Shloka 14
अहमात्मानमात्मस्थो मार्गमाणो55त्मनो गतिम् । वासार्थिन महाप्रज्ञं चलच्चित्तमुपास्मि ह
aham ātmānam ātmastho mārgaṇo ’tmanaḥ gatim | vāsārthin mahāprājñaṃ calacittam upāsmi ha ||
ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କହିଲେ—ବିଷୟଭୋଗରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ ହୋଇ, ନିଜ ଆତ୍ମାରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ରହି, ମୁଁ ଜୀବାତ୍ମାର ପରମଗତି—ପରବ୍ରହ୍ମ ପରମାତ୍ମା—କୁ ଖୋଜୁଛି; ତଥାପି ମହାପ୍ରଜ୍ଞାବାନ ଏବଂ ଗୃହସ୍ଥଜୀବନରେ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଖୋଜୁଥିବା ଏହି ଚଞ୍ଚଳ ଚିତ୍ତକୁ ମୁଁ ଯେନେ ସେବା କରୁଛି। ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ନ ଆସକ୍ତିରେ ବନ୍ଧା, ନ ଦ୍ୱେଷରେ ପରିଭାଷିତ; ଅନ୍ତର୍ମୁକ୍ତି ପାଇଁ ଯତ୍ନ କରୁଛି, ତଥାପି ମନର ପୁରୁଣା ଗତିକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜାଣୁଛି।
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one turns away from sense-objects and seeks the highest realization (ātmanaḥ gati), the mind remains restless and habit-driven. The teaching is to recognize this instability without falling into either attachment or aversion, and to continue disciplined inner practice—observing, training, and redirecting the mind toward the Self.
A Brahmin speaker describes his inner state: he is engaged in the quest for the supreme Self while simultaneously dealing with a clever, wandering mind that keeps inclining toward ‘dwelling’ in worldly life. He frames this as a lived tension of spiritual pursuit—neither indulgence nor hatred, but ongoing practice amid mental fluctuation.