हृत्क्षीरोदकसस्पन्दमन्दरेषु चलेष्व् अति । स्वसङ्कल्पविकल्पेषु न किञ्चित् सुस्थिरं शुभम्
In the heart, where the movement of the inner essence is faint and restless, and in the fluctuations of one's own imagination, there is nothing good or enduring.
अनारतागमापायपरास्व् अशिशिरास्व् अति । चित्राचारासु चेष्टासु न किञ्चित् सुस्थिरं शुभम्
In actions that are ever subject to coming and going, that are cold and indifferent, and that are varied in their ways, there is nothing good or stable.
न वरम् एकमहीतलराजता न च वरं विविधामररूपता । न च वरं धरणीतलनागता स्थितिम् उपैति हि यत्र सतां मनः
Neither the sovereignty of a single land nor the forms of various gods are desirable, nor anything found on earth, for in none of these does the mind of the wise find stability.
न वरम् आकुलशास्त्रविचारणं न च वरं वरकाव्यविवेचनम् । न वरम् अग्र्यकथाक्रमचर्वणं स्थितिम् उपैति हि यत्र सतां मनः
Neither the restless analysis of scriptures nor the examination of excellent poetry is desirable, nor the savoring of the best stories, for in none of these does the mind of the wise find stability.
न वरम् आधिमयं चिरजीवितं न च वरं मरणं दृढमूढता । न च वरं नरको न च विष्टपं स्थितिम् उपैति हि यत्र सतां मनः
Neither a life long but filled with affliction, nor death in deep ignorance is desirable, nor hell, nor heaven, for in none of these does the mind of the wise find stability.
इति विविधजगत्क्रमास् समस्ताश् चलमतिमूढतया नरस्य रूढाः । चलतरकलनाहिते पदार्थे कथम् उपयान्ति चिरं स्थितिं महान्तः
Thus, all the various courses of the world, established through the deep confusion of the mind, are unstable; how can the great ones find lasting stability in things subject to such fleeting thoughts?
एकैव केवलं दृष्टिर् अनपाया गतभ्रमा । विद्यते सर्वविच्छ्रेष्ठ सर्वश्रेष्ठा समुन्नता
There is only one, pure vision—unfailing, free from error—existing as the highest among all forms of knowledge, supreme and exalted.
आत्मचिन्ता समस्तानां दुःखानाम् अन्तकारिणी । चिरसम्भृतसन्तप्तसंसारश्रमहारिणी । निष्कलङ्कमनोमार्गविपुलाङ्गनचारिणी
Contemplation of the Self brings an end to all sorrows; it removes the great fatigue of worldly existence, long accumulated and deeply burning, and moves freely along the vast, stainless path of the mind.
तया समस्तदुःखानां सत्तानर्थविलासिनाम् । ज्योत्स्नयेवान्धकाराणाम् अलम् अन्तः प्रजायते
By this, for all beings afflicted by suffering, an inner radiance arises—just as moonlight dispels darkness.
सा स्वात्मचिन्ता भगवन् सर्वसङ्कल्पवर्जिता । युष्मदादिषु सुप्रापा दुष्प्रापैवास्मदादिषु
O venerable one, this contemplation of the Self is devoid of all imagination; it is easily attained by you and those like you, but is indeed difficult to reach for people like us.
समस्तकलनातीतं परां कोटिम् उपाश्रितम् । पदम् आसादयन्त्व् एतत् कथं सामान्यबुद्धयः
How could those of ordinary understanding attain that state which is beyond all calculation, which has reached the highest peak?
आत्मचिन्ताविलासिन्यस् त्व् अस्यास् सख्यो महामते । किञ्चित् साम्यम् उपायाता विद्यन्ते शशिशीतलाः
O wise one, among the companions of this play of Self-contemplation, there are some who have attained a little similarity, cool as the moon.
आत्मचिन्तासमानानां विविधानां मुनीश्वर । आत्मचिन्तावयस्यानां मध्याद् एकतमा मया
O lord of sages, among the various companions of Self-contemplation, among those who are friends of Self-inquiry, I have chosen one.
सर्वदुःखक्षयकरी सर्वसौभाग्यवर्धिनी । कारणं जीवितस्येयं प्राणचिन्ता समाश्रिता
This contemplation of the vital force, which is the cause of life, destroys all sorrow and increases all good fortune.
