Bhagavad Gita 2.70

[Paramananda das]

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary It could be further postulated that since such a being has  no  interest  in sensual pursuits how then are the objects  of  the  sense  experienced  like seeing sights, hearing sounds , smelling scents etc. in the  course  of  ones daily  routine.  Here  Lord  Krishna  states  that  just  as  the  ocean  is unaffected is unaffected by the waters of innumerable  rivers  flowing  into it; similarly the introspective yogi is unaffected  by  the  experiences  of sense objects which are manifesting due to the influence  of  both  positive and negative reactions to actions  which  were  performed  in  the  previous lifetime and which in the present lifetime come of  their  own  accord.  One who is thus self controlled has  achieved  peace  of  mind  and  is  thereby unaffected by association of these sense objects ; but this is not  the  case for one who is desirous of sensual enjoyment.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya Madhvacarya's Commentary The way in which those situated in transcendent  meditation  experience  the objects of the senses is explained in this verse by Lord  Krishna.   Whoever remains unaffected by sense objects even  when  they  approach  incessantly, who is not overwhelmed by them, who does not endeavour for them, who is  not at a loss due to their absence, who is unchanged like the ocean  which  does not increase no matter how many bodies of water enter it and which does  not decrease if no other bodies of water  enter  it  endeavouring  for  neither. Such a one as this can attain peace. This is the meaning. Now begins the summation. Even while experiencing interaction  with  the  senses,  one  who  does  not transgress  the  boundaries  of   desire,  like  the  ocean  which   remains steadfast within its boundaries destined  by creation, then  such  a  one  is not bound by theses desires. One is then liberated from  these  desires.  Ka means to become selfish. Hence one whose desires are self-centered is  known to be the selfish one.  All desires are not contrary to liberation  nor  are all desires opposed to liberation. In the  absence  of  desires  it  is  not possible to live a normal life.  Since attaining peace  from endless  desires is liberation itself, subsequently develops eternal  faith  in  the  Supreme Lord. Verily this is truth.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja Ramanuja's Commentary 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.  In other words the  sublime  satisfaction derived from direct  soul  cognition  precludes  any  disturbance  from  the senses or agitation  towards  sense  delights.  Whether  sense  objects  are experienced by the senses or not experienced by  them  one  in  transcendent meditation will not be affected and will not be subject to any  disturbance. But Lord Krishna is saying that this state can never be attained by one  who is kamakana full of lascivious desires or is controlled  by  the  same,  for such a being can never achieve peace.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary Thus one situated in yoga attaining the  state  of  transcendent  meditation ceases from pursuing sensual objects because they have mastered  the  senses and have them under controls. But the question may  arise  that  if  in  one developed by yoga sense objects  naturally come to and are  experienced  then one may be deviated and cease to remain  in  the  transcendent  state.  Lord Krishna refutes this doubt by this verse. As water entering the  ocean  does not affect or change the ocean; likewise the yogi immersed  in  transcendent meditation is unaffected and unchanged by those things interacting with  the senses which are destined  to  come  due  to  previous  karma  or  by  fate. Although they may be  experienced   they  in  themselves  are  not  powerful enough to generate any change or deviation internally. Thus such a  one  has attained peace  in the form of liberation from extreme joy as well as  misery because the desires causing actions which are the  cause  of  all  types  of misery are terminated but ones devotedness to the yoga does not deviate  and does not terminate. Contrarily one who is inclined  to  ruminates  over  and hankers after sensual  enjoyments  can  never  find  peace  and  incessantly revolves in the material existence  buffeted  hither  and  thither   by  the negative and positive reactions of their own desires.

[Paramananda das]

TEXT 70

apuryamanam acala-pratistham samudram apah pravisanti yadvat tadvat kama yam pravisanti sarve sa santim apnoti na kama-kami

SYNONYMS

apuryamanam--always filled; acala-pratistham--steadily situated; samudram--the ocean; apah--water; pravisanti--enter; yadvat--as; tadvat--so; kamah--desires; yam--unto one; pravisanti--enter; sarve--all; sah--that person; santim--peace; apnoti--achieves; na--not; kama-kami--one who desires to fulfill desires.

TRANSLATION

A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires--that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still--can alone achieve peace , and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

PURPORT

Although the vast ocean is always filled with water, it is always, especially during the rainy season, being filled with much more water. But the ocean remains the same--steady; it is not agitated, nor does it cross beyond the limit of its brink. That is also true of a person fixed in Krsna consciousness. As long as one has the material body, the demands of the body for sense gratification will continue. The devotee, however, is not disturbed by  such desires because of his fullness. A Krsna conscious man  is not in need of anything because the Lord fulfills all his material necessities. Therefore he is like the ocean--always full in himself. Desires may come to him like the waters of the rivers that flow into the ocean, but he is steady in his activities, and he is not even slightly disturbed by desires for sense gratification. That is the proof of a Krsna conscious man --one who has lost all inclinations for material sense gratification, although the desires are present. Because he remains satisfied in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he can remain steady, like the ocean, and therefore enjoy full peace. Others, however, who fulfill desires even up to the limit of liberation, what to speak of material success, never attain peace. The fruitive workers, the salvationists, and also the yogis who are after mystic powers, are all unhappy because of unfulfilled desires. But the person in Krsna consciousness is happy in the service of the Lord, and he has no desires to be fulfilled. In fact, he does not even desire liberation from the so-called material bondage. The devotees of Krsna have no material desires, and therefore they are in perfect peace.

[Paramananda das]

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

This verse describes the sthita prajna’s condition of not being affected or agitated when he accepts the sense objects. Just as in the rainy season, rivers (apah) here and there enter into the ocean, almost filling it up (a—almost, puryamanam—filled), but not being able to completely fill it up, not being able to go beyond the shore (acala pratistham), in a similar manner the objects of sense enjoyment (kamah) come to the sthita prajna for his enjoyment (but cannot disturb him). Just as, whether the rivers enter or do not enter the ocean, the ocean is not disturbed at all, the sthita prajna (sah) remains undisturbed whether he gets objects of enjoyment or not. He attains the stage of jnana (santim).