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.
सो ऽहं स च त्वं स च सर्वमेतदात्मांस्वयं भात्यपभेदमोहः
That Self am I, that Self are you, and that Self is all this; the illusion of difference arises from ignorance.
स चापि जातिस्मरणावबोदस्तत्रैव जन्मन्यपवर्गमाप
And that very one, endowed with remembrance of past births, attained liberation in that very life.
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां श्रोर्तृआणां चापि मुक्तिदम्
This grants liberation to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and even to those who listen.
ब्रह्मज्ञानमिदं शुद्धं किमन्यत्कथयामि वै
This pure knowledge of Brahman is thus; what else should I say?
असंतुष्ट इव प्राह भ्रातरं तं सनन्दनम्
As if unsatisfied, he spoke to his brother Sanandana.
तथापि नात्मा प्रीयेत शृण्वन्हरिकथां मुहुः
Still, the Self is not pleased, though hearing the stories of Hari again and again.
सिद्धिं सुमहतीं प्राप्तो निर्विण्णो ऽवान्तरं बहिः
Having attained great perfection, he remained indifferent within and without.
न जायते कथं प्राप्तो ज्ञानं व्यासात्मजः शिशुः
How did the son of Vyasa, though a child, come to possess such knowledge?
समाख्याहि महाभाग मो७शास्त्रार्थविद्भवान्
O greatly fortunate one, you know the meaning of the scriptures—please recount it to me.
यां श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मतत्त्वज्ञो जायते मानवो मुने
O sage, by hearing which, a man becomes a knower of the truth of Brahman—tell me that.
ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्मं यो ऽनूचानः स नो महान्
The sages practiced righteousness; he who has studied is great among us.
तन्मे कर्म समाचक्ष्व श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम
Tell me that act, for I am eager to hear.
यज्ज्ञात्वा साङ्गवेदानामभिज्ञो जायते नरः
By knowing which, a man becomes skilled in all the Vedas and their branches.
छन्दःशास्त्रं षडेतानि वादाङ्गानि विदुर्बुधाः
The wise know the science of meter and these six limbs of debate.
वेदाश्चत्वार एवैते प्रोक्ता धर्मनिरूपणे
These four Vedas alone are declared for the determination of dharma.
सो ऽनूचानः प्रभवति नान्यथा ग्रन्थकोटिभिः
He who has studied them prevails; not otherwise, even with crores of texts.
त्वंमस्मासु महाविज्ञः सांगेष्वेतेषु मानद
You are greatly learned among us in these branches, O bestower of honor.
संक्षेपात्कथयिष्यामि सारमेषां सुनिश्चितम्
I will tell you in brief the essence of these, with certainty.
वेदानां वेदविद्भिस्तु तच्छृणुष्व वदामि ते
Hear from me what the knowers of the Vedas have said about the Vedas.
कृतान्ते स्वरशास्त्राणां प्रयोक्तव्य विशेषतः
At the end of the ritual, the science of tones must especially be applied.