Reason, if she be altogether ripe and cautious perceives their pernicious intent and will not look at them. If these hindrances fail to distract her, the gods next proceed to create trouble.

The gates of the senses are so many oriel window in the chamber of the heart, at each of which a god sits and keeps watch. When they see a gust of sensuality approaching the chamber, the gods wantonly throw the doors wide open.

As soon as that fierce blast enters the chamber of the heart, it forthwith extinguishes the lamp of wisdom. The knot is not untied; the light (of self-realization)is put out and reason is distracted be the blast of sensuality.

Knowledge is welcome neither to the senses nor to their deities, who are ever fond of sensual enjoyment. And when reason too has been thus distracted by the breath of sensuality, who can light the lamp again as it was before?

(When the light of wisdom is thus extinguished) the soul again experiences all the manifold miseries of transmigration. Hari’s deluding potency, O king of birds, is exceedingly insurmountable, an ocean none can cross.

Difficult to expound, difficult to grasp and difficult to gain by practice is discernment. If by any lucky chance one succeeds in attaining it, still many impediments block the way of preserving it.

The way of knowledge is the edge of a sword; one is apt to fall therefrom very soon, O king of birds. He who treads this path and misses not his footing attains to the supreme state of final liberation.