मोहितं विविधैर्भावैः कर्मणां क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् । शान्तिं यथा समायाति सम्पन्नमिव भूसुर ॥ २,६.
Deluded by various states, the mind is the supreme field of action; how does it attain peace, O best of twice-born, as if fulfilled?
विवेकप्रवणं शुद्धं यथा स्यात्कृपया वद । ऋषिरुवाच । मनस्तु प्रबलं नित्यं सविकारं स्वभावतः ॥ २,६.
How does it become inclined toward discernment and pure? Tell me by your grace. The sage said: The mind is always powerful and by nature changeable.
वशं नयन्ति करिणं प्रमत्तमपि हस्तिपाः । तथापि साधुसङ्गत्या साधनैरप्यतन्द्रितः ॥ २,६.
Even intoxicated elephants are brought under control by their keepers; likewise, through association with the virtuous and diligent practice, one may control the mind.
तीव्रेण भक्तियोगेन विचारेण वशं नयेत् । इतिहासं प्रवक्ष्यामि तव प्रत्ययकारकम् ॥ २,६.
Through intense devotion, yoga, and inquiry, one should bring the mind under control. I will tell you a story that will bring you conviction.
नारदोऽकथयन्मह्यं स्ववृत्तगतजन्मनः । नारद उवाच । कस्यचिद्द्विजमुख्यस्य दासीपुत्त्रः पुरा मुने ॥ २,६.
Nārada told me about the birth and life of a certain foremost twice-born. Nārada said: Once, O sage, I was the son of a maidservant of a distinguished brāhmaṇa.
शिक्षितो बालभावेऽपि पाठितो नितरामहम् । तत्रापि सङ्गतिर्जाता महतां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥ २,६.
Though I was instructed and taught thoroughly even in childhood, there, too, I gained the association of great souls engaged in virtuous deeds.
प्रावृट्काले मम गृहे स्थितानां भाग्ययोगतः । शुश्रूषणानुवृत्त्या च प्रश्रयेण दमेन च ॥ २,६.
By the conjunction of fate, those who stayed in my house during the rainy season, through their service, obedience, humility, and self-control,
सन्तोषं परमं प्राप्य कृपया त्विदमब्रुवन् । मनीषा निर्मला येन जाता मम शुभार्थिनी ॥ २,६.
Having attained supreme contentment, they spoke this out of compassion; by which my pure intention, wishing for good, was born.
यया विष्णुमयं सर्वम्त्मन्येव ददृशिवान् । मुनय ऊचुः । शृणु वत्स प्रवक्ष्या मो हिताय तव बालक ॥ २,६.
By which I saw all as pervaded by Viṣṇu, within my own self. The sages said: 'Listen, dear child, we will tell you this for your benefit.'
येन वै ध्रियमाणेन इहामुत्र सुखं भवेत् । देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्याश्च संसारे विविधा जनाः ॥ २,६.
By which, when upheld, happiness is found here and hereafter; gods, animals, and humans—various beings in the cycle of existence—
निबद्धाः कर्मपशैस्ते भुञ्जन् भोगान् पृथग्विधान् । देवत्वं याति सत्त्वेन रजसा च मनुष्यताम् ॥ २,६.
Bound by the cords of karma, they enjoy pleasures of various kinds; by sattva one attains divinity, by rajas, humanity.
तिर्यक्त्वं तमसा जन्तुर्वासनानुगतोऽबुधः । मातुर्लब्ध्वा पुनर्जन्म म्रियते च पुनः पुनः ॥ २,६.
By tamas, a creature, following its desires and lacking wisdom, becomes an animal; having obtained birth from a mother, it dies again and again.
एवं गत्वा ह्यसंख्याता योनीस्ताः कर्मभूरपि । मानुष्यं दुर्लभं लब्ध्वा कदाचिद्दैवयोगतः ॥ २,६.
Thus, having passed through countless wombs, which are fields of action, one rarely obtains human birth, sometimes by the conjunction of destiny.
अनुग्रहेण महतां हरिं ज्ञात्वा विमुच्यते । रोगग्राहं मोहजालमपारं भवसागरम् ॥ २,६.
By the grace of the great, knowing Hari, one is freed from the disease of suffering, the net of delusion, and the boundless ocean of worldly existence.
न पश्यामि तितीर्षोरन्यद्रामस्मरणं विना । नवनीयं यथा दध्नो ज्योतिः काष्ठादपि क्वचित् ॥ २,६.
I see no other means for one wishing to cross over, except remembrance of Rāma; just as clarified butter comes from curds, or fire from wood, sometimes.
