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.
एहि पुत्रेति माम् उक्त्वा स स्वाब्जस्योत्तरे दले । शुक्ले ऽभ्र इव शीतांशुं योजयाम् आस पाणिना
Calling me, 'Come, my son,' he joined me with his hand to the northern petal of his own lotus, like a white cloud joining the moon.
मृगकृत्तिपरीधानो मृगकृत्तिनिजाम्बरम् । माम् उवाच पिता ब्रह्मा स हंसस् सारसं यथा
Clad in a deer skin, wearing his own garment of deer skin, my father Brahma, like a swan to a lotus, spoke to me.
मुहूर्तमात्रं ते पुत्र चेतो वानरचञ्चलम् । अज्ञानम् अभ्याविशतु शशश् शशधरं यथा
For a moment, my son, let your mind, restless as a monkey, be enveloped in ignorance, as the moon is covered by a hare.
इति तेनाशु शप्तस् सन् विचारसमनन्तरम् । अहं विस्मृतवान् सर्वं स्वरूपम् अमलं द्विजः
Thus, being quickly cursed by him, immediately after reflection, I, the twice-born, forgot all my pure nature.
अथाहं दीनतां यातस् स्थितस् सम्बुद्धया धिया । दुःखशोकाभिसन्तप्तो जातो जन इवाधमः
Then I became dejected, remaining with an awakened mind, tormented by sorrow and pain, like a lowly person among people.
कष्टं संसारनामायं दोषः कथम् इवागतः । इति चिन्तितवान् अन्तस् तूष्णीम् एव व्यवस्थितः
How did this fault called 'worldly existence' come about? Thus I pondered inwardly, remaining silent.
अथाभ्यधात् स मां तातः पुत्र किं दुःखवान् असि । दुःखोपघातं मां पृच्छ सुखी नित्यं भविष्यसि
Then my father addressed me: 'Son, why are you sorrowful? Ask me the remedy for sorrow, and you will always be happy.'
ततः पृष्टस् स भगवान् मया सकललोककृत् । हैमपद्मदलस्थेन संसारव्याधिभेषजम्
Then, questioned by me, the blessed one, creator of all worlds, seated on a golden lotus petal, gave the medicine for the disease of worldly existence.
कथं नाम महद् दुःखम् अयं संसार आगतः । कथं च क्षीयते जन्तोर् इति पृष्टेन तेन मे
He asked me: How has this great suffering called worldly existence arisen, and how is it brought to an end for a living being?
तज् ज्ञानं सुबहु प्रोक्तं यज् ज्ञात्वा पावनं परम् । अहं पितुर् अपि प्रायः किलाधिक इव स्थितः
That knowledge, which is purifying and supreme, has been explained in great detail; by knowing it, I have become, it seems, even greater than my father.