Sarga 16¶
Mumukṣu Prakaraṇa · The fourth gatekeeper: good company (35 verses)
Sarga 16 at a glance
The fourth gatekeeper: the company of the good (सत्सङ्ग), and the four together.
- Good company helps above all; near the wise, emptiness becomes fullness and death a festival; it is the medicine for every fear (2.16.1–2.16.17).
- The four together: contentment is the highest gain, good company the highest refuge, inquiry the highest knowledge, calm the highest happiness. Master one, and the others follow (2.16.18–2.16.26).
- By effort, establish one virtue; virtues and faults both multiply. Turn the river of tendencies to the good bank, and you will not be swept away (2.16.27–2.16.35).
Verse 2.16.1¶
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
विशेषेण महाबुद्धे संसारोत्तरणे नृणाम् ।
सर्वत्रोपकरोतीह साधुः साधुसमागमः ॥ २.१६.१ ॥
महा-बुद्धे (O great-minded one), नृणां संसार-उत्तरणे (for people's crossing of saṃsāra) साधुः साधु-समागमः (good company of the good) इह सर्वत्र विशेषेण उपकरोति (helps everywhere here, above all).
Translation: Śrī Vasiṣṭha said: "Great-minded one, for people crossing saṃsāra, the company of the good helps above all else, everywhere."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The fourth gatekeeper: सत्सङ्ग. Company of the good (glossary). Of the four, Vasiṣṭha calls it the most widely helpful.
- The Buddha: when Ānanda said noble friendship is half the holy life, the Buddha replied, "Not so, Ānanda — it is the whole of the holy life" (Saṃyutta Nikāya 45.2).
Verse 2.16.2¶
साधुसङ्गतरोर्जातं विवेककुसुमं सितम् ।
रक्षन्ति ये महात्मानो भाजनं ते फलश्रियः ॥ २.१६.२ ॥
ये महा-आत्मानः (those great souls who) साधु-सङ्ग-तरोः जातं (born of the tree of good company) सितं विवेक-कुसुमं (the white flower of discernment) रक्षन्ति (guard), ते फल-श्रियः भाजनम् (they are vessels of the riches of its fruit).
Translation: "Great souls who guard the white flower of discernment, born on the tree of good company, receive the riches of its fruit."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Company → discernment → fruit. Good company plants discernment; one must then guard it.
Verse 2.16.3¶
शून्यमाकीर्णतामेति मृतिरप्युत्सवायते ।
आपत्संपदिवाभाति विद्वज्जनसमागमे ॥ २.१६.३ ॥
विद्वत्-जन-समागमे (in the company of the wise) शून्यम् आकीर्णताम् एति (emptiness becomes fullness) मृतिः अपि उत्सवायते (even death becomes a festival) आपत् संपत् इव आभाति (and calamity looks like good fortune).
Translation: "In the company of the wise, emptiness becomes fullness, even death becomes a festival, and misfortune looks like good fortune."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Transformed experience. Not the facts but their meaning changes. The death of the great in the presence of their disciples — the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, Bhīṣma on his bed of arrows — became occasions of teaching.
Verse 2.16.4¶
हिममापत्सरोजिन्या मोहनीहारमारुतः ।
जयत्येको जगत्यस्मिन्साधुः साधुसमागमः ॥ २.१६.४ ॥
अस्मिन् जगति (in this world) आपत्-सरोजिन्याः हिमम् (the frost for the lotus-pond of calamity) मोह-नीहार-मारुतः (the wind against the mist of delusion) एकः साधुः साधु-समागमः जयति (good company alone is victorious).
Translation: "Alone in all the world, the fellowship of the good wins out: it is the frost that withers the lotus-pond of misfortune, the breeze that clears the haze of delusion."
Pointers for Reflection:
- It withers calamity. As frost withers lotuses, good company withers misfortune; as wind clears mist, it clears delusion.
Verse 2.16.5¶
परं विवर्धनं बुद्धेरज्ञानतरुशातनम् ।
समुत्सारणमाधीनां विद्धि साधुसमागमम् ॥ २.१६.५ ॥
साधु-समागमं (good company) बुद्धेः परं विवर्धनम् (the supreme enlarger of understanding) अज्ञान-तरु-शातनम् (the axe for the tree of ignorance) आधीनां समुत्सारणम् (the remover of anxieties) विद्धि (know).
