Sarga 15¶
Mumukṣu Prakaraṇa · The third gatekeeper: contentment (20 verses)
Sarga 15 at a glance
The third gatekeeper: contentment (संतोष).
- Contentment is the highest good and the true meaning of happiness; to the contented, an empire is straw (2.15.1–2.15.5).
- The contented one lets go of what has not come and is even towards what has. Without contentment in the Self, troubles sprout like creepers, and knowledge cannot reflect in the mind (2.15.6–2.15.12).
- By effort, rest in the fullness of the Self and give up craving; then riches serve you, anxieties settle like dust in the rain, and even the sages bow (2.15.13–2.15.20).
Verse 2.15.1¶
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
संतोषो हि परं श्रेयः संतोषः सुखमुच्यते ।
संतुष्टः परमभ्येति विश्राममरिसूदन ॥ २.१५.१ ॥
अरि-सूदन (O slayer of foes), संतोषः हि परं श्रेयः (contentment is the highest good); संतोषः सुखम् उच्यते (contentment is called happiness); संतुष्टः परं विश्रामम् अभ्येति (the contented one reaches supreme rest).
Translation: Śrī Vasiṣṭha said: "Slayer of foes, contentment is the highest good; contentment is what happiness means; the contented one reaches supreme rest."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The third gatekeeper: संतोष. Contentment (glossary: सन्तोष). Patañjali: संतोषादनुत्तमः सुखलाभः — from contentment comes unsurpassed happiness (Yoga Sūtra 2.42).
- The Buddha: santuṭṭhiparamaṃ dhanaṃ — contentment is the greatest wealth (Dhammapada 204).
Verse 2.15.2¶
संतोषैश्वर्यसुखिनां चिरविश्रान्तचेतसाम् ।
साम्राज्यमपि शान्तानां जरत्तृणलवायते ॥ २.१५.२ ॥
संतोष-ऐश्वर्य-सुखिनां (for those happy in the wealth of contentment) चिर-विश्रान्त-चेतसां (whose minds have long been at rest) शान्तानां (the calm) साम्राज्यम् अपि (even an empire) जरत्-तृण-लवायते (seems like a scrap of withered grass).
Translation: "For the calm, who are happy in the wealth of contentment and whose minds have long been at rest, even an empire seems like a scrap of dry grass."
Pointers for Reflection:
- An empire as straw. Said to a prince about to inherit one. Contentment gives a perspective no throne can.
Verse 2.15.3¶
संतोषशालिनी बुद्धी राम संसारवृत्तिषु ।
विषमास्वप्यनुद्विग्ना न कदाचन हीयते ॥ २.१५.३ ॥
राम (O Rāma), संतोष-शालिनी बुद्धिः (an intellect endowed with contentment) विषमासु अपि संसार-वृत्तिषु (even in the harsh turns of worldly life) अनुद्विग्ना (unshaken) न कदाचन हीयते (never fails).
Translation: "Rāma, an understanding rich in contentment stays unshaken even through life's harshest turns, and never fails."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Steadiness. The Gītā: दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः (2.56).
Verse 2.15.4¶
संतोषामृतपानेन ये शान्तास्तृप्तिमागताः ।
भोगश्रीरतुला तेषामेषा प्रतिविषायते ॥ २.१५.४ ॥
ये (those who) संतोष-अमृत-पानेन (by drinking the nectar of contentment) शान्ताः तृप्तिम् आगताः (have become calm and satisfied) — तेषाम् (for them) एषा अतुला भोग-श्रीः (this matchless splendour of enjoyment) प्रति-विषायते (seems like poison).
Translation: "For those who have become calm and fulfilled by drinking the nectar of contentment, even the matchless splendour of worldly enjoyment tastes like poison."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Taste changes. Not forced aversion, but a changed palate. The Gītā: रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते (2.59).
