विकल्पमात्रावस्थाने वैरूप्यं मनसो भवेत्। पश्चान्मूलक्रियारम्भगम्भीरावर्तदुस्तरः॥
vikalpamātrāvasthāne vairūpyaṃ manaso bhavet । paścānmūlakriyārambhagambhīrāvartadustaraḥ ॥
Meaning of Vikalpamātrāvasthāne Vairūpyaṃ Manaso
Even the slightest of doubt creates distortion in the mind that in turn creates serious hurdles for the task at hand. Therefore, one must free one's mind of doubts and stay firm on one's resolution.
Word by word
- विकल्पमात्रावस्थानेvikalpamātrāvasthāne
in merely remaining in vikalpa
वि + √कॢप् + मात्र + अव + √स्था
vikalpa is holding alternatives open, against saṅkalpa.
- वैरूप्यम्vairūpyam
deformity
वि + रूप
- मनसःmanasaḥ
of the mind
मनस्
- भवेत्bhavet
would arise
√भू
- पश्चात्paścāt
afterwards
- मूलक्रियारम्भगम्भीरावर्तदुस्तरःmūlakriyārambhagambhīrāvartadustaraḥ
hard to cross, with deep whirlpools once the work has begun
मूल + क्रिया + आ + √रभ् + गम्भीर + आ + √वृत् + दुस् + √तॄ
Commentary
This verse warns against the paralyzing nature of indecision (Vikalpa). It suggests that when the mind remains stuck in a state of mere alternatives and doubts, it undergoes a "deformity" (vairūpyam), losing its natural vigor and clarity. This initial mental hesitation acts as a seed for future failure. When one eventually moves toward action, the accumulated doubts manifest as a deep, treacherous whirlpool (gambhīrāvarta) that is nearly impossible to navigate. To succeed, one must replace the fragmented energy of Vikalpa with the singular, focused power of Sankalpa (determination). The verse turns on a distinction the tradition keeps sharp: saṅkalpa is the mind settled on one thing, vikalpa is the mind holding alternatives open. Merely remaining in vikalpa — vikalpa-mātra-avasthāne — is enough to deform it, before any wrong choice has been made. The second line then describes the cost in water rather than in thought: deep whirlpools, hard to cross, appearing after the work has already begun.
Original Post
More from Matsya Purana
View source pageचक्षुषा मनसा वाचा कर्मणा च चतुर्विधम्। प्रसादयति यो लोकं तं लोकोऽनुप्रसीदति॥
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Vidura Niti teaches that one who wins people’s goodwill through sight, thought, speech and action receives their goodwill in return.
More subhashitams on Discipline
View topic pageअनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
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The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.
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advaidhamanasaṃ yuktaṃ śūraṃ dhīraṃ vipaścitam । na śrīḥ santyajate nityam ādityamiva raśmayaḥ ॥
The Mahabharata likens lasting prosperity to the sun's inseparable rays: it remains with one who is focused, courageous, steadfast and discerning.
अणुभ्यश्च महद्भ्यश्च शास्त्रेभ्यः कुशलो नरः। सर्वतः सारमादद्यात् पुष्पेभ्य इव षट्पदः॥
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A Bhagavata Purana verse: a skilled person draws the essence out of every text, small or great, the way a bee gathers nectar from many flowers.