When one, O Prithas Son! -----
Abandoning desires which shake the mind ----
Finds in his soul comfort for his soul,
He hath attained Yog ---That man is such!
In Sorrows not dejected, and in joys
Not overjoyed; dwelling outside the stress
Of passion, fear, and anger; fixed in calms
Of lofty contemplation; -- such an one
Is Muni, is the Sage, the true Recluse!
He who to none and nowhere overbound
By ties of flesh, takes evil things and good
Neither desponding nor exulting, such
Bears wisdom's plainest mark! He who shall draw
As the wise tortoise draws its four feet safe
Under its shield, his five frail senses back
Under the spirit's buckler from the world
Which else assails them, such an one, my Prince!
Hath Wisdom's Mark! Things that solicit sense
Hold off from self-governed; nay, it comes,
The appetites of him lives beyond
Depart,-- aroused no more. Yet may it chance,
O son of Kunti! That a governed mind
Shall some time feel the sense -- storms sweep, and wrest
Strong self -control by the roots. Let him regain
His kingdom! Let him conquer this, and sit
On Me intent. That man alone is wise
Who keeps the mastery of himself! If one
Ponders on objects of the sense, there's springs
Attraction; from attraction grows desire,
Desire flames to fierce passion, passion breeds
Recklessness; then the memory -- all betrayed--
Lets noble purpose go, and saps the mind,
Till purpose, mind, and man are all undone.
But, if one deals with objects of the sense
Not loving and not hating, making them
Serve his free soul, which rests serenely lord,
Lo! such a man comes to tranquility;
And out of that tranquility shall rise
The end in healing of his earthly pains,
Since the will governed sets the soul at peace.
The soul of the ungoverned his not his,
Nor hath he knowledge of himself; which lacked,
How grows serenity? And, wanting that,
Whence shall he hope for happiness?
------------- The Mind