अशुभेषु समाविष्टं शुभेष्वेवाऽवतारय । स्वं मनः पुरुषार्थेन बलेन बलिनां वर ॥ ३१ ॥
aśubhēṣu samāviṣṭaṁ śubhēṣvēvā’vatāraya | svaṁ manaḥ puruṣārthēna balēna balināṁ vara || 31 ||
Translation
When your mind has entered what is bad, bring it down into what is good alone, by human effort, by force, O best of the strong.
Word by word
- aśubhēṣu
- what is bad
- samāviṣṭaṁ
- has entered
- śubhēṣv
- (śubheṣu) into what is good
- ēva
- alone
- avatāraya
- bring down
- svaṁ
- your
- manaḥ
- mind
- puruṣārthēna
- by human effort
- balēna
- by force
- balināṁ
- of the strong
- vara
- O best
Meaning
Almost the same words as 2.7.12, where they were called the gist of all scripture. There they were a general rule. Here they are spoken to one person, in the imperative, with "your own mind" (svaṁ manaḥ). Rāma is called "best of the strong" (balināṁ vara), and the title is well chosen, for this is where strength is to be used. Great warriors have been unable to do what this verse asks. The real contest of a life is the moment the mind has slipped and one brings it back.