अन्तश्शून्योन्नतध्वस्तचित्तचैत्यकृतालयः । याच्ञाबहुलयामिन्यां लोभोलूको विवल्गति
Within, empty and raised, ruined by the shrine of disturbed thoughts, the owl of greed frolics in the night filled with begging.
पूर्वं गृहीत्वा कर्णाभ्यां स्फुरन्तम् अभितश् चिरम् । जराजर्जरमार्जारी यौवनाखुं निकृन्तति
Having first seized it with its ears and made it tremble for a long time, the cat of old age cuts down the rat of youth.
निस्सारा क्रमशः क्रान्तधराधरसमुन्नतिः । दिण्डीरपिण्डिकेवेयं सृष्टिर् आयाति पुष्टताम्
Gradually, this creation, devoid of substance, rises and falls like the swelling and shrinking of a lump of clay, and attains a seeming fullness.
आभासपुष्पधवला जगत्पल्लवशालिनी । सत्तालता विकसिता धर्मार्थफलधारिणी
The vine of existence has blossomed, bearing the white flowers of appearances and the fresh shoots of the world, supporting the fruits of righteousness and prosperity.
सुराचलमहास्थूणं चन्द्रसूर्यगवाक्षकम् । गगनाच्छादनं चारु ध्रियते त्रिजगद्गृहम्
The house of the three worlds is sustained by the great pillars of the divine mountains, with the sun and moon as its windows, and the sky as its beautiful roof.
संसारसरसि स्फारे चरन्ति प्राणषट्पदाः । शरीरपुष्करेष्व् अन्तश् चिद्रूपरसपायिनः
In the vast lake of worldly existence, the sixfold swarms of vital airs move about, drinking the nectar of consciousness within the lotuses of the body.
नभोमार्गमहानीलकुट्टिमे कान्तिशालिनी । भुवनाववरस्यान्तस् स्फुरत्य् आदित्यदीपिका
Within the lower realms of the worlds, on the great sapphire floor of the sky's path, the radiant lamp of the sun shines forth.
आशातन्तुनिबद्धाङ्गी जनताजीर्णपक्षिणी । स्ववासनाशलाकान्ते निबद्धेन्द्रियपञ्जरे
The aged bird of humanity, its limbs bound by the threads of hope, is confined in the cage of the senses, within the hollow of its own desires.
अनारतपतज्जातभूतपर्णपरम्परा । स्पन्दते ऽजगरामृष्टा संसृतिव्रततिश् चिरम्
The succession of beings, like a series of leaves constantly scorched by the sun, quivers for a long time, untouched by the serpent of dissolution.
पृष्ठे कतिपयं कालम् अदृष्टाः कालजालिना । अधःकृतोग्रनरकपङ्काश् शङ्कोज्झिताः क्षणम्
For a short time, a few remain unseen on the back of time's net, but soon, cast down into the deep mud of hell, they are suddenly lost from sight.
भुक्तेन्दुखण्डकबिसा नीलनीरदशेवले । स्वर्गमार्गसरस्य् अन्तस् स्फुरन्ति सुरसारसाः
Within the celestial path's lake, nectarous essences shimmer among lotus stalks, fragments of the moon, and blue cloud-like algae.
नानाफलावलिमती वासनाजलमालिता । स्पन्दामोदमयी स्फीता क्रियाविकसिताब्जिनी
Rich with various fruits, adorned by the net of desires, full of vibrant delight, the blossoming lotus of action flourishes.
वराकी सृष्टिशफरी स्फुरन्ती भवपल्वले । कृतान्तवृद्धगृध्रेण शठेन विनिगीर्यते
The unfortunate fish of creation, flickering in the pond of existence, is devoured by the cunning, aged vulture of death.
तरङ्गफेनमालेव सैवान्येव च भङ्गुरा । श्वश् श्वो ऽपरेन्दुलेखेव समुदेति विचित्रता
Just as foam and waves are fragile, so too is variety; each day, like a new crescent moon, a different wonder arises.
भूरिभूतशरावाणि क्षणभङ्गीनि कुर्वता । इदं कालकुलालेन चक्रं विपरिवर्त्यते
With countless shards of existence, each moment fleeting, this wheel is spun and reversed by the potter of time.
