Bhagavad Gita BG 2.58
Chapter 2, Verse 58 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ५८ ॥
yadā saṃharate cāyaṃ kūrmo 'ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
Meaning
One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as a tortoise draws its limbs within its shell, is firmly situated in perfect consciousness.
Understanding
The famous 'tortoise' analogy for sense withdrawal. A tortoise can withdraw all its limbs completely into its shell at will — and when the danger passes, it extends them again. The sthita-prajña has this same capacity: to withdraw all the senses (indriyāṇi) from their objects (indriyārthebhyaḥ) at will. This is 'pratyāhāra' — sense withdrawal — one of the key yogic practices. It is not the permanent elimination of the senses, but the ability to withdraw them when wisdom requires.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| संहरते | saṃharate | withdraws / draws in / contracts |
| कूर्मः | kūrmaḥ | tortoise |
| अङ्गानि | aṅgāni | limbs |
| इन्द्रियाणि | indriyāṇi | the senses |
| इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः | indriyārthebhyaḥ | from the objects of the senses |
| प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता | prajñā pratiṣṭhitā | wisdom is firmly established |
| यदा | yadā | when / at the time when |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| अयम् | ayam | this (person / the yogi) |
| इव | iva | like / as (comparison marker) |
| सर्वशः | sarvaśaḥ | completely / in all ways |
| तस्य | tasya | his / of that person |