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योगवासिष्ठः       yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-1, chapter-16

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श्रीराम उवाच ।
दोषैर्जर्जरतां याति सत्कार्यादार्यसेवनात् ।
वातान्तःपिच्छलववच्चेतश्चलति चञ्चलम् ॥ १ ॥
śrīrāma uvāca ,
doṣairjarjaratāṃ yāti satkāryādāryasevanāt ,
vātāntaḥpicchalavavaccetaścalati cañcalam 1
1. śrīrāma uvāca | doṣaiḥ jarjaratām yāti satkāryāt ārya-sevanāt
| vāta-antaḥ-piccha-lava-vat cetaḥ calati cañcalam || 1 ||
1. Śrī Rāma said: "The mind (cetas), inherently restless, becomes decrepit due to its flaws, departing from righteous actions and the service of noble individuals. It fluctuates like a feather tuft (piccha) caught within the wind."
इतश्चेतश्च सुव्यग्रं व्यर्थमेवाभिधावति ।
दूराद्दूरतरं दीनं ग्रामे कौलेयको यथा ॥ २ ॥
itaścetaśca suvyagraṃ vyarthamevābhidhāvati ,
dūrāddūrataraṃ dīnaṃ grāme kauleyako yathā 2
2. itaḥ ca itaḥ ca suvyagram vyartham eva abhidhāvati |
dūrāt dūrataram dīnam grāme kauleyakaḥ yathā || 2 ||
2. Exceedingly agitated, it (the mind) rushes aimlessly hither and thither, just like a wretched village dog that strays ever farther from home.
न प्राप्नोति क्वचित्किंचित्प्राप्तैरपि महाधनैः ।
नान्तः संपूर्णतामेति करण्डक इवाम्बुभिः ॥ ३ ॥
na prāpnoti kvacitkiṃcitprāptairapi mahādhanaiḥ ,
nāntaḥ saṃpūrṇatāmeti karaṇḍaka ivāmbubhiḥ 3
3. na prāpnoti kvacit kiñcit prāptaiḥ api mahādhanaiḥ | na
antaḥ saṃpūrṇatām eti karaṇḍakaḥ iva ambubhiḥ || 3 ||
3. Even when great riches are acquired, the mind never achieves anything (satisfaction) anywhere. It does not attain inner fulfillment (saṃpūrṇatā), much like a basket that can never be truly filled with water.
नित्यमेव मुने शून्यं कदाशावागुरावृतम् ।
न मनो निवृतिं याति मृगो यूथादिव च्युतः ॥ ४ ॥
nityameva mune śūnyaṃ kadāśāvāgurāvṛtam ,
na mano nivṛtiṃ yāti mṛgo yūthādiva cyutaḥ 4
4. nityam eva mune śūnyam kadāśāvāgurāvṛtam na
manaḥ nivṛtim yāti mṛgaḥ yūthāt iva cyutaḥ
4. O sage, the mind, perpetually vacant and ensnared by unwholesome desires, does not find peace, much like a deer separated from its herd.
तरङ्गतरलां वृत्तिं दधदालूनशीर्णताम् ।
परित्यज्य क्षणमपि हृदये याति न स्थितिम् ॥ ५ ॥
taraṅgataralāṃ vṛttiṃ dadhadālūnaśīrṇatām ,
parityajya kṣaṇamapi hṛdaye yāti na sthitim 5
5. taraṅgataraḷām vṛttim dadhat ālūnaśīrṇatām
parityajya kṣaṇam api hṛdaye yāti na sthitim
5. The mind, manifesting a disposition as restless as waves, and prone to disruption and decay, does not find stability in the heart even for a moment, having forsaken any repose.
