Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 70

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् ।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥

Transliteration

āpūryamāṇamacalapratiṣṭhaṃ samudramāpaḥ praviśanti yadvat .
tadvatkāmā yaṃ praviśanti sarve sa śāntimāpnoti na kāmakāmī ॥

Meaning

As the waters enter the ocean, which is ever being filled yet remains unmoved within its bounds, so the one into whom all desires enter in the same way attains peace — not the one who craves desires.

Word meanings

आपूर्यमाणम् – ever being filled, full on all sides
अचलप्रतिष्ठम् – of unmoving foundation, steady in its bounds
समुद्रम् – into the ocean
आपः – waters
प्रविशन्ति – enter
यद्वत् – just as
तद्वत् – in the same way
कामाः – desires, objects of desire
यम् – into whom
प्रविशन्ति – enter
सर्वे – all
सः – he
शान्तिम् – peace
आप्नोति – attains
न – not
कामकामी – one who craves objects of desire

Anvaya (word order)

यद्वत् आपूर्यमाणम् अचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रम् आपः प्रविशन्ति, तद्वत् सर्वे कामाः यं प्रविशन्ति, सः शान्तिम् आप्नोति, न कामकामी ।

Explanation

The previous verse used the paradox of night and day to show the sthitaprajna's different vision. Now Krishna offers a vast and majestic image — the ocean. Just as the tortoise (2.58) symbolised mastery of the senses and the boat (2.67) the wandering mind, the ocean symbolises the sthitaprajna's fathomless, unshakable peace. Even the metre changes here — the longer trishtubh metre, as if to carry the ocean's immensity into words.

Two descriptions of the ocean are crucial. First, ‘apuryamanam’ — it is always full on every side. It needs no river; it is complete in itself. Second, ‘achala-pratishtham’ — its bounds are unmoving. In the monsoon thousands of rivers pour their floodwaters into it, yet the ocean does not cross its shores or overflow. In summer, when the rivers run dry, the ocean does not shrink or dry up. Whether waters come or not, its state remains the same.

This is exactly the state of the sthitaprajna. ‘Tadvat kama yam pravishanti sarve’ — in the same way all ‘kamas’ enter him. Here ‘kama’ means the objects of desire — pleasures, comforts, honours, possessions. Shankara explains that by the force of past karma such objects come into the life of the wise as well; but just as rivers merge into the ocean without disturbing it, these objects merge into the sage without producing any agitation or excitement in him. When they come he does not swell; when they do not come he does not diminish. For he is already full within — this is the grand expression of the ‘atmany evatmana tushtah’ of 2.55.

In contrast stands the ‘kama-kami’ — one who desires desires, who runs after enjoyments. He may be compared to a small pond or a ditch: a little water makes it overflow, and a little heat dries it up. Its condition depends entirely on the outer flow. Such a person is always incomplete, always thirsty, and therefore always restless. Krishna declares plainly: ‘na kama-kami’ — such a one does not attain peace.

Ramanuja explains that for one who is fulfilled by the experience of the Self, even contact with objects cannot disturb him. Note also that the verse does not say nothing comes into the sage's life; it says everything comes, and still he remains unmoved. This is not escape but fullness.

The image is a touchstone for modern life. When a flood of praise, wealth and success comes, do I stay within my bounds? And when these dry up, do I still remain full within? One who can answer ‘yes’ to both questions is as peaceful as the ocean. Such fullness comes not from any outer achievement but from inner contentment in the Self.

Context

Verse 2.69 showed the sthitaprajna's distinct vision through the paradox of night and day. This verse describes his unshakable, complete peace through the image of the ocean. In the next verse (2.71) Krishna explains that this peace requires giving up desire, longing, possessiveness and ego.

Life lesson

Be full within like the ocean — do not overflow in the flood of success or dry up in the heat of want. One who does not depend on the outer flow is the master of true peace.

Key terms

Apuryamana: ever full, filled on all sides
Achala-pratishtha: of unmoving foundation and bounds
Kama-kami: one who craves objects of desire; the ever-thirsty mind
Shanti: inner stillness unaffected by outer flow