Actions, thoughts and vasanas – renounce (verses 310-319):-

Actions, thoughts and vasanas – renounce (verses 310-319):-

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310. Having once conquered this enemy, the ego, not a single moment‘s rest should be given to let it ruminate over the sense-objects. That is just what brings it back to life, just like water revives a dried-up citron tree.

311. That person alone, who identifies with the body, is greedy of sense-pleasures. How can one devoid of the body-idea be greedy? Hence, the tendency to ruminate over sense-objects is verily the cause of bondage of worldly existence and the sense of duality.

312.  When the"effects" are flourishing, the "seeds" also are observed to increase. When the "effects" are destroyed, the "seeds" also are destroyed. Therefore, the"effect" must be subdued.

313. Through the increase of desires (vasanas), egocentric "work" increases and when there is an increase of egocentric"work" there is an increase of desires also. Thus, a person‘s transmigration never comes to an end.

Note: The Sanskrit word 'vasana' is a difficult word to translate. It can denote both the 'desire' as well as ' residual impression'. A repeated desire also creates or leaves subtle impression behind such that it settles as a 'tendency'or becomes sanskaara. These sanskaras (latent tendencies) is what we bring to sansaara, the world of becoming. Although, more often than not, the word vasana is used with negative connotations, however, not all vasanas are bad. For example, a quintessential vedantic text, Avadhut Gita, begins with the verse stating that the advaita-vasana (the desire for non-duality) arises only with the Grace of God to liberate one from the great fear.  

314. In order to snap the chain-of-transmigration, one should burn to ashes these two (selfish desires and actions); for, dwelling on sense-objects and doing selfish actions lead to the increase of vasanas or desires.

315. Nourished by these two (thought and selfish action), the vasanas further produce one‘s transmigration. These three, however, are destroyed by looking upon everything, under all circumstances, always....

316. .......everywhere and in all respects, as Brahman and Brahman alone. Through the strengthening of the longing to be one with Brahman, those three* will be annihilated.

*i.e., dwelling on sense-obects, self-centered actions, and latent impressions.

317. With the end of selfish actions, brooding over sense-objects ends, which is followed by destruction of vasanas. The final destruction of vasanas is liberation. This is regarded as Liberation-in-Life.

318. When the longing to be one with Brahman has vividly risen to expression, the ego-centric vasanas will readily disappear, as the most intense darkness completely disappears in the radiant glow of the rising sun.

319. Darkness and its resultant evils are not noticed when the sun rises. So too, on the direct realization of Bliss Absolute, there is neither bondage nor the least trace of misery.