तां तु बुद्ध्वा नरः सर्गं भूतानाम् आगतिं गतिम् समचेष्टश् च वै सम्यग् लभते शमम् उत्तमम्
Having understood the origin, arrival, and departure of beings, a person who acts rightly attains the highest peace.
एतद् द्विजन्मसामग्र्यं ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः आत्मज्ञानसमस्नेहपर्याप्तं तत्परायणम्
This is the collection of twice-born, especially for the Brahmin; sufficient for those devoted to Self-knowledge and equal affection.
तत्त्वं बुद्ध्वा भवेद् बुद्धः किम् अन्यद् बुद्धलक्षणम् विज्ञायैतद् विमुच्यन्ते कृतकृत्या मनीषिणः
Having understood the truth, one becomes awakened; what else is the mark of awakening? Knowing this, the wise are freed, having accomplished their purpose.
न भवति विदुषां महद् भयं यद् अविदुषां सुमहद् भयं परत्र नहि गतिर् अधिकास्ति कस्यचिद् भवति हि या विदुषः सनातनी
There is no great fear for the learned, while for the unlearned there is immense fear. In the hereafter, no one has a higher path than that which belongs to the learned, which is eternal.
लोके मातरम् असूयते नरस् तत्र देवम् अनिरीक्ष्य शोचते तत्र चेत् कुशलो न शोचते ये विदुस् तद् उभयं कृताकृतम्
In the world, a man envies his mother, and there he grieves without seeing the divine. But if he is skilled, he does not grieve; those who know accomplish both what is done and undone.
यत् करोत्य् अनभिसंधिपूर्वकं तच् च निन्दयति यत् पुरा कृतम् यत् प्रियं तद् उभयं न वाप्रियं तस्य तज् जनयतीह कुर्वतः
Whatever one does without prior intention, he condemns, as well as what was done before. What is pleasing or not pleasing, neither produces anything here for the one acting.
यस्माद् धर्मात् परो धर्मो विद्यते नेह कश्चन यो विशिष्टश् च भूतेभ्यस् तद् भवान् प्रब्रवीतु नः
Since there is no dharma higher than dharma itself here, and none is superior among beings, O revered one, please declare that to us.
धर्मं च संप्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणम् ऋषिभिः स्तुतम् विशिष्टं सर्वधर्मेभ्यः शृणुध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः
I will proclaim the ancient dharma, praised by the sages, superior to all dharmas. Listen, O best of sages.
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि बुद्ध्या संयम्य तत्त्वतः सर्वतः प्रसृतानीह पिता बालान् इवात्मजान्
The senses are unruly; restraining them with discernment, like a father his young sons, one should keep them in check, for they spread everywhere here.
मनसश् चेन्द्रियाणां चाप्य् ऐकाग्र्यं परमं तपः विज्ञेयः सर्वधर्मेभ्यः स धर्मः पर उच्यते
The concentration of mind and senses is the highest austerity. It should be understood as superior to all dharmas; that dharma is called supreme.
तानि सर्वाणि संधाय मनःषष्ठानि मेधया आत्मतृप्तः स एवासीद् बहुचिन्त्यम् अचिन्तयन्
Having gathered all six—mind and senses—with intelligence, being satisfied in oneself, he remains, pondering what is much to be considered.
गोचरेभ्यो निवृत्तानि यदा स्थास्यन्ति वेश्मनि तदा चैवात्मनात्मानं परं द्रक्ष्यथ शाश्वतम्
When they are withdrawn from their fields and remain at home, then, by oneself, you will see the supreme, eternal Self.
सर्वात्मानं महात्मानं विधूमम् इव पावकम् प्रपश्यन्ति महात्मानं ब्राह्मणा ये मनीषिणः
The great-souled, the wise Brahmins, perceive the universal Self, the great Self, like a fire without smoke.
यथा पुष्पफलोपेतो बहुशाखो महाद्रुमः आत्मनो नाभिजानीते क्व मे पुष्पं क्व मे फलम्
Just as a great tree, full of flowers and fruits, with many branches, does not know itself—where are its flowers, where are its fruits—
एवम् आत्मा न जानीते क्व गमिष्ये कुतो ऽन्व् अहम् अन्यो ह्य् अस्यान्तरात्मास्ति यः सर्वम् अनुपश्यति
So the Self does not know: 'Where will I go? Whence am I?' There is another inner Self of it, who sees all.
