Shloka 21
Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment
तावज्जितेन्द्रियो न स्याद् विजितान्येन्द्रिय: पुमान् । न जयेद् रसनं यावज्जितं सर्वं जिते रसे ॥ २१ ॥
tāvaj jitendriyo na syād vijitānyendriyaḥ pumān na jayed rasanaṁ yāvaj jitaṁ sarvaṁ jite rase
Walaupun seseorang menewaskan indera lain, selagi lidah belum ditundukkan dia belum boleh disebut menguasai indera; namun apabila rasa telah ditaklukkan, semuanya dianggap telah ditaklukkan.
By eating, one gives energy and activity to all of the senses, and thus if the tongue is uncontrolled all of the senses will be dragged down to the material platform of existence. Therefore, by all means one must control the tongue. If one fasts, then all of the other senses become weak and lose their potency. The tongue, however, becomes more greedy to taste delicious preparations, and when one finally indulges the tongue, all of the senses quickly go out of control. Therefore, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura advises that one accept mahā-prasādam, or the remnants of the Lord’s food, in a moderate proportion. Since the tongue’s function is also to vibrate, one should vibrate the glorious holy name of the Supreme Lord and taste the ecstasy of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, rasa-varjaṁ raso ’py asya paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate: only by the higher taste of Kṛṣṇa consciousness can one give up the deadly lower taste that keeps one imprisoned in material bondage.
FAQs
This verse teaches that mastery over the tongue (taste and speech) is central; when the tongue is controlled, the other senses become easier to restrain.
While instructing Uddhava on renunciation and bhakti-centered discipline, Krishna highlights practical self-control, emphasizing the tongue as the root gateway for sense agitation.
Regulate diet and speech: take sanctified, moderate food and practice truthful, beneficial speech; this supports steadiness in devotion and reduces impulsive sense-driven habits.