नासतो विद्यते भावो यो नास्त्य् एवेह सन् न सः
That which does not exist here does not possess being; what is not present is not truly real.
स्वरूपमात्रनिष्ठत्वाद् द्वैतैक्याभावयोगतः । अभावाद् अन्यसंवित्तेस् समत्वम् उपलात्मनोः
Because of being established only in its own nature, and due to the absence of duality or unity, and because there is no awareness of another, there is sameness between the perceiver and the perceived self.
अनन्यो ऽनन्त एकात्मा स्वसत्तानुभवी यथा । तथोपलस् स्वतानिष्ठो न जडो न च चेतनः
Just as the one infinite Self is not different, is of one essence, and experiences its own existence, so too is the perceived self, established in its own nature, neither inert nor conscious.
अन्यासम्भवतो नित्यद्वैतैक्याभावयोगतः । चेत्यस्यासम्भवाद् आत्मा न जडो न च चेतनः
Because there is no arising of another, and due to the perpetual absence of duality or unity, and since the object of cognition does not exist, the Self is neither inert nor conscious.
जडाजडदृशौ वन्ध्यापुत्रवद् व्योमवृक्षवत् । समायाते न चायाते प्रेक्षिते न च वीक्षिते
The inert and the conscious are like the son of a barren woman, like a tree in the sky; when they appear to come, they do not come; when seen, they are not truly seen.
जडचेतनशब्दार्थाव् असन्तौ रज्जुसर्पवत् । भवतस् तौ कथं सत्यम् अप्रेक्षामात्रकाद् ऋते
The words 'inert' and 'conscious' are unreal, like the snake in a rope; how can these two be real, apart from mere imagination?
यच् च चेतनम् आत्मेति जडश् चोपल इत्य् अपि । उक्तं तद् ईदृग्वाग्योग्यबोध्यबोधनहेतुकम्
What is called 'consciousness' as the self, and 'inert' as a stone—these are spoken only as means to convey understanding, suited to the capacity of speech and comprehension.
बोध्यः परतरे बोधे यया युक्त्या प्रबोध्यते । सोपदेश्या न गृह्णाति मूढस् तत् सहसा पदम्
By whatever reasoning one is awakened to the supreme knowledge of the knowable, the dull-witted do not grasp that state, even when it is taught directly.
चित्तं पृथक् पृथग् इमानि हतेन्द्रियाणि कर्ता न दृश्यत इदं च गृहं मुधैव । को ऽप्य् अन्य एव परिवल्गति निस्स्वभाव एषो ऽहम् इत्य् अलम् अहो महद् इन्द्रजालम्
The mind is separate, these powerless senses are separate, the doer is not seen, and this house is truly empty; yet some other, devoid of nature, seems to move about—'This is I'—ah, what a great illusion this is!
लोलासु संसृतिषु भूतपरम्पराणां क्रीडासु चान्यपुरुषस्य चिदेकवृत्तेः । तत्त्वं विचार्य रमते हि महानुभावो मन्त्री यथोल्बणविषासु भुजङ्गमीषु
The great soul, having discerned the truth, delights in the restless cycles of existence, in the play of the succession of beings, just as a wise minister enjoys serpents, even when they are full of deadly poison.
न त्वं शिरो न नयने न च रक्तमांसे नास्थीनि नैव च मनो न च भूतजालम् । मा मोहम् एहि न शरीरम् असि प्रसन्ना चित् त्वं प्रपन्नसकलामलसर्वगेति
You are not the head, nor the eyes, nor blood and flesh, nor bones, nor the mind, nor the collection of elements; do not be deluded—you are not the body, but the clear consciousness, pure, all-pervading, and stainless.
एतां दृष्टिम् अवष्टभ्य नष्टकष्टेष्टचेष्टितः । तिष्ठाष्टगुणम् ऐश्वर्यम् अप्य् अरिष्टम् इवोत्सृजन्
Holding to this vision, abandoning actions of loss, gain, and desire, remain, letting go even the eightfold powers as one discards a calamity.
अथेमाम् अपरां दृष्टिं महामोहविनाशिनीम् । दुष्प्रापाम् अपि सुप्रापाम् अनपायाम् अनामयाम्
Now hear of this other vision, which destroys great delusion; though difficult to attain, it is easily accessible, unfailing, and free from affliction.
शृणु या कथिता पूर्वं मम कैलासकन्दरे । संसारदुःखशान्त्यर्थं देवेनार्धेन्दुमौलिना
Listen to what was spoken before by me in the cave of Kailāsa, for the sake of ending the suffering of worldly existence, by the god whose crest bears the crescent moon.
