Verse-67
Chapter 2 — Sānkhya Yog
Verse 67
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
indriyāṇāṁ hi caratāṁ yanmano'nuvidhīyate
tadasya harati prajñāṁ vāyurnāvamivāmbhasi
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
Just as the winds carry away the boat which travels in the water, similarly the sense roving amongst its object, whichever the mind takes after, that very same sense carries away the understanding of that indisciplined person.
The horses of the chariot can remain under control so long as the charioteer holds its reins with firmness and dexterity. A slight laxity can cause the horses to become unrestrained. By nature the horses are restless. With the charioteer holding the reins firmly and having control over the horses, will enable him to take the right path towards the goal. When the horses become uncontrolled in that state the helplessness of the charioteer becomes evident. One needs to be vigilant to ensure that one's actions are in the right direction.
The Blessed Lord has given here the illustration of a boat. If the boatman is an expert and is vigilant and holds onto the oars firmly, then, however, strong the wind is, whatever is the kind of water flow, however swift or adverse the water current, even then the oars should not slip out of the hands of the boatman, if courage is maintained. Otherwise, the boat will lose its balance. The strong winds will cause the boat to move hither and thither. The boat will not move as per the boatman but according to the wind velocity; and in the end the apprehension for it capsizing may arise and possibly the strong winds may cause the boat to capsize midstream.
What an appropriate, befitting and logical example this is! From an illustration deriving a principle is the remarkable aspect of the Gita; it can be understood in this manner that intellect should be discerning. The discrimination should be vigilant, resolute and the mind just like an oar should be enlightened, should be entrusted in the hands of a completely awakened intellect. Whatever path it has to tread upon whatever it has to do, should be done with wisdom–not according to one's whims and fancies. The attraction of the sensual objects should not be able to draw mind towards them and also drag intellect along with it. Otherwise the boat will sink in the ocean of the world.