मनो मननविक्षुब्धं दिशो दश विधावति ।
मन्दराहननोद्धूतं क्षीरार्णवपयो यथा ॥ ६ ॥
mano mananavikṣubdhaṃ diśo daśa vidhāvati ,
mandarāhananoddhūtaṃ kṣīrārṇavapayo yathā 6
6. manaḥ mananavikṣubdham diśaḥ daśa vidhāvati
mandarāhananoddhūtam kṣīrārṇavapayaḥ yathā
6. Agitated by its own incessant cogitation (manana), the mind rushes about in all ten directions, just as the waters of the milky ocean were churned up by the agitation of Mount Mandara.
कल्लोलकलितावर्तं मायामकरमालितम् ।
न निरोद्धुं समर्थोऽस्मि मनोमयमहार्णवम् ॥ ७ ॥
kallolakalitāvartaṃ māyāmakaramālitam ,
na niroddhuṃ samartho'smi manomayamahārṇavam 7
7. kallolakalitāvartam māyāmakaramālitam na
niroddhum samarthaḥ asmi manomayamahārṇavam
7. I am unable to restrain this great ocean of the mind (manomaya), which is turbulent with whirlpools created by mighty waves and adorned by the crocodiles of illusion (māyā).
भोगदूर्वाङ्कुराकाङ्क्षी श्वभ्रपातमचिन्तयन् ।
मनोहरिणको ब्रह्मन्दूरं विपरिधावति ॥ ८ ॥
bhogadūrvāṅkurākāṅkṣī śvabhrapātamacintayan ,
manohariṇako brahmandūraṃ viparidhāvati 8
8. bhogadūrvāṅkurākāṅkṣī śvabhrapātam acintayan
manohariṇakaḥ brahman dūram viparidhāvati
8. O Brahman (brahman), the mind (manas), like a deer longing for blades of grass for enjoyment, runs far and wide, without considering the risk of falling into a pit.
न कदाचन मे चेतः स्वामालूनविशीर्णताम् ।
त्यजत्याकुलया वृत्त्या चञ्चलत्वमिवार्णवः ॥ ९ ॥
na kadācana me cetaḥ svāmālūnaviśīrṇatām ,
tyajatyākulayā vṛttyā cañcalatvamivārṇavaḥ 9
9. na kadācana me cetaḥ svām ālūnaviśīrṇatām
tyajati ākulayā vṛttyā cañcalatvam iva arṇavaḥ
9. My mind (cetas) never abandons its own torn and disintegrated state, due to its restless nature, just as the ocean never abandons its inherent restlessness.
चेतश्चञ्चलया वृत्त्या चिन्तानिचयचञ्चुरम् ।
धृतिं बध्नाति नैकत्र पञ्जरे केसरी यथा ॥ १० ॥
cetaścañcalayā vṛttyā cintānicayacañcuram ,
dhṛtiṃ badhnāti naikatra pañjare kesarī yathā 10
10. cetaḥ cañcalayā vṛttyā cintānicayacañcuram
dhṛtim badhnāti na ekatra pañjare kesarī yathā
10. The mind (cetas), made restless by its nature and brimming with a multitude of worries, does not hold firm in one place, just like a lion in a cage.
मनो मोहरथारूढं शरीरात्समतासुखम् ।
हरत्यपहतोद्वेगं हंसः क्षीरमिवाम्भसः ॥ ११ ॥
mano moharathārūḍhaṃ śarīrātsamatāsukham ,
haratyapahatodvegaṃ haṃsaḥ kṣīramivāmbhasaḥ 11
11. manaḥ moharathārūḍham śarīrāt samatāsukham
harati apahatodvegam haṃsaḥ kṣīram iva ambhasaḥ
11. The mind (manas), mounted on the chariot of delusion, removes the happiness of equanimity and freedom from agitation from the body, just as a swan skillfully separates milk from water.
