कस्य लज्जा प्रकर्तव्या द्वितीयो नास्ति सर्वदा । एकश्च पुरुषो दिव्यः कस्य किंचिन्न नाशयेत्
For whom should shame be enacted? There is never a second. The person is alone and divine; who can destroy anything of his?
अथ लोकान्प्रवक्ष्यामि ये त्वया परिकीर्तिताः । यथा कुलालकश्चक्रे मृत्पिंडं च निधापयेत्
Now I will speak of the people you mentioned: just as a potter places a lump of clay on the wheel,
भ्रामयित्वा तु सूत्रेण नानाभेदान्प्रकाशयेत् । भांडानां तु सहस्राणि स्वेच्छया मतिसंस्थितः
Having spun it with a thread, he reveals various forms; thousands of vessels, according to his own wish and intelligence.
तथायं सृजते धाता नानारूपाणि नान्यथा । पश्चाद्विनाशमायांति येनकेनापि हेतुना
In the same way, the creator produces various forms, not otherwise; afterward, they perish for whatever reason.
सर्वदैव स्थिता ये च ये लोकाश्च सनातनाः । तेषां लज्जा प्रकर्तव्या नावर्तंते हि ते भुवि
Those who are always established, and the eternal worlds, for them shame should be enacted; they do not return to earth.
आकाशवायुतेजांसि पृथ्वी चापश्च पंचमः । अमी लोकाः प्रकाशंते ये च सर्वत्र संस्थिताः
Space, air, fire, earth, and water as the fifth—these worlds are manifest, and are established everywhere.
सत्त्वानामंगदेशेषु पंचैतेषु सुसंस्थिताः । सर्वत्रैव च वर्तंते कस्य लज्जा विधीयते
The beings are well established in these five elements, in every limb; they exist everywhere—so for whom is shame prescribed?
स्त्रीणां रूपं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां तात सांप्रतम् । यथाघटसहस्रेषुसोदकेषुविराजते
I will now speak of the form of women; listen, dear one, at this moment: just as among thousands of pots, the water shines forth.
एकश्चंद्रो हि सर्वत्र भवांस्तद्वद्विराजते । गतो जंतुसहस्रेषु मोहचक्रे महात्मवान्
Just as one moon shines everywhere, so too does the great soul shine forth, having departed from the multitude of beings caught in the wheel of delusion.
स्थावरेषु च सर्वेषु जंगमेषु तथा भवान् । योनिद्वारेण पापेन मायामोहमयेन वै
In all stationary and moving beings, you enter through the gateway of birth, by means of sin and the illusion of delusion.
कुचाभ्यां च नितंबाभ्यां वयसा च विराजते । हृन्मांसस्याधिका वृद्धिर्दृष्टा चात्र न संशयः
She shines by her breasts, hips, and youth; here, an increase of heart's flesh is observed—of this there is no doubt.
पतनाय च लोकानां मोहरूपं विदर्शितम् । नभवत्येव सा नारी या त्वया परिकीर्तिता
For the downfall of beings, her form as delusion is displayed; that woman whom you described does not truly exist.
लीलया कुरुते धाता विनोदाय सदात्मनः । यथा नार्यास्तथा पुंसो जीवः सर्वत्र संस्थितः
The Creator, by his play, always acts for his own delight; as it is with woman, so too is the soul established everywhere in man.
कुचयोनिविहीना ये जीवन्मुक्ताः सदैव हि । नरस्तु पुरुषः प्रोक्तो नारी प्रकृतिरुच्यते
Those who are devoid of breasts and womb are always liberated while living; the man is called 'puruṣa,' and woman is said to be 'prakṛti.'
रमते तेन वै सार्द्धं न मुक्ता हि कदाचन । भवान्प्रकृतिसंयुक्तः पुरुषेषु प्रदृश्यते
He delights together with her, but never attains liberation; you are seen among men, united with nature.
