एवम् अस्य कथं ब्रह्मन् मायाचक्रस्य रोधनम् । कुर्मः प्रबलिनो वेगात् सर्वाङ्गच्छेदकारिणः
Thus, O Brahman, how can we restrain the wheel of illusion, which is powerful and, by its force, cuts off all limbs like a tortoise?
अस्य संसाररूपस्य मायाचक्रस्य राघव । चित्तं विद्धि महानाभिं भ्रमतो भ्रमदायिनः
Know, O Raghava, that the mind is the great hub of this wheel of illusion in the form of worldly existence, which whirls and causes whirling.
तस्मिन् नूनम् अवष्टब्धे धिया पुरुषयत्नतः । गृहीतनाभि वहनान् मायाचक्रं निरुध्यते
When, by the effort of the intellect, one firmly grasps that hub, then, holding the hub, the wheel of illusion is surely brought to a halt.
अवष्टब्धमनोनाभि मोहचक्रं न चोपति । यथा रज्ज्वां निरुद्धायां कीलकं रज्जुवेष्टितम्
The wheel of delusion does not revolve when the navel of the mind is firmly fixed, just as a peg wrapped with a rope does not move when the rope is tightly held.
चक्रयुद्धैकतज्ज्ञो ऽपि कस्माज् जानासि नानघ । चक्रं नाभाव् अवष्टब्धं वशम् आयाति नान्यथा
Even if one is skilled in the art of fighting with wheels, O sinless one, do you not know that a wheel, when its hub is secured, comes under control and not otherwise?
चित्तनाभाव् अवष्टभ्य तस्माद् यत्नेन राघव । संसारचक्रं वहनाद् आत्मनः परिरोधय
Therefore, O Raghava, with effort, secure the hub of the mind and restrain the wheel of worldly existence from revolving around the self.
एतां युक्तिं विना दुःखम् अनन्तम् इदम् आत्मनः । अस्यां युक्तौ क्षणात् त्व् अन्तं गतम् एवावलोकय
Without this method, endless suffering arises for oneself; but by this method, see how in a moment it surely comes to an end.
चित्ताक्रमणमात्राख्यात् परमाद् औषधाद् ऋते । प्रयत्नेनापि संसारमहारोगो न शाम्यति
Except for the supreme remedy called the restraint of the mind, even with effort, the great disease of worldly existence does not subside.
तस्माद् राघव सन्त्यज्य तीर्थदानतपःक्रियाः । श्रेयसे परमायान्तश् चित्तम् एव वशीकुरु
Therefore, O Raghava, abandoning pilgrimages, charity, and austerities, bring the mind alone under control for the sake of the highest good.
चित्तान्तर् एव संसारः कुम्भान्तः कुम्भखं यथा । चित्तनाशे न संसारः कुम्भनाशे न कुम्भखम्
Samsara exists only within the mind, just as space exists only within a pot; when the mind is destroyed, there is no samsara, just as when the pot is destroyed, there is no pot-space.
चित्तसंसारणाकाशकोटरे चित्तकुम्भखम् । विनाश्यातुलिताकाशरूपं स्वं रूपम् आविश
Abandoning the pot-space of the mind within the cave of the mind’s samsara, enter your own true form, which is of the nature of infinite, undivided space.
वर्तमानं क्रमायातं भजद् बाह्यधिया क्षणम् । भूतं भविष्यद् अभजद् याति चित्तम् अचित्तताम्
The mind, for a moment, engages with the present as it arrives in sequence through outward awareness; abandoning what is past and what is yet to come, it enters a state beyond mind.
सङ्कल्पं सानुसन्धानवर्जनं चेत् प्रतिक्षणम् । करोषि तद् अचित्तत्वं प्राप्त एवासि पावनम्
If you perform every intention without attachment or continuity, then you attain the state beyond mind and are truly purified.
यावत् सङ्कल्पकलनं तावच् चित्तविभूतयः । यावज् जलदविस्तारस् तावत् खे जलबिन्दवः
As long as there is the fabrication of intention, so long are the powers of the mind; as long as clouds spread in the sky, so long are there drops of water.
सचित्तं चेतनं यावत् तावत् सङ्कल्पकल्पनम् । सचन्द्रांशु जगद् यावत् तावत् प्रालेयलेशकाः
As long as there is conscious mind, so long is there the creation of intention; as long as the world exists with moonlight, so long are there traces of frost.
