Vijita­sena

I’ll cage you, mind,
Like an elephant in a stockade.
Born of the flesh, that net of sensual pleasures,
I won’t urge you to do bad.
Caged, you won’t escape,
Like an elephant who can’t find an open gate.
Demon-mind, you won’t wander again and again,
Bullying, and loving to do bad.
Just as a strong trainer with a hook,
Takes a wild, newly captured elephant
And wins it over against its will,
So I’ll win you over.
Just as a fine charioteer, skilled in the taming
Of fine horses, tames a thoroughbred,
So I’ll tame you,
Firmly established in the five powers.
I’ll bind you with mindfulness,
I’m committed to taming you;
Restrained by harnessed energy,
Mind, you won’t go far from here.