योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-5, chapter-54, verse-31

धावमानमधो मत्तं चित्तं विमलमाकुलम् ।
बलात्संरोधयामास सेतुर्जलमिव द्रुतम् ॥ ३१ ॥

dhāvamānamadho mattaṃ cittaṃ vimalamākulam ,
balātsaṃrodhayāmāsa seturjalamiva drutam 31

31. dhāvamānam adhaḥ mattam cittam vimalam ākulam |
balāt saṃrodhayāmāsa setuḥ jalam iva drutam ||

31. setuḥ drutam jalam iva balāt dhāvamānam adhaḥ
mattam vimalam ākulam cittam saṃrodhayāmāsa

31. I forcibly restrained the mind (cittam) – which, though intrinsically pure (vimalam), was rushing downwards, frenzied, and agitated – just as a dam (setuḥ) forcibly restrains swiftly flowing water.

Words meanings summery:

• धावमानम् (dhāvamānam) - running, rushing, flowing

• अधः (adhaḥ) - Refers to the mind's tendency to descend into lower states or attachments. (downwards, below, underneath)

• मत्तम् (mattam) - Describes the mind as being out of control, like one who is intoxicated. (intoxicated, frenzied, deluded, excited)

• चित्तम् (cittam) - mind, consciousness, intellect

• विमलम् (vimalam) - Refers to the fundamental, untainted nature of the mind, despite its current agitated state. (spotless, pure, clean)

• आकुलम् (ākulam) - agitated, confused, disturbed

• बलात् (balāt) - by force, forcibly, by strength

• संरोधयामास (saṁrodhayāmāsa) - Here, 'I' (the yogi) restrained. (he/it restrained, he/it checked, he/it stopped)

• सेतुः (setuḥ) - Used as the agent of the simile. (dam, bridge, embankment)

• जलम् (jalam) - water

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• द्रुतम् (drutam) - swiftly, rapidly, flowing fast

Words meanings and morphology

धावमानम् (dhāvamānam) - running, rushing, flowing

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of dhāvamāna

dhāvamāna - running, flowing, moving quickly

Present Middle Participle

derived from √dhāv (to run) with suffix -māna

Root: dhāv (class 1)

Note: Accusative singular neuter, agreeing with cittam.

अधः (adhaḥ) - Refers to the mind's tendency to descend into lower states or attachments. (downwards, below, underneath)

(indeclinable)

मत्तम् (mattam) - Describes the mind as being out of control, like one who is intoxicated. (intoxicated, frenzied, deluded, excited)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of matta

matta - intoxicated, drunk, wild, maddened, elated

Past Passive Participle

derived from √mad (to be exhilarated, intoxicated) with kta suffix.

Root: mad (class 4)

Note: Accusative singular neuter, agreeing with cittam.

चित्तम् (cittam) - mind, consciousness, intellect

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of citta

citta - mind, thought, consciousness, heart

derived from √cit (to perceive, know)

Root: cit (class 10)

Note: Object of the verb saṃrodhayāmāsa.

विमलम् (vimalam) - Refers to the fundamental, untainted nature of the mind, despite its current agitated state. (spotless, pure, clean)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vimala

vimala - spotless, pure, clean, free from defect, clear

vi (without) + mala (impurity)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (vi+mala)

• vi – without, apart, dis-
  indeclinable
• mala – dirt, impurity, stain
  noun (masculine)

Note: Accusative singular neuter, agreeing with cittam.

आकुलम् (ākulam) - agitated, confused, disturbed

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of ākula

ākula - agitated, perplexed, disturbed, confused

derived from √kul (to collect, crowd) with prefix ā

Prefix: ā

Root: kul (class 1)

Note: Accusative singular neuter, agreeing with cittam.

बलात् (balāt) - by force, forcibly, by strength

(indeclinable)

संरोधयामास (saṁrodhayāmāsa) - Here, 'I' (the yogi) restrained. (he/it restrained, he/it checked, he/it stopped)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (Lit) of saṃrudh

causative perfect

saṃ + rudh (to obstruct) with causative suffix -aya and perfect tense ending.

Prefix: sam

Root: rudh (class 7)

Note: The implied subject (the yogi, 'I') performs the action, likened to a dam.

सेतुः (setuḥ) - Used as the agent of the simile. (dam, bridge, embankment)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of setu

setu - dam, bridge, embankment, boundary

Note: Subject of the simile, 'like a dam'.

जलम् (jalam) - water

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of jala

jala - water

Note: Object of implied 'retains' in the simile.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

द्रुतम् (drutam) - swiftly, rapidly, flowing fast

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of druta

druta - swift, rapid, quick, flowing

Past Passive Participle

derived from √dru (to run, flow) with kta suffix.

Root: dru (class 1)

Note: Accusative singular neuter, agreeing with jalam.