ज्ञानं हि मोक्षदं ज्ञेयं तदुपायं वदामि ते
Knowledge truly grants liberation; I will tell you the means to attain it.
सम्यग् विचारयेद्धीमान्सद्भिः शास्त्रार्थकोविदैः
A wise person should carefully reflect, together with the learned who know the meaning of the scriptures.
अनित्यानि परित्यज्य नित्यमेव समाश्रयेत्
Abandoning what is impermanent, one should always take refuge in what is eternal.
अविरक्तो भवेद्यस्तु स संसारे प्रवर्तते
But one who is not detached continues to revolve in worldly existence.
तस्य संसारविच्छित्तिः कदाचिन्नैव जायते
For him, the severance from worldly existence never arises at any time.
शमादिगुणहीनस्य ज्ञानं नैव च सिध्यति
For one lacking the qualities of tranquility and the like, knowledge does not succeed.
हरिध्यानपरो नित्यं मुमुक्षुरभिधीयते
One who is always devoted to meditation on Hari is called a seeker of liberation.
सर्वगं भावयेद्विष्णुं सर्वभूतदयापरः
He should contemplate Viṣṇu as all-pervading and be devoted to compassion for all beings.
इति जानाति यो विप्रतज्ज्ञानं योगजं विदुः
He who knows thus, O brāhmaṇa, is understood to possess knowledge born of yoga.
योगो ज्ञानं विशुद्धं स्यात्तज्ज्ञानं मोक्षदं विदुः
Yoga is pure knowledge; that knowledge is known to grant liberation.
द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये इति चाथर्वर्णी श्रुतिः
The Atharvan revelation declares: 'Two forms of Brahman are to be known.'
तयोरभेदविज्ञानं योग इत्यभिधीयते
The realization of the non-difference between these two is called yoga.
अपरः प्रोच्यते सद्भिः परमात्मा परः स्मृतः
The lower is spoken of by the wise; the higher is known as the Supreme Self.
अव्यक्तः परमः शुद्धः परिपूर्ण उदाहृतः
The Supreme is described as unmanifest, pure, and completely full.
भवेत्तदा मुनिश्रेष्ठ पाशच्छेदो ऽपरात्मनः
At that time, O best of sages, the bonds of the separate self are cut.
नृणां विज्ञानभेदेन भेदवानिव लक्ष्यते
Among people, due to differences in understanding, it appears as though there is division.
गीयमानं च वेदान्तैस्तस्मान्नास्ति परं द्विज
And as declared in the Vedānta, therefore, O twice-born, there is nothing higher.
कर्त्तृत्वं वापि भोक्तृत्वं निर्गुणस्य परात्मनः
There is neither doership nor enjoyership for the supreme self, which is without qualities.
किमप्यन्यद्यतो नास्ति तज्ज्ञेयं मुक्तिहेतवे
Since there is nothing else, whatever is to be known for the sake of liberation is that alone.
तद्विचारोद्भवं ज्ञानं परं मोक्षस्य साधनम्
The knowledge arising from that inquiry is the supreme means to liberation.
परमज्ञानिनामेतत्परब्रह्मात्मकं द्विज
For those of highest knowledge, O twice-born, this is of the nature of the supreme Brahman.
भाति विज्ञानभेदेन बहुरुपधरो ऽव्ययः
Due to differences in understanding, the imperishable one appears as possessing many forms.
तस्मान्मायां त्यजेद्योगान्मुमुक्षुर्द्विजसत्तम्
Therefore, O best of twice-born, the seeker of liberation should abandon māyā through yoga.
अनिर्वाच्या ततो ज्ञेया भेदबुद्धिप्रदार्यिनी
Thereafter, māyā should be known as indescribable, the giver of the notion of difference.
तस्मादज्ञानविच्छेदो भवेद्रौजितमायिनाम्
Therefore, the destruction of ignorance should be accomplished by those who are free from illusion.
ज्ञानिनां परमात्मा वै हृदि भाति निरन्तरम्
For the wise, the supreme self indeed shines continuously in the heart.
अष्टाङ्गैः सिद्ध्यते योगस्तानि वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वतः
Yoga is accomplished by eight limbs; I will explain them to you in truth.
प्राणायामः प्रत्याहारो धारणा ध्यानमेव च
They are prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, and also dhyāna.
एषां संक्षेपतो वक्ष्ये लक्षणानि मुनीश्वर
I will briefly describe to you their characteristics, O lord of sages.
अक्रोधश्चानसूया च प्रोक्ताः संक्षेपतो यमाः
Non-anger and absence of envy are briefly declared as yamas.