वासनासम्परित्यागे यदि यत्नं करोषि वा । तत् ते शिथिलतां यान्ति सर्वाधिव्याधयः क्षणात्
If you make an effort to completely abandon latent tendencies, then all afflictions and diseases become weakened for you in an instant.
पूर्वेभ्यस् तु प्रयत्नेभ्यो विषमो ऽयं हि संस्मृतः । दुस्साधो वासनात्यागस् सुमेरून्मूलनाद् अपि
But, compared to previous efforts, this is considered difficult; the abandonment of latent tendencies is harder even than uprooting Mount Sumeru.
यावद् विलीनं न मनो न तावद् वासनाक्षयः
So long as the mind is not dissolved, there is no destruction of latent tendencies.
तत्त्वज्ञानं मनोनाशो वासनाक्षय एव च । मिथः कारणतां गत्वा दुस्साधानि स्थितान्य् अतः
True knowledge, dissolution of the mind, and destruction of latent tendencies—these three are mutually causes of each other, and thus are difficult to accomplish.
तस्माद् राघव यत्नेन पौरुषेण विवेकिना । भोगेच्छां दूरतस् त्यक्त्वा त्रयम् एतत् समाश्रयेत्
Therefore, O Raghava, with diligent effort and discernment, having abandoned the desire for enjoyment from afar, one should resort to these three.
सर्व एते समं यावन् न स्वभ्यस्ता मुहुर् मुहुः । तावन् न पदसम्प्राप्तिर् भवत्य् अपि समाशतैः
All these are equal; unless they are practiced repeatedly, even after hundreds of attempts, the supreme state is not attained.
वासनाक्षयविज्ञानमनोनाशा महामतेः । समकालं चिराभ्यस्ता भवन्ति फलदा मुनेः
The knowledge that destroys latent tendencies, the dissolution of the mind, and profound wisdom—when these are practiced together for a long time by a sage, they bear fruit.
एकैकशो निषेव्यन्ते यद्य् एते चिरम् अप्य् अलम् । तन् न सिद्धिं प्रयच्छन्ति मन्त्राश् शकलिता इव
If these are pursued individually, even for a long time, they do not grant accomplishment, just as mantras that are recited in fragments are ineffective.
चिरकालोपचरिता अप्य् एते सुधियो ऽपि च । एकशः परम् अभ्येतुं न शक्तास् सैनिका इव
Even those of great intelligence, though they may have practiced these for a long time, are unable to attain the highest state by pursuing them one by one, like soldiers who cannot conquer alone.
समम् उद्योगम् आनीतास् सन्त एते हि धीमता । सम्सारारिं निकृन्तन्ति मूलाद् अपि भटा इव
But when these are undertaken together with effort by the wise, they cut down the enemy of worldly existence at the root, like warriors uprooting a foe.
वासनाक्षयविज्ञानमनोनाशाः प्रयत्नतः । समं सेव्यास् तव चिरं तेन तात न तप्यसे
Therefore, you should diligently practice together the knowledge that destroys latent tendencies, the dissolution of the mind, and effort; in this way, dear one, you will not suffer.
त्रिभिर् एभिश् चिराभ्यस्तैर् हृदयग्रन्थयो दृढाः । निश्शेषम् एव त्रुट्यन्ति बिसच्छेदाद् गुणा इव
By long practice of these three, even the firm knots of the heart are completely broken, just as the fibers of a lotus stalk are severed.
जन्मान्तरशताभ्यस्ता राम संसारसंस्थितिः । सा चिराभ्यासयोगेन विना न क्षीयते क्वचित्
O Rama, the persistence of worldly existence, practiced over hundreds of lifetimes, is never diminished except by long and sustained practice.
गच्छञ् शृण्वन् स्पृशञ् जिघ्रंस् तिष्ठञ् जाग्रत् स्वपन् सदा । श्रेयसे परमायास्य त्रयस्याभ्यासवान् भव
Whether walking, hearing, touching, smelling, standing, waking, or dreaming—always strive for the highest good by being devoted to the practice of these three.
वासनासम्परित्यागसमं प्राणनिरोधनं । विदुस् तत्त्वविदस् तस्मात् तद् अप्य् एवं समाहरेत्
The restraint of the breath is considered by the knowers of truth to be equal to the complete abandonment of latent tendencies; therefore, one should practice that in this very way.