अनल्पकल्पनातल्पे विलीनाश्चित्तवृत्तयः ।
मुनीन्द्र न प्रबुध्यन्ते तेन तप्येऽहमाकुलः ॥ १२ ॥
analpakalpanātalpe vilīnāścittavṛttayaḥ ,
munīndra na prabudhyante tena tapye'hamākulaḥ 12
12. analpakalpanātalpe vilīnāḥ cittavṛttayaḥ
munīndra na prabudhyante tena tapye aham ākulaḥ
12. O chief of sages, my mental activities (cittavṛtti) are dissolved in the vast bed of imagination, and they do not awaken. Therefore, I am agitated and suffer.
क्रोडीकृतदृढग्रन्थितृष्णासूत्रे स्थितात्मना ।
विहगो जालकेनेव ब्रह्मन्बद्धोऽस्मि चेतसा ॥ १३ ॥
kroḍīkṛtadṛḍhagranthitṛṣṇāsūtre sthitātmanā ,
vihago jālakeneva brahmanbaddho'smi cetasā 13
13. kroḍīkṛtadṛḍhagranthitṛṣṇāsūtre sthitātmanā
vihagaḥ jālakena iva brahman baddhaḥ asmi cetasā
13. O Brahman, I am bound by my mind (cetas), just as a bird is bound by a net, with my self (ātman) remaining within the firmly clasped, firm-knotted thread of craving (tṛṣṇā).
संततामर्षधूमेन चिन्ताज्वालाकुलेन च ।
वह्निनेव तृणं शुष्कं मुने दग्धोऽस्मि चेतसा ॥ १४ ॥
saṃtatāmarṣadhūmena cintājvālākulena ca ,
vahnineva tṛṇaṃ śuṣkaṃ mune dagdho'smi cetasā 14
14. saṃtatāmarṣadhūmena cintājvālākulena ca vahninā
iva tṛṇam śuṣkam mune dagdhaḥ asmi cetasā
14. O sage, I am burnt by my mind (cetas), which is like a fire with the smoke of continuous resentment and agitated by the flames of worry, just as dry grass is burnt.
क्रूरेण जडतां यातस्तृष्णाभार्यानुगामिना ।
शवं कौलेयकेनेव ब्रह्मन्मुक्तोऽस्मि चेतसा ॥ १५ ॥
krūreṇa jaḍatāṃ yātastṛṣṇābhāryānugāminā ,
śavaṃ kauleyakeneva brahmanmukto'smi cetasā 15
15. krūreṇa jaḍatām yātaḥ tṛṣṇābhāryānugāminā śavam
kauleyakena iva brahman muktaḥ asmi cetasā
15. O Brahman, I, who have fallen into dullness, am abandoned by my mind (cetas), which is cruel and follows craving (tṛṣṇā) as a wife, just as a corpse is abandoned by a dog.
तरङ्गतरलास्फालवृत्तिना जडरूपिणा ।
तटवृक्ष इवौघेन ब्रह्मन्नीतोऽस्मि चेतसा ॥ १६ ॥
taraṅgataralāsphālavṛttinā jaḍarūpiṇā ,
taṭavṛkṣa ivaughena brahmannīto'smi cetasā 16
16. taraṅgataralāṣphālavṛttinā jaḍarūpiṇā
taṭavṛkṣaḥ iva oghena brahman nītaḥ asmi cetasā
16. O Brahmn, I am carried away by my mind, which is inert by nature and whose activity is turbulent, striking like waves, just as a tree on the bank is swept away by a flood.
अवान्तरनिपाताय शून्ये वा भ्रमणाय च ।
तृणं चण्डानिलेनेव दूरे नीतोऽस्मि चेतसा ॥ १७ ॥
avāntaranipātāya śūnye vā bhramaṇāya ca ,
tṛṇaṃ caṇḍānileneva dūre nīto'smi cetasā 17
17. avāntaranipātāya śūnye vā bhramaṇāya ca
tṛṇam caṇḍānilena iva dūre nītaḥ asmi cetasā
17. I am carried far away by the mind, just like a blade of grass by a fierce wind, either for repeatedly falling into intermediate states or for wandering in emptiness.