Translation: "Know the company of the good as the greatest enlarger of understanding, the axe to the tree of ignorance, and the remover of anxieties."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Three works. Grows understanding, cuts ignorance, removes worry.
Verse 2.16.6¶
विवेकः परमो दीपो जायते साधुसंगमात् ।
मनोहरोज्ज्वलो नूनमासेकादिव गुच्छकः ॥ २.१६.६ ॥
साधु-संगमात् (from the company of the good) परमः दीपः विवेकः जायते (discernment, the supreme lamp, is born) मनोहर-उज्ज्वलः (lovely and bright), नूनम् आसेकात् गुच्छकः इव (as a cluster of blossoms from watering).
Translation: "From the company of the good is born discernment, the supreme lamp, lovely and bright, as clusters of flowers come from watering."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Watering. Good company is not a single event but steady nourishment. Śaṅkara (attrib.): सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् । निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः — from good company, non-attachment; from non-attachment, freedom from delusion; from that, steadiness in truth; from that, liberation in life (Bhaja Govindam 9).
Verse 2.16.7¶
निरपायां निराबाधां निर्वृतिं नित्यपीवरीम् ।
अनुत्तमां प्रयच्छन्ति साधुसङ्गविभूतयः ॥ २.१६.७ ॥
साधु-सङ्ग-विभूतयः (the riches of good company) निर्-अपायां (free of loss) निर्-आबाधां (unhindered) नित्य-पीवरीम् (ever full) अनुत्तमां निर्वृतिं (unsurpassed peace) प्रयच्छन्ति (give).
Translation: "The riches of good company give an unsurpassed peace — without loss, without obstacle, ever full."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Lasting gifts. Unlike worldly riches, these are not taken away.
Verse 2.16.8¶
अपि कष्टतरां प्राप्तैर्दशां विवशतां गतैः ।
मनागपि न संत्याज्या मानवैः साधुसंगतिः ॥ २.१६.८ ॥
मानवैः (by people) कष्टतरां दशां प्राप्तैः अपि (even in the hardest condition) विवशतां गतैः (even when helpless) मनाक् अपि (even slightly) साधु-संगतिः न संत्याज्या (good company should not be given up).
Translation: "Even in the hardest condition, even when helpless, people should never give up the company of the good, not even a little."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Especially in hardship. When one is weakest, one most needs those who are strong.
Verse 2.16.9¶
साधुसंगतयो लोके सन्मार्गस्य च दीपिकाः ।
हार्दान्धकारहारिण्यो भासो ज्ञानविवस्वतः ॥ २.१६.९ ॥
लोके (in the world) साधु-संगतयः (the company of the good) सत्-मार्गस्य दीपिकाः च (are lamps on the true path) हार्द-अन्धकार-हारिण्यः (dispelling the darkness of the heart) ज्ञान-विवस्वतः भासः (rays of the sun of knowledge).
Translation: "In the world, the company of the good is a lamp on the true path, rays of the sun of knowledge that dispel the heart's darkness."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Lamps on the path. The wise light the way for others.
Verse 2.16.10¶
यः स्नातः शीतसितया साधुसंगतिगङ्गया ।
किं तस्य दानैः किं तीर्थैः किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः ॥ २.१६.१० ॥
यः (one who) शीत-सितया साधु-संगति-गङ्गया स्नातः (has bathed in the cool, clear Gaṅgā of good company), तस्य (for him) दानैः किम् (what need of gifts)? तीर्थैः किम् (of pilgrimages)? तपोभिः किम् (of austerities)? अध्वरैः किम् (of sacrifices)?
Translation: "For one who has bathed in the cool, clear Gaṅgā of good company, what need of charity, pilgrimage, austerity or sacrifice?"
Pointers for Reflection:
- The living tīrtha. A tīrtha is a crossing-place; the wise themselves are tīrthas. The Bhāgavata: न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवा मृच्छिलामयाः । ते पुनन्त्युरुकालेन दर्शनादेव साधवः — holy waters and images purify only after long time; the saints purify by their very sight (Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Book 10).
Verse 2.16.11¶
नीरागाश्छिन्नसंदेहा गलितग्रन्थयोऽनघ ।
साधवो यदि विद्यन्ते किं तपस्तीर्थसंग्रहैः ॥ २.१६.११ ॥
अनघ (O sinless one), यदि (if) नीरागाः (free of passion) छिन्न-संदेहाः (doubts cut) गलित-ग्रन्थयः (knots untied) साधवः विद्यन्ते (good people are present), तपः-तीर्थ-संग्रहैः किम् (what use is a store of austerities and pilgrimages)?
