शोच्यमानं जनैर् नित्यं दह्यमानं दुराशया । नात्मानम् अवमन्येत प्रोद्धरेद् एनम् आदरात्
Even if one is always pitied by people, and burned by evil hopes, one should not despise oneself, but should respectfully uplift oneself.
अहङ्कारमहालानं तृष्णारज्जुं मनोमदम् । जन्मजम्बालनिर्मग्नं जीवदन्तिनम् उद्धरेत्
One should uplift the living elephant—immersed in the mud of birth—whose great chain is ego, whose rope is craving, and whose intoxication is the mind.
अयम् एतावतैवात्मा त्रातो भवति राघव । यद् अपास्य विमूढत्वम् अहङ्कारः प्रमार्ज्यते
O Raghava, the self is protected to this extent: when, having abandoned delusion, ego is thoroughly cleansed.
एतावतैव सन्मार्गो याति प्रकटताम् अलम् । यद् अपास्य मनोमोहम् अहम्भावो विलीयते
Only to this extent does the true path become fully evident: when, having cast aside the delusion of the mind, the sense of 'I' dissolves.
एतावतैव देवेशः परमात्मावगम्यते । काष्ठलोष्टसमत्वेन देहो यद् अवलोक्यते
Only to this extent is the supreme Self, Lord of the gods, realized: when the body is regarded with the same indifference as a log of wood or a clod of earth.
अहङ्काराम्बुदे क्षीणे दृश्यते चिद्दिवाकरः । ततस् तत्परिणामेन तत् पदं समवाप्यते
When the ocean of ego is dried up, the sun of consciousness is seen; then, through its transformation, that supreme state is attained.
यथा ध्वान्तसमुच्छेदे स्वयम् आलोकवेदनम् । तथाहङ्कारविच्छेदे स्वयम् आत्मावलोकनम्
Just as, when darkness is dispelled, light is perceived by itself, so, when ego is cut off, the Self is seen by itself.
अहङ्कारसमुच्छेदे यावस्था सुसमोदया । सा परा भरिताकारा सा सर्वव्यापिनी चितिः
The state that arises upon the complete dissolution of ego, which is supremely auspicious, is the highest, all-pervading consciousness, full in its own form.
परिपूर्णार्णवप्रख्या न वाग्गोचरम् एति नः । नोपमानम् उपादत्ते नानुधावति रञ्जनम्
Vast as a fully overflowing ocean, it does not come within the range of our speech; it accepts no comparison, nor does it pursue any coloring or modification.
केवलं चित्प्रकाशांशकलिता स्थिरतां गता । तुर्या चेत् प्राप्यते दृष्टिस् तत् तया सोपमीयते
It is simply the radiance of consciousness, stabilized and complete; if the fourth state (turiya) is attained, perception is likened to that.
अदूरगतसादृश्या सुषुप्तस्योपलक्ष्यते । सावस्था भरिताकारा गगनश्रीर् इवाम्बुधेः
By a certain nearness of resemblance, it is observed in deep sleep; that state, full in its own form, is like the splendor of the sky compared to the ocean.
मनोऽहङ्कारविलये सर्वभावान्तरस्थिता । समुदेति परानन्दा या तनुः पारमेश्वरी
When mind and ego are dissolved, the supreme divine body of bliss arises, pervading all states of being.
सा स्वयं योगसंसिद्ध्या सुषुप्तादूरभाविनी । न गम्या वचसां राम हृद्य् एवेहानुभूयते
By the perfection of yoga, that very state, which is beyond even deep sleep, cannot be reached by words, O Rama; it is experienced here in the heart alone.
अखिलम् इदम् अनन्तम् आत्मतत्त्वं दृढपरिणामिनि चेतसि स्थिते ऽन्तः । बहिर् उपशमिते चराचरात्मा स्वयम् अनुभूयत एव देवदेवः
When the infinite essence of the Self is firmly established within the steadfast mind, and the inner and outer worlds are at peace, then the Lord of lords is directly realized.
तदनु विषयवासनाविनाशस् तदनु शुभः परमस्फुटः प्रकाशः । तदनु च समतावशात् स्वरूपे परिणमनं महताम् अचिन्त्यरूपे
Then, the destruction of attachment to sense objects follows; then, a supremely clear and auspicious illumination arises; then, by the power of equanimity, the great ones abide in their own inconceivable nature.
