Transcendental Knowledge · 2.70
The Ocean and the Rivers
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥
āpūryamāṇam acala-pratiṣṭhaṁ
samudram āpaḥ praviśanti yadvat
tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśanti sarve
sa śāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī
Translation
Just as the ocean remains undisturbed and steady though rivers constantly flow into it, so the person into whom all desires flow without disturbing them attains peace — not the one who chases after desires.
Meaning
This is one of the most beautiful images in the Gita. Peace does not come from eliminating desires — it comes from having a self so full and stable that desires arise and dissolve without creating turbulence. The ocean does not chase the rivers; it simply receives them without losing its nature.
⚡ Study this verse
Quiz, word bank, and reflection