Translation: "Sinless one, if there are good people free of passion, their doubts cut and the knots of their hearts untied, what use is a store of austerities and pilgrimages?"
Pointers for Reflection:
- Knots untied. The Muṇḍaka: भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः (2.2.8). Such people are rare and precious.
Verse 2.16.12¶
विश्रान्तमनसो धन्याः प्रयत्नेन परेण हि ।
दरिद्रेणेव मणयः प्रेक्षणीया हि साधवः ॥ २.१६.१२ ॥
विश्रान्त-मनसः धन्याः (blessed are those of rested mind) साधवः हि (the good) परेण प्रयत्नेन (with the greatest effort) प्रेक्षणीयाः (should be sought out), दरिद्रेण मणयः इव (as jewels by a poor man).
Translation: "Happy are they whose minds have come to rest. Search out such good people with all your strength, the way a pauper hunts for gems."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Seek them out. Good company does not always come to us; it must be sought.
Verse 2.16.13¶
सत्समागमसौन्दर्यशालिनी धीमतां मतिः ।
कमलेवाप्सरोवृन्दे सर्वदैव विराजते ॥ २.१६.१३ ॥
धीमतां मतिः (the mind of the wise) सत्-समागम-सौन्दर्य-शालिनी (beautiful with good company) अप्सरो-वृन्दे कमला इव (like Lakṣmī among the nymphs) सर्वदा एव विराजते (always shines).
Translation: "The mind of the wise, made beautiful by good company, always shines like Lakṣmī among the celestial maidens."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Beauty by association. The company we keep shows in our minds.
Verse 2.16.14¶
तेनामलविचारस्य पदस्याग्रावचूलिता ।
प्रथिता येन धन्येन न त्यक्ता साधुसंगतिः ॥ २.१६.१४ ॥
येन धन्येन (by the blessed one by whom) साधु-संगतिः न त्यक्ता (good company was not abandoned) — तेन (by him) अमल-विचारस्य पदस्य अग्र-अवचूलिता प्रथिता (the crest of the state of pure inquiry has been raised high).
Translation: "The blessed one who never abandoned good company has raised high the crest of the state of pure inquiry."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Company supports inquiry. The gatekeepers work together.
Verse 2.16.15¶
विच्छिन्नग्रन्थयस्तज्ज्ञाः साधवः सर्वसंमताः ।
सर्वोपायेन संसेव्यास्ते ह्युपाया भवाम्बुधौ ॥ २.१६.१५ ॥
विच्छिन्न-ग्रन्थयः (whose knots are cut) तत्-ज्ञाः (who know That) सर्व-संमताः साधवः (the good, respected by all) सर्व-उपायेन संसेव्याः (should be served by every means); ते हि भव-अम्बुधौ उपायाः (they are the means across the ocean of becoming).
Translation: "Serve by every means the good, whose knots are cut, who know That and are respected by all; they are themselves the means across the ocean of becoming."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The wise as the boat. The Gītā: तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया — by reverence, inquiry and service (4.34).
Verse 2.16.16¶
ते एते नरकाग्नीनां संशुष्केन्धनतां गताः ।
यैर्दृष्टा हेलया सन्तो नरकानलवारिदाः ॥ २.१६.१६ ॥
यैः (by whom) नरक-अनल-वारिदाः सन्तः (the good, who are rain-clouds for the fires of hell) हेलया दृष्टाः (were looked on with contempt), ते एते (they) नरक-अग्नीनां संशुष्क-इन्धनतां गताः (have become dry fuel for the fires of hell).
Translation: "Those who look down on the good — who are rain-clouds for the fires of hell — make themselves dry fuel for those fires."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Contempt for the wise. The greatest loss is to be near a sage and scorn him.
Verse 2.16.17¶
दारिद्र्यं मरणं दुःखमित्यादिविषयो भ्रमः ।
संप्रशाम्यत्यशेषेण साधुसंगमभेषजैः ॥ २.१६.१७ ॥
दारिद्र्यं मरणं दुःखम् इति-आदि-विषयः भ्रमः (the delusion concerning poverty, death, sorrow and the like) साधु-संगम-भेषजैः (by the medicine of good company) अशेषेण संप्रशाम्यति (is wholly cured).
