SAUNDARANANDA 12.28: Consciousness Gains Hold

iidRshii naama buddhis te
niruddhaa rajas" aabhavat
rajasaa caNDa-vaatena
vivasvata iva prabhaa

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12.28
This consciousness awakening so evidently in you

Was blocked by the dust of passion,

Just as the dust of a sand-storm

Blocks the light of the sun.

COMMENT:
The word buddhi in the first line could be translated in many equally valid ways: mental prowess, power of reason, presence of mind, mental power, brain power, power of discernment, and so on. I decided on "consciousness awakening" because that translation fits well with the following verse, which seems to describe a blossoming forth, opening up, spreading out.

The title of Canto 12, pratyavamarsha, Gaining Hold, in its maybe deliberate ambiguity can be seen as fitting at least three metaphors:

Firstly, it could suggest the gaining of a foothold on a path, the metaphor of verse 12.20, which seems to be picked up in the title of Canto 14, aadi-prasthaana, Marching Out.

Secondly, it could suggest gaining hold of the nectar of deathlessness, the metaphor of verse 12.25, which seems to be picked up in the title of Canto 17, amRt'aadhigama, Making the Nectar of Deathlessness One's Own.

Thirdly, this verse and 12.29, along with later verses including particularly 12.41 and 12.43, seem to describe the gaining hold of a seed of consciousness that awakens into willpower, and thence grows into a tree of confidence. Perhaps the title of Canto 15, vitarka-prahaaNa, Dropping Off Ideas, can be seen as the culmination of this metaphor.

As I sit
more or less upright
aware of breathing
what is consciousness?
Not thoughts
not feelings
not habit
not instinct
not emotion
not desire
not attachment
not views and opinions
not -isms.
Not ideas.
Not body.
Not mind.
Not that.

EH Johnston:
Such a decision of yours was indeed obstructed by the dust of passion, as the light of the sun by the dust of a sand-storm.

Linda Covill:
This kind of reasoning was obviously blocked in you by the dust of passion, just as the light of the sun is obscured by a strong gust of dust.

VOCABULARY:
iidRshii: (f) of this kind, such
naama: ind. (acc. of naaman) by name i.e. named , called; indeed , certainly , really , of course
buddhiH = nominative, singular of buddhi: f. the power of forming and retaining conceptions and general notions , intelligence , reason , intellect , mind , discernment , judgement ; comprehension, understanding ; the faculty of mental perception ; presence of mind, ready wit ; intention, purpose, design
te (genitive): of you

niruddhaa: held back , withheld , held fast , stopped , shut , closed , confined , restrained , checked , kept off , removed , suppressed; covered, veiled
rajasaa = instrumental of rajas: vapour , mist , clouds , gloom , dimness , darkness; impurity , dirt , dust , any small particle of matter; the " darkening " quality , passion , emotion , affection
abhavat: was

rajasaa = instrumental of rajas: dust, passion
caNDa: fierce , violent , cruel , impetuous , hot , ardent with passion , passionate , angry
vaatena = instrumental of vaata: the wind

vivasvata = instrumental of vivasvat: " the Brilliant one " , N. of the Sun
iva: like
prabhaa (nominative, singular): (f.) light