एकम् एव मनो जन्तोर् यथा प्रयतते हि यत् । नूनं तत् तद् अवाप्नोति स्वत एव न दैवतः
Whatever a creature’s mind strives for, it surely attains that by its own effort, not by destiny.
मनश् चित्तं वासना च कर्म दैवं स्वनिश्चयः । राम पुंनिश्चयस्यैतास् सञ्ज्ञास् सद्भिर् उदाहृताः
Mind, consciousness, inclination, action, destiny, and self-determination—these are the terms used by the wise for the resolve of a person, O Rama.
एवंनामा हि पुरुषो दृढभावनया यथा । नित्यं प्रयतते राम फलम् आप्नोत्य् अलं तथा
Indeed, a person who is steadfast in such conviction, Rama, strives constantly and thereby attains the desired result accordingly.
एवं पुरुषकारेण सर्वम् एव रघूद्वह । प्राप्यते नेतरेणेह तस्मात् स शुभदो ऽस्तु ते
In this way, O best of the Raghu lineage, everything is attained through personal effort alone, not otherwise; therefore, may such auspicious effort be yours.
प्राक्तनं वासनाजालं नियोजयति मां यथा । मुने तथैव तिष्ठामि कृपणः किं करोम्य् अहम्
Just as the web of past tendencies directs me, O sage, so I remain, helpless—what can I do?
अत एव हि हे राम श्रेयः प्राप्नोषि शाश्वतम् । स्वप्रयत्नोपनीतेन पौरुषेणैव नान्यथा
Therefore, O Rama, you attain the highest good, eternal and supreme, only by your own effort and personal endeavor, not otherwise.
द्विविधो वासनाव्यूहश् शुभश् चैवाशुभश् च ते । प्राक्तनो विद्यते राम द्वयोर् एकतरो ऽथ वा
There are two kinds of accumulations of tendencies: virtuous and non-virtuous; one or the other, or both, exist from the past, O Rama.
वासनौघेन शुद्धेन तत्र चेद् अद्य नीयसे । तत् क्रमेण शुभेनैव पदं प्राप्नोषि शाश्वतम्
If today you are led by a current of pure tendencies, then, by that virtue, you will gradually attain the eternal state.
अथ चेद् अशुभो भावस् त्वां योजयति सङ्कटे । प्राक्तनस् तद् असौ यत्नाज् जेतव्यो भवता बलात्
But if a non-virtuous disposition binds you in difficulty, then that past tendency must be forcefully overcome by your effort.
प्राज्ञ चेतनमात्रं त्वं न देहस् त्वं जडात्मकः । तद् एव चेतस्य् अन्येन चेत् तत् त्वं क्वेव विद्यसे
You are pure consciousness, wise one, not this inert body; if you are identified with another mind, then where and what are you truly?
अन्यस् त्वां चेतयति चेत् तत् त्वय्य् असति को ऽपरः । कम् इमं चेतयेत् तस्माद् अनवस्था न वास्तवी
If another causes your awareness, then, in your absence, who else could do so? Who would cause this awareness? Therefore, instability is not real.
शुभाशुभाभ्यां मार्गाभ्यां वहन्ती वासनासरित् । पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन योजनीया शुभे पथि
The river of tendencies flows along paths of good and evil; by human effort and diligence, it should be directed onto the path of virtue.
अशुभेषु समाविष्टं शुभेष्व् एवावतारयेत् । स्वमनः पुरुषार्थेन बलेन बलिनां वर
When immersed in evil, one should bring one's mind back to virtue by purposeful effort and strength, O best among the strong.
अशुभाच् चलितं याति शुभं तस्माद् अपीतरत् । जन्तोश् चित्तं तु पशुवत् तस्मात् तत् पालयेत् सदा
When it turns away from evil, it moves toward good, and otherwise as well; the mind of a creature is like that of an animal, so it should always be guarded.
समतासान्त्वनेनाशु न द्रागिति शनैश् शनैः । पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन पालयेच् चित्तबालकम्
By soothing it with equanimity—not quickly, but gradually, step by step—one should guard the childlike mind with human effort and diligence.
