33
Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ,
dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ;
Ujuṁ karoti medhāvī,
usukārova tejanaṁ.
The mind is |trembling::quivering, in agitation [phandana]| and |unsteady::wavering, fickle, inconsistent [capala]|,
difficult to guard and hard to restrain;
the wise one makes it |straight::upright [uju]|,
like a |fletcher::arrow-maker [usukāra]| straightens an arrow.
34
Vārijova thale khitto,
okamokataubbhato;
Pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ,
māradheyyaṁ pahātave.
Like a fish tossed on dry land,
pulled out from its watery home;
this mind shakes and trembles
to escape the |realm of Māra::death’s domain [māradheyya]|.
35
Dunniggahassa lahuno,
yatthakāmanipātino;
Cittassa damatho sādhu,
cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
|Hard to hold down::hard to control, tricky to pin down [dunniggaha]|, swift,
alighting wherever it likes;
the |taming::mastery, self-control [damatha]| of the mind is good,
for a tamed mind brings happiness.
36
Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ,
yatthakāmanipātinaṁ;
Cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī,
cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
Very difficult to see, exceedingly subtle,
alighting wherever it likes;
the |wise one::who has good judgement [medhāvī]| should guard the mind,
for a guarded mind brings happiness.
37
Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ,
asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ;
Ye cittaṁ saṁyamissanti,
mokkhanti mārabandhanā.
Wandering far and moving on its own,
|formless::incorporeal, intangible [asarīra]|, |dwelling in a cave::that is, the seat of consciousness [guhāsaya]|;
those who restrain the mind
will be freed from |Māra’s bonds::shackles of death [mārabandhanā]|.
38
Anavaṭṭhitacittassa,
saddhammaṁ avijānato;
Pariplavapasādassa,
paññā na paripūrati.
For one whose mind is |unstable::ungrounded, not dependable, unreliable [anavaṭṭhita]|,
who does not understand the true |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|;
and |whose confidence wavers::whose faith fluctuates [pariplavapasāda]|,
wisdom does not reach fulfillment.
39
Anavassutacittassa,
ananvāhatacetaso;
Puññapāpapahīnassa,
natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ.
For one whose mind is |unsoaked by lust::not seeping with lust, not corrupted, unmoved [anavassuta]|,
and whose thoughts are unperplexed;
who has transcended both merit and demerit,
there is no fear for the |awake::alert, watchful [jāgaranta]|.
40
Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā,
Nagarūpamaṁ cittamidaṁ ṭhapetvā;
Yodhetha māraṁ paññāvudhena,
Jitañca rakkhe anivesano siyā.
Knowing this body is [fragile] as a clay pot,
and having established the mind like a fortress;
one should fight |Māra::the ruler of the sensual realm, often depicted as a tempter who tries to obstruct beings from the path to liberation [māra]| with the weapon of wisdom,
then guarding the victory, remain unattached.
41
Aciraṁ vatayaṁ kāyo,
pathaviṁ adhisessati;
Chuddho apetaviññāṇo,
niratthaṁva kaliṅgaraṁ.
Alas, before long this body
will lie upon earth;
discarded and |devoid of consciousness::insensate [apetaviññāṇa]|,
like a useless log.
42
Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā,
verī vā pana verinaṁ;
Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ,
pāpiyo naṁ tato kare.
Whatever harm an enemy might do to an enemy,
or a |hater::hostile person [verī]| to another hater;
a |wrongly directed::badly oriented [micchāpaṇihita]| mind
inflicts on oneself even greater harm.
43
Na taṁ mātā pitā kayirā,
aññe vāpi ca ñātakā;
Sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ,
seyyaso naṁ tato kare.
Not even one’s mother or father,
nor any other relatives;
can do one as much good
as a rightly directed mind.