कः कस्य कुरुते लज्जामेवं ज्ञात्वा सुखं व्रज । वृद्धां स्त्रियं प्रवक्ष्यामि सदावृद्धां वरानने
Who should feel shame for whom, knowing this? Go to happiness. I will describe to you the old woman, ever aged, O beautiful-faced one.
त्वचा जर्जरतां याता यस्याप्यंगे वरानने । श्वेतैश्चैव तथाकेशैः पलितैश्च समाकुला
Her skin has become withered, O beautiful-faced one, and her limbs too; she is troubled by white and grey hair.
बलहीनाथ दीनापि व्यापिता वलिना तदा । नेयं वृद्धा भवेन्नारी परं वृद्धा च कथ्यते
Then, weak and miserable, covered with wrinkles, she is not considered a woman in old age, but is called old.
एतस्या लक्षणं प्रोक्तं युवतीं प्रवदाम्यहम् । ज्ञानेन वर्द्धते नित्यं जीवपार्श्वे समाश्रिता
This is her characteristic described; now I will speak of the young woman, who always grows in knowledge, sheltered at the side of the soul.
सुमतिर्नाम संप्रोक्ता सा वृद्धा युवतीति च । नारी पुरुषलोकेषु सर्वदैव प्रतिष्ठिता
She is called Sumati, both old and young; woman is always established among men.
लज्जा तस्याः प्रकर्तव्या अन्यच्चैव वदाम्यहम् । मातरं वै प्रवक्ष्यामि या त्वया परिकीर्तिता
Modesty should be practiced by her; I will tell you something else. I will describe the mother whom you mentioned.
प्राणिनामंगदेशेषु सदैव चेतना स्थिता । परज्ञानप्रदा या च सा प्रज्ञा परिकथ्यते
Consciousness always abides in the limbs of living beings; she who bestows higher knowledge is called 'prajñā.'
प्रज्ञा माता समाख्याता प्राणिनां पालनाय सा । संस्थिता सर्वलोकेषु पोषणाय हिताय वा
Prajñā is named the mother, for the protection of living beings; she is established in all worlds for nourishment and welfare.
सुमतिर्नाम या प्रोक्ता सा माता परिकथ्यते । संसारद्वारमार्गाणि यानि रूपाणि नित्यशः
She who is called Sumati is described as the mother; the forms which are the gateways and paths of worldly existence are manifold.
भवंति मातरो ह्येता बहुदुःखप्रदर्शिकाः । मातृरूपं समाख्यातमन्यत्किं ते वदाम्यहम्
These mothers indeed exist, showing much suffering; the form of mother has been described—what else shall I tell you?
आत्मोवाच- भवान्को हि समायातो मम संतापनाशकः । विस्तरेण समाख्याहि स्वरूपमात्मनः स्वयम्
Ātmā said: Who are you that have come, destroyer of my distress? Tell me in detail your own true nature.
वीतराग उवाच- यस्मात्कामानि वर्तंते निराशाः सर्व एव ते । यं दुष्टत्वान्न पश्यंति कर्माण्येतानि नान्यथा
Vītarāga said: All those desires that persist are entirely without hope; because of their corruption, they do not see these actions otherwise.
यत्समीपं हि नायाति आशा चैव कदाचन । क्रोधो लोभस्तथा मोहो यद्भयात्प्रलयं गताः
Indeed, wherever hope never approaches, there anger, greed, and delusion, out of fear, have perished.
वीतरागोस्मि भद्रं ते विवेको मम बांधवः । आत्मोवाच- कीदृशोऽसौ तव भ्राता विवेको नाम नामतः
I am Vītarāga—blessings to you! Discrimination is my companion.
तस्य त्वं लक्षणं ब्रूहि भ्रातुरात्मन एव च । वीतराग उवाच- तस्यैव लक्षणं रूपं न वदामि तवाग्रतः
Tell me the characteristics of that brother of yours, and of yourself as well. Vītarāga said: I will not describe his characteristics or form before you.