Chapter 2 Shloka 68
तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वश:।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।६८।।
Bhagwan says:
Therefore, O Arjuna! He, whose sense organs are unattached to the objects of the senses and who has full control over them, he is of a steady intellect.
Little one, when the Lord stipulates that, “He, whose senses are completely under control is possessed of a stable intellect,” He means:
a) The senses should be subservient to the intellect – not to the mind.
b) Enjoyment of the objects of the senses makes no difference. It is only when the mind supports the senses and is affected by sense objects that it veils the intellect.
c) If the mind did not support the sense faculties, objects would cease to be ‘poisonous’ for the individual.
Therefore, the Lord speaks here of renouncing attachment of the mind, and not of the cessation of contact with sense objects.
When the mind no longer supports the sense faculties, the latter can be controlled. Then likes and dislikes will no longer impel our pursuit of sense objects.
1. When the mind is predominant, likes and dislikes rule the individual.
2. When the intellect rules, the individual becomes detached from objects.
3. Then objects cease to be important.
4. The intellect is gratified with whatever it receives and does not clamour for more.
The steady intellect is thus never influenced by sense objects – nor is it distressed if it is unable to partake of those objects. Understand this carefully that without food, the body of the Sthit Pragya certainly becomes weak – but his intellect remains unaffected. Though the body requires sustenance, the intellect requires no nourishment from the outside world. It has transcended the gross and subtle world of objects.
In other words he who possesses a dispassionate intellect and a silent mind, is a Sthit Pragya.
