उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत
प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत ।
क्षुरस्य धारा निशिता दुरत्यया
दुर्गं पथस्तत्कवयो वदन्ति ॥ १४॥
uttiṣṭhata jāgrata
prāpya varānnibodhata .
kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā
durgaṃ pathastatkavayo vadanti .. 14..
Arise! Awake! Approach the great and learn. Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, so the wise say-hard to tread and difficult to cross.
Commentary:
Arise, awake! This is a call for us. The Upanishad tells us, “Sleep not, wake up, stand up, gird up your loins.” Prāpya varān nibodhata: Go to competent teachers and Masters and know the secret of this path, because it has already been mentioned that unless the teacher is competent in his approach, knowledge cannot be gained. The competent person has been described as one who is identical with the knowledge, or rather, identical with the object of his knowledge. That is a God-realised man, we may say. A Godman should be your teacher, and until this is achieved, progress is not likely to be speedy. So wake up from your slumber of ignorance. Stand up and prepare yourself for the practice of yoga by contacting great Masters who will bless you with instruction.
Kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā: This path of the Spirit is very subtle, sharp, cutting, invisible to the eyes, like the edge of a razor. The edge of a razor is cutting, sharp, but invisible to the eyes. So is this path. It can cut us if we are not able to walk on it properly. The path to God is invisible to the sense organs. It is said that it is like the path of fish in the water or the path of birds in the air. Birds have a path in space, but we cannot know where that path is. It is invisible. Similar is the path of fish in water; we cannot track them. Likewise is the path of the great souls who tread the path of the Spirit. It is very subtle.
Durgam pathas tat kavayo vadanti: A great difficulty is before you. Almost impossible is this achievement. The path of God is an almost impossible endeavour for inefficient people because it is sharp, subtle, invisible, slippery, and not easy to confront. Therefore, take resort to a great Master who will guide you. Do not sleep. Wake up, stand up, and be ready for the great onslaught of this spiritual conquest. This is a great mantra: uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata: kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā; durgam pathas tat kavayo vadanti.
Swami Vivekananda Says —
Yet do not be frightened. Awake, be up and doing. Do not stop till you have reached the goal. For the sages say that the task is very difficult, like walking on the edge of a razor.[Source] But it is very difficult. It is, as it were, walking on the edge of a razor; the way is long and perilous, but struggle on, do not despair. Awake, arise, and stop not till the goal is reached.[Source]
Those who dare, therefore, to struggle for victory, for truth, for religion, are in the right way; and that is what the Vedas preach: Be not in despair, the way is very difficult, like walking on the edge of a razor; yet despair not, arise, awake, and find the ideal, the goal.[Source]