20. Know Ráma that the mind, the heart, desire, action and destiny are synonymous terms, and applied by the virtuous to the unascertainable soul (evolved in these forms). 21. Now whatever the so named soul undertakes to do continually and with a firm resolution, it obtains the fruit thereof accordingly. 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. 32. By directing the mind to the right way from the wrong, it will take the right course and so the _vice versa_. But as human mind is as (tender as) a child, it must not be employed by force (but gentle measures). 33. The training of the child like that of the mind, is effected slowly by gentleness and indulgence, and not by force and hurry. 34. You have already by your constant practice, got a mastery over all your good and bad desires; you have hence forward to direct your tendencies to good only. 35. O victorious Ráma! When by your pristine habits you have an aptitude to do what is good, learn that it is the result of your good nature. 36. O sinless Ráma, your desires are at present lying dormant in your mind, and require some practice to be employed only to the doing of good. 37. If you will not exert yourself at present to improve your dormant desires by constant practice, you can never expect to be happy.