Bhagavad Gita 2.62

dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ

saṅgas teṣūpajāyate

saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ

kāmāt krodho’bhijāyate

 

“When we contemplate sense objects,

That leads to a liking that infects,

And incites within us a mighty craving,

Which, when obstructed, leaves us mad and raving.”

 

My dear Lord,

You warn me about how slippery is the slope in my inner world, wherein even a slight contemplation on a tempting object can propel me down toward self-destruction.

Please, O Lord, help me to erect boundaries on that inner slope so that even if I slide and fall, I do not fall too far. Best is if I keep myself so busy remembering and serving you that I give myself no time to contemplate tempting objects, because you tell me to always remember you and never forget you. 

You know that I am standing internally on such treacherous ground that if I don’t focus on you, then my empty consciousness starts to find some worldly object attractive. Let me remember what you have told me repeatedly—the attractiveness of such objects is temporary and illusory. If I dwell on their attractiveness, then I start feeling an overpowering craving for them. And whenever anything seems to come in the way of pandering to that craving, I start raging against that obstacle. At such times, let the red lights inside me start shining bright and loud, reminding me of what you have told me repeatedly: desire and anger are deadly waves that can catch me and carry me far away from you.

Please, O Lord, let your words of wisdom and warning become the basis for my building the boundaries and danger signs inside my consciousness—so that I don’t become a casualty of casual contemplation.

***

02.62 While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.