आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् ।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥ ७० ॥
āpūryamāṇam achala-pratiṣhṭhaṁ
samudram āpaḥ praviśhanti yadvat
tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśhanti sarve
sa śhāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī
जिस प्रकार समुद्र सदैव नदियों से भरता रहता है परन्तु विचलित नहीं होता, उसी प्रकार, जो मनुष्य इच्छाओं के निरंतर प्रवाह से व्याकुल नहीं होता, वह शांति प्राप्त करता है, और वह नहीं जो उन इच्छाओं को पूरा करने का प्रयास करता है।
Just as the ocean is constantly being filled by the rivers but remains undisturbed, similarly, one who is not disturbed by constant flow of desires, actually attains peace and not one who attempts to fulfill them.
In Bhagavad Gita 2.70, Lord Krishna uses the powerful metaphor of an ocean to illustrate the nature of a sthita prajna—a person of steady wisdom. The verse describes how the ocean remains undisturbed despite rivers continuously flowing into it. Similarly, a wise person remains peaceful even as desires continuously enter their consciousness.
Krishna presents this verse as part of His teachings on how a spiritually evolved person maintains inner equilibrium. The Sanskrit text "āpūryamāṇam achala-pratiṣhṭhaṁ samudram āpaḥ praviśhanti yadvat" paints the image of an ocean that is "always being filled" yet "steadily situated"—never overflowing despite the constant influx of water. This forms the foundation of the analogy Krishna develops.
The verse continues with "tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśanti sarve sa śhāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī," explaining that just as rivers enter the ocean without disturbing it, desires may enter the mind of a wise person without causing agitation. This person achieves peace precisely because they don't actively chase after these desires. In contrast, those who constantly pursue desires (kāma-kāmī) cannot attain true peace.
This teaching acknowledges a profound reality of human existence—living in the material world inevitably exposes us to temptations and desires. Our senses constantly encounter stimuli that trigger cravings for enjoyment. What distinguishes the spiritually evolved person is not the absence of desires but their relationship to those desires. When desires arise, they don't compel action because the person already experiences fulfillment from within.
The depth of the ocean serves as a perfect metaphor for spiritual depth. Just as an ocean maintains its composure due to its vastness, a person with spiritual depth maintains equanimity because they've developed inner happiness that doesn't depend on external circumstances. They're like someone who has eaten to satisfaction and doesn't feel compelled by the offer of more food—they already experience fulfillment.
This verse offers particular relevance in our modern world of constant stimulation and endless options for gratification. Krishna teaches that peace doesn't come from satisfying every desire but from developing such inner contentment that desires lose their compelling force. The person who runs from one desire to another, always seeking fulfillment in external objects, resembles someone chasing a mirage in the desert—perpetually thirsty despite their constant pursuit.
Ultimately, verse 2.70 reveals a paradoxical truth about happiness: those who actively pursue desires (kāma-kāmī) never attain peace, while those who develop inner spiritual depth find themselves unmoved by the very same desires that torment others. True peace comes not from fulfilling desires but from transcending their compelling power through spiritual realization and inner contentment.
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