āpūryamāṇam achala-pratiṣhṭhaṁ
samudram āpaḥ praviśhanti yadvat
tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśhanti sarve
sa śhāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī
āpūryamāṇam — filled from all sides;
achala-pratiṣhṭham — undisturbed;
samudram — ocean;
āpaḥ — waters;
praviśhanti — enter;
yadvat — as;
tadvat — likewise;
kāmāḥ — desires;
yam — whom;
praviśhanti — enter;
sarve — all;
saḥ — that person;
śhāntim — peace;
āpnoti — attains;
na — not;
kāma-kāmī — one who strives to satisfy desires
This verse compares a person to the ocean. Imagine the ocean filling up with water from many rivers pouring into it. Even though new water keeps flowing in, the ocean always stays steady and calm; it doesn't spill over. In the same way, a person who is strong in their understanding and spiritual practice (like one who follows the teachings of Krishna) can have many desires and wants come into their life, but they remain peaceful and unshaken.
The point is that, just as the ocean accepts the river water without changing, a spiritually aware person can recognize that desires will always be there. Instead of trying to chase after every wish and craving, they find a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment within themselves. They know that their real needs will be taken care of, which gives them a sense of completeness.
In our daily lives, we meet people who constantly chase after their desires. They want more money, more possessions, or more recognition. But often, they end up feeling stressed and anxious because no matter how much they achieve, it's still not enough. Their happiness always seems temporary and fleeting, like a wave crashing only to recede once again.
On the other hand, someone who dedicates themselves to a higher purpose, like serving God or helping others, will feel a deeper level of fulfillment. They might still have desires, but they are not dependent on them for happiness. They find joy in their service and faith, much like the ocean finds peace despite the endless streams of water flowing into it. A person with such a mindset achieves true peace because they understand that real contentment comes from within, not from constantly fulfilling outside desires.
In short, this verse teaches us that pursuing endless desires can keep us in a cycle of dissatisfaction, while understanding and embracing our spiritual purpose can grant us genuine peace and happiness. It encourages us to cultivate a mindset of inner contentment and stability rather than being swayed by external circumstances.