Chapter 2 Overview
Verse 2.67
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते। तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि।।2.67।।
indriyāṇāṁ hi charatāṁ yan mano ’nuvidhīyate tadasya harati prajñāṁ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi
Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 2, Verse 67
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Scripture Translation Room
Sanskrit to English Translation
Translator:
For the mind, which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away his discrimination, as the wind carries away a boat on the waters.
A Reading - Rantideb
Why: the wind carrying away a boat on water works because it's not that the mind actively chooses to wander, an unmoored mind simply goes wherever the strongest current is.
In life: willpower alone rarely beats a strong pull, you need something anchoring you, not just effort.
Teaching: instead of only trying to resist distraction through force of will, build actual anchors, routines, environments, commitments, that hold you steady without constant effort.
indriyāṇāmof the senses
hiindeed
charatāmroaming
yatwhich
manaḥthe mind
anuvidhīyatebecomes constantly engaged
tatthat
asyaof that
haraticarries away
prajñāmintellect
vāyuḥwind
nāvamboat
ivaas
ambhasion the water
Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)
Author:
2.67 इन्द्रियाणाम् senses? हि for? चरताम् wandering? यत् which? मनः mind? अनुविधीयते follows? तत् that? अस्य his? हरति carries away? प्रज्ञाम् discrimination? वायुः the wind? नावम् boat? इव like? अम्भसि in the water.Commentary The mind which constantly dwells on the sensual objects and moves in company with the senses destroys altogether the discrimination of the man. Just as the wind carries away a boat from its course? so also the mind carries away the aspirant from his spiritual path and turns,him towards the objects of the senses.