Translation: "Delusions about poverty, death, sorrow and the like are wholly cured by the medicine of good company."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The fear of loss. Near the wise, poverty, death and grief lose their power to terrify.
Verse 2.16.18¶
संतोषः साधुसङ्गश्च विचारोऽथ शमस्तथा ।
एत एव भवाम्भोधावुपायास्तरणे नृणाम् ॥ २.१६.१८ ॥
संतोषः (contentment) साधु-सङ्गः च (good company) विचारः (inquiry) अथ शमः तथा (and calm) — एते एव (these alone) नृणां भव-अम्भोधौ तरणे उपायाः (are the means for people to cross the ocean of becoming).
Translation: "Contentment, the fellowship of the good, inquiry and calm: no other means carry people over the sea of becoming."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The four, gathered. Having described each, Vasiṣṭha now sets them side by side.
Verse 2.16.19¶
संतोषः परमो लाभः सत्सङ्गः परमा गतिः ।
विचारः परमं ज्ञानं शमो हि परमं सुखम् ॥ २.१६.१९ ॥
संतोषः परमः लाभः (contentment is the supreme gain); सत्सङ्गः परमा गतिः (good company the supreme refuge); विचारः परमं ज्ञानम् (inquiry the supreme knowledge); शमः हि परमं सुखम् (calm the supreme happiness).
Translation: "Contentment is the highest gain, good company the highest refuge, inquiry the highest knowledge, and calm the highest happiness."
Pointers for Reflection:
- A verse to learn by heart. Four gatekeepers, four supreme goods. Each one is enough to change a life.
Verse 2.16.20¶
चत्वार एते विमला उपाया भवभेदने ।
यैरभ्यस्तास्त उत्तीर्णा मोहवारिभवार्णवात् ॥ २.१६.२० ॥
एते चत्वारः विमलाः उपायाः (these four pure means) भव-भेदने (for breaking through becoming); यैः ते अभ्यस्ताः (those who have practised them) ते मोह-वारि-भव-अर्णवात् उत्तीर्णाः (have crossed the ocean of becoming, whose water is delusion).
Translation: "These four are the clean tools that cut through becoming. Whoever has put them into practice has come out on the far side of becoming's sea, whose water is delusion."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Practised, not admired. The word is अभ्यस्त — practised. Knowing about them is not enough.
Verse 2.16.21¶
एकस्मिन्नेव वै तेषामभ्यस्ते विमलोदये ।
चत्वारोऽपि किलाभ्यस्ता भवन्ति सुधियां वर ॥ २.१६.२१ ॥
सुधियां वर (O best of the wise), तेषाम् एकस्मिन् एव वै (when even one of them) विमल-उदये अभ्यस्ते (is practised and its purity rises) चत्वारः अपि किल अभ्यस्ताः भवन्ति (all four are, in effect, practised).
Translation: "Best of the wise, when even one of these is practised until its purity shines, all four have in effect been practised."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Repeated from 2.11.61. Master one, and the rest follow.
Verse 2.16.22¶
एकोऽप्येकोऽपि सर्वेषामेषां प्रसवभूरिह ।
सर्वसंसिद्धये तस्माद्यत्नेनैकं समाश्रयेत् ॥ २.१६.२२ ॥
इह (here) एषां सर्वेषां (of all these) एकः अपि एकः अपि (each single one) प्रसव-भूः (is the birthplace [of the others]); तस्मात् (therefore) सर्व-संसिद्धये (for complete success) यत्नेन एकं समाश्रयेत् (one should hold to one with effort).
Translation: "Each single one of them gives birth to the others. So, for complete success, hold to one of them with effort."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Practical guidance. A beginner need not attempt everything. Choose the gate nearest you.
- Reading note. The online text prints तस्मात्यत्नेन; corrected here to तस्माद्यत्नेन.
Verse 2.16.23¶
सत्समागमसंतोषविचाराः सुविचारितम् ।
प्रवर्तन्ते शमस्वच्छे वाहनानीव सागरे ॥ २.१६.२३ ॥
सत्-समागम-संतोष-विचाराः (good company, contentment and inquiry) सु-विचारितम् (well reflected upon) शम-स्वच्छे (in clear calm) प्रवर्तन्ते (move freely), सागरे वाहनानि इव (like ships on the ocean).
Translation: "Good company, contentment and inquiry, well understood, move freely on clear calm, like ships upon the sea."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Calm as the sea. The other three sail on it.
