The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
विजितहृषीकवायुभिरदान्तमनस्तुरगं य इह यतन्ति यन्तुमतिलोलमुपायखिद: । व्यसनशतान्विता: समवहाय गुरोश्चरणं वणिज इवाज सन्त्यकृतकर्णधरा जलधौ ॥ ३३ ॥
vijita-hṛṣīka-vāyubhir adānta-manas tura-gaṁ ya iha yatanti yantum ati-lolam upāya-khidaḥ vyasana-śatānvitāḥ samavahāya guroś caraṇaṁ vaṇija ivāja santy akṛta-karṇa-dharā jaladhau
حواس اور سانس کی رو کو قابو میں کر لینے والوں کے لیے بھی دل و دماغ کا یہ بے لگام، نہایت چنچل گھوڑا قابو کرنا دشوار ہے۔ جو لوگ اس دنیا میں اس بے قابو من کو سدھانے کی کوشش کرتے ہیں مگر اپنے گرو کے قدموں کو چھوڑ دیتے ہیں، وہ طرح طرح کی تکلیف دہ ریاضتوں میں سینکڑوں آفتوں سے دوچار ہوتے ہیں۔ اے ازلی و بے ولادت رب، وہ سمندر میں ملاح کے بغیر کشتی والے تاجروں کی مانند ہیں۔
To become qualified to attain love of Godhead, the mature fruit of liberation, one must first subdue the rebellious material mind. Though difficult, this can be achieved when a person replaces his addictions to sense gratification with a taste for the higher pleasures of spiritual life. But only by the favor of the representative of Godhead, the spiritual master, can one gain this higher taste.
This verse says that even if one tries to conquer the senses and prāṇa to control the mind, without shelter at the guru’s feet one remains troubled—like sailing an ocean without a helmsman.
Because spiritual practice without proper guidance and surrender lacks direction; like a ship at sea, it may be overwhelmed despite effort, leading to repeated difficulties.
Along with self-discipline, seek authentic spiritual guidance, practice devotion with humility, and anchor daily life in guru-instruction so the mind’s restlessness is directed toward the Lord rather than merely suppressed.