इतीमं हृदयग्रथिं बुद्धिचिन्तामयं दृढम्
Thus, this knot of the heart, firm and made of thoughts and intellect—
मलिनाः प्राण्नुयुः शुद्धिं यथा पूर्णां नदीं नराः
Just as impure men approach a full, pure river for cleansing,
महानद्या हि पारज्ञस्तप्यते न तरन्यथा
Just as one who knows how to cross a great river does not suffer, so too is it otherwise.
एवं ये विदुरध्यात्मं कैवल्यं ज्ञानमुत्तमम्
In the same way, those who know the Self, the highest knowledge of liberation,
अवेक्ष्य च शनैर्बुद्ध्या लभते च शमं ततः
And, having observed with steady intellect, they attain tranquility from that.
अन्विष्य मनसा युक्तस्तत्त्वदर्शी निरुत्सुकः
Engaged in inquiry with a focused mind, seeing the truth, free from longing,
तत्र तत्र विसृष्टेषु दुर्वापेष्वकृतात्माभिः
Here and there, among those who are scattered and difficult to reach, whose selves are unrefined,
विज्ञाय तद्धि मन्यन्ते कतकृत्या मनीषिणः
Understanding that, the wise consider it as the only thing to be done.
नहि गतिरधिकास्ति कस्यचित्सति हि गुणेप्रवदत्यतुल्यताम्
For no one has a higher path, since when virtue exists, there is no inequality.
नाप्रियं तदुभयं कुतः प्रियं तस्य तज्जनयतीह कुर्वतः
For him, there is neither unpleasant nor pleasant; how could there be pleasure or pain arising from action here?
तत्र पश्य कुशलान्न शोचते जायते यदि भयं पदं सदा
There, seeing the skillful, he does not grieve; even if fear arises, it is always a passing state.
यज्ज्ञात्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्मन्नरस्त्रिविधतापतः
O Brahman, knowing which a man is freed from the threefold suffering,
यं ज्ञात्वा शाश्वतीं सिद्धिं गच्छन्तीह महर्षयः
Knowing which, the great sages here attain eternal perfection,
महर्षयो ज्ञानतृप्ता निर्वाणगतमानसाः
The great sages, satisfied in knowledge, their minds gone to liberation,
जन्मदोषपारीक्षीणाः स्वभावे पर्यवस्थिताः
Having exhausted the faults of birth, they abide in their own true nature.
असंगान्य विधादीनि मनः शान्तिकराणि च
Detached from all actions, and those that bring peace to the mind,
पिण्डीकृत्येन्द्रियग्राममासीनः काष्टवन्मुनिः
Having gathered the group of senses, the sage sits like a log.
रूपं न चक्षुषा विन्द्याज्जिह्वया न रसांस्तथा
He does not perceive form with his eyes, nor tastes with his tongue.
पञ्चवर्गप्रमाथीनि नेच्छेञ्चैतानि वीर्यवान्
He, strong in will, does not desire these five groups that disturb.
समादध्यान्मनो भ्रान्तमिन्द्रियैः सह पञ्चभिः
He restrains his mind, which is distracted together with the five senses.
पूर्वध्यानपथे धीरः समादध्यान्मनस्त्वरा
The steadfast one should firmly direct his mind upon the earlier path of meditation, with urgency.
एष ध्यानपथः पूर्वो भया समनुवर्णितः
This earlier path of meditation has been described in detail, along with its dangers.
स्फुरिष्यति समुद्रान्ता विद्युदम्बुधरे यथा
It will flash forth, reaching the ocean's edge, like lightning in a rain cloud.
एवमेवास्य चित्तं च भवति ध्यानवर्त्मनि
In the same way, his mind follows the course of meditation.
पुनर्वायुपथं भ्रान्तं मनो भवति वायुवत्
Again, the mind wanders along the path of the wind, just like the wind itself.
समादध्यात्पुनश्चेतो ध्यानेन ध्यानयोगवित्
The knower of meditation should once more steady his mind through meditation.
मुनेः समाधियुक्तस्य प्रथमं ध्यानमादितः
For the sage established in samadhi, meditation is first undertaken from the outset.
न निर्वेदं मुनिर्गच्छेत्कुर्यादेवात्मनो हितम्
The sage should not fall into despondency, but should act for the welfare of his own self.
सहसा वारिणा सिक्ता न यान्ति परिभावनाः
When soaked suddenly with water, the objects do not become fully saturated.
क्रमेण तु शनैर्गच्छत्सर्वं तत्परिभावनम्
But gradually, as the water moves slowly, everything becomes saturated.