या विवेकविकासिन्यो मतयो महतामिह । न ता विपदि मज्जन्ति तुम्बकानीव वारिणि ॥ ११ ॥
yā vivēkavikāsinyō matayō mahatāmiha | na tā vipadi majjanti tumbakānīva vāriṇi || 11 ||
Translation
The minds of the great here, opened by discrimination, do not sink in misfortune, as gourds do not sink in water.
Word by word
- yā
- which
- vivēka
- by discrimination
- vikāsinyō
- (vikāsinyaḥ) opened
- matayō
- (matayaḥ) the minds
- mahatām
- of the great
- iha
- here
- na
- not
- tā
- (tāḥ) they
- vipadi
- in misfortune
- majjanti
- sink
- tumbakāni
- gourds
- iva
- as
- vāriṇi
- in water
Meaning
Dried gourds were used as floats for crossing rivers. They do not stay dry by keeping out of the water; they are in it and are not pulled under. So with the minds of the great: misfortune comes to them as to anyone, and they stay afloat. The commentary says they do not fall into dejection.