अस्तीन्दुकरसम्भारभासुरः पारगो दिवः । कैलासो नाम शैलेन्द्रो गौरीरमणमन्दिरम्
There is a mountain, radiant with the gathering of moonbeams, surpassing the heavens; called Kailāsa, lord of peaks, the delightful abode of Gaurī’s beloved.
गङ्गानिर्झरनिर्धौतो गणोद्गीर्णगुहागृहः । मन्दानिलवलच्चूतकदम्बवनबन्धुरः
Its caves are washed by the streams of the Gaṅgā, and filled with the cries of hosts of attendants; adorned with gentle breezes and groves of mango and kadamba trees.
लीलालोलामरगणः कृतकोककलारवः । कौमारबर्हिवलितखर्जूरवनपिञ्जरः
It is lively with playful groups of celestial beings, resounding with the songs of cuckoos; fringed with young peacock feathers and golden date palm groves.
तमालान्तर्हिताम्भोदः कदलीतुलिताम्बुदः । चञ्चरीजालजटिलः कूजत्कलकपिञ्जलः
Clouds are hidden among tamāla trees, and clouds are brushed by banana plants; tangled with swarms of bees, and echoing with the calls of the kala-kapiñjala birds.
विद्याधरोद्गीतगुहः कचत्कनककन्दरः । कारण्डवोड्डामरवाग् असङ्ख्यकुसुमाम्बुदः
Its caves resound with the songs of vidyādharas, and its ravines shine with gold; the cries of waterfowl rise above, and countless flowers form clouds.
विमुक्तजलदोद्गारस् सिद्धचारणसेवितः । चन्द्रावचूलदयितस् त्रिलोकीलोकवन्दितः
Free from the roar of storm clouds, served by accomplished sages and celestial beings; cherished by the moon’s rays, and revered by the worlds of the three realms.
सत्कल्पपादपभुजस् सुशिखाशृङ्गकन्धरः । रत्नविद्योतनयनो वनावलितनूरुहः
With arms like the branches of the wish-fulfilling tree, a splendid crest and neck, eyes shining like jewels, and thighs entwined with forest vines.
काचकन्दरकेशश्रीस् स्ववनावलनांशुकः । पवनोद्धूतकिञ्जल्कजालारुणतलाम्बरः
With hair lustrous as crystal, adorned with his own forest-woven garment, and a lower garment reddened by pollen blown by the wind.
तत्रास्ते भगवान् देवो हरश् चन्द्रकलाधरः । शूलपाणिस् त्रिनयनो गणौघपरिवारितः
There abides the blessed god Hara, bearer of the crescent moon, holding a trident, three-eyed, surrounded by hosts of attendants.
भवानीहृतदेहार्धस् सर्वलोकैककारणम् । कन्दर्पदर्पदलनः कलाकरकलाधरः
He whose half-body is Bhavani, the sole cause of all worlds, destroyer of Cupid's pride, bearer of the crescent and the crescent's radiance.
षण्मुखानुगतच्छायः प्रमत्तवृषवाहनः । मत्तेभकृत्तिवसनश् श्मशानरमणालयः
Shadowed by Skanda, riding a frenzied bull, clothed in the hide of a maddened elephant, and dwelling in the cremation ground.
तं पूजयन् महादेवं तस्मिन्न् एव गिरौ पुरा । कदाचिद् अवसं गङ्गातटे ऽहं रचिताश्रमः
Worshipping that great god on that very mountain long ago, I once dwelt on the bank of the Ganga, having established an ashram.
तपोऽर्थं तापसाचारे चिराय रचितस्थितिः । यथाक्रमसदाचारः पुण्यसानुसमाश्रयः
For the sake of austerity, living long in the manner of an ascetic, observing proper conduct in due order, and residing on a sacred mountain slope.
निवासार्थं कृतस्नानः कृतनीलदलोटजः । बालवृक्षकबद्धास्थस् संरोपितलतावृतिः
For dwelling, having bathed, wearing garments of blue leaves and bark, seated at the foot of a young tree, surrounded by planted creepers.
सञ्चिताग्र्यवनप्राणिर् उपार्जितकमण्डलुः । पुष्पार्थं स्यूतपुटकस् सूम्भितस्वाक्षमालिकः
Having gathered the foremost forest creatures, having acquired a water-pot, carrying a pouch for flowers, and stringing together his own rosary of seeds,
शिष्यसङ्घातवलितः कृतशास्त्रार्थसङ्ग्रहः । आनीतपुस्तकव्यूहः परिपालितसन्मृगः
Surrounded by a group of disciples, having compiled the essence of the scriptures, bringing together a collection of books, and caring for noble animals,