There are some among humankind who shine forth by their very nature, their lives adorned with the radiant charm of qualities such as friendship and virtue. Like great trees blossoming with fresh clusters of flowers, they are graced by noble attributes that make them luminous in the world. These people are always united, harmonious, gentle, and noble; their conduct is as steadfast as the ocean, maintaining its boundaries, yet their intentions are vast and expansive. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, the state of such noble souls is a remover of calamity and should ever be sought. One should not linger in the turbulent ocean of misfortune, but instead act in this world without weariness. Those of royal and sattvic nature dedicate themselves to the rise of the self, conducting their lives with purpose and dignity. Having attained noble scripture and reflected upon it again and again, one should swiftly contemplate, with a secluded mind, the impermanence of all things. At the beginning and end, the eternal—the true nature of all things in the three worlds—should be the focus of contemplation, not anything else in vain. Abandoning incorrect perceptions and futile, perishable thoughts, one should remember only this, rightly, for the sake of endless knowledge. The wise, together with the good, must thoroughly examine with effort: Who am I? How has this arisen? What is this expanse of worldly existence? One should not engage in improper actions nor associate with the unworthy, and must recognize that death—the destroyer of all—is not to be disregarded. The noble one who stands at the highest state, greatly magnanimous and cool-hearted, should alone be followed, just as the peacock follows the raincloud. With a pure inquiry into ego, body, and the origin of worldly existence, a person should rely only on truth. Casting aside the body made of bone and flesh, and the unseemly blood and so on, one should behold only pure consciousness, like a string of pearls freed from their casing. In truth, in the eternal, in the pure, in the all-pervading, in the all-sustaining, in the auspicious—all things are strung, as gems are on a thread. That very consciousness which adorns the enjoyment of worlds, which is in the sky, in the sun, in the earth’s hidden core, is the same consciousness within the belly of a worm. Just as there is truly no difference between the space inside a pot and the space outside, O sinless one, so too, there is no real difference between consciousness and bodily forms. For all beings, bitterness and pungency are not otherwise; since experience is one, how can there be any distinction in pure consciousness? In the one ever-present reality of pure consciousness, who can say, "this one is born, that one is destroyed"? Such notions arise only from ignorance. Here, there is no such thing as an entity that, not having existed, comes into being; nor is there any such thing as an entity that, having existed, ceases to be. This is merely an appearance, O Raghava; it is neither real nor unreal, but seems to exist as reality only to a mind that is restless and unsettled. Let delusion arise among you from ignorance, but do not firmly decide that this is real because it perishes, nor that it is unreal. In this way, you may remain free from sorrow. In a world that is unreal, what indeed is the cause for delusion? And if it is real, O dear one, what could cause bewilderment? Therefore, regarding birth, death, and existence, be ever tranquil and equal, like the sky. A wise and thoughtful person should, from the very beginning, dwell in the company of those who are learned, who know the meaning of the scriptures, and who are noble. Wherever noble insights that destroy suffering arise, they do so in the presence of a virtuous person, just as creepers blossom in spring. By reflecting together with a virtuous, detached, and noble-hearted person, O mighty-armed one, the supreme state is attained. One who is honored for study of scripture, association with the good, practice of detachment, and discipline—such a person, O Rama, shines as a vessel of knowledge, just as you do. You, indeed, are noble in your own conduct, steadfast, an ocean of virtues; you abide in a pure state, free from sorrow, marked by rajas and sattva. Now, in this world-burnt existence, you are no longer a vessel for suffering; you are born anew, O sage, following your own true nature. By your own pure vision, the reality of the world has become clear to you, just as things are revealed by the radiance of the sun. Now, cleansed by the fire of my words, be truly pure—like the autumn sky, cleared of clouds. Freed from the notion of worldly existence, endowed with supreme understanding, make your heart transparent, O you whose mind is a cluster of pearls of freedom. The mind that has abandoned the notions of "mine," "this is mine," and "that belongs to another," and is free from all division, is indeed liberated—there is no doubt of this. Those people on earth who now follow your supreme conduct will also attain a state free from sorrow. Those who live according to the example of Rāghava will cross the ocean of worldly existence by means of the boat of their own mind. He whose mind is like yours, who is a noble person seeing all equally, is fit for the vision of knowledge, like the full moon is fit for beautiful rays. You have attained a state free from sorrow and act as is appropriate; remain as long as the body lasts, with a mind free from attachment and aversion. Outwardly, maintain the conduct appropriate to the world, but inwardly, having abandoned all desires, remain in supreme coolness, like the full disc of the moon. But those who are born in other classes and lack virtues are not to be considered; they are like the offspring of jackals, following their own nature. O mighty-armed one, by following the natural qualities of those born with a sattvic nature, a person attains a noble birth in the west. Whatever qualities of birth a creature constantly cultivates here, even if born in another species, it quickly attains the nature of that species. All previous tendencies, following from birth and actions, are overcome by the resolute through their own effort, just as the steadfast conquer enemies.