In Bhagavad Gita 2.70, Krishna compares the person of steady wisdom to the ocean, which remains full and unmoved though rivers flow into it; such a person attains peace, not one who chases desires.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥ २-७० ॥
āpūryamāṇamacalapratiṣṭhaṃ
samudramāpaḥ praviśanti yadvat
tadvatkāmā yaṃ praviśanti sarve
sa śāntimāpnoti na kāmakāmī
English transliteration aapooryamaanamachalapratishtham
samudramaapah pravishanti yadvat
tadvatkaamaa yam pravishanti sarve
sa shaantimaapnoti na kaamakaamee ॥ 2.70 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Just as waters enter the ocean, which is ever being filled yet remains steady and unmoved, so the person into whom all desires enter in the same way attains peace, not the one who craves desires.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आपूर्यमाणम् āpūryamāṇam | ever being filled |
| अचलप्रतिष्ठम् acalapratiṣṭham | steady and unmoved acala (unmoving) + pratiṣṭham (established) |
| समुद्रम् samudram | the ocean |
| आपः āpaḥ | waters |
| प्रविशन्ति praviśanti | enter |
| यद्वत् yadvat | as |
| तद्वत् tadvat | so |
| कामाः kāmāḥ | desires |
| यम् yam | whom |
| प्रविशन्ति praviśanti | enter |
| सर्वे sarve | all |
| सः saḥ | he |
| शान्तिम् śāntim | peace |
| आप्नोति āpnoti | attains |
| न na | not |
| कामकामी kāmakāmī | one who desires desires kāma (desires) + kāmī (desiring) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ā–pūr–ya–mā–ṇa–ma–ca–lap–ra–tiṣ–ṭhaṃ 11 syllables aa-poor-ya-maa-na-ma-cha-lap-ra-tish-tham
- sa–mud–ra–mā–paḥ pra–vi–śan–ti yad–vat | 11 syllables sa-mud-ra-maa-pah pra-vi-shan-ti yad-vat
- tad–vat–kā–mā yaṃ pra–vi–śan–ti sar–ve 11 syllables tad-vat-kaa-maa yam pra-vi-shan-ti sar-ve
- sa śān–ti–māp–no–ti na kā–ma–kā–mī || 2-70 11 syllables sa shaan-ti-maap-no-ti na kaa-ma-kaa-mee
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 70
Context
Krishna offers a culminating image of the sthitaprajña in majestic triṣṭubh metre.
Meaning
The ocean receives countless rivers, yet it does not overflow or become disturbed. It is already full. Similarly, the sage experiences desires and impressions flowing into the mind, but remains steady because he is already complete in the Self. In contrast, one who constantly runs after desires, the kāma-kāmī, never finds peace.
The image shows that peace does not depend on the absence of experience. Life will keep flowing in, with its desires, sensations and events. The question is whether we are like a small pond that is churned up by every stream, or like the ocean, vast enough to receive all without being disturbed.
In Practice
When desires or impressions arise today, imagine yourself as the ocean receiving rivers: allow them in without being disturbed, and remain steady.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.