विवेकमात्रसाध्यं तद्विचारैकान्तनिश्चयम् । त्यजता दुःखजालानि नरेणैतदवाप्यते ॥ ४१ ॥
vivēkamātrasādhyaṁ tadvicāraikāntaniścayam | tyajatā duḥkhajālāni narēṇaitadavāpyatē || 41 ||
Translation
It is won by discernment alone, and made certain by inquiry and one-pointedness. A person gains it by leaving the nets of sorrow.
Word by word
- vivēka
- by discernment
- mātra
- alone
- sādhyaṁ
- is won
- tad
- it
- vicāra
- by inquiry
- ēkānta
- and one-pointedness
- niścayam
- made certain
- tyajatā
- by leaving
- duḥkha
- of sorrow
- jālāni
- the nets
- narēṇa
- a person
- ētad
- this
- avāpyatē
- gains
Meaning
The commentary gives each word a precise sense. Viveka is separating the Self from body, senses and the rest. Vicāra is removing doubt through hearing, reflection and contemplation. Ekānta is one-pointed concentration. Duḥkha-jālāni, the nets of sorrow, are what the other commentary calls the web of objects, the root of all sorrows. What is left is a programme of three plain activities of the mind, and the giving up of a good deal.