मोहेन बन्धुनाशेषु सङ्कटेषु शमेषु च । सर्वं व्याप्तं महाप्राज्ञ विचारो हि सतां गतिः ॥ ४ ॥
mōhēna bandhunāśēṣu saṅkaṭēṣu śamēṣu ca | sarvaṁ vyāptaṁ mahāprājña vicārō hi satāṁ gatiḥ || 4 ||
- Another reading: समेषु (samēṣu) for शमेषु
Translation
In the loss of kin, in crises, and in calm as well, everything is pervaded by delusion, O wise one. Inquiry is the refuge of the good.
Word by word
- mōhēna
- by delusion
- bandhu
- of kin
- nāśēṣu
- in the loss
- saṅkaṭēṣu
- in crises
- śamēṣu
- in calm
- ca
- and
- sarvaṁ
- everything
- vyāptaṁ
- is pervaded
- mahā
- O greatly
- prājña
- wise one
- vicārō
- (vicāraḥ) inquiry
- hi
- indeed
- satāṁ
- of the good
- gatiḥ
- the refuge
Meaning
The commentary explains the first half from experience. When kin are lost or a crisis comes, the course that would end the sorrow and bring peace does not come to mind: delusion covers it. Then inquiry is what the good fall back on, because it searches out what ought to be done. The verse adds 'in calm as well'. Delusion is not only a thing of bad days; it is as present when all is quiet, only less noticed. So inquiry is not kept for emergencies.