पार्थिवो ऽयं तथा देहः पार्थिवैः परमाणुभिः
This body, too, is earthly, composed of earthly atoms.
गुडः फलानीति तथा पार्थिवाः परमाणवः
Sugar and fruits, likewise, are made of earthly atoms.
तन्मनः शमनालबि कार्यं प्राप्यं हि मुक्तये
Restrain the mind, O wise one; this alone is the means to liberation.
प्रणिपत्य महाभागो निदाघो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Having bowed down, the illustrious Nidagha spoke these words.
नष्टो मोहस्तवाकर्ण्य वचांस्येतानि मे द्विज
My delusion has vanished upon hearing these words of yours, O twice-born.
इहागतो ऽहं दास्यामि परमार्थं सुबोधितम्
I have come here; I will give you the highest truth, clearly explained.
वासुदेवाभिधेयस्य स्वरुपं परात्मनः
The true nature of the Supreme Self, known as Vāsudeva.
पूजितः परया भक्त्यानिच्छितः प्रययौ विभुः
Honored with supreme devotion, the Lord departed, though unasked.
निदाघज्ञानदानाय तदेव नगरं गुरुः
That very city became the teacher for Nidagha's gift of knowledge.
महाबलपरीवारे पुरं विशति पार्थिवे
He entered the earthly city, surrounded by a retinue of great strength.
क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठमायान्तमरण्यात्ससमित्कुशम्
With his throat parched from hunger, he came from the forest carrying sacred sticks and kuśa grass.
उवाच कस्मादेकान्तं स्थीयत भवता द्विज
He said, 'O twice-born, why are you sitting here alone?'
प्रविवक्षौ पुरे रम्ये तेनात्र स्थीयते मया
'I wish to speak in the beautiful city; that is why I remain here.'
कथ्यतां मे द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वमभिज्ञो मतो मम
'Tell me, best of Brāhmaṇas, you are considered knowledgeable by me.'
अधिरुढो नरेन्द्रो ऽयं परितो यस्तथेतरः
'This king is mounted, and those others are all around him.'
भवता निर्विशेषेण पृथग्वेदोपलक्षितौ
'By you, without distinction, both are identified separately by the Veda.'
ज्ञातुमिच्छाम्यहं को ऽत्र गजः को वा नराधिपः
'I wish to know: who here is the elephant, and who is the lord of men?'
वाह्यवाहकसंबन्धं को न जानाति वै द्विज
'Who does not know, O Brāhmaṇa, the connection between the rider and the ridden?'
अधः सत्त्वविभागं किं किं चोर्द्धमभिधीयते
'What is said to be below as the division of beings, and what above?'
श्रयतां कथयाम्येष यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
'Listen, I will tell you what you have asked me.'
अवबोधाय ते ब्रह्मन्दृष्टान्तो दर्शितो मया
'For your understanding, I have shown you an illustration, O Brāhmaṇa.'
तदेवं त्वं समाचक्ष्व कतमस्त्वमहं तथा
'So now, you declare: which one are you, and which one am I?'
निदाधः प्राह भगवन्नाचार्यस्त्वमृभुर्मम्
Nidāgha said, 'O venerable one, you are not my teacher, you are Ṛbhu.'
यथाचार्यस्य तेन त्वां मन्ये प्राप्तमहं गुरुम्
'Just as to the teacher, so I consider you, O Guru, to have come to me.'
गुरुस्नेहादृभुर्नामनिदाघं समुपागतः
'Out of affection for the teacher, Ṛbhu by name came to Nidāgha.'
परमार्थसारभूतं यत्तदद्वैतमशेषतः
'That which is the very essence of the highest reality, non-duality in its entirety—'
निदाघो ऽप्युपदेशेन तेनाद्वैतपरो ऽभवत्
'Nidāgha too, through his instruction, became devoted to non-duality.'
तथा ब्रह्मतनौ मुक्तिमवाच परमाद्विजः
Thus, the excellent Brāhmaṇa spoke of liberation in the body of Brahman.
भव सर्वगतं ज्ञानमात्मानमवनीपते
O King, know the Self to be all-pervading knowledge.
भ्रान्तदृष्टिभिरात्मापि तथैकः सन्पृथक् पृथक्
Even though the Self is one, due to deluded vision it appears as many, distinct and separate.