2.67
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते | तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ||६७||
indriyāṇāṁ hi charatāṁ yan mano'nuvidhīyate tad asya harati prajñāṁ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi
Translation
Just as a strong wind sweeps a boat off its determined course on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence.
Interpretation
The vivid image of a boat swept by wind: even one sense object, when the mind runs after it, can blow the entire vessel of wisdom off course. This is the danger of the unguarded mind. All spiritual disciplines — meditation, prayer, study — serve to keep the boat on course despite the winds of sensory temptation.