Verse 2.16.24¶
विचारसंतोषशमसत्समागमशालिनि ।
प्रवर्तन्ते श्रियो जन्तौ कल्पवृक्षाश्रिते यथा ॥ २.१६.२४ ॥
विचार-संतोष-शम-सत्-समागम-शालिनि जन्तौ (in a being endowed with inquiry, contentment, calm and good company) श्रियः प्रवर्तन्ते (fortunes flow), कल्प-वृक्ष-आश्रिते यथा (as for one who shelters under the wishing tree).
Translation: "Fortune flows to one endowed with inquiry, contentment, calm and good company, as to one who shelters beneath the wishing tree."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Worldly good too. These qualities bless life in every way.
Verse 2.16.25¶
विचारशमसत्सङ्गसंतोषवति मानवे ।
प्रवर्तन्ते प्रपूर्णेन्दौ सौन्दर्याद्या गुणा इव ॥ २.१६.२५ ॥
विचार-शम-सत्सङ्ग-संतोषवति मानवे (in a person who has inquiry, calm, good company and contentment) सौन्दर्य-आद्याः गुणाः प्रवर्तन्ते (beauty and other qualities arise), प्रपूर्ण-इन्दौ इव (as in the full moon).
Translation: "In a person with inquiry, calm, good company and contentment, beauty and every grace appear, as in the full moon."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Inner beauty shows. Compare 2.13.56, 2.15.19.
Verse 2.16.26¶
सत्सङ्गसंतोषशमविचारवति सन्मतौ ।
प्रवर्तन्ते मन्त्रिवरे राजनीव जयश्रियः ॥ २.१६.२६ ॥
सत्सङ्ग-संतोष-शम-विचारवति सत्-मतौ (in a good-minded one who has good company, contentment, calm and inquiry) जय-श्रियः प्रवर्तन्ते (the splendours of victory come), मन्त्रि-वरे राजनि इव (as to a king with an excellent minister).
Translation: "In a good-minded person with good company, contentment, calm and inquiry, victory and splendour arise, as for a king who has an excellent minister."
Pointers for Reflection:
- For a king. Good counsel wins kingdoms; inner counsel wins freedom.
Verse 2.16.27¶
तस्मादेकतमं नित्यमेतेषां रघुनन्दन ।
पौरुषेण मनो जित्वा यत्नेनाभ्याहरेद्गुणम् ॥ २.१६.२७ ॥
तस्मात् रघु-नन्दन (so, joy of the Raghus) पौरुषेण मनः जित्वा (mastering the mind by effort) एतेषाम् एकतमं गुणं (one of these virtues) नित्यं यत्नेन अभ्याहरेत् (one should cultivate constantly with effort).
Translation: "So, joy of the Raghus, master the mind by effort and cultivate one of these virtues constantly."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Effort and the gatekeepers joined. The two halves of Book 2 meet.
Verse 2.16.28¶
परं पौरुषमाश्रित्य जित्वा चित्तमतङ्गजम् ।
यावदेको गुणो नान्तस्तावन्नास्त्युत्तमा गतिः ॥ २.१६.२८ ॥
परं पौरुषम् आश्रित्य (relying on the highest effort) चित्त-मतङ्गजं जित्वा (conquering the elephant of the mind) — यावत् एकः गुणः अन्तः न (as long as not even one virtue is within) तावत् उत्तमा गतिः न अस्ति (so long there is no supreme goal).
Translation: "Relying on the highest effort, conquer the elephant of the mind; for as long as not even one of these virtues is established within, there is no reaching the highest goal."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The mind as elephant. Powerful, often wild; once tamed, a great helper.
Verse 2.16.29¶
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन दन्तैर्दन्तान्विचूर्णयेत् ।
यावन्नाभिनिविष्टं ते मनो राम गुणार्जने ॥ २.१६.२९ ॥
राम (O Rāma), यावत् ते मनः गुण-अर्जने न अभिनिविष्टम् (until your mind is set on acquiring virtue) पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन (with personal effort) दन्तैः दन्तान् विचूर्णयेत् (one should grind teeth with teeth).
Translation: "Rāma, until your mind is firmly set on gaining virtue, strive with all your effort, gritting your teeth."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Gritting teeth again (2.5.9). Early practice takes determination; later it flows.