Verse 2.15.5¶
न तथा सुखयन्त्येताः पीयूषरसवीचयः ।
यथातिमधुरास्वादः संतोषो दोषनाशनः ॥ २.१५.५ ॥
एताः पीयूष-रस-वीचयः (these waves of nectar) तथा न सुखयन्ति (do not delight so much) यथा (as) अति-मधुर-आस्वादः (of exceedingly sweet taste) दोष-नाशनः संतोषः (contentment, the destroyer of faults).
Translation: "Not even waves of nectar delight as much as contentment, so sweet to taste and so destructive of faults."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Removes faults. Greed, envy, anxiety — all feed on discontent. Contentment starves them.
Verse 2.15.6¶
अप्राप्तवाञ्छामुत्सृज्य संप्राप्ते समतां गतः ।
अदृष्टखेदाखेदो यः स संतुष्ट इहोच्यते ॥ २.१५.६ ॥
यः (one who) अप्राप्त-वाञ्छाम् उत्सृज्य (giving up longing for what is not obtained) संप्राप्ते समतां गतः (is even towards what has come) अदृष्ट-खेद-अखेदः (and knows neither sorrow nor its absence) — सः इह संतुष्टः उच्यते (he is called contented here).
Translation: "One who gives up longing for what he does not have, is even towards what he has, and is touched neither by grief nor by mere relief, is called contented."
Pointers for Reflection:
- A definition. Two movements: release the unobtained; accept the obtained evenly. The Gītā: यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः — content with what comes by itself, beyond the pairs, free of envy (4.22).
Verse 2.15.7¶
आत्मनात्मनि संतोषं यावद्याति न मानसम् ।
उद्भवन्त्यापदस्तावल्लता इव मनोबिलात् ॥ २.१५.७ ॥
यावत् (as long as) मानसम् (the mind) आत्मना आत्मनि संतोषं न याति (does not find contentment in the Self, by the Self), तावत् (so long) आपदः (calamities) मनो-बिलात् (from the hollow of the mind) लताः इव उद्भवन्ति (spring up like creepers).
Translation: "As long as the mind does not find contentment in the Self by the Self, calamities keep sprouting from the hollow of the mind like creepers."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Contentment in the Self. Not contentment with things but in oneself. Things change; the Self does not.
Verse 2.15.8¶
संतोषशीतलं चेतः शुद्धविज्ञानदृष्टिभिः ।
भृशं विकासमायाति सूर्यांशुभिरिवाम्बुजम् ॥ २.१५.८ ॥
संतोष-शीतलं चेतः (the mind cooled by contentment) शुद्ध-विज्ञान-दृष्टिभिः (by the rays of pure knowledge) भृशं विकासम् आयाति (opens fully), सूर्य-अंशुभिः अम्बुजम् इव (as a lotus by the sun's rays).
Translation: "A mind cooled by contentment opens wide under the rays of pure knowledge, as the lotus opens to the sun."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Contentment prepares for knowledge. A grasping mind is closed; a content one opens.
Verse 2.15.9¶
आशावैवश्यविवशे चित्ते संतोषवर्जिते ।
म्लाने वक्त्रमिवादर्शे न ज्ञानं प्रतिबिम्बति ॥ २.१५.९ ॥
आशा-वैवश्य-विवशे (helpless under the sway of desire) संतोष-वर्जिते (lacking contentment) म्लाने चित्ते (in a dulled mind) ज्ञानं न प्रतिबिम्बति (knowledge is not reflected), म्लाने आदर्शे वक्त्रम् इव (as a face in a tarnished mirror).
Translation: "In a mind dulled, without contentment and helpless under desire, knowledge is not reflected — as a face is not reflected in a tarnished mirror."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The mirror again (2.1.3). The Gītā: यथादर्शो मलेन च (3.38).
- Reading note. The online text prints वक्रम्; corrected here to वक्त्रम् ("face").
Verse 2.15.10¶
अज्ञानघनयामिन्या संकोचं न नराम्बुजम् ।
यात्यसावुदितो यस्य नित्यं संतोषभास्करः ॥ २.१५.१० ॥
यस्य (whose) असौ संतोष-भास्करः नित्यम् उदितः (sun of contentment is always risen), [तस्य] नर-अम्बुजम् (his human lotus) अज्ञान-घन-यामिन्या (by the dense night of ignorance) संकोचं न याति (does not close).
