विकसितेन सितेन मनोमुषा वरविचारणशीतलरोचिषा । गुणवता हृदयेन विराजसे त्वम् अमलेन नभश् शशिना यथा
With a mind pure and expanded, cool with the radiance of noble reflection, you shine with virtuous and spotless heart, like the sky illumined by the moon.
परिपूर्णमना मान्यः प्रष्टुं जानासि राघव । वेत्सि चोक्तं च तेनाहं प्रवृत्तो वक्तुम् आदरात्
O Raghava, you are worthy of respect, your mind is fulfilled, and you know how to ask; you also understand what is spoken, so I am eager to speak further.
रजस्तमोभ्यां रहितां शुद्धसत्त्वानुपातिनीम् । मतिम् आत्मनि संस्थाप्य ज्ञानं श्रोतुं स्थिरो भव
Establish in yourself a mind free from rajas and tamas, inclined toward pure sattva, and remain steady to listen to this knowledge.
विद्यते त्वयि सर्वैव पृच्छकस्य गुणावली । वक्तुर् गुणाली च मयि रत्नश्रीर् जलधौ यथा
All the virtues of a questioner are present in you, and the virtues of a speaker are in me, just as the splendor of gems is found in the ocean.
आत्तवान् असि वैराग्यं विवेकासङ्गजं मुने । चन्द्रकान्त इवार्द्रत्वं लग्नचन्द्रकरोत्करः
You have attained dispassion, born of discernment and detachment, O sage, just as the moonstone attains coolness from the rays of the moon.
चिरम् आ शैशवाद् एव तवाभ्यासो ऽस्ति सद्गुणैः । शुद्धैश् शुद्धस्य दीर्घैश् च पद्मस्येवातिसन्ततैः
From childhood, you have long practiced noble qualities, pure and enduring, like the continuous, pure stalks of a lotus.
अतश् शृणु कथां वक्ष्ये त्वम् एवास्या हि भाजनम् । न हि चन्द्रं विना शुद्धा सविकासा कुमुद्वती
Therefore, listen as I narrate this story; you alone are truly fit to receive it. For just as the water-lily does not fully blossom in purity without the moon, so too is this tale incomplete without you.
ये केचन समारम्भा याश् च काश्चन दृष्टयः । ते च ताश् च पदे दृष्टे निश्शेषं यान्ति वै शमम्
Whatever undertakings there are, and whatever perceptions may arise, all of these, upon realization of the supreme state, come entirely to rest.
यदि विज्ञानविश्रान्तिर् न भवेद् भव्यचेतसः । तद् अस्यां संसृतौ साधुश् चिन्तां सोढुं सहेत कः
If the mind of the seeker does not find repose in true knowledge, then who in this world could possibly endure the burden of endless anxieties?
परप्राप्त्या विलीयन्ते सर्वा मननवृत्तयः । कल्पान्तार्कगणासङ्गात् कुलशैलशिला इव
When the supreme is attained, all movements of thought dissolve, just as boulders on a mountain are swept away by the flood of the sun at the end of an age.
दुस्सहा राम संसारविषावेशविषूचिका । योगगारुडमन्त्रेण पावनेन प्रशाम्यति
O Rama, the unbearable cholera of worldly existence, poisoned by delusion, is pacified by the purifying mantra of yoga, like the antidote of Garuda.
विकौतुका विगतविकल्पविप्लवा यथा स्थिता हरिहरपद्मजादयः । नरोत्तमास् समधिगतात्मदीपकास् तथा स्थिता जगति विबुद्धबुद्धयः
Just as Hari, Hara, Brahma, and the rest remain free from curiosity and disturbance, so too do the best of men, whose inner light is realized, abide in the world with awakened understanding.
परिक्षीणे मोहे गलति च घने ऽज्ञानजलदे परिज्ञाते तत्त्वे समधिगत आत्मन्य् अभिमते । विचार्यार्यैस् सार्धं गलितवपुषोर् वा सदसतोर् धिया दृष्टे तत्त्वे रमणम् अटनं जागतम् इदम्
When delusion is exhausted and the dense cloud of ignorance disperses, and the truth is recognized, and the self is realized as intended—whether through reasoning with the wise or by seeing the reality of existence and non-existence in those whose forms have faded—then this worldly wandering becomes a delight and a play.
प्रसन्ने चित्तत्त्वे हृदि सविभवे वल्गति परे समाभोगीभूतास्व् अखिलकलनादृष्टिषु पुरः । शमं यान्तीष्व् अन्तःकरणघटनास्व् आहितरसं धिया दृष्टे तत्त्वे रमणम् अटनं जागतम् इदम्
When the essence of mind is clear and radiant in the heart, and all perceptions and creations appear before one as unified experience, and when the workings of the inner instrument come to rest in tranquility—then, with the truth seen by wisdom, this worldly wandering becomes a delight and a play.
