Devanagari
धार्यमाणं मनो यर्हि भ्राम्यदश्वनवस्थितम् ।
अतन्द्रितोऽनुरोधेन मार्गेणात्मवशं नयेत् ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
dhāryamāṇaṁ mano yarhi
bhrāmyad āśv anavasthitam
atandrito ’nurodhena
mārgeṇātma-vaśaṁ nayet
Synonyms
dhāryamāṇam
—
being concentrated on the spiritual platform
;
manaḥ
—
the mind
;
yarhi
—
when
;
bhrāmyat
—
is deviated
;
āśu
—
suddenly
;
anavasthitam
—
not situated on the spiritual platform
;
atandritaḥ
—
carefully
;
anurodhena
—
according to the prescribed regulations
;
mārgeṇa
—
by the process
;
ātma
—
of the soul
;
vaśam
—
under the control
;
nayet
—
one should bring .
Translation
Whenever the mind, being concentrated on the spiritual platform, is suddenly deviated from its spiritual position, one should carefully bring it under the control of the self by following the prescribed means.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
When the mind which attempts to concentrate becomes doubly agitated and suddenly deviates, one should carefully bring the mind under control, giving some regard for its expectations.
When the mind concentrated with effort suddenly becomes doubly agitated from its initial position with great intensity, one should bring it under control by showing some slight regard for fulfilling its needs (anurodhena). Double agitation takes place when one begins to concentrate on the strong urges of lust and other emotions.
Purport
Although one is seriously engaging the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the mind is so flickering that it may suddenly be deviated from its spiritual position. One should then carefully bring the mind back under the control of the self. It is stated in
Bhagavad-gītā
that if one is too austere or too sensuous one cannot control the mind. Sometimes one may bring the mind under control by allowing the material senses limited satisfaction. For example, although one may eat austerely, from time to time one may accept a reasonable amount of
mahā-prasādam,
opulent foods offered to the temple Deities, so that the mind will not become disturbed. Similarly, one may occasionally relax with other transcendentalists through joking, swimming and so forth. But if such activities are performed excessively, they will lead to a setback in spiritual life. When the mind desires sinful gratification such as illicit sex or intoxication, one must simply tolerate the mind’s foolishness and by strenuous effort push on with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then the waves of illusion will soon subside, and the path of advancement will again open wide.