Shloka 14
अहमात्मानमात्मस्थो मार्गमाणो55त्मनो गतिम् । वासार्थिन महाप्रज्ञं चलच्चित्तमुपास्मि ह
aham ātmānam ātmastho mārgaṇo ’tmanaḥ gatim | vāsārthin mahāprājñaṃ calacittam upāsmi ha ||
Sinabi ng Brahmin: “Pagkalayo ko sa mga bagay na dinarama ng pandama at pananatili sa aking sariling Sarili, hinahanap ko ang kataas-taasang landas ng kaluluwa—si Brahman, ang Pinakamataas na Sarili. Gayunman, patuloy ko pa ring ‘pinaglilingkuran’ ang di-mapakaling isip na ito: napakatalino nito at laging naghahanap ng tahanan sa buhay-pamilya. Kaya’t hindi ako ginagapos ng pagkakapit, ni hinuhubog ng pag-ayaw; nagsisikap ako tungo sa kalayaang panloob habang kinikilala ang nakagawiang paggalaw ng isip.”
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.