मनसैव मनश् छित्त्वा यद्य् आत्मा नावलोक्यते । ममेत्य् अहम् इति त्यक्त्वा तत् तामरसलोचन
If, by the mind itself, the mind is cut off but the Self is not realized, O lotus-eyed one, and 'mine' and 'I' are not abandoned—
नास्तम् एति जगद्दुःखं यथा चित्रगतो रविः । आपद् आयात्य् अनन्तत्वं महार्णववद् आतता
—then the suffering of the world does not come to an end, just as the sun in a painting never sets; adversity spreads endlessly, like a vast ocean.
पुनः पुनर् उपायाति जडकल्लोलकारिणी । मेघनीलतरुश्यामा संसृतिप्रावृड् आकुला
Again and again, the restless waves of dullness arise; the rainy season of transmigration, dark as clouds and trees, brings confusion.
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीमम् इतिहासं पुरातनम् । संवादं सुहृदोस् सह्यसानौ भासविलासयोः
Here they recount this ancient story: the dialogue between two friends, Bhāsa and Vilāsa, on Mount Sahya.
अस्त्य् उत्सेधजिताकाशः पीठेन जितभूतलः । तलेन जितपातालस् त्रिलोकविजयी गिरिः
There is a mountain, victorious over the sky by its summit, over the earth by its base, and over the netherworld by its foundation—conqueror of the three worlds.
असह्यकुसुमापूरो ऽसह्यनिर्मलनिर्झरः । गुह्यकारक्षितनिधिस् सह्यनामाविषह्यभाः
It is filled with unbearable blossoms, with streams of dazzling purity, its treasures guarded by spirits, named Sahya, radiating an intolerable brilliance.
मुक्तापटलसम्पूर्णैर् धातुपाटलभित्तिभिः । भासुरः काञ्चनतटैः कटैर् इव सुरद्विपः
Its shining slopes are adorned with walls of minerals studded with clusters of pearls, and with golden banks, like the peaks of the gods’ own mountain.
क्वचित् पुष्पभराशारो धातुशारतरः क्वचित् । क्वचित् फुल्लसरश्शारो रत्नशारशिराः क्वचित्
In some places, it is dense with masses of flowers; in others, it is rich with pure minerals; elsewhere, it is edged with blooming lakes, and in some parts, crowned with crests of jewels.
इतो रटन्निर्झरवान् इतः क्वणितकीचकः । इतो रटद्गुहावात इतष् षट्पदघुङ्घुमी
Here, waterfalls roar; there, bamboo reeds sing; in one place, the wind howls through caves; in another, bees hum deeply.
सानौ गीताप्सरोवृन्दो वने मृदुखगारवः । अधित्यकायां मत्ताभ्रो गहनेषु मृगारवी
On its slopes, celestial nymphs sing; in the forest, birds gently call; on the ridges, intoxicated clouds resound; in the thickets, wild animals cry out.
विद्याधरोद्गीतगुहो भृङ्गगीताम्बुजाकरः । किरातागीतपर्यन्तः खगागीतवनद्रुमः
Its caves echo with the songs of vidyādharas; lotuses resound with the music of bees; its edges ring with the songs of hunters, and its forest trees with the melodies of birds.
स्कन्धेषु देवैर् वलितः पादेषु वलितो नरैः । पाताले वलितो नागैर् जगद्गेहम् इवापरम्
Its shoulders are encircled by gods, its feet by men, and its nether regions by serpents, as if it were another cosmic abode.
कन्दरेषु श्रितस् सिद्धैर् निधानैर् अन्तर् आश्रितः । चन्दनेषु श्रितो नागैस् सिंहैश् शृङ्गशिखासु च
In the mountain caves, inhabited by accomplished sages and filled with hidden treasures, among sandalwood trees where elephants dwell, and on the peaks where lions reside,
पुष्पाभ्रसंवीतवपुः पुष्परेण्वभ्रपांसुलः । पुष्पपत्त्राभ्रभृद्वातः पुष्पपादपपाण्डुरः
His form is covered with clouds of flowers, dusted with pollen and flower-dust; the wind carries petals and clouds, and he is pale as the trunks of flowering trees.
धातुधूल्यभ्रकपिलो रत्नोपलतलस्थितिः । स दारुजैर् इव सुरस्त्रीगणैर् अलम् आश्रितः
Tinged tawny by the dust of minerals and clouds, he dwells upon jeweled rocky platforms, surrounded as if by groups of celestial women made of wood.