तत्र कस्मिंश्चिद् उदिते सानौ सफलपादपे । आगुल्फकीर्णकुसुमे स्निग्धच्छायामहाद्रुमे
There, on a certain rising slope, stood a fruitful tree, its base strewn with flowers up to the ankles, a great tree with lush shade.
उद्दालको नाम मुनिर् मौनी मानी महामतिः । अप्राप्तयौवनः पूर्वम् उवासोद्दामतापसः
There was a sage named Uddālaka, silent, proud, and of great intellect, who, even before reaching youth, lived as an intense ascetic.
प्रथमं तु बभूवासाव् अल्पप्रज्ञाविचारवान् । अप्राप्तपदविश्रान्तिर् अप्रबुद्धशुभाशयः
At first, he was of little discernment and reflection, not yet having attained the state of rest, nor awakened to auspicious intentions.
ततः क्रमेण तपसा शास्त्रार्थनियमैर् यमैः । विवेक आजगामैनं नवर्तुर् इव भूतलम्
Then, gradually, through austerity, discipline in the meaning of the scriptures, and self-restraint, discernment arose in him, as spring arrives upon the earth.
अथेदं चिन्तयाम् आस संसारभयभीतधीः । एकान्त एव निवसन् कदाचित् क्लान्तमानसः
Then, his mind fearful of the terror of worldly existence, he began to reflect, living in solitude, sometimes with a weary mind.
किं तत् प्राप्यं प्रधानं स्याद् यद् विश्रान्तौ न शोच्यते । यत् प्राप्य जन्मना भूयस् सम्बन्धो नोपजायते
What is that supreme attainment, upon reaching which there is no sorrow in repose, and having attained which, one is not bound again by birth?
कदाहं त्यक्तमननः पदे परमपावने । विश्रान्तिं चिरम् एष्यामि मेरुशृङ्ग इवाम्बुदः
When will I, having abandoned all thought, reach lasting repose in the supremely pure state, like a cloud resting on the peak of Meru?
कदा शमम् उपेष्यन्ति ममान्तर् भोगवासनाः । आलोलकल्लोलरवा ऊर्मयो ऽम्बुनिधाव् इव
When will the waves of desire for enjoyment within me come to rest, like the surging waves in the ocean falling silent?
इदं कृत्वेदम् अप्य् अन्यत् कर्तव्यम् इति कल्पनाम् । कदान्तर् विहसिष्यामि पदविश्रान्तया धिया
When will I, free from the notion 'having done this, now something else must be done,' rejoice inwardly with a mind at rest?
कदा विकल्पजालं मे न लगिष्यति चेतसि । स्थितम् अप्य् उज्झितासङ्गं पयः पद्मदले यथा
When will the net of thoughts no longer cling to my mind, remaining unattached even if present, like water on a lotus leaf?
कदा बहलकल्लोलां नावा परमया धिया । परितीर्णो भविष्यामि तृष्णामत्ततरङ्गिणीम्
When will I, with supreme understanding, cross over the river of craving, whose waves surge thick and strong?
कदेमां जागतैर् भूतैः क्रियमाणाम् असन्मयीम् । क्रियाम् उपहसिष्यामि बाललीलाम् इवाफलाम्
When will I laugh at this insubstantial activity performed by worldly beings, as one laughs at the fruitless play of children?
कदा विकल्पपर्यस्तमनोदोलावदोलनम् । प्रशमिष्यति मे शान्तपानौजस इव भ्रमः
When will the swinging of my mind, disturbed by imagination, come to rest, like dizziness ceases through the power of a tranquilizing drink?
कदोदितवपुर्भास्वान् विहसञ् जागतीर् गतीः । अन्तस् सन्तोषम् एष्यामि विराडात्मेव पूर्णधीः
When, shining with a radiant form, will I move through the paths of the world with inner contentment, like the cosmic Self, complete in understanding?
शान्तश् समसमाचारस् सोम्यस् सर्वार्थनिस्स्पृहः । कदोपशमम् एष्यामि मन्थोन्मुक्तमहाब्धिवत्
Peaceful, even in conduct, gentle, free from all desire for objects—when will I attain tranquility, like the ocean freed from the churning?