संसारजलधेरस्मान्नित्यमुत्तरणोन्मुखः ।
सेतुनेव पयःपूरो रोधितोऽस्मि कुचेतसा ॥ १८ ॥
saṃsārajaladherasmānnityamuttaraṇonmukhaḥ ,
setuneva payaḥpūro rodhito'smi kucetasā 18
18. saṃsārajaladheḥ asmāt nityam uttaraṇonmukhaḥ
setunā iva payaḥpūraḥ rodhitaḥ asmi kucetasā
18. Though I am always facing towards crossing this ocean of transmigratory existence (saṃsāra), I am obstructed by my bad mind, just as a flood of water is held back by a dam.
पातालाद्गच्छता पृथ्वीं पृथ्व्याः पातालगामिना ।
कूपकाष्ठं कुदाम्नेव वेष्टितोऽस्मि कुचेतसा ॥ १९ ॥
pātālādgacchatā pṛthvīṃ pṛthvyāḥ pātālagāminā ,
kūpakāṣṭhaṃ kudāmneva veṣṭito'smi kucetasā 19
19. pātālāt gacchatā pṛthvīm pṛthvyāḥ pātālagāminā
kūpakāṣṭham kudāmnā iva veṣṭitaḥ asmi kucetasā
19. I am bound by my corrupted mind, just as a log in a well is entangled by a bad rope, through the agency of one who pulls it from the netherworld (Pātāla) to Earth, and another who pulls it from Earth to the netherworld.
मिथ्यैव स्फाररूपेण विचाराद्विशरारुणा ।
बालो वेतालकेनेव गृहीतोऽस्मि कुचेतसा ॥ २० ॥
mithyaiva sphārarūpeṇa vicārādviśarāruṇā ,
bālo vetālakeneva gṛhīto'smi kucetasā 20
20. mithyā eva sphārarūpeṇa vicārāt viśarāruṇā
bālaḥ vetālakena iva gṛhītaḥ asmi kucetasā
20. Like a child seized by a goblin (vetāla), I am grasped by a deluded mind. Falsehood itself appears in an expanded form but disintegrates upon true discernment.
वह्नेरुष्णतरः शैलादपि कष्टतरक्रमः ।
वज्रादपि दृढो ब्रह्मन्दुर्निग्रहमनोग्रहः ॥ २१ ॥
vahneruṣṇataraḥ śailādapi kaṣṭatarakramaḥ ,
vajrādapi dṛḍho brahmandurnigrahamanograhaḥ 21
21. vahneḥ uṣṇataraḥ śailāt api kaṣṭatarakramaḥ
vajrāt api dṛḍhaḥ brahman durnigrahamanograhaḥ
21. O Brahman, this intractable grip of the mind is hotter than fire, its path is more arduous than a mountain, and it is firmer than even a thunderbolt (vajra).
चेतः पतति कार्येषु विहगः स्वामिषेष्विव ।
क्षणेन विरतिं याति बालः क्रीडनकादिव ॥ २२ ॥
cetaḥ patati kāryeṣu vihagaḥ svāmiṣeṣviva ,
kṣaṇena viratiṃ yāti bālaḥ krīḍanakādiva 22
22. cetaḥ patati kāryeṣu vihagaḥ sva āmiṣeṣu iva
kṣaṇena viratim yāti bālaḥ krīḍanakāt iva
22. The mind rushes into activities, just as a bird swoops down on its own prey. Yet, it quickly develops disinterest, like a child abandoning a toy.
जडप्रकृतिरालोलो विततावर्तवृत्तिमान् ।
मनोऽब्धिरहितव्यालो दूरं नयति तात माम् ॥ २३ ॥
jaḍaprakṛtirālolo vitatāvartavṛttimān ,
mano'bdhirahitavyālo dūraṃ nayati tāta mām 23
23. jaḍaprakṛtiḥ ālolaḥ vitata āvartavṛttimān
manas abdhiḥ ahita vyālaḥ dūram nayati tāta mām
23. O dear one, the mind, which is like an ocean (manas-abdhi), inert by its material nature (prakṛti), restlessly turbulent, full of widespread whirlpools, and an unwholesome serpent (vyāla), carries me far away.
