In plain words
Churn and churn, and in the wood fire is born; churn and churn, and in curd ghee is born; churn and churn, and in the body the Principle is born: a word that tells what is so.
Only when we work hard does the fire of wisdom rise within us. But no one likes to work hard. All of them hope only to be happy. But where does happiness come from? Only when hard work bears fruit does happiness come. Wherever you look in the world, there is happiness. But you must earn the fitness to enjoy it. The judge who spoke just before said that he had gone through many hardships, and that though he kept coming for so many days, he grieved deeply when Swami did not speak to him. Today he has had the chance his hardship deserved. But you are not willing to work hard. You must be willing. Only then will the fitting result come.
‘Tasmai namaḥ karmaṇe’
In the age of the Upaniṣads, before doing any work, people would bow to the work, saying ‘Tasmai namaḥ karmaṇe’. Wishing that the work they did would bear good fruit, they would first bow to it and then begin it. In Bhārata some people keep this custom even now. A cricket player bows first to the bat and the ball, and only then begins the game. A dancer, before tying the ankle bells to her feet, bows to them. Even drivers who cannot read bow to the steering wheel and only then begin to drive. Those with a modern education are forgetting such ancient custom and culture. That is why today it is nothing but accidents wherever you look! Nothing but fear and confusion wherever you look! Before we begin any work at all, we must first bow to that work with gratitude and respect. Musicians begin their concerts with a prayer to Vināyaka. Vināyaka means the one who has no leader over him. ‘Vi-nāyaka’: he himself is the leader of all.