आत्मानं तं विजानीहि नित्यं त्यागजितात्मकं
Know that self as eternal, whose nature is mastery through renunciation.
देवो यः संस्थितस्तस्मिन्नब्बिन्दुरिव पुष्करे। क्षेत्रज्ञं तं विजानीहि नित्यं त्यागजितात्मकं
The god who abides in that (self), like a drop in a lotus, know him as the knower of the field, ever self-mastered through renunciation.
जीवात्मकं विजानीहि रजः सत्वं तमस्तथा। जीवमात्मगुणं विद्धि तथाऽऽत्मानं परात्मकं
Understand the living self as consisting of rajas, sattva, and likewise tamas; know the living being as a quality of the self, and the self as the supreme self.
अचेतनं जीवगुणं वदन्ति सचेष्टते चेष्टयते च सर्वम्। ततः परं क्षेत्रविदो वदन्ति प्राकल्पयद्यो भुवनानि सप्त
They say the quality of the living being is insentient, yet it acts and causes all action; beyond that, the knowers of the field speak of the One who formerly fashioned the seven worlds.
एष सर्वेषु भूतेषु भूतात्मा न प्रकाशते। दृश्यते त्वग्र्यया बुद्ध्या सूक्ष्मया ज्ञानवेदिभिः
This soul of all beings does not reveal itself; it is seen only by the keenest intellect, by those who know through subtle knowledge.
चित्तस्य हि प्रसादेन हनति कर्म शुभाशुभम्। प्रसन्नात्मात्मनि स्थित्वा सुखमनन्त्यमश्नुते
By the serenity of the mind, one destroys both good and bad deeds; having established a tranquil self in the self, one attains endless happiness.
लक्षणं तु प्रसादस्य यथा तृप्तः सुखं स्वपेत्। `सुखदुःखे हि संत्यज्य निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः'। निवाते वा यथा दीपो दीप्येत्कुशलदीपितः
The sign of serenity is as when one, content, sleeps happily; having abandoned pleasure and pain, free from dualities and possessions, like a lamp burning steadily in a windless place, kindled by skill.
पूर्वरात्रेऽपरे चैव युञ्जानः सततं मनः। लध्वाहारो विशुद्धात्मा पश्यत्यात्मानमात्मनि
Practicing constantly, in the first and last part of the night, with moderate food and a purified self, one sees the self within the self.
प्रदीप्तेनेव दीपेन मनोदीपेन पश्यति। दृष्ट्वाऽऽत्मानं निरात्मानं स तदा विप्रमुच्यते
Just as by a burning lamp, so by the lamp of the mind, one sees; having seen the self as without self, then one is truly liberated.
सर्वोपायैस्तु लोभस् क्रोधस्य च विनिग्रहः। एतत्पवित्रं यञ्ज्ञानं तपो वै संक्रमो मतः
By all means, the restraint of greed and anger—this is considered the purest knowledge, the true austerity, and the highest discipline.
नित्यं क्रोधात्तपो रक्षेन्छ्रियं रक्षेच्च मत्सरात्। विद्यां मानापमानाभ्यामात्मानं तु प्रमादतः
One should always protect austerity from anger, wealth from envy, knowledge from pride and humiliation, and oneself from carelessness.
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मः क्षमा च परमं बलम्। आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं परं सत्यव्रतव्रतम्
Compassion is the highest virtue, and forgiveness the greatest strength; self-knowledge is the supreme knowledge, and the highest vow is truthfulness.
सत्यस् वचनं श्रेयः सत्यं ज्ञानं हितं भवेत्। यद्बूतहितमत्यन्तं तद्वै सत्यं परं मतम्
Truthful speech is best; truth is knowledge and brings benefit; that which is the utmost good for beings, that indeed is considered the highest truth.
यस् सर्वे समारम्भा निराशीर्बन्धनाः सदा। त्यागे यस् हुतं सर्वं स त्यागी स च बुद्धिमान्
He whose every undertaking is always free from desire and bondage, who offers up everything in renunciation—he is the true renunciant and the wise one.