Translation: "For one in whom the sun of contentment has always risen, the lotus of his being does not close in the dense night of ignorance."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Sun and lotus. Same image as 2.13.20, now with contentment as the sun.
Verse 2.15.11¶
अकिंचनोऽप्यसौ जन्तुः साम्राज्यसुखमश्नुते ।
आधिव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तं संतुष्टं यस्य मानसम् ॥ २.१५.११ ॥
यस्य मानसम् (whose mind) आधि-व्याधि-विनिर्मुक्तं (free of ills of mind and body) संतुष्टम् (contented), असौ जन्तुः (that being) अकिंचनः अपि (though possessing nothing) साम्राज्य-सुखम् अश्नुते (enjoys the happiness of an empire).
Translation: "One whose mind is free of ills and contented enjoys the happiness of an emperor, even if he owns nothing."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Wealth within. The Jaina ideal of aparigraha, non-possession, sees freedom in owning nothing; contentment is its inner side.
Verse 2.15.12¶
नाभिवाञ्छत्यसंप्राप्तं प्राप्तं भुंक्ते यथाक्रमम् ।
यः सुसौम्यसमाचारः संतुष्ट इति कथ्यते ॥ २.१५.१२ ॥
यः (one who) असंप्राप्तं न अभिवाञ्छति (does not crave what has not come) प्राप्तं यथा-क्रमं भुङ्क्ते (enjoys what has come, in due course) सु-सौम्य-समाचारः (of gentle conduct) — [सः] संतुष्टः इति कथ्यते (he is called contented).
Translation: "One who does not crave what has not come, enjoys in due course what has come, and is gentle in conduct, is called contented."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Contentment enjoys. Not refusal of all things but enjoyment without craving. The Īśa: तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् — enjoy through renunciation; do not covet anyone's wealth (1).
Verse 2.15.13¶
संतुष्टिपरतृप्तस्य महतः पूर्णचेतसः ।
क्षीराब्धेरिव शुद्धस्य मुखे लक्ष्मीर्विराजते ॥ २.१५.१३ ॥
महतः (of a great one) संतुष्टि-पर-तृप्तस्य (fully satisfied in contentment) पूर्ण-चेतसः (whose mind is full) शुद्धस्य (pure) मुखे (on his face) लक्ष्मीः विराजते (Lakṣmī shines), क्षीर-अब्धेः इव (as from the ocean of milk).
Translation: "On the face of a great one, full in mind and wholly satisfied in contentment, pure like the ocean of milk, the goddess of fortune shines."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Lakṣmī rose from the milk ocean. And she shines on the contented. Prosperity follows contentment, not grasping.
Verse 2.15.14¶
पूर्णतामलमाश्रित्य स्वात्मन्येवात्मना स्वयम् ।
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन तृष्णां सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् ॥ २.१५.१४ ॥
स्वयं (by oneself) आत्मना (through the Self) स्व-आत्मनि एव पूर्णताम् अलम् आश्रित्य (relying fully on the fullness in one's own Self) पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन (with personal effort) सर्वत्र तृष्णां वर्जयेत् (one should give up craving everywhere).
Translation: "Lean entirely on the fullness that is already in your own Self, and by your own exertion, from within, put away craving wherever it appears."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Effort again. Contentment is not passive; it is cultivated by effort. The fullness is already there; craving must be actively dropped.
Verse 2.15.15¶
संतोषाऽमृतपूर्णस्य शान्तशीतलया धिया ।
स्वयं स्थैर्यं मनो याति शीतांशोरिव शाश्वतम् ॥ २.१५.१५ ॥
संतोष-अमृत-पूर्णस्य (of one full of the nectar of contentment) शान्त-शीतलया धिया (through a calm, cool mind) मनः स्वयं (the mind by itself) शाश्वतं स्थैर्यं याति (reaches lasting steadiness), शीत-अंशोः इव (as the moon).
