Bali
My son, by proper strategy one can vanquish this invincible minister. I shall tell you now about such a strategy. He will come into your hold almost instantly. Without right approach, he will turn into an angry cobra and will burn you with his poison.
-5 You must coax him like you do a child and get him into your control. Then you can get an audience with the king. One can then attain his status and state. If one gets to see the king, the minister will come under one's control and vice versa.
-8 As long as one does not get to see the king, the minister will not be tamed. Unless the minister is defeated, the king will not be seen. This is because, as long as the King is not seen, the minister creates all kinds of difficulties and sorrows. If the minister is not vanquished, the king will not be seen. And so by practice, one should develop the ability to see the king and vanquish the minister simultaneously (at the same time)
-11 This is possible by practice. Slowly one gets to achieve both. You can then possess the entire country (of the king). When this is achieved, you will attain that state where you are never in grief. All exertion and fatigue will ease out. You will be in a state of delight. You will abide in that state in which all doubts are wiped out.
-15 . My son, I shall tell you all about that region. That region is liberation, where all sorrows are absent. The king is Lord Self, immanent in all states. His minister is the all-wise intelligence, called mind. Because of the perseverance and devotion of mind, this universe came iinto settled existence. It is like mud making itself visible through a pot. If this minister, called mind, is conquered, all is conquered. All is obtained. He is invincible. He can be subdued only by right strategy.
Bali
O Bhagavan, please tell me of that right strategy which will enable clear victory. Then I shall vanquish that enemy.
Virochana
My son, the best strategy to vanquish mind is to give up all desire for sensuous pleasure for ever.
This is the best method. With this the wild elephant of mind will quickly come under control.
This method is not easy. Without practice it can never be possible. When practiced it will give great happiness.
Due and sustained practice will result in disgust for sensuous objects. This disgust will spread like a well watered, nourished creeper.
Even though a wicked fellow wants control of mind, he will not get it due to lack of practice. If a seed is not sown how can the crop come up? My son, you try to ready yourself to get that control.
These right and apt dwellers in this world keep wheeling and turning in sorrows. Till they become disgusted and disinterested in the sensuous pleasures, they can never arrive at or reach the goal (of Truth).
Without personal and sustained effort (practice) no one can achieve disinterest in sensous plesures. It is like a person, who is very strong alone can go to far off places.
Every person should cease contemplating and dewelling upon vasanas and thus rejecting them. This he should develop with practice unrelentingly. Then only disinterest in sensuous things will increase.
By respecting the purusharthas and leading one's life, all good will happen. Such a reward for action will be devoid of grief or joy.
People talk of destiny (daivam). This is not related to man and god. This refers to what inevitably will happen in the future according to the law of existence (niyati)
Whatever happens without any bias (towards the doer or any other) (or distinctions between the stakeholders in a work) as a result of effort put in by a person / group is called as 'daivam' by human and not others.
'Daivam' is the form of law of existence (niyati). It totally depends on one's own effort. 'Daivam' annihilates joy, impatience and anger. This is what wise men say.
By right understanding and knowledge, the illusion about a mirage will disappear. In the same way, what one conceives or wills, that (is possible) happens through personal exertion and effort.
If something/ some work is taken as successful, (to that extent) it will give joy and happiness. Mind is the conceiver. What it conceives is what happens.
One should conceive or will in accordance with the law of existence (niyati). When conceived thus, it may happen according to what was conceived or willed. Sometimes something else (unexpected) can happen.
Mind tries to do what it self-mandates as 'niyati'. After missioning or mandating, if mind does something, that something is called 'swartham' (self- interest).
Like air in sky (which apears from nowhere) jiva flashes into the body of the world. Generally this Jiva behaves in ways not enjoined by 'Niyati'. Now and then it will be as per 'Niyati'.
For him 'Niyati' is an accepted word and he (obeys it) in a token manner. (Niyati for him is a kind standard hint about right behavior). Because of such (behavior) all worry and sorrow arise; not because of 'daivam' (god) or 'Niyati' (law of existence).
When mind dissolves /disappears, Jiva remains the way he was brought into existence. He is 'Purusha' alone. All this happens though personal effort only.
My son, whatever is willed, that happens in this world, nothing else. There is nothing else in this world that is not 'purusha'.
With the best of personal effort (and exertion) one should develop disinterest (and disgust) for pleasures. Without that, this mutable world will not dissolve.
As long as fondness and passion for sensuous pleasures remains, the highest Nirvana can not be obtained.
