पृच्छतामेनमात्मानं भवांस्तत्त्वेषु पंडितः । वीतरागवचः श्रुत्वा विवेको वाक्यमब्रवीत्
You, who are wise in the principles, question this self. Hearing Vītarāga’s words, Viveka spoke.
विवेक उवाच- सुखेन स्थीयते देव भवता विश्वनायक । आगते त्वयि संसारे किं किं भुक्तं सुखं स्वयम्
Viveka said: O Lord, Universal Leader, it is easy to remain when you are present; but when you have entered worldly existence, what happiness have you yourself enjoyed?
आत्मोवाच- गर्भवासो महद्दुःखमसह्यं दारुणं मया । भुक्तमेव महाप्राज्ञ ज्ञानहीनेन वै सदा
The Self said: Dwelling in the womb is great suffering, unbearable and dreadful, which I have indeed experienced, O wise one, always lacking in knowledge.
देहेपि ज्ञानविभ्रष्टः सोहं जातो ह्यनेकधा । बाल्यावस्थां गतेनाथ कृत्याकृत्यं कृतं मया
Even in the body, deprived of knowledge, I have been born in many ways; having reached the state of childhood, I have done both what should and should not be done.
तारुण्येन कृता क्रीडा भुक्ता भार्या ह्यनेकशः । वार्धकं प्राप्य संतप्तः पुत्रशोकादिभिस्तथा
In youth, I engaged in play and enjoyed many wives; but upon reaching old age, I am tormented by grief for my sons and other sorrows.
भार्यादीनां वियोगैस्तु दग्धोस्म्यहमहर्निशम् । दुःखैरनेकसंवर्णैः संतप्तोस्मि दिनेदिने
Day and night I am burned by the separation from my wife and others; I am afflicted each day by countless varieties of suffering.
दिवारात्रौ महाप्राज्ञ न विंदामि सुखं क्वचित् । एवं दुःखै सुसंतप्तः किं करोमि महामते
O great sage, I do not find happiness anywhere, day or night; thus tormented by such sorrows, what should I do, O wise one?
तमुपायं वदस्वैव सुखं विंदामि येन वै । अस्मात्संसारजालौघान्मोचयाद्य सुबंधनात्
Tell me that means by which I may truly find happiness, and by which I may be freed today from the great bondage of this flood of worldly existence.
विवेक उवाच- भवाञ्छुद्धोसि निर्द्वन्द्वो ह्यपापोसि जगत्पते । एनं गच्छ महात्मानं वीतरागं सुखप्रदम्
Viveka said: You are pure, free from duality, and sinless, O Lord of the world; go to that great soul who is free from passion and bestows happiness.
निःसंशयं त्वया दृष्टं नग्नमाचारवर्जितम् । सुखप्रदर्शको ह्येष सर्वसंतापनाशकः
Without doubt, you have seen him, unclad and free from all conduct; he is the revealer of happiness and the destroyer of all suffering.
एवमाकर्ण्य शुद्धात्मा वीतरागं गतः पुनः । तमुवाच श्वसन्दीनः श्रूयतां वचनं मम
Hearing thus, the pure-minded one again approached the passionless sage; breathing heavily in distress, he spoke these words: 'Listen to my speech.'
सुखं विंदामि येनाहं तं मार्गं मम दर्शय । एवमस्तु महाप्राज्ञ करिष्ये वचनं तव
Show me the path by which I may find happiness; so be it, O great sage, I will do as you say.
पुनर्गच्छ विवेकं हि सुखवार्ता कृता त्वया । सुखमार्गस्य वै वक्ता तव एष भविष्यति
Go again to Viveka, for you have received the news of happiness from him; he will be the one to speak to you of the path to happiness.
वीतरागेण पुण्येन प्रेषितो गतवान्प्रभुः । तमुवाच महात्मानं विवेकं शुद्धसत्तमम्
Sent by the virtuous, passionless one, the lord went and addressed the great soul Viveka, purest in essence.
सुखं मे दर्शय त्वं हि वीतरागेण प्रेषितः । भवच्छरणमापन्नो रक्ष संसारदारुणात्
Show me happiness, for you have been sent by the passionless one; I have come to your refuge, protect me from the harshness of worldly existence.