यदा न गुरुतां चैनं च्यावयेदुपपादयन्। तं विद्याद्ब्राह्मणो योगमयोगं योगसंज्ञितम्
When neither heaviness nor agitation disturbs him, know that brāhmaṇa as established in yoga, the state called yoga and non-yoga.
न हिंस्यात्सर्वभूतानि मैत्रायणगतश्चरेत्। नेदं जीवितमासाद्यवैरं कुर्वीत केनचित्
One should not harm any being, but act with friendliness toward all; having attained this life, let one not bear enmity toward anyone.
आकिंचन्यं सुसंतोषो निराशित्वमचापलम्। एतदेव परं ज्ञानं सदात्मज्ञानमुत्तमम्
Non-possession, perfect contentment, freedom from expectation, and calm—this alone is the supreme knowledge, the highest and constant self-knowledge.
परिग्रहं परित्यज्य भवेद्बुद्ध्या यतव्रतः। अशोकं स्थानमाश्रित् निश्चलं प्रेत्य चेह च
Abandoning all possessions, one should, with wisdom, observe vows; taking refuge in a place free from sorrow, unmoving, both after death and here.
तपोनित्येन दान्तेन मुनिना संयतात्मना। अजितं जेतुकामेन भाव्यं सङ्गेष्वसङ्गिना
With constant austerity, self-restraint, and a mind under control, the sage who wishes to conquer the unconquered must remain unattached amidst attachments.
गुणागुणमनासङ्गमेककार्यमनन्तरम्। एतत्तद्ब्रह्मणो वृत्तमाहुरेकपदं सुखम्
Indifference to both virtue and vice, and a single-minded focus—this, they say, is the conduct of Brahman, the one path to happiness.
परित्यजति यो दुःखं सुखं चाप्युभयं नरः। ब्रह्म प्राप्नोति सोत्यन्तमासङ्गं च न गच्छति
The person who abandons both sorrow and happiness attains the supreme Brahman and does not fall into attachment.
यथाश्रुतमिदं सर्वं समासेन द्विजोत्तम। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
All this has been explained to you concisely, O best of twice-born; what more do you wish to hear?
एवं संकथिते कृत्स्ने मोक्षधर्मे युधिष्ठिर। दृढप्रीतमना विप्रो धर्मव्याधमुवाच ह
When the entire teaching on liberation had thus been related, Yudhishthira, the brahmin, with a heart firm in affection, spoke to the righteous butcher.
न्याययुक्तमिदं सर्वं भवता परिकीर्तितम्। न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचिद्धर्मेष्वभिसमीक्ष्यते
All that you have declared is in accordance with justice; nothing concerning dharma appears unknown to you.
प्रत्यक्षं मम यो धर्मस्तं च पश्य द्विजोत्तम। येन सिद्धिरियं प्राप्ता मया ब्राह्मणपुङ्गव
See, O best of brahmins, the dharma that is evident to me, by which I have attained this accomplishment.
उत्तिष्ठ भगवन्क्षिप्रं प्रविश्याभ्यन्तरं गृहम्। द्रष्टुमर्हसि धर्मज्ञ मातरं पितरं च मे
Rise quickly, venerable one, and enter my inner house; you should see my mother and father, knower of dharma.
इत्युक्तः स प्रविश्याथ ददर्श परमार्चितम्। सौधं हृद्यं चतुःशालमतीव च मनोरमम्
Thus addressed, he entered and saw a most honored mansion, delightful, with four halls, and exceedingly charming.
देवतागृहसंकाश दैवतैश्च सुपूजितम्। शयनासनसंबाधं गन्धैश्च परमैर्युतम्
Resembling the house of the gods and worshipped by deities, it was filled with excellent beds and seats, and pervaded by supreme fragrances.
तत्रशुक्लाम्बरधरौ पितरावस्य पूजितौ। कृताहारौ तु संतुष्टावुपविष्टौ वरासने
There, his parents, honored, dressed in white garments, having eaten and satisfied, were seated on splendid seats.
तस्य व्याधस्य पितरौ ब्राह्मणः संददर्श ह'। धर्मव्याधस्तु तौ दृष्ट्वा पादेषु शिरसाऽपतत्
The brahmin saw the parents of that butcher; and upon seeing them, the righteous butcher bowed his head to their feet.