कयाचिद् अपि नो युक्त्या बुद्धिर् आत्मावलोकने । स्वप्रयत्नाद् ऋते पुंसश् श्रेयसे सम्प्रवर्तते
By no reasoning whatsoever does the intellect turn toward self-inquiry for one's highest good, except by one's own effort.
भोगसन्त्यागसम्प्राप्तपरमार्थाद् ऋते सुत । न ब्रह्मपदविश्रान्तिसुखम् आसाद्यते परम्
O son, except through the attainment of the highest reality by the abandonment of enjoyments, the supreme happiness of resting in the state of Brahman is not reached.
आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्ते जगत्य् अस्मिन् न कुत्रचित् । तद्वद् आश्वस्यते साधो परमे कारणे यथा
From Brahma down to a blade of grass, nowhere in this world is there such assurance, O noble one, as there is in the Supreme Cause.
पौरुषम् यत्नम् आश्रित्य दैवं कृत्वा सुदूरतः । भोगान् विगर्हयेत् प्राज्ञश् श्रेयोमार्गदृढार्गलान्
Relying on one's own effort and keeping fate far removed, the wise person scorns pleasures, securing the path to the highest good with firm locks.
प्रौढायां भोगगर्हायां विचार उपजायते । वृद्धायां प्रावृषि श्रीमाञ् शरत्काल इवामलः
When the disdain for pleasures matures, inquiry arises; as autumn follows the rainy season, pure and splendid.
विचारो भोगगर्हातो विचाराद् भोगगर्हणम् । अन्योऽन्यम् एते पूर्येते समुद्रजलदाव् इव
Inquiry comes from the disdain of pleasures, and from inquiry arises disdain for pleasures; these two fulfill each other, like the ocean and clouds.
भोगगर्हा विचारश् च स्वात्मालोकश् च शाश्वतः । अन्योऽन्यं साधयन्त्य् अर्थं सुस्निग्धास् सुहृदो यथा
Disdain for pleasures, inquiry, and self-realization are eternal; they accomplish each other's purpose, like affectionate friends.
पूर्वं दैवम् अनादृत्य पौरुषं प्राप्य यत्नतः । दन्तैर् दन्तान् प्रसम्पीड्य भोगेष्व् अरतिम् आहरेत्
First, disregarding fate and attaining effort through diligence, one should bring forth aversion to pleasures, pressing teeth against teeth.
देशाचाराविरुद्धेन बान्धवैकहितेन च । पौरुषेण क्रमेणादौ धनानि समुपार्जयेत्
By means not opposed to local customs and for the benefit of one's relatives, one should initially acquire wealth through personal effort and proper order.
धनैर् अभ्याहरेद् भव्यान् सुजनान् गुणशालिनः । प्रवर्तते समासङ्गात् तेषां भोगविगर्हणा
With wealth, one should welcome noble people endowed with virtues; from association with them, the disdain for pleasures arises.
ततो विचारस् तदनु ज्ञानशास्त्रार्थसङ्ग्रहः । ततः क्रमेण परमपदप्राप्तिः प्रजायते
Then comes inquiry, followed by the study of the meaning of scriptures of knowledge; thereafter, gradually, the attainment of the supreme state arises.
यदासुरपते काले विषयेभ्यो विरंस्यसि । तदा विचारवशतः परमं पदम् एष्यसि
O lord of the gods, when, in due time, you withdraw from the sense objects, then, through the power of discernment, you will attain the supreme state.
सम्यक् प्राप्स्यसि विश्रान्तिम् आत्मन्य् अत्यन्तपावने । न पुनः कलनापङ्के दुःखायावपतिष्यसि
You will truly obtain rest in the self, which is supremely pure, and you will not again fall into the mire of thought, which leads to suffering.
देशक्रमेण धनम् अल्पविगर्हणेन तेनाङ्ग साधुजनम् अर्जय मानपूर्वम् । तत्सङ्गमोत्थविषयाभ्यवहेलनेन सम्यग्विचारविभवेन तवात्मलाभः
Gradually, by wealth gained with little reproach, O dear one, win over good people with respect; by associating with them, disregard sense objects, and through the power of right inquiry, you will attain your own self.
एतन् मे कथितं पूर्वं पित्रा चारुविचारिणा । इदानीं संस्मृतं दिष्ट्या सम्प्रबोधम् अहं गतः
This was formerly told to me by my father, who was wise in inquiry; now, by good fortune, I have remembered it and attained awakening.
