त्वया कृतांश्च धर्मान्वै मा प्रकाशय पुच्छताम्
"Do not reveal the righteous acts you have performed, even if asked."
पूजयस्वातियिं नित्यं स्वकुटुंबाविरोधतः
"Always honor guests, without conflict with your own family."
पूजयस्व जगन्नाथं नारायणमकां मतः
"Worship the Lord of the universe, Narayana, as I consider best."
अग्रेश्च विधिवद्वप्र परिचर्यापरो भव
"And at the front, according to the rules, be devoted to service."
तथोपलेपनं चैव कुरुष्व सुसमाहितः
"Likewise, perform the anointing with great attention."
मार्गशोभां च दीपं च विष्णोरायतने कुरु
"Make the path beautiful and provide a lamp in Vishnu’s temple."
प्रदक्षिणनमस्कारैः स्तोत्राणां पठनैस्तथा
"With circumambulations, salutations, and recitation of hymns—"
वेदान्तपठनं चैव प्रत्यहं कुरु शक्तितः
"And also daily recite the Vedanta, as much as you are able."
ज्ञानात्समस्तपापानां मोक्षो भवति निश्चितम्
Liberation from all sins is certainly attained through knowledge.
तथा ज्ञानरतो नित्यं ज्ञानलेशमवाप्तवान्
Thus, one who is always devoted to knowledge has obtained even a trace of wisdom.
को ऽहं मम क्रिया केति स्वयमेव व्यक्तिन्तयत्
Who am I? What are my actions? He himself reflected thus.
एवं विचारणपरोः दिवानिशमतन्द्रितः
Absorbed in such inquiry, he remained tireless day and night.
पुनर्जानन्तिमागम्य प्रणम्येदमुवाच ह
Having again approached the knower, he bowed and spoke these words.
को ऽहं मम क्रिया का च मम जन्म कथं वद
Who am I? What are my actions? What is my birth? Tell me.
अविद्यानिलर्य चित्तं कथं सद्भावगगमेष्यति
How will the mind, driven by the wind of ignorance, attain true existence?
अहॄङ्कारो मनोधर्म आत्मनो नहि पण्डित
Ego and the workings of the mind do not belong to the self, O wise one.
मम जात्यादि शून्यस्य कथं नाम करोम्यहम्
How can I, who am void of caste and other attributes, perform any action?
नीरूपस्याप्रमेयस्य कथं नाम करोम्यहम्
How can I, who am without form and immeasurable, perform any action?
अविच्छिन्नस्वभावस्य कथ्यते च कथं क्रिया
How is action spoken of for one whose nature is uninterrupted?
अनन्तस्य क्रिया चैव कथं जन्म च कथ्यते
How are action and birth described for the infinite?
परिपूर्णं परानन्दं तस्मान्नान्यदिह द्विज
Complete and supreme bliss—there is nothing else here, O twice-born.
ज्ञाने त्वनाहते सिद्धे सर्वं ब्रह्ममयं भवेत्
When knowledge is unhurt and perfected, everything becomes filled with Brahman.
मुमोद पश्यन्नात्मानमात्मन्येवाच्युतं प्रभुम्
He rejoiced, seeing the self as the imperishable Lord within himself.
अहमेवेति निश्चित्य परां शान्तिमवाप्तवान्
Having firmly realized 'I am That,' he attained supreme peace.
गुरुं प्रणम्य जानन्ति सदा ध्यानपरो ऽभवत्
Having bowed to the teacher, the knower always became absorbed in meditation.
वाराणसीपुरं प्राप्य परं मोक्षमवाप्तवान्
Having reached the city of Varanasi, he attained supreme liberation.
स कर्मपाशविच्छेदं प्राप्य सौख्यमवान्पुयात्
Having attained happiness through the severance of the bonds of karma, may he be purified.
यज्ञमाली सुमाली च तयोः कर्माधुनोच्यत
Yajñamālī and Sumālī—now their actions are being described.
धनं द्विधा कनिष्टस्य भागमेकं ददौ तदा
At that time, he gave the younger brother's share of the wealth in two parts.
अपादाना दिभिश्चैव नाशयामास भो द्विज
And, O twice-born one, he destroyed it through various means and extravagance.