Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -5
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22. Since enjoyments which are contact-born are only generators of misery, and are with a beginning and an end, O son of Kuntī, a wise man does not seek pleasure in them. Since enjoyments, which are contact-bom, produced by the contacts of the senses with the (respective) sense-objects, are only generators of misery, having been caused by nescience (avidyā)- The (three kinds of) miseries, those arising in the body (ādhyātmika) and the others (i.e., the two other miseries, produced by living beings and by fate), are indeed seen (from experience) to be pro duced by them (enjoyments). The word 'only' suggests that, as in this world, so in the other world as well. Realising that there is not even a trace of happiness in sarhsāra, one should turn back his senses from the mirage of sense-objects. Enjoyments are not merely productive of misery; they are besides with a beginning and an end: the beginning of enjoyment is the contact of a sense with its object, and the end is the separa tion of the two. Thus, being with a beginning and an end, they are transient, existing in the moment of interval. O son of Kuntll a wise man, the man of discrimination, who has known the Supreme Truth, does not seek pleasure in them, it is only the extremely stupid people who are seen to revel in sense-objects, as do cattle and the like. And, there is this most mischievous evil, an enemy on the path to felicity (Freedom, Bliss, Moksa), the source which leads to all calamity, and very difficult to ward off. To get rid of it. therefore, superlative effort is called for; so, says the Lord- |
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