Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2: The Path of Understanding
Bhagavad Gita 2.70
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् ।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥
āpūryamāṇamacalapratiṣṭhaṃ samudramāpaḥ praviśanti yadvat | tadvatkāmā yaṃ praviśanti sarve sa śāntimāpnoti na kāmakāmī ||
As waters flow into the ocean, which is always being filled and yet stays unmoved, so all desires flow into such a person, who attains peace. One who chases desires does not.
Modern context
Rivers pour into the ocean day and night, and it neither overflows nor is disturbed. Desires keep arising in the wise person too; the verse does not pretend otherwise. They enter and are absorbed without setting off a chase. A small pond is churned by every stream. Peace depends on the depth of the one in whom wants arise, not on having no wants.