साधूपदिष्टमार्गेण यन्मनोऽङ्गविचेष्टितम् । तत्पौरुषं तत्सफलमन्यदुन्मत्तचेष्टितम् ॥ ११ ॥
sādhūpadiṣṭamārgēṇa yanmanō’ṅgavicēṣṭitam | tatpauruṣaṁ tatsaphalamanyadunmattacēṣṭitam || 11 ||
Translation
Whatever movement of mind and body follows the path taught by the good: that is effort, and that bears fruit. Anything else is the flailing of a madman.
Word by word
- sādhu
- by the good
- upadiṣṭa
- taught
- mārgēṇa
- the path
- yan
- (yat) whatever
- manō
- (manaḥ) of mind
- aṅga
- and body
- vicēṣṭitam
- movement
- tat
- that
- pauruṣaṁ
- is effort
- sa
- (sa) that
- phalam
- bears fruit
- anyad
- (anyat) anything else
- unmatta
- of a madman
- cēṣṭitam
- the flailing
Meaning
Effort is defined, and narrowly. Not every activity counts. Pauruṣa is the movement of mind, speech and body along the path the wise have taught (sādhu-upadiṣṭa-mārga); the commentary: by the method taught by those who know scripture. Only that bears fruit. Effort without such guidance is "the conduct of a madman" (unmatta-ceṣṭita): much motion, no direction. The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha's praise of effort is therefore not a praise of busyness. It is the praise of disciplined, guided striving.