indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣau vyavasthitau tayor na vaśam āgacchet tau hy asya paripanthinau
"Attraction and aversion are located in the relationship between each sense and its objects. One should not come under their control, for they are enemies on the path."
What This Means:
Every sense has things it's attracted to (raga) and things it's repelled by (dvesha). Eyes like beauty, dislike ugliness. Tongue likes sweetness, dislikes bitterness. These attractions and aversions are natural—but don't let them control you. They're your enemies on the spiritual path.
Going Deeper:
Krishna locates the problem precisely: raga-dvesha (attraction-aversion) are embedded in the sense-object relationship. They're not external enemies but internal patterns. 'Vyavasthitau' (established, positioned) shows they're always there, waiting. The instruction isn't to eliminate them (impossible) but to not come under their 'vasha' (control). The senses will pull; you don't have to be pulled.
How To Apply This:
Notice your automatic likes and dislikes. The scroll toward attractive images, the flinch from difficult news, the reach for comfort food. These aren't commands you must obey—they're invitations you can decline. You can't stop attraction and aversion from arising, but you can choose not to be ruled by them.
Key Sanskrit Terms: