śhaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṁ prāk śharīra-vimokṣhaṇāt
kāma-krodhodbhavaṁ vegaṁ sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ
śhaknoti — is able;
iha eva — in the present body;
yaḥ — who;
soḍhum — to withstand;
prāk — before;
śharīra — the body;
vimokṣhaṇāt — giving up;
kāma — desire;
krodha — anger;
udbhavam — generated from;
vegam — forces;
saḥ — that person;
yuktaḥ — yogi;
saḥ — that person;
sukhī — happy;
naraḥ — person
This verse teaches us about the importance of controlling our desires and emotions, especially our anger. It says that if you want to grow spiritually and find true happiness, you need to manage the urges that come from our senses.
Think about it: we all experience different urges and feelings—like wanting to eat something delicious, the urge to argue when we’re angry, or the desire to distract ourselves when bored. These urges can sometimes control us, leading us to do things we later regret, or making us unhappy when things don’t go our way.
In this verse, Krishna tells us that if you can learn to handle these urges, particularly around desire and anger, you are on the right path. A person who can do this is called a 'yogi' or someone who practices self-discipline and is aware of their thoughts and feelings.
For example, imagine you’re really hungry and there are tempting snacks everywhere. A yogi would be the person who can say ‘no’ to those snacks until they’re ready to eat something healthy. They manage not just their eating habits but all their reactions to the world around them.
The verse also mentions that this practice should be done before we leave our physical body, which simply means that we should work on ourselves while we are alive. If we leave our desires and anger unchecked, they can take over our lives, leading to frustration and unhappiness. Just like if you keep ignoring a problem, it can get bigger and bigger and cause more trouble later.
Therefore, the lesson here is to take responsibility for your feelings and reactions. When you have control over your desires and can handle anger calmly, you experience a deep sense of peace and happiness. This is what being self-realized means: understanding your true self beyond the noise of everyday life and finding joy within. In the end, the verse encourages us to strive towards controlling our impulses and leads us to a happier, more fulfilling life.