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—
सुखदुःखक्षयकरं महानन्दैकसाधनम् । मोक्षोपायम् इतो राम वक्ष्यमाणं इमं शृणु
Listen, O Rāma, to this means of liberation, which brings an end to pleasure and pain, is the sole path to supreme bliss, and will now be explained.
इमां मोक्षकथां श्रुत्वा सह सर्वैर् विवेकिभिः । पदं यास्यसि निर्दुःखं नाशो यत्र न विद्यते
Having heard this discourse on liberation, together with all the discerning ones, you will attain that state free from sorrow, where destruction does not exist.
इदम् उक्तं पुराकल्पे ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना । सर्वदुःखक्षयकरं परमाश्वासनं धियः
This was spoken in ancient times by Brahmā, the supreme creator—a teaching that brings an end to all suffering and is the highest comfort for the mind.
केनोक्तं कारणेनेदं ब्रह्मन् पूर्वं स्वयम्भुवा । कथं च भवता प्राप्तम् एतत् कथय मे प्रभो
By whom, for what reason, and in what manner was this teaching first spoken by the self-born Brahmā, O sage? Tell me how it came to you, O master.
अस्त्य् अनन्तविलासात्मा सर्वगस् सर्वसंश्रयः । चिदाकाशो ऽविनाशात्मा प्रदीपस् सर्ववस्तुषु
There exists the infinite, all-pervading, all-supporting space of consciousness, imperishable in nature, like a lamp shining within all things.
स्पन्दास्पन्दसमाकारात् ततो विष्णुर् अजायत । स्पन्दमानरसापूरात् तरङ्गस् सागराद् इव
From the movement and stillness of that, Viṣṇu arose, just as a wave emerges from the ocean filled with moving essence.
सुमेरुकर्णिकात् तस्य दिग्दलाद् धृदयाम्बुजात् । तारकाकेसरवतः परमेष्ठी व्यजायत
From the central lotus of Mount Meru, from its petals and the heart-lotus, radiant like the filaments of a star, the supreme creator was born.
वेदवेदार्थदेवेशमुनिमण्डलमालितम् । सो ऽसृजत् सकलं सर्गं विकल्पौघं यथा मनः
Surrounded by the assembly of sages, lords of the Vedas and their meanings, he created the entire world, a multitude of distinctions, just as the mind does.
जम्बुद्वीपस्य कोणे ऽस्मिन् वर्षे भारतनामनि । स ससर्ज जनं पुत्रैर् आधिव्याधिपरिप्लुतम्
In this land called Bhārata, at the corner of Jambudvīpa, he created people afflicted by sorrow, disease, and suffering, along with their children.
भावाभावविषण्णार्थम् उत्पातध्वंसतत्परम् । सर्गे ऽस्मिन् भूतजातीनाम् आप्यायनकरं परम्
For those distressed by existence and non-existence, intent on calamity and destruction, in this creation he made a supreme means for the nourishment of living beings.
जनस्य तस्य दुःखं स दृष्ट्वा सकललोककृत् । जगाम करुणाम् ईशः पुत्रदुःखाद् यथा पिता
Seeing the suffering of those people, the Lord, creator of all worlds, was moved to compassion, just as a father is by the sorrow of his children.
क एतेषां हताशानां दुःखस्यान्तो हतायुषाम् । स्याद् इति क्षणम् एकाग्रश् चिन्तयाम् आस भूतपः
The Lord of beings, focused for a moment, pondered: 'How can there be an end to the suffering of these hopeless, short-lived ones?'
इति सञ्चिन्त्य भगवान् ससर्ज पुनर् ईश्वरः । तपो धर्मं च दानं च सत्यं तीर्थानि चैव ह
Thus reflecting, the blessed Lord again created austerity, righteousness, charity, truth, and holy places.
एतत् सृष्ट्वा पुनर् देवश् चिन्तयाम् आस भूतकृत् । पुंसां नानेन सर्वस्य दुःखस्यान्त इति स्वयम्
Having created these, the divine creator of beings thought: 'By these alone, the end of all suffering for people is not attained.'
निर्वाणं नाम परमं सुखं येन पुनर् जनः । न जायते न म्रियते तज् ज्ञानाद् एव लभ्यते
Nirvana is called the supreme happiness, by which a person is neither born nor dies; it is attained only through knowledge.
संसारोत्तरणे जन्तोर् उपायो ज्ञानम् एव हि । तपो दानं तथा तीर्थम् अणूपायः प्रकीर्तितः
For crossing over worldly existence, knowledge alone is the means for a living being; austerity, charity, and pilgrimage are declared to be minor aids.
तत् तावद् दुःखमोक्षार्थं जनस्यास्य महात्मनः । प्रत्यग्रं तरणोपायम् आशु प्रकटयाम्य् अहम्
Therefore, for the liberation from suffering of this noble humanity, I shall promptly reveal the direct means for crossing over.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य भगवान् ब्रह्मा कमलसंस्थितः । मनसा परिसङ्कल्प्य माम् उत्पादितवान् इमम्
Thus reflecting, the blessed Brahma, seated upon the lotus, conceived me in his mind and brought me forth.
कुतो ऽप्य् उत्पन्न एवाशु ततो ऽहं समुपस्थितः । पितुस् तस्य पुरश् शीघ्रम् ऊर्मेर् ऊर्मिर् इवानघ
Having arisen from somewhere, I quickly appeared before my father, like one wave following another, O sinless one.
कमण्डलुधरो नाथस् सकमण्डलुना मया । साक्षमालस् साक्षमालं स प्रणम्याभिवादितः
The Lord held a water pot, and I too held a water pot; he wore a rosary, and I too wore a rosary; having bowed, I greeted him.