यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.58।।
विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः।
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते।।2.59।।
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः।
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः।।2.60।।
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः।
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.61।।
And when one fully withdraws their senses from the objects of the senses, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs, then their wisdom remains established.
The objects recede from an abstinent person, except for the taste for them. Even this taste falls away after realization of the Absolute.
For, O son of Kunti, the turbulent senses can violently snatch away the mind of an intelligent person, even while they are striving diligently.
Controlling all of them, one should remain focused on Me as the supreme. For, the wisdom of one whose senses are under control becomes steadfast.
Osho’s Commentary
Just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its shell for protection, so too, the man of steady wisdom can withdraw his senses from the world. This is not a physical act of closing the eyes and ears. It is a withdrawal of the inner energy, the attention, from the outer world. The senses are the doorways through which our life force flows out. The yogi learns the art of turning this flow inwards. Even for one who abstains from food, the taste for it remains. But even this taste departs when the supreme is seen. The turbulent senses, O Arjuna, forcibly carry away the mind even of a wise man who is striving. Having restrained them all, he should sit steadfast, intent on me. For he whose senses are under control, his wisdom is firmly set.