B.G 2.55
श्रीभगवानुवाच। प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान्। आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥२-५५॥
The Lord said:
O Partha, when one relinquishes all the desires is his mind, and is content in the lord, by the lord, then he is said to be the one who is stationed in wisdom.
Gīta Bhāshya 2.55
Verses 2.55 to 2.69 describe characteristics of one who is 'Sthita-prajna'. As desire exists in the mind, to destroy desire, it is necessary to generate knowledge, opposed to desire, in the mind. All kinds of material taste disappear by stationing the mind on the lord, called 'ātman'. The word 'ātman' in this verse refers to God, not the being.
गमनादिप्रवृत्तिः नात्यभिसन्धिपूर्विका मत्तादिप्रवृत्तिवत् इति 'या निशा' इत्यादिना दर्शयिष्यन् लक्षणं प्रथमत आह - प्रजहातीति।
The absence of motivation is observed in the wise, just like the insane, as indicated in subsequent verses such as 'yā niśā' (2.69) . However, the verse 'prajahāti' marks the beginning of the description of the observed characteristics of such an individual.
एवं परमानन्दतृप्तः किमर्थं प्रवृत्तिं करोति इति प्रश्नाभिप्रायः। प्रारब्धकर्मणा ईषत् तिरोहितब्रह्मणः वासनया प्रायः अल्पाभिसन्धिपूर्विका प्रवृत्तिः सम्भवति इत्याशयवान् परिहरति।
"Despite being satisfied with supreme bliss, why does he still engage in activities?" -is the intent of the question. The knowledge of Brahman suffers a minor deterioration due to the left over impressions ( prārabda-karma ). Because of its association (smell of prārabda-karma ), for a little while, until he attains liberation, the orientation to act with desire occurs.
प्रायः सर्वान् कामान् प्रजहाति। शुकादीनामपि ईषद्दर्शनात्।
"त्वत्पादभक्तिमिच्छन्ति ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः"
इत्युक्थेः तामिच्छन्ति। यदा तु इन्द्रादीनाम् आग्रहो दृश्यते तदा अभिभूतं तेषां ज्ञानम्। तच्चोक्तम्-
The wise give up almost all desires, but not all. Even in sage Shuka we see desire to see the lord.
"The wise who perceive truth desire devotion towards your feet."
Such testimonials indicate they have wishes. The stubbornness of Indra and other deities becomes apparent when their understanding is twisted. Therefore, it is said:
"आधिकारिकपुंसां तु बृहत्कर्मत्वकारणात्। उद्भवाभिभवौ ज्ञाने ततोन्येभ्यो विलक्षणाः॥"
"There arises experiential knowledge among persons in responsible roles, because of significant actions performed. Hence, they are different from others."
इति। अत एव वैलक्षण्यात् अनधिकारिणां आग्रहादि चेदस्ति न ते ज्ञानिनः इत्यवगन्तव्यम्।
-states the testimonial. Therefore, only if there is deterioration among the ineligible, one must understand them to be not knowledgeable. (Suggests a special yardstick is required while judging the actions of those in leadership role.)
न चात्र समाधिं कुर्वतो लक्षणमुच्यते।
This verse is not describing the characteristics of the person in an equanimous state.
"यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहः"
"He who is not attached anywhere."
इति स्नेहनिषेधात्। न हि समाधिं कुर्वतः तस्त शुभाशुभप्राप्तिरस्ति। असम्प्रज्ञातसमाधेः। सम्प्रज्ञाते तु अविरोधः। तथापि न तत्रैव इति नियमः।
Thus, attachment is denied (for the one who is in 'asamprajñāta-samādhi'). One who is in an equanimous state will certainly not have the experience of good and bad, as he will be in 'asamprajñāta-samādhi' . 'asamprajñāta' - means to be well established in knowledge without obstacles. Therefore, "He exists not there" is the rule.
