नोऽकस्मादार्द्रमेधः स्पृशति च दहनः किं तु शुष्कं निदाघा -दार्द्रं चेतोऽनुबन्धैः कृतसुकृतमपि स्वोक्तकर्मप्रजार्थैः ।तद्वज्ज्ञानाग्निरेतत्स्पृशति न सहसा किं तु वैराग्यशुष्कंतस्माच्छुद्धो विरागः प्रथममभिहितस्तेन विज्ञानसिद्धिः ॥ ४० ॥
In plain words
Fire will not catch wet wood; it needs fuel dried by heat. The mind likewise stays damp with ties, including those made by meritorious deeds, prescribed Karma, children and wealth. The fire of Jñāna cannot take hold until Vairāgya—clear dispassion—has dried the mind. So Vairāgya comes first, and through it Vijñāna, direct realization, reaches fulfillment.
Close to the Sanskrit
Fire does not at once catch damp fuel, but fuel dried by heat. In the same way, the mind is damp with attachments, even those formed by meritorious deeds, prescribed Karma, progeny and wealth. The fire of Jñāna—liberating knowledge—does not suddenly take hold of it, but only when it has been dried by Vairāgya, dispassion. Therefore pure Vairāgya is taught first; through it comes the perfection of Vijñāna, direct realization.