Verse 2.58
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः। इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yadā saṁharate cāyaṁ kūrmo 'ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
Word-by-Word Meanings
saṁharate-withdraws
kūrmaḥ-tortoise
aṅgāni-limbs
indriyāṇi-senses
indriya-arthebhyaḥ-from sense objects
Translation
When one withdraws the senses from sense objects on all sides, as a tortoise draws its limbs into its shell, that person's wisdom is firmly established.
Commentary
The tortoise analogy beautifully illustrates pratyahara (sense withdrawal). Just as a tortoise can retract its limbs at will, the wise person can withdraw attention from sensory stimulation. This is not permanent withdrawal but the ability to disengage at will - mastery over the senses rather than suppression.
Themes
yogajnana