The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam

Verse 338

ध्यानं वाव चित्ताद्भूयो ध्यायतीव पृ-थिवी ध्यायतीवान्तरिक्षं ध्यायतीव द्यौ-र्ध्यायन्तीवापो ध्यायन्तीव पर्वता देवम-नुष्यास्तस्माद्य इह मनुष्याणां महत्तांप्राप्नुवन्ति ध्यानापादांशा इवैव तेभवन्त्यथ येऽल्पाः कलहिनः पिशुनाउपवादिनस्तेऽथ ये प्रभवो ध्यानापादा-शा इवैव ते भवन्ति ध्यानमुपास्स्वेति ॥

In plain words

Meditation is indeed greater than the mind. The earth seems to meditate, as it were; the atmosphere seems to meditate; the sky seems to meditate; the waters seem to meditate; the mountains seem to meditate; gods and men alike seem to meditate. Therefore, whoever achieves greatness among men in this world attains a share of the fruit of meditation. Those who are petty, quarrelsome, backbiting, and fault-finding remain small; but those who are powerful and accomplished are truly sharers in the power of meditation. Therefore, worship meditation.

Close to the Sanskrit

Meditation indeed is greater than the mind. The earth meditates as it were, the atmosphere meditates as it were, the sky meditates as it were, the waters meditate as it were, the mountains meditate as it were, gods and men meditate. Therefore, whoever among men attain greatness in this world obtain a share of the fruit of meditation, indeed they become such. Now, those who are petty, quarrelsome, malicious, and fault-finding—and those who are powerful—they become possessors of shares of meditation. Meditate upon meditation.