"कामादयो न जायन्तेह्यपि विक्षिप्तचेतसाम्। ज्ञानिनां ज्ञाननिर्धूतमलानां देवसंश्रयात्॥"
"The desires and such drives are not born for those knowledgeable who take shelter of the lord, even when their mind is distracted, as impurities are washed away by the knowledge."
इति स्मृतेः।
- states Vedic testimonial.
मनोगता हि कामाः। अतः तत्रैव तद्विरुद्धज्ञानोत्पत्तौ युक्तं हानं तेषाम् इति दर्शयति - मनोगतान् इति। विरोधश्च उच्यते-
Certainly desire exists in the mind. Therefore, it is suitable to generate opposite knowledge, specifically in the mind, in order to destroy the desire. This is indicated by the word 'manōgatān' , i.e. 'in the mind it exists' verse. Opposition (between knowledge and desire) only is conveyed by:
"रसोSप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते"
"Even the taste (for sensual pleasures) disappears up on seeing the lord."
इति। न च एतत् अदृष्ट्या अपलपनीयम्। पुरुषवैशेष्यात्। आत्मना परमात्मना। परमात्मन्येव स्थितः सन्। आत्माख्ये तस्मिन् स्थितस्य तत्प्रसादादेव तुष्टिः भवति।
-states testimonials. It is inappropriate to say such persons are not to be seen or not possible to exist. It is possible because of the speciality of the lord. 'ātmanā' means by the supreme-self, i.e. by the lord. He is established in supreme self only; as he is established in the lord called 'ātman', by his grace only, he gets satisfaction.
"विषयांस्तु परित्यज्य रामे स्थितिमतिस्ततः। देवाद् भवति वै तुष्टिः नान्यथा तु कदाचन॥"
"Permnent satisfaction comes to the person who relinquishes interests in all material topics and derives bliss by stationing his intellect in the supreme lord alone, never otherwise."
इत्युक्तं हि नारायणाष्टाक्षरकल्पे।
-it is said so in Nārāyana-Ashtakshara-Kalpa.
अतो नात्मा जीवः ॥५५॥
Therefore, 'ātma' does not indicate the individual being.
Gīta Tātparya 2.52
Renunciation of all desires and attainment of complete satisfaction, i.e. liberation, is a gradual process. Hence, initially, not having forbidden desires is equal to desireless ness. The word 'ātma' here refers to lord Vishnu. The liberation becomes possible by Lord's grace only.
"सर्वकामनिवृत्तिस्तु जानतो न कथञ्चन। अनिषिद्धकामितैवातो ह्यकामित्वमितीर्यते॥ अपरोक्षदृशोपि स्यात् यदा नास्त्यपरोक्षदृक्। क्वचिद्विरुद्धकामोपि यथायुद्ध्यद्धरो हरिम्। अतोनभिभवो यावद्दृशस्तावन्निगद्यते। स्थितप्रज्ञस्तथाप्यस्य कदाचित्क्यपि या दृशिः॥ नियमेनैव मोक्षाय भवेद् योग्या भवेद्यदि। अयोग्या भक्तिजाता चेत् क्रमात् मुक्त्यै भवेत्तथा॥"
"It is well known, the renunciation of all desires is not possible at once. Therefore, not having forbidden desires is said to be desireless ness. Even when one has the ability to observe the transcendental, along with it, sometimes they will be unable to stay in transcendental because of opposing desires. Observation describes the experience, as in the scenario of Rudra fighting against lord Hari. Even though a person is stationed in the right wisdom, only when he becomes eligible as per rule, he attains liberation. If not eligible, devotion is born from such experience and gradually he attains liberation."
इति च।
- states testemonial.
आत्मनि विष्णौ, आत्मना विष्णुना। तत्प्रसादादेव तुष्टः ॥५५ ॥
'ātmani' is 'in lord Vishnu'. 'ātmanā' means 'from lord Vishnu'. Only by his grace, one gets complete satisfaction.
