SAUNDARANANDA 10.49: Stuck-minded Stammering

ath' aapsaraHsv eva niviShTa-dRShTii
raag'-aagnin" aantar-hRdaye pradiiptaH
sa-gadgadaM kaama-viShakta-cetaaH
kRt'-aaNjalir vaakyam uvaaca nandaH

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10.49
So, letting his gaze settle upon the apsarases,

Burning in his innermost heart with a fire of passion,

And stammering, with a mind stuck on objects of desire,

Nanda joined his hands like a beggar and spoke.

COMMENT:
Stammering is, in many cases, a symptom of the end-gaining mind which stops things from flowing as they might.

One of the things that the end-gaining mind prevents from flowing is speech in which the ear-voice connection is open and uninterrupted.

I write this as one who has been plagued by the end-gaining habit for most of his life.

But nowadays, because of all my efforts to become a true Zen master, not to mention 17 years now in the Alexander work, I seem to have become more or less free from desire for objects. Yes, now all that end-gaining nonsense is well and truly behind me I am very p... p... p... pleased to say.



EH Johnston:
Then fixing his gaze on the Apsarases, with the fire of passion blazing in his heart and his feelings dominated by love, Nanda raised his hands in supplication and spoke falteringly thus :--

Linda Covill:
Then with his eyes resting on the apsarases, his heart burning with the fire of passion and his thoughts stuck in lust, Nanda folded his hands in reverence and stammered out these words:

VOCABULARY:
atha: ind. and so, then
apsaraHsu (loc. pl.): f. apsaras, celestial nymph
eva: (emphatic)
niviShTa-dRShTii (nom. sg. m..): his gaze come to rest on them
niviShTa: mfn. come to rest; entered, lying or resting or sticking or staying in (loc. or comp.)
dRShTin: mfn. having an insight into or familiar with anything ; having the looks or thoughts directed upon anything

raag'-aagninaa (inst. sg.): with love's fire
raaga: m. redness, passion, love
aagni: fire
antar-hRdaye (loc. sg.): in his innermost heart
antar: ind. interior
hRdaya: n. heart
pradiiptaH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. kindled , inflamed , burning

sa-gadgadam (acc. sg. n.): mfn. with stammering (voice)
sa: (possessive prefix)
gadgada: n. stammering , indistinct or convulsive utterance (as sobbing &c )
kaama-viShakta-cetaaH (nom. sg. m.): his mind fastened on sexual love
kaama: m. desire, love , especially sexual love or sensuality ; object of desire or of love or of pleasure
viShakta: mfn. hung to or on or upon , hung or suspended to , hanging or sticking on or in , firmly fixed or fastened or adhering to (loc.); turned or directed towards (loc. or comp.) ; (ifc.) dependent on
cetas: n. consciousness, mind

kRt'-aaNjaliH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. one who joins the hollowed palms in reverence or to solicit a favour (holding the hollowed palms together as if to receive alms or an offering) , standing in a reverent or respectful posture
aNjali: m. ( √ aNj) the open hands placed side by side and slightly hollowed (as if by a beggar to receive food ; hence when raised to the forehead , a mark of supplication)
√ aNj: to apply an ointment or pigment , smear with , anoint ; to honour, celebrate
vaakyam (acc. sg.): n. speech, saying, words
uvaaca = 3rd pers. sg. perfect vac: to say, speak
nandaH (nom. sg.): m. Nanda