तस्मात्पौरुषमाश्रित्य सच्छास्त्रैः सत्समागमैः । प्रज्ञाममलतां नीत्वा संसारजलधिं तरेत् ॥ २४ ॥
tasmātpauruṣamāśritya sacchāstraiḥ satsamāgamaiḥ | prajñāmamalatāṁ nītvā saṁsārajaladhiṁ tarēt || 24 ||
Translation
Therefore, relying on effort, one should make the understanding pure by true scriptures and by meeting the good, and so cross the ocean of saṁsāra.
Word by word
- tasmāt
- therefore
- pauruṣam
- on effort
- āśritya
- relying
- sacchāstraiḥ
- by true scriptures
- sat
- the good
- samāgamaiḥ
- and by meeting
- prajñām
- the understanding
- amalatāṁ
- pure
- nītvā
- making
- saṁsāra
- of saṁsāra
- jaladhiṁ
- the ocean
- tarēt
- one should cross
Meaning
The first conclusion, in which the argument turns inward. All the talk of kings, clouds and rams has been leading here. The greatest work for which effort is needed is not winning wealth or rank. It is to make the understanding (prajñā) clear, and this has two means, the same two as in the first verse: true scriptures (sac-chāstra) and the meeting with the good (sat-samāgama). The commentary says that the person fit for this should uplift himself. The ocean is not crossed by swimming harder through the world's affairs; it is crossed by seeing clearly. It follows that time given to reading and to good company, which can look like idleness to a busy person, is on this reckoning the most strenuous effort there is.