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Chapter 2

Chapter 2 · Verse 59

Sankhya Yoga

सांख्ययोग

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः | रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते ||२-५९||

viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ . rasavarjaṃ raso.apyasya paraṃ dṛṣṭvā nivartate ||2-59||

In plain words

You must realize that simply avoiding physical temptations is not enough, because your inner craving remains. To truly free yourself, you need to experience the supreme Self. This higher spiritual realization, or jnana, naturally dissolves your deepest desires. Once you taste this divine truth, the worldly illusions of maya lose all their appeal, and you are finally at peace.

Translation

2.59 The objects of senses, excepting relish for the objects, turn away from the abstinent dweller in the body. Even the relish turns aswy from him when what is supreme over the senses i.e., the self, is seen.

Meaning

Knowledge of the Self alone can destroy in toto the subtle Vasanas (latent tendencies) and all the subtle desires all subtle attachments and even the longing for objects. By practising severe austerities by abandoning the sensual objects the objects of the senses may turn away from the ascetic but the relish or taste or longing for the objects will still remain.

Word by word

विषयाः the objects of senses विनिवर्तन्ते turn away निराहारस्य abstinent देहिनः of the man रसवर्जम् leaving the longing रसः loving (taste) अपि even अस्य of his परम् the Supreme दृष्ट्वा having seen निवर्तते turns away.