चेतनश् चित्तरिक्तश् चेद् भावितस् तत् कुसंसृतेः । आमूलम् एव दग्धानि विद्धि मूलानि सिद्धिमन्
If consciousness is without mind and is cultivated, then the roots of impurity are burned up entirely; know that this is the foundation of accomplishment.
चेतनं चित्तरिक्तं हि प्रत्यक्चेतनम् उच्यते । निर्मनस्कस्वभावं तन् न तत्र कलनामलः
Consciousness devoid of mind is called inner consciousness; its nature is without mental activity, and there is no impurity of conceptualization there.
सा सत्यता सा शिवता सा सत्ता पारमात्मिकी । सर्वज्ञता सा सा तृप्तिर् ननु यत्र मनः क्षतम्
That is truth, that is auspiciousness, that is existence of the supreme Self; that is omniscience, that is fulfillment, indeed where the mind is broken.
मनो यत्र तु तत्रास्थास् तत्र दुःखसुखानि च । सदा सन्निधिम् आयान्ति श्मशान इव वायसाः
Wherever the mind abides, there pleasure and pain always gather, just as crows assemble in a cremation ground.
अवस्तुत्वावबोधेन सर्वभावव्यवस्थितेः । संसृतिव्रततेर् बीजं सङ्कल्पे नोपजायते
When, through the understanding of the unreality of all things, the order of all phenomena is recognized, then the seed of the vow of worldly existence does not arise in thought.
शास्त्रसज्जनसम्पर्कसन्तताभ्यासयोगतः । जागतानाम् अवस्तुत्वं भावानाम् अधिगम्यते
By the continuous practice of study, association with noble people, and discipline, the unreality of worldly objects and phenomena is realized.
अविवेकाद् उपाहृत्य चेतस् स्वैर् यत्ननिश्चयैः । बलात्कारेण संयोज्यं शास्त्रसत्पुरुषक्रमे
Through discernment, one must forcibly direct the mind, which has been led astray by lack of discrimination, with determined effort, following the method of scripture and guidance of the wise.
मुख्यं कारणम् आत्मैव परमात्मावलोकने । अगाधे पतितं रत्नं रत्नेनैवावकृष्यते
The primary cause for perceiving the Supreme Self is the self itself; just as a jewel fallen into deep water is drawn out by another jewel.
स्वानुभूतानि दुःखानि स्वात्मैव त्यक्तुम् अर्हति । तेनात्मैवात्मविज्ञाने हेतुर् एकः परस् स्मृतः
It is the self alone that should abandon the sufferings it has experienced; therefore, the self alone is regarded as the sole cause in the knowledge of the self.
प्रलपन् विसृजन् गृह्णन्न् उन्मिषन् निमिषन्न् अपि । निरस्तमननानन्तसंविन्मात्रपरो भव
Whether speaking, letting go, taking, opening or closing the eyes, be intent solely on the infinite consciousness, with the mind free from distractions.
ममेदं तद् अयं सो ऽहम् इति सन्त्यज्य वासनाः । एकनिष्ठतयान्तस्स्थसंविन्मात्रपरो भव
Abandoning all tendencies of 'this is mine,' 'that is his,' or 'I am this,' be intent solely on the inner consciousness with unwavering focus.
वर्तमानभविष्यन्त्योस् स्थित्योर् आदेहम् एकधीः । स्वसंवित्त्यनुसन्धानात् समाधानपरो भव
In all states of present and future existence, maintain a single-pointed awareness; through continual attention to your own consciousness, be intent on absorption.
पलायनेषु युद्धेषु दुःखेषु च सुखेषु च । जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तेषु स्वसंवित्तिपरो भव
In flight, in battle, in sorrow and in joy, in waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—be devoted to your own awareness.
मलं संवेद्यम् उत्सृज्य मनो निर्मथ्य मन्थरम् । आशापाशान् अलं छित्त्वा स्वसंवित्तिपरो भव
Abandon the impurity that is the object of experience, thoroughly churn the sluggish mind, and, having cut asunder the bonds of hope, be devoted to your own awareness.
अशुभाशुभसङ्केतस् संशान्ताशाविषूचिकः । नष्टेष्टानिष्टदृष्टिस् त्वं संवित्सारपरो भव
Free from the fever of hope, beyond the marks of good and evil, with no view of what is desirable or undesirable—be devoted to the essence of consciousness.