आसुरिर्मण्डले तस्मिन्प्रतिपेदे तमव्ययम्
In that circle, Āsuri attained that imperishable.
ब्राह्मणी कपिली नाम काचिदासीत्कुटुम्बिनी
There was a Brahmin woman named Kapilī, a householder.
ततश्च कापिलेयत्वं लेभे बुद्धिं च नैष्टिकीम्
Then she attained the state of Kapilī and steadfast wisdom.
तस्य तत्कापिलेयत्वं सर्ववित्त्वमनुत्तमम्
Her Kapilī-hood was supreme knowledge of all things.
उपेत्य शतमाचार्यान्मोहयामास हेतुभिः
Approaching a hundred teachers, she bewildered them with reasoning.
उत्सृज्य शतमाचार्याम्पृष्टतो ऽनुजगाम तम्
Abandoning the hundred teachers, she followed him from behind.
अब्रवीत्परमं मोक्षं यत्तत्सांख्यं विधीयते
He spoke of the supreme liberation, which is prescribed as Sāṃkhya.
कर्मनिर्वेदमुक्त्वा च सर्वनिर्वेदमब्रवीत्
After describing disillusionment with action, he also spoke of complete disillusionment.
तमनाश्वासिकं मोहं विनाशि चलमध्रुवम्
That delusion, which brings no comfort, is destructive, unstable, and impermanent.
आगमात्परमस्तीति ब्रुवन्नपि पराजितः
Even while declaring that the highest truth is established by scripture, he was refuted.
आत्मानं मन्यते मोहात्तदसम्यक् परं मतम्
Out of delusion, he considers himself to be the self; that is not the true, supreme view.
अजरो ऽयममृत्युश्च राजासौ मन्यते यथा
Just as a king thinks himself to be ageless and immortal, so does he.
किमधिष्टाय तद् ब्रूयाल्लोकयात्राविनिश्चयम्
On what basis could one declare certainty about the course of worldly existence?
प्रत्यक्षो ह्यागमो भिन्नः कृतान्तो वा न किञ्चन
For perception and scripture are at odds, and fate is nothing definite.
अन्योजीवः शरीरस्य नास्तिकानां मते स्थितः
According to the view of the unbelievers, there is no other soul for the body.
जातिस्मृतिरयस्कान्तः सूर्यकान्तोंऽबुभक्षणम्
Memory of past births, the magnet, the sunstone, and the absorption of water—
मृतकर्मनिवत्तिं च प्रमाणमिति निश्चयः
And the cessation of actions after death—these are considered as evidence.
अमूतस्य हि मूर्तेन सामान्यं नोपलभ्यते
For the unmanifest cannot be perceived as having anything in common with the manifest.
तस्मिन्नष्टे च दग्धे च चित्ते मरणधर्मिणि
When that (mind) is lost and burned, it follows the nature of death.
यदा सरूपतश्चान्यो जातितः श्रुततोर्ऽथतः
When, by form, by birth, by hearing, or by meaning, another is found—
एवं सति च का प्रीहिर्ज्ञानविद्यातपोबलैः
If this is so, what is the use of knowledge, learning, austerity, or strength?
अपि त्वयमिहैवान्यैः प्राकृतैर्दुःखितो भवेत्
Indeed, here one may suffer from others who are ordinary people.
यथा हि मुशलैर्हन्युः शरीरं तत्पुनर्भवेत्
Just as if the body were struck with clubs, it would return again.
ऋमसंवत्सरौ तिष्यः शीतोष्णो ऽथ प्रियाप्रिये
The months and years, the star Tiṣya, cold and heat, and pleasure and pain—
जरयाभिपरीतस्य मृत्युना च विनाशितम्
Destroyed by death and overwhelmed by old age,
इन्द्रियाणि मनो वायुः शोणितं मांसमस्थि च
the senses, the mind, the vital wind, the blood, flesh, and bone—
लोकयात्राविधातश्च दानधर्मफलागमे
the arranger of worldly activity, the attainment of the fruits of charity and righteousness—
इति सम्यङ् मनस्येते बहवः संति हेतवः
thus, many causes are rightly considered in the mind.
तेषां विमृशतामेव तत्सम्यगभिधावताम्
For those who reflect upon them and speak of them rightly,
एवन्तुर् थैरनर्थैश्च दुःखिताः सर्वजन्तवः
even so, all beings are afflicted by these misfortunes,