Chapter 2 · Verse 67

Transcendental Knowledge

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते। तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि

indriyāṇāṁ hi charatāṁ yan mano ’nuvidhīyate tadasya harati prajñāṁ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi

Word Meanings

indriyāṇām — of the senses; hi — indeed; charatām — roaming; yat — which; manaḥ — the mind; anuvidhīyate — becomes constantly engaged; tat — that; asya — of that; harati — carries away; prajñām — intellect; vāyuḥ — wind; nāvam — boat; iva — as; ambhasi — on the water

Language:

Translation

As the wind sweeps away a boat upon the waters, so the mind that yields to the wandering senses carries away one's wisdom.

Commentary

इन्द्रियाणाम् senses? हि for? चरताम् wandering? यत् which? मनः mind? अनुविधीयते follows? तत् that? अस्य his? हरति carries away? प्रज्ञाम् discrimination? वायुः the wind? नावम् boat? इव like? अम्भसि in the water.Commentary The mind which constantly dwells on the sensual objects and moves in company with the senses destroys altogether the discrimination of the man. Just as the wind carries away a boat from its course? so also the mind carries away the aspirant from his spiritual path and turns,him towards the objects of the senses.