विवेक उवाच- ज्ञानं गच्छमहाप्राज्ञ स ते सर्वं वदिष्यति । आत्मा तथोक्तः संप्राप्तो यत्र ज्ञानं प्रतिष्ठितम्
Viveka said: Go to Knowledge, O great sage, he will tell you everything; the self, as described, is found where Knowledge is established.
भोभो ज्ञान महातेजः सर्वभावप्रदर्शक । शरणं त्वामहं प्राप्तः सुखमार्गं प्रदर्शय
O Knowledge, of great brilliance, revealer of all states, I have come to your refuge; show me the path to happiness.
ज्ञानमुवाच- भृत्योहं तव लोकेश त्वं मां वेत्सि न सुव्रत । मया ध्यानेन वै पूर्वं वारितस्त्वं पुनःपुनः
Knowledge said: I am your servant, O Lord of the world, but you do not recognize me, O virtuous one; by me, through meditation, you were restrained again and again.
पंचात्मकानां संगेन आपदं प्राप्तवान्भवान् । ध्यानं गच्छ महाप्राज्ञ स ते दाता सुखस्य च
Through association with the fivefold elements, you have encountered misfortune; go to Meditation, O great sage, for he will grant you happiness.
ज्ञानेन प्रेषितो ह्यात्मा ध्यानमाश्रित्य संस्थितः । सुखमत्यंतसिद्धं च ध्यानं मे दर्शयस्व ह
Sent by Knowledge, the self, established in Meditation, said: Show me that supreme happiness which is attained through Meditation.
भवच्छरणमायातं मामेवं परिरक्षय । एवं संभाषितं तस्य ध्यानमाकर्ण्य तद्वचः
I have come to your refuge; protect me from the harshness of worldly existence. Thus addressed, Meditation listened to his words.
समुवाच पुनश्चापि तमात्मानं प्रहृष्टवान् । नैव त्याज्योस्म्यहं तात सर्वकर्मसुनिश्चितः
Then, rejoicing, he again addressed that self: 'O dear one, I am not to be abandoned, for I am firmly established in all actions.'
त्वयैव वीतरागेण विवेकेन सदैव हि । ध्यानयुक्तो भवस्व त्वमात्मानमवलोकय
With detachment and discernment, always be united with meditation; observe your own self.
आत्मवांस्त्वं स्थिरो भूत्वा निरातंको विकल्पितः । यथा दीपो निवातस्थः कज्जलं वमते स्थिरः
Be steadfast, possessing the self, free from fear and doubts, like a lamp placed in a windless spot, steadily emitting soot.
तथा दोषान्प्रज्वलित्वा निर्वाणं हि प्रयास्यति । एकांतस्थो निराहारो मिताशी भव सर्वदा
In this way, having burned away faults, one will attain extinction; always remain solitary, fasting, and moderate in eating.
निर्द्वंद्वः शब्दसंहीनो निश्चलो ह्यासने स्थितः । आत्मानमात्मना ध्यायन्ममैव स्थिरबुद्धिना
Free from dualities, silent, unmoving while seated, meditate on the self with a steady mind, as I do.
प्राप्स्यसे परमं स्थानं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्
You will attain the supreme state, that highest abode of Vishnu.
नवमोऽध्यायः कश्यप उवाच- एवं संबोधितस्तत्र आत्मा ध्यानादिकैस्तदा । त्यक्तुकामः स तत्कार्यं पंचात्मकं स बुद्धिमान्
Chapter Nine Kashyapa said: Thus addressed there, the self, through meditation and the like, then, desiring to abandon, wisely relinquishes the fivefold work.
निमित्तान्येव पश्यैव प्राप्य तांस्तान्प्रयाति सः । विहाय कायं निर्लक्ष्यं पतितं नैव पश्यति
He perceives only the causes, and having attained them, departs; abandoning the body, unmarked, fallen, he does not see it.
सहवर्द्धितयोर्नास्ति संबंधः प्राण देहयोः । धनपुत्रकलत्रैश्च संबंधः केन हेतुना
There is no connection between breath and body, even though they grow together; by what reason is there connection with wealth, sons, and wives?