अद्येयं मम सञ्जाता भोगान् प्रत्य् अरतिस् स्फुटम् । दिष्ट्या शमसुखं स्वच्छं विशाम्य् अमृतशीतलम्
Today, a clear distaste for enjoyments has arisen in me; by good fortune, I enter the pure, immortal, and cool happiness of tranquility.
पुनर् आपूरयन्न् आशाः पुनर् अभ्याहरन् धनम् । पुनर् आवर्जयन् कान्ताः खिन्नो ऽस्मि विभवस्थितौ
Again filling desires, again acquiring wealth, again attracting beloveds— I am weary of this state of prosperity.
अहो नु खलु रम्येयं शमभूश् शीतलान्तरा । सर्वा एव शमं यान्ति सुखदुःखदृशश् शमे
Truly, this ground of tranquility is delightful and cool within; all perceptions of pleasure and pain come to rest in tranquility.
शाम्यामि परिनिर्वामि सुखम् आसे शमे स्थितः । अयम् अन्तः प्रहृष्यामि चन्द्रबिम्ब इवार्पितः
I become calm, I am completely at peace, I dwell happily established in tranquility; within, I rejoice, as if touched by the moon’s disk.
उत्ताण्डवमनोरंहःपोषितोरुशरीरकम् । अनारतपरिक्षोभं हा दुःखं विभवार्जनम्
Alas, the acquisition of wealth is suffering—nourishing this large body, driven by the wild dance of desires, and constantly agitated.
अङ्गम् अङ्गेन सम्पीड्य मांसं मांसेन च स्त्रियाः । पुराहम् अभवं प्रीतो यत् तन् मोहविजृम्भितम्
Once, I was pleased by the embrace of limbs with limbs, and flesh with flesh, with a woman; but that was only the display of delusion.
दृष्टान्तदृष्टयो दृष्टा भुक्तं भोक्तव्यम् अक्षतम् । आक्रान्तम् अखिलं भूतजातं किम् इव शोभनम्
All experiences have been seen, all enjoyments have been enjoyed intact; the entire world of beings has been traversed—what, then, is truly delightful?
पुनस् तान्य् एव तान्य् एव तत्रेहान्यत्र चात्र च । इतश् चेतश् च वस्तूनि नापूर्वं नाम किञ्चन
Again and again, here and elsewhere, it is the same things, the same objects, from this place to that—there is nothing that is truly new.
सर्वम् एव परित्यज्य परिहृत्य धिया स्वयम् । स्वच्छ एवावतिष्ठे ऽहं पूर्णो ऽर्णव इवात्मनि
Having abandoned everything, having renounced all by my own understanding, I remain pure, full in myself, like the ocean in its own being.
पाताले भूतले स्वर्गे स्त्रियो रत्नोपलादयः । सारं तद् अपि तुच्छेन कालेनाशु निगीर्यते
In the netherworld, on earth, in heaven—women, jewels, and so on—even their essence is quickly swallowed up by time, which is trivial.
एतावन्तम् अहं कालं भृशं बालो ऽभवं पुरा । यः कुर्वन् द्वेषम् अमरैस् तुच्छया जगदिच्छया
For so long in the past, I was truly childish—harboring aversion toward the immortals, driven by a petty desire for the world.
मनोनिर्माणमात्रेण जगन्नाम्ना महाधिना । त्यक्तेनात्तेन वार्थस् स्यात् क उदारो महात्मनः
By mere mental construction, the world is called great; but whether one renounces or enjoys it, what purpose is served for the noble-minded?
कष्टं चिरतरं कालम् अनर्थो ऽर्थधिया मया । अज्ञानमदमत्तेन बालेन श्वेव सेवितः
Alas, for a very long time, I, deluded by the pursuit of external gain, have courted misfortune like a foolish child intoxicated by ignorance and pride, just as a dog does.
तरत्तरलतृष्णेन किम् इवास्मिञ् जगत्त्रये । मया न कृतम् अज्ञेन पश्चात्तापाभिवृद्धये
What is there in these three worlds that I, driven by swiftly flickering desires and ignorance, have not done, only to increase my later regret?
एतया तद् अलं मे ऽस्तु तुच्छया पूर्वचिन्तया । पौरुषं याति साफल्यं वर्तमानचिकित्सया
Enough now of this worthless brooding over the past; true effort bears fruit through present remedies.