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.
अभ्रनीलांशुकच्छन्ना मूकरत्नविभूषणाः । शिलाकनकसुन्दर्यो यत्र शृङ्गाभिसारिकाः
There, women adorned with blue cloud-like garments and pearl-jewel ornaments, beautiful as golden rocks, move among the peaks as if seeking lovers.
तत्रोत्तरतटे सानाव् आनमत्फलपादपे । रत्नपुष्करिणीजालवहन्निर्झरवारिणि
On the northern slope of that mountain, where the trees bend under the weight of their fruit, and the streams carry the waters of jeweled lotus ponds,
चूतद्रुमलतोन्मुक्तपुष्पस्तबकदन्तुरे । विदुलाङ्कोल्लपुन्नागनीपनीरन्ध्रदिक्तटे
Where mango trees release clusters of blossoms, and the banks are marked by moon-crested, ollapunnaga, nipa, and nirandhra trees,
लतावितानच्छन्नार्के रत्नांशुभरभासुरे । स्रवज्जम्बूरसक्नूते स्वर्लोकाह्लादकारिणि
Where the sun is veiled by canopies of vines, the brilliance of jewels shines forth, and the flowing waters of the Jambu river bring delight like that of heaven,
ब्रह्मलोकसमस् स्वर्गरम्यश् शिवपुरोपमः । अत्रेर् अस्त्य् आश्रमश् श्रीमान् सिद्धश्रमहरो महान्
There is the splendid hermitage of Atri, vast as Siddha-ashrama, equal to Brahma's world, delightful as heaven, and resembling the city of Shiva.
महत्य् अत्र्याश्रमे तस्मिंस् तापसौ द्वौ बभूवतुः । कौचिद् एव नभोमार्ग इव शुक्रबृहस्पती
In that great hermitage of Atri, there were two ascetics, like Venus and Jupiter moving together in the sky.
तयोर् अथैकास्पदयोस् तत्राभूतां सुताव् उभौ । कुलाङ्कुरौ शुद्धतनू सरस्वत्य् अम्बुजाव् इव
There, from those two sharing one dwelling, were born two sons, noble scions, pure-bodied, like two lotuses in the waters of Sarasvati.
विलासभासनामानौ वृद्धिम् आययतुः क्रमात् । तौ पित्रोः पल्लवौ शीघ्रं लतापादपयोर् इव
Named Vilāsa and Bhāsa, they gradually grew in stature, swiftly flourishing as tender shoots from the feet of their parents, like sprouts from the base of a vine.
आस्ताम् अन्योऽन्यसुहृदौ सुस्निग्धौ वल्लभौ मिथः । तिलतैलवद् आश्लिष्टौ तौ पुष्पामोदवत् स्थितौ
They were deeply affectionate, mutually dear, close friends to each other; embracing like sesame and oil, they remained together, fragrant like flowers.
नाभूतां विप्रयुक्तौ तौ सुरक्ताव् इव दम्पती । एकं द्वित्वम् इवापन्नं समम् आसीत् तयोर् मनः
They were never separated, passionately attached like a loving couple; their minds were united, as if one had become two.