SAUNDARANANDA 13.29: Polishing

yataH shiilam ataH saumya
shiilaM saMskartum arhasi
etat sthaanam anyeShu ca
mokSh'-aarambheShu yoginaam

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13.29
Since integrity is such, my friend,

You should work on integrity.

And, among those who practise, this is the stance

Towards different endeavours whose aim is release.

COMMENT:
ShiilaM saMskartum arhasi, "You should work on integrity," means, as I read it, in other words: "You should persist in polishing a tile."

Even if we clearly understand the principle, in polishing a tile, of being without expectation of making a mirror, that doesn't mean that somewhere deep in the heart, unbeknowns to the brain, an expectation isn't hiding.

Sometimes it takes a big disappointment to help us realise that we were harbouring a big expectation!

A way out of that predicament exists not in trying to annihilate egoistic expectation, but rather in finding a tile to keep on polishing.

Etat sthanam, "this stance," means, as I read it, this readiness to polish a tile.

Yoginaam, "among those who practice," refers, as I read it, to the community of true individuals, friends (saumya), who walk the walk in the direction of release from the bondage of groupthink and habit. What branch of yoga people identify us with does not matter.

EH Johnston:
Since discipline is such, my friend, you ought to perfect it. Further those who practise Yoga take their stand on it in the other undertakings towards emancipation.

Linda Covill:
Since this is moral self-restraint, dear friend, you must make it perfect. This is the position adopted by practitioners in their various endeavors for liberation.

VOCABULARY:
yatas: whence, wherefrom, for which reason
shiilam (nom): good conduct, integrity
atas: hence, from this, from this reason
saumya: my friend

shiilam (acc.): good conduct, integrity
saMskartum = infinitive of saMskR: to put together , form well , join together , compose ; to adorn , embellish , refine , elaborate , make perfect , (esp.) form language according to strict rules
arhasi: you should

etat: n. this
sthaanam: n. the act of standing, stance, position
anyeShu = locative, plural of anya: other, different
ca: and , both , also , moreover , as well

mokSha: m. emancipation , liberation , release
arambheShu = locative, plural of arambha: m. undertaking , beginning ; a thing begun ; effort, exertion
yoginaam = genitive, plural of yogin: m. a follower of the yoga system , a yogin (usually called yogii) or contemplative saint , devotee , ascetic;