Book Title: Practice of Karma Yoga
Author(s): Swami Sivananda
Publisher: Divine Life Society

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Page 241
________________ GARLAND OF KARMA YOGA which is insatiable as a flame. The senses, the mind and the reason are said to be its seat, by these, enveloping wisdom, it bewilders the dweller in the body. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, mastering first the senses, do thou slay this thing of sin, destructive of wisdom and knowledge It is said that the senses are great; greater than the senses is the mind; greater than the rnind is reason; but that which is greater than reason, is He. Thus understanding Him as greater than reason, restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed, the enemy in the form of desire, difficult to overcome ” Ch. III-36-43. Desires can never be satiated or cooled down by the enjoyment of objects But as fire blazes forth the more when fed with butter and wood, so it grows the more when it feeds on objects of enjoyment If all the foods of the earth, all the precious metals, all animals, and all beautiful women were to pass into the possession of a man deluded by desire, they would fail to give him satisfaction. Raja Yayati said: “O son, I have enjoyed with your youth to the full extent of my desires and to the full limit of my powers and according to their seasons--but desires never die They are never satiated by indulgence By indulgence they flame up like sacrificial fire with ghee poured into it If one becomes the sole Lord of all the earth with its paddy, oats, gems, beasts and women, still it will not be considered by him enough Therefore the thirst for 237

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