22. It is by means of the activity or exertion of this soul, and by no other means, O support of Raghu’s race, that it obtains everything, and may it lead you to your good only.
23. Ráma said:—Being caught in the net of my pre-existent desire, I remain a captive to them and do as they lead me to. Say then, O sage what else I can do.
24. Vasishtha replied:—So then O Ráma, you will be able to reach to your lasting good, if you will but exert your activity for it, without which there is no other way to it.
25. These desires are of two kinds, some leading to good and others to evil. Hence the desire of one’s prior state must have been of one kind or other.
26. If you will be guided now by the pure desires (of your nature), you will be gradually led by means of your good acts to attain the state of your lasting welfare.
27. But if your wrong inclinations tend to lead you to difficulties, you must try your best to overcome such propensities perforce.
28. You Ráma are wise and perfectly intelligent, and not composed of a dull (material) body only; now if you should be in need of another’s guidance to waken your intellect, say where lies your own intelligence.
29. If you would have one to enlighten your understanding, say where is that another to illumine him, and who is the other to illuminate him also. Hence as no one is wholly devoid of understanding, let him improve it himself.
30. The current of our desires is flowing betwixt the two channels of good and evil; it must be by exertion of our activity that we must turn it to the right course.
31. You who are the mightiest of the mighty, must exert the force of your activity to turn your mind to a profitable course from its direction to the profitless.