Verse 2.58
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
Transliteration
yadā saṃharate cāyaṃ kūrmo'ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ |
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyastasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3
Translation
When, like the tortoise which withdraws on all sides its limbs, he withdraws his senses from the sense-objects, then his wisdom becomes steady.
From the owner's sheet · +1 more
When such a one fully withdraws the senses from their objects, as a tortoise draws in its limbs, that person's wisdom is firmly established.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08 · +1 more
Word by word
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08
Explanation
Krishna offers the image of a tortoise drawing in its limbs on every side. In the same way, the person of steady wisdom withdraws the senses fully from their objects when needed. The image suggests both protection and control. A tortoise does not destroy its limbs; it draws them in and extends them at will. So too the wise person keeps the senses intact but is not dragged by them. The ability to withdraw at will is presented as a sign of established wisdom.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08