ज्ञानदीपेन दीप्तेन पश्यत्य् आत्मानम् आत्मना दृष्ट्वात्मानं तथा यूयं विरागा भवत द्विजाः
With the lamp of knowledge shining, one sees the Self by the Self. Having seen the Self thus, you too, O twice-born, become free from passion.
विमुक्ताः सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तत्वच इवोरगाः परां बुद्धिम् अवाप्येहाप्य् अचिन्ता विगतज्वराः
Freed from all sins, like snakes shedding their skin, having attained supreme understanding even here, you become free from anxiety and without distress.
सर्वतःस्रोतसं घोरां नदीं लोकप्रवाहिणीम् पञ्चेन्द्रियग्राहवतीं मनःसंकल्परोधसम्
The dreadful river, flowing everywhere, carrying the world, possessing the five senses as crocodiles, and the dam of mind's resolve—
लोभमोहतृणच्छन्नां कामक्रोधसरीसृपाम् सत्यतीर्थानृतक्षोभां क्रोधपङ्कां सरिद्वराम्
Covered with the grass of greed and delusion, with desire and anger as serpents, with truth as its ford and falsehood as its turbulence, with anger as its mud, it is the best of rivers.
अव्यक्तप्रभवां शीघ्रां कामक्रोधसमाकुलाम् प्रतरध्वं नदीं बुद्ध्या दुस्तराम् अकृतात्मभिः
Originating from the unmanifest, swift, agitated by desire and anger—cross this river with discernment, for it is hard to cross for those who have not mastered themselves.
संसारसागरगमां योनिपातालदुस्तराम् आत्मजन्मोद्भवां तां तु जिह्वावर्तदुरासदाम्
That which leads to the ocean of worldly existence, whose depths of birth in various wombs are difficult to cross, arising from one's own birth, and which is hard to overcome, dwelling in the realm of the tongue.
यां तरन्ति कृतप्रज्ञा धृतिमन्तो मनीषिणः तां तीर्णः सर्वतो मुक्तो विधूतात्मात्मवाञ् शुचिः
Those who are wise, steadfast, and discerning cross over it; having crossed, one is liberated from everything, purified, possessing a cleansed self, and pure.
उत्तमां बुद्धिम् आस्थाय ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते उत्तीर्णः सर्वसंक्लेशान् प्रसन्नात्मा विकल्मषः
By adopting the highest intellect, one becomes fit for the state of Brahman; having crossed all afflictions, with a serene mind, one is free from blemish.
भूयिष्ठानीव भूतानि सर्वस्थानान् निरीक्ष्य च अक्रुध्यन्न् अप्रसीदंश् च ननृशंसमतिस् तथा
Observing all beings in their many places, without anger, without delight, and without cruelty, one acts accordingly.
ततो द्रक्ष्यथ सर्वेषां भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययम् एतद् धि सर्वधर्मेभ्यो विशिष्टं मेनिरे बुधाः
Then you will see the origin and dissolution of all beings; the wise have considered this to be superior to all other dharmas.
धर्मं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठा मुनयः सत्यदर्शिनः आत्मानो व्यापिनो विप्रा इति पुत्रानुशासनम्
The sages, best among the upholders of dharma and seers of truth, have taught that the self is all-pervading, O brahmins; this is the instruction to sons.
प्रयताय प्रवक्तव्यं हितायानुगताय च आत्मज्ञानम् इदं गुह्यं सर्वगुह्यतमं महत्
This knowledge of the self, most secret and greatest of all secrets, should be spoken to one who is devoted, pure, and seeking benefit.
अब्रवं यद् अहं विप्रा आत्मसाक्षिकम् अञ्जसा नैव स्त्री न पुमान् एवं न चैवेदं नपुंसकम्
What I have declared, O brahmins, is direct testimony of the self: it is neither female nor male, nor is it neuter.
अदुःखम् असुखं ब्रह्म भूतभव्यभवात्मकम् नैतज् ज्ञात्वा पुमान् स्त्री वा पुनर्भवम् अवाप्नुयात्
Brahman is without pain or pleasure, and is the essence of past, present, and future; knowing this, neither man nor woman attains rebirth.
यथा मतानि सर्वाणि तथैतानि यथा तथा कथितानि मया विप्रा भवन्ति न भवन्ति च
Just as all views are held, so these have been spoken by me, O brahmins; they both exist and do not exist.