कदेमाम् अखिलां दृश्यश्रियम् आशाशतात्मिकाम् । सर्वां सुषुप्तवत् पश्यन् भविष्याम्य् अन्तराततः
When will I, seeing all this visible splendor, which is composed of countless hopes, view it all as one does in deep sleep, from within myself?
सबाह्याभ्यन्तरं सर्वं शान्तकल्पनया धिया । पश्यंश् चिन्मात्रम् अखिलं भावयिष्याम्य् अहं कदा
When will I, perceiving everything—inner and outer—with a mind stilled by peaceful discernment, realize all as pure consciousness alone?
कदोपशान्तचित्तात्मा चित्ताम् उपगतः पराम् । परमालोकम् एष्यामि जात्यान्ध्यविगमाद् इव
When will my mind and self become fully tranquil, attaining the highest consciousness, so that I may reach the supreme realm, as one freed from the blindness of birth?
कदाभ्यासोपलब्धेन चित्प्रकाशेन चारुणा । दूराद् आलोकयिष्यामि तन्वीं कालकलाम् इमाम्
When, through the radiant light of awareness gained by practice, will I behold from afar this slender thread of time?
ईहितानीहितोन्मुक्तो हेयोपादेयवर्जितः । कदान्तस् तोषम् एष्यामि स्वप्रकाशपदस्थितः
When, free from desire and aversion, untouched by acceptance or rejection, will I find contentment, established in the state of self-luminous awareness?
कदाशाकौशिकीकीर्णा जाड्यजीर्णहृदम्बुजा । क्षयम् एष्यति कृष्णेयं कदा मे मोहयामिनी
When will this dark enchantress, who scatters the heart's lotus with dullness and decay, finally perish for me?
कदोपशान्तमननो धरणीधरकन्दरे । समेष्यामि शिलासाम्यं निर्विकल्पसमाधिना
When, with a mind at peace, will I enter the mountain cave and become equal to the stone, absorbed in the unwavering samadhi?
कदा मे चित्तमातङ्गस् स्वाभिमानमहामदः । तत्त्वावबोधहरिणा हतो नाशम् उपैष्यति
When will the mighty pride of my mind-elephant, intoxicated with self-conceit, be slain by the deer of true understanding, and thus come to its end?
निरंशध्यानविश्रान्तिमूकस्य मम मूर्धनि । कदा कर्णे करिष्यन्ति कुलायं वनपुत्तिकाः
When will the forest birds build their nests in my ear, as I rest in silent meditation, my head quiet and still?
कदा निश्शङ्कम् उरसि ध्यानाधीनधियः खगाः । मम विश्रान्तिम् एष्यन्ति शैलस्थाणुतलस्थितेः
When will the birds, whose minds are absorbed in meditation, fearlessly settle upon my chest, as I remain unmoving like a mountain pillar?
तृष्णाकरञ्जजटिलां जन्मजर्जरगुल्मकाम् । संसारारण्यसरणिं त्यक्त्वा यास्याम्य् अहं कदा
When will I abandon the path through the forest of worldly existence, overgrown with the tangled thickets of craving, and afflicted by the disease of birth and decay?
इति चिन्तापरवशो वन उद्दालको द्विजः । पुनः पुनस् तूपविश्य ध्यानाभ्यासं चकार सः
Thus, overwhelmed by such thoughts, the twice-born Uddālaka sat again and again in the forest, practicing meditation.
विषयैर् नीयमाने तु चित्ते मर्कटचञ्चले । न स लेभे समाधानप्रतिष्ठां प्रीतिदायिनीम्
But as his mind, restless like a monkey, was drawn toward sense objects, he did not attain the stable, joyful state of concentration.
कदाचिद् बाह्यसंस्पर्शपरित्यागाद् अनन्तरम् । तस्यागच्छच् चित्तकपिः प्रोद्वेगं तत्त्वसंस्थितौ
Sometimes, after renouncing external contacts, his mind-monkey would leap up with agitation even in the state of contemplation on reality.
कदाचिद् आन्तरान् स्पर्शान् परित्यज्य मनःकपिः । लोलत्वात् तस्य संयातो विषयं विषलुब्धवत्
At times, having abandoned inner impressions, his mind-monkey, due to its fickle nature, would again rush toward sense objects, like one greedy for poison.