Bhagavad Gita: Understanding One Shloka at a time. (Chp. 2, Verse 59) — HBR Patel

Trying to understand Bhagavad Gita, one Shloka at a time…

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिन: |
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते || 59||

An aspirant may refrain from the object of the sense of enjoyment but the taste for enjoyment remains. However, even this desire for the sense of enjoyment ceases for the one who realizes the ultimate consciousness.

To understand this shloka, let us recall the experience of fasting. While fasting we abstain from the indulgence of sensual pleasure and sometimes we have to negotiate with our mind.

It is during those times that we are able to abstain from sensual pleasure but the desires or the taste of the sensual pleasure still remains.

Many times, I have heard Saints describe this situation in their discourse. They compare it with ‘Dhor Landhan’ which means our situation is like that of cattle tied to a rope that is unable to eat or drink at their will.