ichchhā dveṣhaḥ sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ saṅghātaśh chetanā dhṛitiḥ
etat kṣhetraṁ samāsena sa-vikāram udāhṛitam
ichchhā — desire;
dveṣhaḥ — aversion;
sukham — happiness;
duḥkham — misery;
saṅghātaḥ — the aggregate;
chetanā — the consciousness;
dhṛitiḥ — the will;
etat — all these;
kṣhetram — the field of activities;
samāsena — comprise of;
sa-vikāram — with modifications;
udāhṛitam — are said
This verse talks about the different parts of our experiences in life and how they affect us. Let's break it down:
1. **Desire and Hatred**: These are strong feelings that guide what we want and what we avoid. For example, you desire delicious food, so you seek out a treat, while you dislike something bitter and try to stay away from it. These feelings motivate our actions.
2. **Pleasure and Pain**: Life is often about finding joy and avoiding suffering. For instance, when you achieve something you worked hard for (like completing a project or winning a game), you feel pleasure. In contrast, if you fail or experience loss, you feel pain. These experiences come from our attachments to things in life, like relationships, possessions, or achievements, and they can shape our choices.
3. **The Body**: The verse refers to the body as 'the aggregate'; it means that our body is made up of all these emotions, experiences, and more. It's not just a physical form but also includes our thoughts and feelings that happen inside.
4. **Intelligence**: This is the ability to think and make decisions. For example, when faced with a tough choice, you use your intelligence to weigh the pros and cons to come up with the best option. It helps us navigate life and decide what to do in different situations.
5. **Fortitude**: This means your inner strength or willpower. It’s what helps you keep going when things get tough. For instance, when studying for exams, even if you feel tired or frustrated, your fortitude drives you to continue and succeed.
All these aspects—our feelings, body, mind, and strength—are part of our daily lives and shape how we interact with the world around us. However, it's important to remember that just like our bodies, our experiences and emotions are temporary. They grow and change over time. For example, our desires might change as we grow older, or a painful experience may become a distant memory.
In essence, while we experience these changing feelings and challenges, there is a part of us—the eternal soul or the knower—sitting quietly and observing all these changes. This part remains unaffected by everything happening around it, like a spectator in a play. Understanding this can help us realize that although we may be caught up in our desires, pains, and pleasures, there's an essential part of us that remains constant and unchanging, allowing us to approach life's ups and downs with more ease.