मन्थनैः साधनैरेवं परं ज्ञात्वा सुखी भवेत् । आत्मा नित्योऽव्ययः सत्यः सर्वगः सर्वभृन्महान् ॥ २,६.
By churning with such means, knowing the supreme, one becomes happy; the self is eternal, imperishable, true, all-pervading, the great supporter of all.
अप्रमेयः स्वयञ्ज्योतिरग्राह्यो मनसापि यः । सच्चिदानन्दरूपोऽसौ सर्वप्राणिहृदि स्थितः ॥ २,६.
He is immeasurable, self-luminous, not grasped even by the mind; of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss, he dwells in the hearts of all beings.
विनश्यत्स्वपि भावेषु न विनश्यति कर्हिचित् । आकाशः सर्वभूतेषु स्थितस्तेजोजले तथा ॥ २,६.
Even when all conditions perish, he never perishes; like space, he abides in all beings, as well as in fire and water.
आत्मा सर्वत्र निर्लेपः पार्थिवेषु यथानिलः । भक्तानुकम्पी भगवान् साधूनां रक्षणाय च ॥ २,६.
The self is everywhere, untouched, like the wind among earthly things; the Lord, compassionate to devotees, also protects the virtuous.
आविर्भवति लोकेषुगुणीवाज्ञैः प्रतीयते । एवंविवेकत्वया यो बुद्ध्या संशीलयेद्धृदि ॥ २,६.
He appears in the worlds, recognized by his qualities and commands; thus, with discriminating understanding, one should contemplate him in the heart.
भक्तियोगेन सन्तुष्ट आत्मानं दर्शयेदजः । ततः कृतार्थो भवति सदा सर्वत्र निः स्पृहः ॥ २,६.
Satisfied by devotion, the unborn reveals the self; then one becomes fulfilled, always and everywhere free from desire.
अतोऽहङ्कारमुत्सृज्य सानुबन्धे कलेवरे । चरेदसंगो लोकेषु स्वप्नप्रायेषु निर्ममः ॥ २,६.
Therefore, abandoning ego, even while the body remains, one should act unattached among the worlds, which are like a dream, free from possessiveness.
क्व स्वप्ने नियतं धैर्यमिन्द्रजाले क्व सत्यता । क्व नित्यता शरन्मेघे क्व वा सत्यं कलेवरे ॥ २,६.
Where is steadfast courage in a dream? Where is reality in an illusion? Where is permanence in a rain cloud? Where is truth in the body?
अविद्याकर्मजनितं दृश्यमानं चरा चरम् । ज्ञात्वाचारवशी योगी ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २,६.
All that is seen, moving and unmoving, arises from ignorance and karma; knowing this, the yogi, mastering conduct, then attains perfection.
इत्युक्त्वा ते गताः सर्वे साधवो दीनवत्सलाः । सोऽहं तदुक्तमार्गेण तथैवाचरमन्वहम् ॥ २,६.
Having spoken thus, all those virtuous ones, compassionate toward the afflicted, departed; and I, following the path they had instructed, acted accordingly each day.
ततोऽचिरेणात्मनीदं दृष्टवानहमद्भुतम् । ज्योतिर्मयं सदानन्दं शरच्छीतांशुनिर्मलम् ॥ २,६.
Then, before long, I beheld within myself a marvelous vision: a radiant light, ever-blissful, pure as the autumn moon's cool rays.
निषिच्य सुखसन्दोहैर्मां कृत्वाधिकसस्पृहम् । अन्तर्हितं महतेजो यथा सौदामिनी दिवि ॥ २,६.
Suffusing me with waves of happiness, making me long for more, that great brilliance vanished, just as lightning disappears in the sky.
भक्त्या तदेव मनसि भावयन्नहमद्भुतम् । काले कलेवरं त्यक्त्वा गतवान् हरिमव्ययम् ॥ २,६.
With devotion, I contemplated that very wonder in my mind; and, in time, abandoning the body, I attained the imperishable Hari.
तस्येच्छया पुनर्ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मणो मेऽभवज्जनिः । अनुग्रहाद्भगवतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु निः स्पृहः ॥ २,६.
By his will, O Brahman, I was born again from Brahma, and by the Lord's grace, I became free from desire in all three worlds.
आपीडयन्मुहुर्वोणां गायमानश्चराम्यहम् । इत्युक्त्वा मे स्वानुभवं ययौ यादृच्छिको मुनिः ॥ २,६.
Pressing my lips together again and again, singing, I wander; having thus recounted my own experience, the sage departed as he had come.