अप्यब्धिपानान्महतः सुमेरून्मूलनादपि ।
अपि वह्न्यशनात्साधो विषमश्चित्तनिग्रहः ॥ २४ ॥
apyabdhipānānmahataḥ sumerūnmūlanādapi ,
api vahnyaśanātsādho viṣamaścittanigrahaḥ 24
24. api abdhipānāt mahataḥ sumerūnmūlanāt api
api vahnyaśanāt sādho viṣamaḥ cittanigrahaḥ
24. O virtuous one, controlling the mind (cittanigrahaḥ) is more formidable even than drinking the great ocean, uprooting Mount Sumeru, or consuming fire.
चित्तं कारणमर्थानां तस्मिन्सति जगत्त्रयम् ।
तस्मिन्क्षीणे जगत्क्षीणं तच्चिकित्स्यं प्रयत्नतः ॥ २५ ॥
cittaṃ kāraṇamarthānāṃ tasminsati jagattrayam ,
tasminkṣīṇe jagatkṣīṇaṃ taccikitsyaṃ prayatnataḥ 25
25. cittaṃ kāraṇam arthānāṃ tasmin sati jagattrayam
tasmin kṣīṇe jagat kṣīṇaṃ tat cikitsyam prayatnataḥ
25. The mind (citta) is the cause of all phenomena. When it exists, the three worlds (jagattrayam) exist; when it is extinguished, the world (jagat) is extinguished. Therefore, it (the mind) must be diligently controlled with effort.
चित्तादिमानि सुखदुःखशतानि नूनमभ्यागतान्यगवरादिव काननानि ।
तस्मिन्विवेकवशतस्तनुतां प्रयाते मन्ये मुने निपुणमेव गलन्ति तानि ॥ २६ ॥
cittādimāni sukhaduḥkhaśatāni nūnamabhyāgatānyagavarādiva kānanāni ,
tasminvivekavaśatastanutāṃ prayāte manye mune nipuṇameva galanti tāni 26
26. cittāt imāni sukhaduḥkhaśatāni nūnam
abhyāgatāni agavarāt iva kānanāni
tasmin vivekavaśataḥ tanutām prayāte
manye mune nipuṇam eva galanti tāni
26. O sage, these hundreds of joys and sorrows surely arise from the mind (citta), just as forests emerge from a great mountain (agavara). I believe that when that (mind) has diminished due to the influence of discernment (viveka), these (joys and sorrows) completely disappear.
सकलगुणजयाशा यत्र बद्धा महद्भिस्तमरिमिह विजेतुं चित्तमभ्युत्थितोऽहम् ।
विगतरतितयान्तर्नाभिनन्दामि लक्ष्मीं जडमलिनविलासां मेघलेखामिवेन्दुः ॥ २७ ॥
sakalaguṇajayāśā yatra baddhā mahadbhistamarimiha vijetuṃ cittamabhyutthito'ham ,
vigataratitayāntarnābhinandāmi lakṣmīṃ jaḍamalinavilāsāṃ meghalekhāmivenduḥ 27
27. sakalaguṇajayāśā yatra baddhā mahadbhiḥ tam
arim iha vijetum cittam abhyutthitaḥ aham
vigataratitayā antaḥ na abhinandāmi lakṣmīm
jaḍamalinavilāsām meghalekhām iva induḥ
27. I have come forth here to conquer that enemy - the mind (citta) - in which the great ones have placed their hope for mastering all virtues. Due to my detachment (vigataratitā) within, I do not rejoice in prosperity (Lakṣmī), whose charm is dull and impure, just as the moon (indu) does not delight in a line of clouds.