वासनौघस् त्वया पूर्वम् अभ्यासेन घनीकृतः । शुभो वाप्य् अशुभो राम शुभम् अद्य घनीकुरु
The mass of tendencies you previously strengthened through practice, whether good or evil, O Rama, now strengthen the good ones.
प्रागभ्यासवशाद् याता यदा ते वासनोदयम् । तदाभ्यासस्य साफल्यं विद्धि त्वम् अरिमर्दन
When, through the force of prior practice, your tendencies arise, then know that the practice has borne fruit, O destroyer of foes.
इदानीम् अपि ते याति घनतां वासनानघ । अभ्यासवशतस् तस्माच् छुभाभ्यासम् उपाहर
Even now, your tendencies are becoming strong, O sinless one; therefore, by the power of practice, cultivate the practice of virtue.
पूर्वं चेद् घनतां याता नाभ्यासात् तव वासना । वर्धिष्यते तु नेदानीम् अपि तात सुखी भव
If previously your tendencies had become strong through lack of practice, they would increase even now; but as it is, dear one, be happy.
सन्दिग्धायाम् अपि भृशं शुभम् एव समाहर । अस्यां तु वासनावृद्धौ शुभाद् दोषो न कश्चन
Even when in doubt, always cultivate what is good; in the growth of these tendencies, there is no fault in pursuing the good.
यद् यद् अभ्यस्यते लोके तन्मयेनैव भूयते । इत्य् आकुमारं प्राज्ञेषु दृष्टं सन्देहवर्जितम्
Whatever is practiced in this world, one becomes of that very nature; this is seen without doubt among the wise from childhood onward.
शुभवासनया युक्तस् तद् अत्र भव भूतये । परं पौरुषम् आश्रित्य विजित्येन्द्रियपञ्चकम्
Engage yourself here with good tendencies for your own welfare, relying on supreme effort and conquering the five senses.
अव्युत्पन्नमना यावद् भवान् अज्ञाततत्पदः । गुरुशास्त्रप्रमाणैस् तु निर्णीतं तावद् आचर
As long as your mind is untrained and you have not realized that state, act according to what is determined by the authority of the teacher and the scriptures.
ततः कषायपाकेन नूनं विज्ञातवस्तुना । शुभो ऽप्य् असौ त्वया त्याज्यो भावनौघो निराधिना
Then, when the impurities are burned away and the truth is known, even this flood of good impressions should be abandoned by you, free from attachment.
यद् अतिसुभगम् आर्यसेवितं तच् छुभम् अनुसृत्य मनोज्ञभावबुद्ध्या । अधिगमय पदं सदा विशोकं तद् अनु तद् अप्य् अवमुच्य साधु तिष्ठ
Following that which is supremely good and practiced by the noble, with a mind intent on what is delightful, always attain the sorrowless state; and then, having let go even that, abide well.
अतः पौरुषम् आश्रित्य श्रेयसे नित्यबान्धवम् । एकाग्रं कुरु चित्तं त्वं शृणु चेदं वचो मम
Therefore, relying on effort, your eternal companion for the highest good, make your mind one-pointed and listen now to these words of mine.
अवान्तराभिपातीनि स्वारूढानि मनोरथम् । पौरुषेणेन्द्रियाण्य् आशु संयम्य समतां नय
Restrain swiftly, by strength of will, the senses that are seized by inner impulses and established desires, and bring them to equanimity.
इहामुत्र च सिद्ध्यर्थं पुरुषार्थफलप्रदाम् । मोक्षोपायमयीं वक्ष्ये संहितां सारसम्मिताम्
I shall expound to you a compendium, composed of the essence, which is a means to liberation and bestows the fruits of human endeavor, for success in this world and the next.
अपुनर्ग्रहणायान्तस् त्यक्त्वा संसारवासनाम् । सम्पूर्णौ शमसन्तोषाव् आदायोदारया धिया
Abandoning the longing for worldly existence so that it does not return, and taking up perfect tranquility and contentment with a noble mind—
सपूर्वापरवाक्यार्थविचारविषयादृतम् । मनस् समरसं कृत्वा सानुसन्धानम् आत्मनि
With careful attention to the meaning of statements from both earlier and later teachings, making the mind harmonious and reflective within oneself—