असङ्ख्यातान्य् अनल्पानि सञ्जातान्य् अचले पदे । जगज्जङ्गलजालानि दग्धानि युगवह्निना
In the unmoving abode, innumerable and vast networks of worlds have arisen and been consumed by the fire of ages.
भावाभावैर् अपर्यन्तैस् सुखदुःखदशाशतैः । वैपरीत्यं प्रयातीयम् अजस्रं जागती स्थितिः
Through endless states of being and non-being, hundreds of conditions of pleasure and pain, the existence of the world constantly undergoes reversal.
क्षुब्धैर् युगपरावर्तैर् वासनाशृङ्खलोम्भिता । मोहाशनिनिपातैश् च न रुग्णा ध्रुवधीरता
Though shaken by the upheavals of ages and bound by chains of desire, and struck by the thunderbolts of delusion, steadfastness is not weakened.
शतशो विद्रुतारीन्द्रैर् दनुपुत्रैर् अभिद्रुताम् । भगभग्नत्रपाम् ऐन्द्रीं तनुं वहति वासना
Vāsanā bears the form of Indra’s consort, her modesty shattered, pursued by hundreds of swift Indras and sons of Danu.
विशत्य् अविरतं धूतसर्गपांसुपरम्परा । नित्यं नियतिवात्येयं कालव्यालगलान्तरम्
This wind of destiny, entering ceaselessly through the endless succession of disturbed dust of creation, always passes through the throat of the serpent of time.
पदार्थाम्भांसि सर्वाणि फलफेनानि सर्वतः । पतन्त्य् अविरतापातम् अभाववडवामुखम्
All the waters of objects, everywhere, are fruits and foam, falling in an unbroken cascade into the mouth of the submarine fire of non-being.
स्फुरन्त्य् आकस्मिकोद्भूता विचित्रा द्रव्यशक्तयः । स्वभावमात्रसम्पन्नास् स्पन्दश्रिय इवाम्भसाम्
Marvelous powers of substances, suddenly arising, flash forth, endowed merely with their own nature, like the glory of ripples upon water.
भूतमौक्तिकसम्पूर्णान् बृहतस् सुबहून् अपि । जगत्कलभकान् अत्ति कृतान्तोद्रिक्तकेसरी
The lion of death, its mane bristling, devours even the vast and numerous pearls of beings, the fragments of the world.
कुलशैलफला मेघपक्षपुञ्जा जलासृजः । जायन्ते च म्रियन्ते च डीयन्ते च जगत्खगाः
Clouds, fruits of mountain trees, flocks of winged birds, and streams of water are born, die, and perish—the birds of the world.
चिद्भित्तौ स्पन्दशुभ्रायां रङ्गैः पञ्चभिर् इन्द्रियैः । उन्मीलयति संसारचित्राणि विधिचित्रकृत्
On the radiant canvas of consciousness, with the five colors of the senses, the wondrous artist Fate unfolds the pictures of worldly existence.
अजस्रगत्वरीं सर्वपरिस्पन्दविधायिनीं । निमेषशतभागाङ्गीम् अच्छाम् उत्साहिताङ्कुराम्
It is ever-moving, the source of all vibrations, clear, with limbs as brief as a hundredth part of a blink, and sprouts forth unimpeded.
सूक्ष्मां कालस्य कलनां स्वसमुत्थानकारिणीम् । ध्यानेनेवान्ववेक्षन्ते स्थिरास् स्थावरजातयः
The stable species of immobile beings perceive the subtle measure of time, which arises from their own nature, as if through meditation.
रागद्वेषसमुत्थेन भावाभावमयेन च । जरामरणमोहेन जीर्णा जङ्गमजातयः
The mobile species, worn out by attachment and aversion, by existence and nonexistence, and by the delusion of old age and death.
स्वदुष्कृतोत्तमध्यानधारिण्यो धरणीतले । नियत्या नियतं कालं पीड्यन्ते कीटपङ्क्तयः
The lines of insects on the earth, bearing the impressions of their own good and bad deeds and meditations, are afflicted by fate for a fixed period.
क्षणेनादृश्य एवेदं निगिरत्य् अखिलं सुखी । सुदुर्लक्ष्यबिलः कालव्यालो विपुलभोगवान्
In an instant, the invisible serpent of time, possessing vast enjoyment and a rarely discerned lair, happily devours all this.