Translation: "For one full of the nectar of contentment, with a mind calm and cool, the mind of itself comes to lasting steadiness, like the moon."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Steadiness follows. Contentment and calm reinforce each other (2.16.21).
Verse 2.15.16¶
संतोषपुष्टमनसं भृत्या इव महर्द्धयः ।
राजानमुपतिष्ठन्ति किंकरत्वमुपागताः ॥ २.१५.१६ ॥
संतोष-पुष्ट-मनसं राजानम् (a king whose mind is nourished by contentment) महा-ऋद्धयः (great riches) किंकरत्वम् उपागताः (become servants) भृत्याः इव उपतिष्ठन्ति (and wait on him like attendants).
Translation: "Great riches wait like servants on a king whose mind is nourished by contentment."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Wealth serves the content. The one who does not chase it is the one it serves.
Verse 2.15.17¶
आत्मनैवात्मनि स्वस्थे संतुष्टे पुरुषे स्थिते ।
प्रशाम्यन्त्याधयः सर्वे प्रावृषीवाशु पांशवः ॥ २.१५.१७ ॥
पुरुषे (when a person) आत्मना एव आत्मनि स्वस्थे संतुष्टे स्थिते (rests, at ease and content in the Self by the Self), सर्वे आधयः (all anxieties) आशु प्रशाम्यन्ति (quickly settle), प्रावृषि पांशवः इव (as dust in the rains).
Translation: "When a person rests in the Self, at ease and content, all anxieties quickly settle, as dust settles in the rains."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Dust in the rain. The rains wash the air clean. Contentment washes the mind.
Verse 2.15.18¶
नित्यं शीतलया राम कलङ्कपरिभिन्नया ।
पुरुषः शुद्धया वृत्त्या भाति पूर्णतयेन्दुवत् ॥ २.१५.१८ ॥
राम (O Rāma), पुरुषः (a person) नित्यं शीतलया (always cool) कलङ्क-परिभिन्नया (free of stain) शुद्धया वृत्त्या (with a pure disposition) पूर्णतया इन्दुवत् भाति (shines with fullness like the moon).
Translation: "Rāma, a person whose disposition is always cool, pure and free of stain shines in fullness like the moon."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The full moon. A recurring image for the complete mind.
- Reading note. The online text prints कुलङ्क; corrected here to कलङ्क ("stain").
Verse 2.15.19¶
समतासुन्दरं वक्त्रं पुरुषस्यावलोकयन् ।
तोषमेति यथा लोको न तथा धनसंचयैः ॥ २.१५.१९ ॥
पुरुषस्य (of a person) समता-सुन्दरं वक्त्रम् अवलोकयन् (seeing the face made beautiful by evenness) लोकः यथा तोषम् एति (people are pleased as) न तथा धन-संचयैः (they are not by heaps of wealth).
Translation: "People take more pleasure in seeing a face made beautiful by evenness than in heaps of wealth."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Beauty of evenness. Contentment shows in the face (compare 2.13.56).
- Reading note. The online text prints वक्रम्; corrected here to वक्त्रम् ("face").
Verse 2.15.20¶
समतया मतया गुणशालिनां पुरुषराडिह यः समलंकृतः ।
तममलं प्रणमन्ति नभश्चरा अपि महामुनयो रघुनन्दन ॥ २.१५.२० ॥
रघु-नन्दन (O joy of the Raghus), इह (here) गुण-शालिनां पुरुष-राट् (a king among virtuous people) यः समतया मतया समलंकृतः (who is adorned with the evenness he holds dear) — तम् अमलं (that pure one) नभश्चराः महा-मुनयः अपि (even the sky-roaming great sages) प्रणमन्ति (bow to).
Translation: "Joy of the Raghus, even the great sages who roam the sky bow to that pure one — a king among the virtuous — who is adorned with the evenness he cherishes."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Sages bow to the content. Contentment makes one honoured even by the highest. A fitting close for a prince.