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.
वेश्याविभ्रमलुब्धो ऽसौ परदारतो ऽभवत्
He became infatuated with courtesans and was attached to other men's wives.
अपहृत्य परं द्रव्यं वारस्त्रीनिरतो ऽभवत्
Having stolen another's wealth, he devoted himself to prostitutes.
बभूव दुःखितो ऽत्यर्थं भ्रातरं चेदमब्रवीत्
He became extremely miserable and said this to his brother.
त्वमेक एव दुष्टात्मा महापापरतो ऽभवः
You alone, with a wicked mind, have engaged in great sin.
हनिष्यामीति निश्चित्य खड्गहस्तः कचे ऽग्रहीत्
Having resolved to kill him, he seized a sword in his hand.
बबन्धुर्नागराश्चैनं कुपितास्ते सुमालिनम्
The townspeople, angered, bound Sumālī.
बन्धनान्मोचयामास भ्रातृस्नेहविमोहितः
Out of deluded affection for his brother, he released him from captivity.
आददे स्वयमर्द्धं च ददावर्द्धं यवीयसे
He took half for himself and gave half to his younger brother.
मूर्खैः पारंवडचण्डालैर्बुभुजे च सहोद्धतः
Arrogant, he ate together with fools, outcastes, and fierce people.
पिचुमन्दः फलाढ्यो ऽपि काकैरेवोपभुज्यते
Even though the Picumanda tree is laden with fruit, it is only enjoyed by crows.