रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन् |
आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति || 64||
rāga-dveṣha-viyuktais tu viṣhayān indriyaiśh charan
ātma-vaśhyair-vidheyātmā prasādam adhigachchhati
rāga—attachment; dveṣha—aversion; viyuktaiḥ—free; tu—but; viṣhayān—objects of the senses; indriyaiḥ—by the senses; charan—while using; ātma-vaśhyaiḥ—controlling one’s mind; vidheya-ātmā—one who controls the mind; prasādam—the Grace of God; adhigachchhati—attains
Translation:
But the self-controlled man free from attraction and repulsion, with his senses under restraint though moving among objects, attains peace.
Commentary:
The man who is able to restrain the senses and control the mind attains peace. He may be using the senses and sense objects for the purpose of sustaining his life, but such work does not befoul the purity and peace of his mind. When the poisonous fangs are pulled out, the serpent is harmless. Similarly, when attraction and repulsion (Raga and Dwesha) are eliminated from the mind, the senses lose their evil power, and then they are only instruments in the hands of man to do what he wants them to do, or to remain quiet in their places. Such a man can move freely in the world and no harm comes to him. When the horses are well under control, the charioteer feels free and happy because they take him easily to the destination without trouble and danger. So the senses help and not hinder the man who has obtained control over the mind.
Self-restrained, self-controlled: Self-control is the necessary condition for Self-realisation. Without it, spiritual life is not possible. The mind and the senses should be under one’s own control, and not he under their control. The deluded self of the common man consists of turbulent senses, sensual impulses of the mind, and animal instincts of hunger, fear, lust, etc. So man acts under the power and instigation of the mind and the senses. They have mastered him, and he is their slave. Man should regain his mastery over himself. Without self-mastery, no man can attain peace and happiness. He may have all the wealth and power in the world, he may have all the desires fulfilled, but the peace he cannot have because peace is the reward of self-mastery. It cannot be purchased with wealth and power. The Lord points out the way to peace. Control of the senses, purification of mind – these two conditions should be fulfilled first before man could experience the bliss of Atma.
Question: Who can attain peace?
Answer: He whose mind is free from attachment, whose senses are restrained, and whose mind is controlled attains peace.