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.
संवेद्यवर्जितम् अनुत्तमम् आद्यम् एकं संवित्पदं विकलनं कलयन् महात्मन् । हृद्य् एव तिष्ठ कलनारहितः क्रियां तु कुर्वन्न् अकर्तृपदम् एष्य् असमोदितश्रीः
Contemplate the supreme, original, singular state of awareness, devoid of objects of perception, O great soul; remain in the heart free from conceptualization, performing actions while attaining the state of non-doership, undisturbed in your glory.
मनाग् अपि विचारेण चेतसस् स्वस्य निग्रहः । मनाग् अपि कृतो येन तेनाप्तं जन्मनः फलम्
Even a slight inquiry and restraint of one's own mind by anyone brings the fruit of birth.
विचारकणिका येषां हृदि स्फुरति पेलवा । एषैवाभ्यासयोगेन प्रयाति शतशाखताम्
For those in whose hearts even a faint spark of inquiry arises, through the practice of this discipline, it branches out into a hundred directions.
किञ्चित्प्रौढविचारं तु नरं वैराग्यपूर्वकम् । संश्रयन्ति गुणा गौरास् सरः पूर्णम् इवाण्डजाः
If a person undertakes even a little mature inquiry, preceded by detachment, virtues gather around him like swans around a full lake.
सम्यग्विचारिणं प्राज्ञं यथाभूतावलोकिनम् । आसादयन्त्य् अपि स्फारा नाविद्याविभवा भृशम्
Even the abundant powers of ignorance cannot overpower the wise who inquire rightly and perceive things as they are.
किं कुर्वन्तीह विषया मानस्यो वृत्तयस् तथा । आधयो व्याधयो वापि सम्यग्दर्शनसन्मतेः
What can sense objects, mental tendencies, afflictions, or diseases do to one who is established in true vision and right understanding?
क्वोन्नमत्पवनापूरास् तडित्पिङ्गलपाटलाः । पुष्करावर्तजलदा गृहीता जालमुष्टिभिः
Where are those clouds, filled with the wind’s force, streaked with lightning’s tawny-red, swirling like lotuses, seized in the grip of a net?
क्व नभोमध्यसंस्थेन्दुर् मुग्धे मणिसमुद्गके । मुग्धयाङ्गनया बद्धो मुग्धेन्दीवरशङ्कया
Where is the moon, poised in the midst of the sky, O innocent one, like a gem in a casket, bound by a naive maiden, mistaking it for a tender blue lotus?
क्व कटप्रोच्छलद्भृङ्गपटलोत्पलशेखराः । मुग्धस्त्रीश्वासमधुरैर् मषकैर् मथिता गजाः
Where are those elephants, crowned with lotuses buzzing with swarms of bees, tormented by gentle, sweet-breathing mosquitoes like the sighs of a young woman?
क्वेभमुक्ताफलोल्लासनिरणन्नखपञ्जराः । सिंहास् समरसंरब्धा हरिणैः प्रविदारिताः
Where are those lions, with claws shining like pearl-strings from elephant tusks, fiercely engaged in battle, torn apart by timid deer?