वासनासम्परित्यागाच् चित्तं गच्छत्य् अचित्तताम् । प्राणस्पन्दनिरोधाच् च यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
Through the complete abandonment of latent tendencies, the mind attains the state of no-mind; and through the restraint of the movement of the breath, act as you wish.
प्राणायामदृढाभ्यासैर् युक्त्या च गुरुदत्तया । आसनासनयोगेन प्राणस्पन्दो निरुध्यते
By firm practice of breath control, by the method taught by the teacher, and by the discipline of posture and seat, the movement of the breath is restrained.
सम्यग्ज्ञानविलासेन जगद्वस्तुष्व् अनास्थया । यथाभूतार्थदर्शित्वाद् वासना न प्रवर्तते
Through the play of true knowledge, through indifference toward worldly objects, and by seeing things as they truly are, latent tendencies do not arise.
अदाव् अन्ते च वस्तूनाम् अविसंवादि यत् स्थिरम् । रूपं तद्दर्शनं ज्ञानं क्षीयते तेन वासना
That form, that vision, that knowledge which is unwavering and undeceiving at the beginning and end of things—by that, latent tendencies are destroyed.
निस्सङ्गं व्यवहारित्वाद् भवभावनवर्जनात् । शरीरे नाशदर्शित्वाद् वासना न प्रवर्तते
Because of unattached conduct, the abandonment of the notion of becoming, and seeing the body as perishable, latent tendencies do not arise.
संशान्ते पवनस्पन्दे यथा पांसुर् नभस्तले । वासनाविभवे नष्टे न चित्तं सम्प्रवर्तते
When the movement of the vital breath is completely stilled, just as dust settles on the ground, when the manifestation of latent tendencies is destroyed, the mind does not function.
यः प्राणपवनस्पन्दश् चित्तस्पन्दस् स एव हि । तस्माज् जगन्ति जायन्ते पांसवो ऽवकराद् इव
That movement of the vital breath is indeed the movement of the mind; from that, the worlds arise, just as dust arises from the earth.
प्राणस्पन्दजयो यत्नः कर्तव्यो धीमतोच्चकैः । उपविश्योपविश्यैकचित्तकेन मुहुर् मुहुः
The wise should make a sustained effort to master the movement of breath, sitting repeatedly with single-minded attention.
अथ वैनं क्रमं त्यक्त्वा चित्ताक्रमणम् एव चेत् । रोचते ते तद् आप्नोषि कालेन बहुना पदम्
Or, if you prefer to abandon this method and pursue only the control of the mind, you will attain that state in due course, though it may take a long time.
न शक्यते मनो जेतुं विना युक्तिम् अनिन्दित । अङ्कुशेन विना मत्तं यथा दुष्टमतङ्गजम्
The mind cannot be conquered without flawless technique, just as a wild, intoxicated elephant cannot be subdued without a goad.
अध्यात्मविद्याधिगमस् साधुसङ्गम एव च । वासनासम्परित्यागः प्राणस्पन्दनिरोधनम्
Mastery of spiritual knowledge, association with the virtuous, complete abandonment of mental impressions, and restraint of breath movement—
एतास् ता युक्तयः पुष्टास् सन्ति चित्तजये किल । याभिस् तज् जीयते क्षिप्रं धाराभिर् इव भूरजः
These are the well-established methods for conquering the mind, by which it is swiftly subdued, as dust is settled by streams of water.
सतीषु युक्तिष्व् एतासु हठान् नियमयन्ति ये । चेतस् ते दीपम् उत्सृज्य विनिघ्नन्ति तमो ऽञ्जनैः
Those who, among these valid methods, forcefully restrain themselves, abandon the lamp of awareness and extinguish darkness with soot.
विमूढाः कर्तुम् उद्युक्ता ये हठाच् चेतसो जयम् । ते निबध्नन्ति नागेन्द्रम् उन्मत्तं बिसतन्तुभिः
The deluded, who attempt to conquer the mind by sheer force, try to bind a mad elephant with lotus fibers.
चिरं चित्तस्य मादूरं संस्थितं स्वशरीरकम् । शोधयन्ति समुत्सृज्य युक्तिं ये तान् हतान् विदुः
Those who, neglecting proper method, strive to purify the mind long established in their own body, are considered defeated.