मनो मोहरथारूढं शरीरात् समतासुखम् । हरत्यपहतोद्वेगं हंसः क्षीरमिवाम्भसः ॥ ११ ॥
manō mōharathārūḍhaṁ śarīrāt samatāsukham | haratyapahatōdvēgaṁ haṁsaḥ kṣīramivāmbhasaḥ || 11 ||
Translation
The mind, riding the chariot of delusion, takes from the body the happiness of sameness, free of all agitation, as a swan takes milk from water.
Word by word
- manō
- (manaḥ) the mind
- mōha
- of delusion
- ratha
- the chariot
- ārūḍhaṁ
- riding
- śarīrāt
- from the body
- samatā
- of sameness
- sukham
- the happiness
- harati
- takes
- apahata
- free of all
- udvēgaṁ
- agitation
- haṁsaḥ
- a swan
- kṣīram
- milk
- iva
- as
- ambhasaḥ
- from water
Meaning
The swan was believed to be able to separate milk from water and drink only the milk: an image usually of discrimination. Here it is turned round. The commentary explains: what is truly in the body is the Self, one and the same in all beings, and the "happiness of sameness" (samatā-sukha) is the experience of that oneness, free of agitation, as the liberated know it. The deluded mind takes that essence away and leaves behind only the worthless sense "I am the body". It drinks the milk and leaves the water. The reader is shown what is lost when the mind rides delusion: not a pleasure, but the peace of being one with all.