आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं सत्यं हि परमं हितम्
Self-knowledge is supreme knowledge; truth is indeed the highest benefit.
इन्द्रियैरिन्द्रियार्थेभ्यश्चरत्यात्मवशैरिह
Here, the senses, governed by the self, move among the objects of the senses.
आत्मभूतैरतद्भूतः सह चैव विनैव च
With beings who are of the self and those who are not, both together and apart.
अदर्शनमसंस्पर्शस्तथैवाभाषाणं सदा
Always avoid seeing, touching, and speaking.
न हिंस्यात्सर्वभूतानि भूतैर्मैत्रायणश्चरेत्
One should not harm any beings; with beings, one should act in friendship.
आकिञ्चन्यं सुसंतोषो निराशिष्ट्वमचापलम्
Freedom from possessions, complete contentment, absence of expectation, and steadiness.
परिग्रहं परित्यज्य भव तातजितेन्द्रियः
Abandoning possessions, become one who has conquered the senses, dear one.
निराशिषो न शोचन्ति त्यजेदाशिषमात्मनः
Those without expectation do not grieve; one should renounce expectation from oneself.
तपरोनित्येन दान्तेन मुनिना संयतात्मना
With constant austerity, self-control, and restraint, the sage disciplines himself.
गुणसंगेष्वेष्वनासक्त एकचर्या रतः सदा
Unattached to the qualities, always delighting in solitary conduct.
द्वन्द्वारामेषु भूतेषु वराको रमते मुनिः
The sage, though destitute, finds joy among beings who delight in opposites.
शुभैर्लभेत देवत्वं व्यामिश्रैर्जन्म मानुषम्
Through virtuous actions one attains divinity; through mixed actions, human birth.
तत्र मृत्युजरादुःखैः सततं समभिद्रुतम्
There, one is constantly afflicted by the sufferings of death, old age, and pain.
अहिते हितसंज्ञस्त्वमध्रुवे ध्रुवसंज्ञकः
You regard what is harmful as beneficial, and what is impermanent as permanent.
संवेष्ट्यमानं बहुभिर्मोहतन्तुभिरात्मजैः
Bound tightly by many threads of delusion, spun by one's own offspring.
अलं परिग्रहेणेह दोषवान् हि परिग्रहः
Enough of possessions here; for possession is indeed fraught with faults.
पुत्रदारकुटुंबेषु सक्ताः सीदन्ति जन्तवः
Creatures who are attached to children, spouse, and household sink down.
मोहजालसमाकृष्टान्पश्यजन्तून्सुदुःखितान्
See the beings drawn into the net of delusion, suffering greatly.
पारक्यमध्रुवं सर्वं किं स्वं सुकृतदुष्कृते
All that belongs to others is unstable; what is truly one's own is good and evil deeds.
अनर्थे किं प्रसक्तस्त्वं स्वमर्थं नानुतिष्टसि
Why are you engrossed in what is worthless, neglecting your own true purpose?
तमः कर्त्तारमध्वानं कथमेको गमिष्यसि
How will you alone traverse the path made by the creator of darkness?
सुकृतं दुष्कृतं च त्वां गच्छन्तमनुयास्यतः
Good and evil deeds will follow you as you depart.
अर्थार्थमनुशीर्यन्ते सिद्धार्थस्तु विमुच्यते
For the sake of wealth, bonds are formed; but one who has attained his goal is freed.
छित्वैनां सुकृतो यान्ति नैनां छिन्दन्ति दुष्कृतः
Cutting these bonds, the virtuous depart; the wicked cannot sever them.
न च नामास्ति निर्वेदो लोहं हि हृदयं तव
There is no name for dispassion; your heart is like iron.
गन्धपङ्कां शब्दजलां स्वर्गमार्गदुरारुहाम्
Fragrant mud, waters of sound, difficult to ascend on the path to heaven.
त्यागवाताध्वगां शीघ्रां बुद्धिनावं नदीं तरेत्
One should cross the swift river of the path, blown by the winds of renunciation, with the boat of intellect.
त्यज धर्ममसंकल्पादधर्मं चाप्यहिंसया
Abandon righteousness without desire, and unrighteousness through non-injury.
अस्थिस्थूणं स्नायुयुतं मांसशोणितलेपनम्
A pillar of bone, bound with sinews, smeared with flesh and blood.
जराशोकसमाविष्टं रोगायतनमस्थिरम्
Overtaken by old age and sorrow, a seat of disease, unstable.