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.
अहिंसा कथिता सद्भिर्योगसिद्धिप्रदायिनी
Non-violence, praised by the virtuous, is said to bestow success in yoga.
सत्यं प्राहुर्मुनिश्रेष्ठ अस्तेयं शृणु साम्प्रतम्
Truthfulness, O best of sages, is declared; now hear about non-stealing.
स्तेयमित्युच्यते सद्भिरस्तेयं तद्विपर्ययम्
The wise declare that taking what belongs to another is theft; not stealing is its opposite.
ब्रह्मचर्यपरित्यागाज्ज्ञानवानपि पातकी
Even a learned man becomes sinful by abandoning celibacy.
स चण्डालसमो ज्ञेयः सर्ववर्णबहिष्कृतः
He is to be regarded as equal to an outcaste, excluded from all social classes.
तत्संभाषणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या भवेन्नृणाम्
Merely conversing with such a person is considered equivalent to the sin of killing a Brahmin.
तत्संगसंगिनां संगान्महापातकदोषभाक्
Those who associate with the associates of such a person also incur the fault of a great sin.
अपरिग्रह इत्युक्तो योगसंसिद्धिकारकः
Non-acceptance of gifts is called aparigraha, which leads to perfection in yoga.
क्रोधमाहुर्धर्मविदो ह्यक्रोधस्तद्विपर्ययः
The knowers of dharma declare anger to be a vice; its opposite, absence of anger, is a virtue.
असूया कीर्तिता सद्भिस्तत्त्यागो ह्यनसूयता
The wise describe envy as a fault; its abandonment is non-envy.