इत्य् उक्तवन्तं विहगं भुसुण्डं पुनर् अप्य् अहम् । जानन्न् अपीदम् अव्यग्रः पृष्टवान् क्रीडया पुनः
Although I knew this already, I again questioned the bird Bhusunda, who had spoken thus, calmly and playfully.
सर्वसंशयविच्छेदिन्न् अत्यन्तचिरजीवित । यथार्थं ब्रूहि मे साधो प्राणचिन्ता किम् उच्यते
O sage, destroyer of all doubts and long-lived one, tell me truly: what is meant by 'concern for the life-breath'?
सर्ववेदान्तवेत्तासि सर्वसंशयनाशकः । माम् एतत् परिहासार्थं मुने पृच्छसि वायसम्
You know all Vedanta and dispel every doubt; are you, O sage, asking me, a crow, this question merely in jest?
अथ वा भवताम् एव भवद्भ्यः परिशिक्षितम् । पुनः प्रत्युच्चरामीदं का मे क्षतिर् उपस्थिता
Or perhaps it is your custom to instruct your own kind; so I will answer this again—what harm is there for me in doing so?
भुसुण्डजीवितकरं भुसुण्डस्यात्मलाभदम् । शृणु प्राणसमाधानं कथ्यमानम् इदं मया
Listen as I explain the settling of the life-breath, which grants Bhusunda his life and brings him self-realization.
पश्येदं भगवंस् तावद् देहगेहं मनोरमम् । त्रिप्रधानमहास्थूणं नवद्वारसमावृतम्
Behold, O venerable one, this delightful house of the body, with its threefold main pillars and nine gates enclosing it.
पुर्यष्टककलत्रेण तन्मात्रस्वजनेन च । अहङ्कारगृहस्थेन सर्वतः परिपालितम्
Guarded on all sides by the eightfold city as wife, the subtle elements as kin, and the householder ego as master.
अन्तस्सुषिरसत्कर्णशष्कुलीचन्द्रशालिकम् । शिरोरुहाच्छादनवद् विपुलाक्षगवाक्षकम्
Within are hollow spaces, ears like winnowing baskets, a moon-shaped palate, covered with hair above, and wide eyes as windows.
आस्यप्रधानसद्द्वारं भुजपार्श्वोपमन्दिरं । दन्तालिकेतकस्रग्भिर् भूषितद्वारकोटरं
The mouth is the main entrance, with the arms as side halls; its doorways are adorned with garlands of teeth and lips.
अनारतरटद्रूपरसनाद्वारपालकम् । अङ्गुलीलोकवलितपादालिन्दकृतस्थिति
The tongue, ever moving and tasting, serves as the doorkeeper; the toes, encircling the threshold, stand as sentinels.
रक्तमांसरसादिग्धस्नायुसन्ततिवेष्टितम् । स्थूलास्थिकाष्ठसद्बन्धं सुकुड्यं सुप्रमार्जितम्
It is wrapped in layers of red flesh and blood, bound by sinews, with a sturdy frame of thick bones, well-plastered and thoroughly cleansed.
ईदृशस्यास्य देहस्य गेहस्य मुनिनायक । सुषिरे कोमले मध्ये पार्शुकाभित्तिमालिते
O chief of sages, within the hollow, soft center of this body-house, bordered by the ribs, lies something further.
पद्मयुग्ममयं यन्त्रम् अस्थिमांसमयं मृदु । ऊर्ध्वाधोनालम् अन्योऽन्यमिलत्कोशं लसद्दलम्
There is a mechanism made of a pair of lotus-like, soft organs of bone and flesh, with upper and lower stems, their sheaths closing upon each other, and petals gently moving.
सततस्पन्दरूपेण सकलाकाशचारिणा । तस्य यन्त्रस्य पत्त्राणि मृदून्य् आत्तानि वायुना
With constant pulsation, moving throughout all space, the soft leaves of this mechanism are set in motion by the wind.
लसत्सु तेषु पत्त्रेषु स मरुत् परिवर्धते । वाताहतलतापत्त्रजाले बहिर् इवाभितः
As those leaves flutter, the wind within grows stronger, like air striking a cluster of trembling leaves outside.
वृद्धिं गतो ऽसौ पवनः कृत्वात्मानम् अनेकधा । ऊर्ध्वाधो दिक्षु चान्यासु देहे ऽस्मिन् प्रसरत्य् अथ
Having increased, that wind divides itself in many ways, and then spreads throughout this body, upward, downward, and in all directions.