Shankaracharya's commentary, trans. Alladi Mahadeva Sastry (1897)
[1]When, like the tortoise which completely draws in its limbs from every direction, he withdraws the senses from their objects — his wisdom stands firm.
BG 2.58
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
yadā saṃharate cāyaṃ kūrmo 'ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ | indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||
"Like a tortoise draws in its limbs, the wise one withdraws senses from objects. Wisdom stands firm."
All public-domain translations
5 translations · all pre-1928 or released to public domain · sources
Swami Swarupananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita (1909)
[4]When, like the tortoise which withdraws its limbs on all sides, he withdraws his senses from the sense-objects, his wisdom becomes steady.
William Quan Judge, The Bhagavad Gita (1890)
[6]When, as a tortoise draws in all its limbs, he can draw in all his senses, his understanding is considered to be well-grounded.
Sir Edwin Arnold, The Song Celestial (1885)
[7]Who draws his sense back from their wonted toils As the curled up tortoise draws its head, Into its shell — 'tis he that hath achieved True wisdom.
K.T. Telang, Sacred Books of the East Vol. 8 (1882)
[9]When, like a tortoise drawing in its limbs from all sides, he withdraws the senses from the objects of sense, his mind is steady.