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202
VIVEKACŪDAMAŅI
A terrible tiger called the mind wanders in the vast forest of sense-objects. Let not the good persons who seek salvation go there.
The sense-objects themselves are the forest. For, they are the combination of numberless evil effects. Vide the śrutis: vişayāmsteşu gocarān (Katha.). In those forests a fierce tiger called the mind wanders at will. In accord with the śruti: parāñci khāni...... (Katha) sliding towards sense-objects is natural to the mind as water flows to a lower level. By the śruti bandhāya vişayāsaktamthe attachment to sense-objects makes for bondage a great calamity then befalls the jīva. Hence has it been declared in the Gītā: sangāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho’bhijāyate i krodhāt bhavati sammohah sammohāt smrtivibhramah smrtibhramśāt buddhināśaḥ buddhināśāt pranaśyati 11 : "From attachment arises desire, from desire arises anger, from anger arises delusion; from delusion loss of memory; that leads to extinction of buddhi which ends in destruction.” Hence those who are sādhus, good persons, those who desire liberation, should beware of straying into the forest of sense-objects. To attain liberation, let them restrain the mind from sense-pleasures. Vide the śruti: kaścit dhāraḥ pratyagātmānamaikșat ävșttacakşuramytatvamicchan: (Katha.). "A wise (brave) man desiring immortality, turning his eyes inward, saw the inner ātman."
179 Previously, it was said there is no avidyā apart from the mind (nahyastyavidyā manaso'tiriktā). Further explaining it, its binding nature is described in these four ślokas.
मनः प्रसूते विषयानशेषान् स्थलात्मना सूक्ष्मतया च भोक्तुः।
शरीरवर्णाश्रमजातिभेदान् गुणक्रियाहेतुफलानि नित्यम् ॥ १७९ ॥ manaḥ prasūte vişayānašeşān sthūlātmanā sūkşmatayā
ca bhoktuḥ śarīravarņāśramajātibhedān guņakriyāhetüphalāni nityam 11
It is the mind which always produces for the jiva (who is the enjoyer) the experiences of all sense-objects in the gross and subtle form. The distinctions of body, varna, āśrama and caste, qualities, actions, causes and effects are always mind-produced.
The mind creates the objects of experience. In the person's waking state, in their gross form, this creation is effected through the experience produced with reference to objects through the sense
