In plain words
You may learn every branch of learning and win over the assembly; you may fight as a hero on the battlefield; you may be born a king of kings and rule a kingdom; you may give gifts of gold and cows; you may count the stars that are in the sky; you may name every living creature; you may master the eightfold sciences; you may reach even the orb of the moon; but can you restrain the body and the senses, hold the mind still and turn it within, and stand firm with a steady and selfless heart?
Students, embodiments of Prema! Teachers! Lovers of learning!
This is a new, modern age. It is a time in which science and technology flourish. On one side, scientists are bringing about astonishing progress with plastics, electronics and computers. Whether in the field of atomic energy or in the field of space, the scientist is discovering astonishing marvels. Not only that: they create artificial planets and send them along the paths of the sky. In research on atomic energy he spends endless time, labour, effort and money as well. But the scrutiny that should go with this research, the scrutiny fit for such research, is nowhere to be seen. Each striving to outdo the other, they take the wrong path, forget morality and honesty, and toil in many ways for their own selfish ends and their own advantage. On the other side, through political and economic upheavals and hatred of caste and creed, man stands ready for many quarrels. Whether in favour shown to relatives or in the craving for power, the human heart today is going beyond all bounds. Through regional fanaticism the sacred land of Bhārata is being torn to pieces. The agitations of students are going beyond all bounds. What is the root cause of these two contrary developments?