Verse 2.16.30¶
देवो भवाथ यक्षो वा पुरुषः पादपोऽथ वा ।
तावत्तव महाबाहो नोपायोऽस्तीह कश्चन ॥ २.१६.३० ॥
महा-बाहो (O mighty-armed one), देवः भव (be a god) अथ यक्षः वा (or a yakṣa) पुरुषः (a man) पादपः अथ वा (or even a tree) — तावत् (until then) तव इह कश्चन उपायः न अस्ति (there is no way for you here).
Translation: "Be you god or yakṣa, human or tree, mighty-armed one: until that happens, no road lies open to you."
Pointers for Reflection:
- No shortcut. Not birth, not rank — only virtue cultivated.
Verse 2.16.31¶
एकस्मिन्नेव फलदे गुणे बलमुपागते ।
क्षीयन्ते सर्व एवाशु दोषा विवशचेतसः ॥ २.१६.३१ ॥
एकस्मिन् एव फल-दे गुणे (when even one fruitful virtue) बलम् उपागते (has grown strong), विवश-चेतसः (of a helpless mind) सर्वे एव दोषाः आशु क्षीयन्ते (all faults quickly waste away).
Translation: "When even one fruitful virtue has grown strong, all the faults of the helpless mind quickly waste away."
Pointers for Reflection:
- One strong virtue. It crowds out many faults.
Verse 2.16.32¶
गुणे विवृद्धे वर्धन्ते गुणा दोषजयप्रदाः ।
दोषे विवृद्धे वर्धन्ते दोषा गुणविनाशनाः ॥ २.१६.३२ ॥
गुणे विवृद्धे (when a virtue grows) दोष-जय-प्रदाः गुणाः वर्धन्ते (virtues that conquer faults grow); दोषे विवृद्धे (when a fault grows) गुण-विनाशनाः दोषाः वर्धन्ते (faults that destroy virtues grow).
Translation: "When one virtue grows, other virtues that overcome faults grow with it; when a fault grows, other faults that destroy virtues grow with it."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Momentum. Virtues and faults both multiply. Which way one tips decides the whole direction of life. The Buddha: one good deed inclines the mind to the next (Dhammapada 118).
Verse 2.16.33¶
मनोमोहवने ह्यस्मिन्वेगिनी वासनासरित् ।
शुभाशुभबृहत्कूला नित्यं वहति जन्तुषु ॥ २.१६.३३ ॥
हि (indeed) अस्मिन् मनो-मोह-वने (in this forest of the mind's delusion) वेगिनी वासना-सरित् (the swift river of tendencies) शुभ-अशुभ-बृहत्-कूला (with broad banks of good and bad) जन्तुषु नित्यं वहति (flows constantly in beings).
Translation: "In this forest of the mind's delusion, the swift river of tendencies flows on in all beings, between broad banks of good and bad."
Pointers for Reflection:
- The river again (2.9.30). Vasiṣṭha returns to his central image as he closes the gatekeepers.
Verse 2.16.34¶
सा हि स्वेन प्रयत्नेन यस्मिन्नेव निपात्यते ।
कूले तेनैव वहति यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ २.१६.३४ ॥
सा हि (that [river]) स्वेन प्रयत्नेन (by one's own effort) यस्मिन् एव कूले निपात्यते (whichever bank it is turned towards) तेन एव वहति (along that it flows); यथा इच्छसि तथा कुरु (do as you wish).
Translation: "Whichever bank you turn it towards by your own effort, that is the way it flows. Do as you choose."
Pointers for Reflection:
- "Do as you choose" again (2.7.20; Gītā 18.63). Responsibility and freedom rest with the student.
Verse 2.16.35¶
पुरुषयत्नजवेन मनोवने शुभतटानुगतां क्रमशः कुरु ।
वरमते निजभावमहानदीमहह तेन मनागपि नोह्यसे ॥ २.१६.३५ ॥
वर-मते (O noble-minded one), पुरुष-यत्न-जवेन (by the force of personal effort) मनो-वने (in the forest of the mind) निज-भाव-महा-नदीं (the great river of your own nature) क्रमशः शुभ-तट-अनुगतां कुरु (gradually make it follow the good bank); अहह (ah!) तेन (thus) मनाक् अपि न उह्यसे (you will not be swept away at all).
Translation: "Noble-minded one, by the force of your own effort, gradually guide the great river of your nature along the good bank through the forest of the mind. Then — ah! — you will not be swept away at all."
Pointers for Reflection:
- Not swept away. The final promise: the river remains, but you are no longer its victim. Effort, gradual and steady (क्रमशः), makes the difference.