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.
भयाद् भयम् उपायान्ति क्लेशात् क्लेशं व्रजन्ति ते । निर्वृतिं नाधिगच्छन्ति दुर्भगा इव जन्तवः
From fear, they enter into further fear; from distress, they proceed to more distress. They do not attain peace, like unfortunate creatures.
कालं तीर्थतपोदानयज्ञदेवार्चनभ्रमैः । चिरम् आधिशतोपेताः क्षपयन्ति मृगा इव
They spend a long time, burdened with countless anxieties, wandering through pilgrimages, austerities, charity, sacrifices, and worship of gods, like animals.
भ्रमन्ति गिरिकूटेषु फलपल्लवभोजिनः । मुग्धमुग्धधियो भीता वराका हरिणा इव
They wander among mountain peaks, eating fruits and tender leaves, their minds simple and fearful, pitiable like timid deer.
मतिर् आलूनशीर्णाङ्गी तदीया पेलवाङ्गिका । न क्वचिद् याति विश्वासं मृगी ग्रामगता यथा
Their intellect, weakened and diminished, is frail and uncertain, never finding trust anywhere, like a wild deer that has entered a village.
कल्लोलवलितं चेतस् तेषां जडजवाहृतम् । प्रोह्यते प्रपतद् दूरं तृणं गिरिनदीष्व् इव
Their minds, tossed by waves and carried by the force of dullness and speed, are swept far away, like grass falling into mountain streams.
आत्मतत्त्वं विधिवशात् कदाचित् किञ्चिद् एव ते । दुःखदोषदशादिग्धा विदन्ति न विदन्ति वा
By fate, they sometimes grasp a little of the truth of the self, but, stained by the conditions of suffering and error, they know it or do not know it.
आगमापायिनो नित्या नरकस्वर्गमानुषैः । पातोत्पातकराकारा नीयन्ते कन्दुका इव
Constantly subject to coming and going, among hell, heaven, and human worlds, they are led about in forms of downfall and calamity, like balls.
ततो गच्छन्ति नरकं ततस् स्वर्गम् इहैव वा । आवृत्तिभिर् विवर्तन्ते सरितीव तरङ्गकाः
Then they go to hell, then to heaven, or remain here; through cycles of return, they revolve like waves in a river.
तस्माद् एताः परित्यज्य दुर्दृष्टी रघुनन्दन । शुद्धां संविदम् आश्रित्य वीतरागस् स्थिरो भव
Therefore, O delight of the Raghu lineage, abandon these faulty perceptions; relying upon pure awareness, be steadfast and free from passion.
ज्ञानवान् एव सुखभाग् ज्ञानवान् एव जीवति । ज्ञानवान् एव बलवांस् तस्माज् ज्ञानमयो भव
Only the wise enjoy happiness, only the wise truly live, only the wise possess strength; therefore, become one whose essence is knowledge.