रथस् स्फारो देहस् तुरगरचना चेन्द्रियगतिः परिस्पन्दो वाताद् अहम् अकलितानन्तविषमः । परो वार्वाग् देही जगति विहरामीत्य् अनघया धिया दृष्टे तत्त्वे रमणम् अटनं जागतम् इदम्
The chariot is the body, its firmness; the movement of the senses is like the motion of horses; the subtle vibration is from the wind; but I, unmeasured, infinite, and without distinction, am not any of these. Whether as the embodied one I seem to roam the world, or as the supreme, with pure understanding, seeing the truth, this wandering in the world is but a play.
एतां दृष्टिम् अवष्टभ्य पुष्टात्मानस् सुबुद्धयः । विचरन्त्य् असमुन्नद्धा महान्तो ऽभ्युदिता इव
Relying on this vision, those whose souls are strong and whose intellects are clear move about untroubled, great ones, as if newly arisen.
न शोचन्ति न याचन्ते न वाञ्छन्ति शुभाशुभम् । सर्वम् एव च कुर्वन्ति कुर्वन्ति न च किञ्चन
They do not grieve, they do not beg, nor do they desire good or bad; they do everything, yet do nothing at all.
स्वस्थम् एवावतिष्ठन्ति स्वस्थं कुर्वन्ति यान्ति च । हेयोपादेयतापक्षरहितास् स्वात्मनि स्थिताः
They remain established in their own nature, make others established in themselves, and go about; free from notions of rejection or acceptance, they abide in the Self.
आयान्ति च न चायान्ति वनं यान्ति न यान्ति च । न कुर्वन्त्य् अपि कुर्वन्ति न वदन्ति वदन्ति च
They come and yet do not come; they go to the forest and yet do not go; even when not acting, they act; even when not speaking, they speak.
ये केचन समारम्भा याश् च काश्चन दृष्टयः । हेयादेयदृशो यास् ताः क्षीयन्ते ऽधिगते पदे
Whatever undertakings there may be, and whatever perceptions arise, those seen as to be accepted or rejected are dissolved upon attaining the supreme state.
परित्यक्तसमस्तेहं मनो मधुरवृत्तिमत् । सर्वतस् सुखम् अभ्येति चन्द्रबिम्ब इव स्थितम्
When all desires are abandoned, the mind, moving sweetly, attains happiness everywhere, remaining steady like the orb of the moon.
अपि निर्मननारम्भम् अप्य् अस्ताखिलकौतुकम् । आत्मन्य् एव न मात्य् अन्तर् इन्दाव् इव रसायनम्
Even without creating or beginning anything, even when all curiosity has ceased, one does not become intoxicated within oneself, just as nectar does not intoxicate the moon.
न करोतीन्द्रजालानि नानुधावति वासनाम् । बालचापलम् उत्सृज्य पूर्णम् एव विराजते
He does not perform illusions, nor does he chase after desires; having abandoned childish fickleness, he shines forth in fullness.
स्वानुभूतेस् सुशास्त्रस्य गुरोश् चैवैकवाक्यता । यत्राभ्यासेन तेनात्मा सन्ततेनावलोक्यते
Where, through constant practice, the unity of one's own experience, the true scripture, and the teacher's words is realized—there the self is continually beheld.
अवहेलितशास्त्रार्थैर् अवज्ञातमहाजनैः । कष्टाम् अप्य् आपदं प्राप्तो न मूढैस् समताम् इयात्
One who has disregarded the meanings of scripture and is scorned by the wise—even if he falls into great misfortune—should not seek equality with the ignorant.
न व्याधिर् न विषं नापत् तथा नामास्ति भूतले । खेदाय स्वशरीरस्थं मौर्ख्यम् एव यथा नृणाम्
There is no disease, no poison, nor any calamity on earth that brings as much suffering to people as the folly that dwells within their own bodies.
किञ्चित्संस्कृतबुद्धीनां श्रव्यं शास्त्रम् इदं यथा । मौर्ख्यापहं तथा शास्त्रम् अन्यद् अस्ति न किञ्चन
For those whose minds are somewhat refined, this scripture is to be heard; there is no other scripture that so removes ignorance.
इदं श्रव्यं सुखकरं कथादृष्टान्तसुन्दरम् । अविरुद्धम् अशेषेण शास्त्रवाक्यार्थबन्धुना
This teaching is pleasant to hear, adorned with stories and examples, and in every way harmonious with the meanings of all scriptural statements.
आपदो या दुरुत्तारा याश् च तुच्छाः कुयोनयः । तास् ता मौर्ख्यात् प्रसूयन्ते खदिरात् कण्टका इव
Those calamities that are hard to cross, and those trivial wrong actions—all these arise from ignorance, just as thorns grow from the khadira tree.
वरं शरावहस्तस्य चण्डालागारवीथिषु । भिक्षार्थम् अटनं राम न मौर्ख्यहतजीवितम्
It is better, O Rama, to wander with a begging bowl in the streets of outcastes than to live a life ruined by ignorance.