Devanagari
स्वच्छत्वमविकारित्वं शान्तत्वमिति चेतस: ।
वृत्तिभिर्लक्षणं प्रोक्तं यथापां प्रकृति: परा ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
svacchatvam avikāritvaṁ
śāntatvam iti cetasaḥ
vṛttibhir lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ
yathāpāṁ prakṛtiḥ parā
Synonyms
svacchatvam
—
clarity
;
avikāritvam
—
freedom from all distraction
;
śāntatvam
—
serenity
;
iti
—
thus
;
cetasaḥ
—
of consciousness
;
vṛttibhiḥ
—
by characteristics
;
lakṣaṇam
—
traits
;
proktam
—
called
;
yathā
—
as
;
apām
—
of water
;
prakṛtiḥ
—
natural state
;
parā
—
pure .
Translation
After the manifestation of the mahat-tattva, these features appear simultaneously. As water in its natural state, before coming in contact with earth, is clear, sweet and unruffled, so the characteristic traits of pure consciousness are complete serenity, clarity, and freedom from distraction.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Citta is known to have purity, changelessness and peacefulness as its qualities by nature, just like the nature of pure water.
The qualities like purity are found everywhere in the citta of the body. Qualities of purity, since it is a reflection of the Lord, devoid of changes such as inaction or agitation, and devoid of passion and other emotions, are known as the natural modes of the citta. It is just like the original nature of water, which has an excellent quality. Pure water, without foam or waves, is sweet to the taste and peaceful. Just as water from contact with earth and other elements because impure, full of foam and waves, so citta attached to inferior objects becomes polluted from contact with lower consciousness (cetanā).
Purport
The pure status of consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, exists in the beginning; just after creation, consciousness is not polluted. The more one becomes materially contaminated, however, the more consciousness becomes obscured. In pure consciousness one can perceive a slight reflection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As in clear, unagitated water, free from impurities, one can see everything clearly, so in pure consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can see things as they are. One can see the reflection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one can see his own existence as well. This state of consciousness is very pleasing, transparent and sober. In the beginning, consciousness is pure.