यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः | इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-५८||
yadā saṃharate cāyaṃ kūrmo.aṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ . indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyastasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||2-58||
Chapter 2 · Verse 58
Sankhya Yoga
सांख्ययोग
In plain words
You need to gently pull your senses away from external temptations, just like a tortoise pulls its limbs into its shell. True spiritual wisdom, or jnana, comes when you master this inner focus. By shielding your mind from constant distractions, you protect yourself from the illusions of maya, the worldly delusion, and find a steady, peaceful center within yourself.
Translation
2.58 When one is able to draw his senses from the objects of sense on every side, as a tortoise draws in its limbs, then his wisdom is firmly set.
Meaning
Withdrawal of the senses is Pratyahara or abstraction. The mind has a natural,tendency to run towards external objects. The Yogi again and again withdraws the mind from the objects of the senses and fixes it on the Self. A Yogi who is endowed with the power of Pratyahara can enter into Samadhi even in a crowded place by withdrawing his senses within the twinkling of an eye. He is not disturbed by tumultuous sounds and noises of any description. Even on the battlefield he can rest in his centre the Self by withdrawing his senses. He who practises Pratyahara is dead to the world. He will not be affected by the outside vibrations. At any time by mere willing he can bring his senses under his perfect control. They are his obedient servants or instruments.
Word by word
यदा when संहरते withdraws च and अयम् this (Yogi) कूर्मः tortoise अङ्गानि limbs इव like सर्वशः everywhere इन्द्रियाणि the senses इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः from the senseobjects तस्य of him प्रज्ञा wisdom प्रतिष्ठिता is steadied.