FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.16.43

यो वै वाङ्‍मनसी सम्यगसंयच्छन् धिया यति: । तस्य व्रतं तपो दानं स्रवत्यामघटाम्बुवत् ॥ ४३ ॥
yo vai vāṅ-manasī saṁyag
[yo vai vaan-manasee samyag]
asaṁyacchan dhiyā yatiḥ
[asamyachchan dhiyaa yatih]
tasya vrataṁ tapo dānaṁ
[tasya vratam tapo daanam]
sravaty āma-ghaṭāmbu-vat
[sravaty aama-ghataambu-vat]
yaḥ — one who vai — certainly vāk-manasī — the speech and mind saṁyak — completely asaṁyacchan — not controlling dhiyā — by intelligence yatiḥ — a transcendentalist tasya — his vratam — vows tapaḥ — austerities dānam — charity sravati — run out āma — unbaked ghaṭa — in a pot ambu-vat — like water.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yo vai vāṅ-manasī saṁyag
yaḥ
one who
asaṁyacchan dhiyā yatiḥ
tasya vrataṁ tapo dānaṁ
sravaty āma-ghaṭāmbu-vat
vai
certainly
vāk-manasī
the speech and mind
saṁyak
completely
asaṁyacchan
not controlling
dhiyā
by intelligence
yatiḥ
a transcendentalist
tasya
his
vratam
vows
tapaḥ
austerities
dānam
charity
sravati
run out
āma
unbaked
ghaṭa
in a pot
ambu-vat
like water.
A transcendentalist who does not completely control his words and mind by superior intelligence will find that his spiritual vows, austerities and charity flow away just as water flows out of an unbaked clay pot.

When a clay pot is properly baked it holds any liquid substance without leakage. If a clay pot is not properly baked, however, water or any other liquid within it will seep out and be lost. Similarly, a transcendentalist who does not control his speech and mind will find that his spiritual discipline and austerity gradually seep away and are lost. Dāna, or “charity,” refers to work performed for the welfare of others. Those who are trying to give the highest charity by preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness should not engage in speaking cleverly for the satisfaction of beautiful women, nor should they attempt to become artificially intellectual simply for the sake of mundane academic prestige. One should not even think of intimate sexual relationships, nor should one daydream of acquiring a prestigious position. Otherwise, one’s determination to strictly practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be lost, as described here. One must control the mind, senses and speech by higher intelligence so that one’s life will be successful.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
An aspirant who does not completely control his words and mind by intelligence will find that his spiritual vows, austerities and charity dissipate just as water flows from an unbaked clay pot. The fault is emphasized by stating the same in an opposite way.
A transcendentalist who fails to control words and mind through superior intelligence will see his vows, austerities, and charity drain away like water from an unbaked pot. Containment must come before content.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I pouring spiritual content into an unbaked pot?
  • What single 'firing' would seal the pot?
📝 My note

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