106. Reins of Happiness

Once, an invader on horseback from Central Asia occupied Delhi and wished to hold a victory procession. An elephant was decorated and upon mounting it, he asked for the reins of the elephant. When told that it is controlled by a mahout, he jumped down and summoned for his horse, saying that he never rides on something whose reins are not in his hands.

Similarly, we need to introspect as to whether we hold the reins to our happiness and emotions or someone else does. While we may believe we are in control, the reality is often otherwise. The reins may lie with a friend, someone in the family or workplace whose moods, words, opinions, praise and criticism make us happy or unhappy; could be an object like food, drink or physical possession; could be a favorable or unfavorable situation; even our past or future may hold these reins.

In this context, Krishna says that he is a yogi who, at any time before liberation from the body, is able to master every impulse of lust (kaam) and anger (krodh). He is a happy human (5.23). Kaam is nothing but getting happiness from others and krodh is what happens to us when things don’t go our way. 

Krishna further says that he who is happy within, who enjoys within, who is illumined by the inner light, such yogis are united with the Lord and are liberated from material existence (5.24). With sins obliterated, doubts removed, senses subjugated, the sages, contributing to the welfare of mankind, attain the bliss of Brahma (absolute) (5.25).

Service is about attaining awareness about self along with compassion towards others. Krishna implies that only those who have mastered the art of controlling the impulses of desire and anger can truly serve others. Those who remain a slave to these impermanent forces can’t help themselves as well as others.