Shloka 3
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Indifference to Siddhis, Vigilance Toward the Mind, and the Kali-yuga Rise of Anti-Vedic धर्म
तथा चोक्तम्— न कुर्यात्कर्हिचित्सख्यं मनसि ह्यनवस्थिते । यद्विश्रम्भाच्चिराच्चीर्णं चस्कन्द तप ऐश्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥
tathā coktam — na kuryāt karhicit sakhyaṁ manasi hy anavasthite yad-viśrambhāc cirāc cīrṇaṁ caskanda tapa aiśvaram
Therefore it is said: Never make friendship with the unsteady mind. By trusting it completely, long-practiced austerity and spiritual opulence can suddenly fall away.
The first business of one trying to advance in spiritual life is to control the mind and senses. As Śrī Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.7) :
FAQs
This verse warns that intimate friendship or over-familiar trust should be avoided when the mind is not fixed, because it can cause a fall from long-practiced austerity and spiritual strength.
While narrating Ṛṣabhadeva’s instructions on renunciation and self-mastery, Śukadeva emphasizes that carelessness in association and trust can undermine spiritual discipline.
Keep clear boundaries and steady daily sādhana; avoid situations and relationships that trigger distraction, complacency, or moral compromise, especially when your mind is not yet firmly disciplined.