Chapter II · Śloka 67
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते |
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ||
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ||
indriyāṇāṃ hi caratāṃ yan mano'nuvidhīyate |
tad asya harati prajñāṃ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi ||
tad asya harati prajñāṃ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi ||
When the mind follows the roaming senses, it carries away wisdom as the wind carries away a boat on the water.
The simile of a boat seized by wind is vivid and accurate: a single unguarded sense — a sight, a sound, a craving — can seize the entire mind and drive it far off course before the voyager realises what has happened.