you give him  something more beautiful than this fried chick or stick or this or that, it will  stop. That is the policy. Our policy is that. We can give that, what is called,  casein fried with rice. How nice it is. He'll forget meat-eating. So this is the  policy, Krsna consciousness. All the senses should be supplied something. Not  artificially stop it. That is not possible. That is not possible. Others, they  are simply trying artificially to stop the function of the senses. No. That is  not possible. Our policy is tat-paratvena nirmalam. You can purify the  activities of the senses, being engaged in Krsna consciousness. Then senses will  not disturb you. If you want to control the senses, you have to control the  tongue first of all. Then you will be able to control other senses very easily.  So you give tongue the engagement of chanting Hare Krsna, and for tasting Krsna  prasadam you'll find that your other senses are already controlled. This is the  key of controlling our senses, the tongue. And if you give privilege and  indulgence to the tongue, you'll never be able to control other senses. This is  the secret of controlling senses. Go on.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

O might-armed one, just as you control your enemies with your strength, you should also control your mind.

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.