यथा घटः परिमितो यथा परिमितः पटः । नियतः परिमाणस्थः पुरुषार्थस्तथैव च ॥ २४ ॥
yathā ghaṭaḥ parimitō yathā parimitaḥ paṭaḥ | niyataḥ parimāṇasthaḥ puruṣārthastathaiva ca || 24 ||
Translation
As a pot is limited and a cloth is limited, so too human effort is fixed and set within a measure.
Word by word
- yathā
- as
- ghaṭaḥ
- a pot
- parimitō
- (parimitaḥ) is limited
- parimitaḥ
- is limited
- paṭaḥ
- a cloth
- niyataḥ
- fixed
- parimāṇasthaḥ
- set within a measure
- puruṣārthas
- (puruṣārthaḥ) human effort
- tathā
- so
- ēva
- too
- ca
- and
Meaning
Effort has a measure. As a pot holds a certain amount and a cloth has a certain size, so effort has its fixed extent (parimāṇastha). The commentary: as a pot is measured by the water it holds and a cloth by its length and breadth, so effort is limited by its fruit, the direct seeing of the Self; that is its boundary. This is good news for the seeker who fears an endless road. The road has an end, and when the goal is seen, striving is over.