-40 . So long as interest and desire for pleasures continues, the net of pleasures and enjoyer can not be broken. The grief causing state (of mind) persists. Only through persistent practice can this be achieved.
Bali
O Lord of danavas, how can one achieve the decimation/cessation of deep fondness for pleasures and reach the state of immortality?
Virochana
My child, when a person develops disinterest in worldly pleasures, the fruit bearing-tree called 'Seeing the Self' yields the best of fruits.
With such 'seeing', dispassion gets settled in the heart, like goddess Lakshmi sitting in a lotus.
And so one should unceasingly carry on inquiry (into Self) embellished by 'prajna' (the all-wise Intelligence). While 'seeing the self', disinterest in worldly pleasures should simultaneously be pursued relentlessly.
One should divide the mind into two portions. One should be occupied with reflections on scriptural teaching. The other somewhat unregenerate part should be devoted to the service of 'Guru'.
If a part is slightly regenerate and learned, that should be used to the nourishment (of body). A part of that part dedicated to 'service to Guru', should be involved in deliberation of scriptures.
When one becomes learned, two parts of the mind should be devoted to scriptural learning and dispassion. The other two parts should be devoted to contemplation and worship of Guru.
When perfection in these is achieved, one becomes holy, wise and saintly. He then becomes eligible for the knowledge about Truth. It is like a clean cloth, being fit for colouring.
(Thus) The child of mind. should be coaxed and cajoled with right strategies and right words, and feeding with scriptural learning.
As one becomes mature in the knowledge (of Self), the evil part of mind gets feebler and feebler. It will be like an unclean crystal which can not reflect moonlight. Mind will become cool and bright.
With Intelligence that is perfect and upright, one can look upon, pleasures, the enjoyer of pleasures, the body and one who embodies it - all of them as equal and same.
From the point of view of 'Prajna' (the all wise intelligence), 'Seeing the Self' and 'giving up desires' are always same. They should be accomplised and acquired simultaneiously.
'Seeing the Self' is total desirelessness and lack of craving. Absence of desire is 'Seeing the Self'. They exist simultaneously like lamp and light (fire and brightness).
With fondness for pleasures totally eliminated and the vision of the Divine Self achieved, one can achieve repose in that absolute Brahman for ever.
From the point of view of repose in Self, infinite peace and happiness can be achieved only by seizure of the sensuous things. (cessation of desires), not otherwise.
(Such peace of the Absolute) can not be gained by 'tapas' or giving of gifts or piligrimages. By the latter only (ordinary) happiness is gained.
'Seeing', perceiving from the point of view of Self becomes a natural habit, when one develops disinterest in sensuous things. No intellectual artifice or strategy can lead a person to the vision of Self.
My child, when one achieves renunciation of pleasures by self - effort and good behavior, the highest Truth can be achieved and he conducts himself in accordance with it.
Without renunciation of sensuous pleasures, the most perfect delight of repose in the Absolute is not possible in this entire universe.
So long as that cessation of desires acts as the principal cause, depend on your personal effort and strength. Keep 'daivam' at a distance.
Thus relying on personal effort, wise and intelligent people reject all pleasures which close the doors of all good. When all pleasures are rejected in a dextrous way, (right) reflection and inquiry will be generated.
After rainy season, autumn arrives bringing with it clean and pure atmosphere. Similarly with proper reflection and deliberation, rejection of pleasures occurs. And with such rejection, better reflection and deliberation begin.
Sea and clouds keep filling each other. Similarly disgust for pleasues, inquiry into Truth and seeing the Self have a permanent mutuality. They enhance each other.
These three should be practised with a pure heart and cohesive mutuality. First disregard the idea of 'daivam' (providence) and put all labour into personal effort.
Disinterest in pleasures should be achieved with the grit and grind of one's teeth. This should be done without violating traditions and with the general consent of one's people.
One should earn money with one's efforts. Good people should earn money. They should use it to achieve disgust for pleausres.
-68 . With that, inquiry and reflection into Self should follow with the help of scriptural learning. In course of time the Supreme State can be attained.
When the Supreme State is achieved, repose and rest in the Self will be achieved in all its fullness.
One will never slip again into the mire of fancy, fabrication and delusion. You may not be there now. But you will be. To such you, the Sadasiva, I bow.
My son, in the beginning earn money without any love for it. (with a little disgust for it). With that, serve the saints and such people. In their association, conduct your inquiry into Self with the rich reflection. Gain the Self.
