[ BHAGAVAD GITA · 2.58 · spoken by Krishna ]

The most famous image in this whole portrait: the tortoise.

When, like a tortoise drawing in its limbs from every side, one withdraws the senses completely from their objects — that one's wisdom stands firmly established.

SANSKRIT

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥२-५८॥

KRISHNA’S LINE

The tortoise loses nothing. Its limbs are intact, simply drawn in — by its own will, and extended again just as freely. That is mastery. Not mutilation.
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