इमम् आलोकम् आसाद्य मोक्षोपायमयं जनः । अन्धताम् एति न पुनः कश्चिन् मोहतमस्य् अपि
Upon encountering this illumination, which is filled with the means to liberation, a person does not again fall into blindness, nor into the darkness of delusion.
तावन् नयति सङ्कोचं तृष्णाश्यामा नराम्बुजम् । यावद् विवेकसूर्यस्य नोदिता विमला प्रभा
The lotus of human life, darkened by craving, remains contracted until the pure radiance of the sun of discernment arises.
संसारदुःखमोक्षार्थं मादृशैस् सह बन्धुभिः । स्वरूपम् आत्मनो ज्ञात्वा गुरुशास्त्रप्रमाणतः
For the sake of release from the suffering of worldly existence, together with companions like myself, one should know the true nature of the self, based on the authority of the teacher and scripture.
जीवन्मुक्ताश् चरन्तीह यथा हरिहरादयः । यथा ब्रह्मर्षयश् चान्ये तथा विहर राघव
The liberated while living move about here just as Hari, Hara, and others do; as do other great sages—so, Raghava, you too should live in this way.
अनन्तानीह दुःखानि सुखं क्षणलवोपमम् । नातस् सुखेषु बध्नीयाद् दृष्टिं दुःखानुबन्धिषु
Here, sufferings are endless, while happiness is as fleeting as a moment; therefore, one should not fix their gaze on pleasures, which are bound to suffering.
यद् अनन्तम् अनायासं तत् पदं सारसिद्धये । साधनीयं प्रयत्नेन पुरुषेण विजानता
That state which is endless and effortless is to be attained for the essence of perfection; it must be pursued with effort by one who understands.
त एव पुरुषार्थस्य भाजनं पुरुषोत्तमाः । अनुत्तमपदालम्बि मनो येषां गतज्वरम्
Those who are supreme among men are the vessels of human purpose; whose minds, free from affliction, are anchored in the unsurpassed state.
सम्भोगाशनमात्रेषु राज्यादिषु सुखेषु ये । सन्तुष्टा दुष्टमनसो विद्धि तान् अन्धडुण्डुभान्
Those who are satisfied only with pleasures such as eating, enjoyment, and sovereignty, whose minds are corrupt—know them to be blind and like hollow drums.
ये शठेषु दुरन्तेषु दुष्कृतारम्भशालिषु । द्विषत्सु मित्ररूपेषु भक्ता वै भोगभोगिषु
Those who are devoted to the enjoyment of pleasures, who are cunning, malicious, intent on wicked deeds, and who appear as friends while harboring enmity—
ते यान्ति दुर्गमाद् दुर्गं दुःखाद् दुःखं भयाद् भयम् । नरकान् नरकं मूढा मोहमन्थरबुद्धयः
These deluded ones, whose minds are sluggish with ignorance, go from one hardship to another, from one sorrow to the next, from one fear to another, and from one hell to another.
परस्परविनाशोत्के श्रेयस्यौ न कदाचन । सुखदुःखदशे राम तडित्प्रसरभङ्गुरे
O Rama, for those eager for each other's destruction, there is never any true good; their states of happiness and sorrow are as fleeting as flashes of lightning.
ये विरक्ता महात्मानस् सुविविक्ता भवादृशः । पुरुषान् विद्धि तान् वन्द्यान् भोगमोक्षैकभागिनः
Know those great souls who are detached, who dwell in solitude, and who are like you, O Rama, to be worthy of reverence; they alone partake in both enjoyment and liberation.
विवेकं परम् आश्रित्य वैराग्याभ्यासयोगतः । संसारसरितं घोराम् इमाम् आपदम् उत्तरेत्
By relying on supreme discernment and the practice of dispassion, one should cross over this dreadful river of worldly existence and its dangers.
न स्वप्तव्यं तु संसारमायास्व् इह विजानता । विषमूर्छनसम्मोहदायिनीषु विवेकिना
One who knows should not be heedless in this world of the illusion of samsara, which brings about the stupefaction and confusion of poison, but should remain discerning.
संसारम् इमम् आसाद्य यस् तिष्ठत्य् अवहेलया । ज्वलितस्य गृहस्योच्चैश् शेते तार्णस्य सो ऽन्तरे
He who, having encountered this samsara, remains indifferent is like one who sleeps in the midst of a house ablaze or lies down in the path of a rushing flood.
यत् प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते यद् आसाद्य न शोच्यते । तत् पदं शेमुषीलभ्यम् अस्त्य् एवात्र न संशयः
There is indeed, without doubt, that state which, once attained, there is no return from, and having reached which, there is no cause for sorrow; it is attainable by the wise.
नास्ति चेत् तद् विचारेण दोषः को भवतां भवेत् । अस्ति चेत् तत् समुत्तीर्णा भविष्यथ भवार्णवात्
If, upon examination, it is not present, then what fault could there be for you? If it is present, then you will cross over the ocean of existence.
प्रवृत्तिः पुरुषस्येह मोक्षोपायविचारणे । यदा भवत्य् आशु तदा मोक्षभागी स उच्यते
When a person swiftly turns to the inquiry into the means of liberation, then he is said to be one who attains liberation.
अनपायि निराशङ्कं स्वास्थ्यं विगतविभ्रमम् । न विना केवलीभावं विद्यते भुवनत्रये
Unfailing, unshaken composure, free from confusion, does not exist in the three worlds except through the state of aloneness.
तत्प्राप्ताव् उत्तमप्राप्तौ न क्लेश उपयुज्यते । न मित्राण्य् उपकुर्वन्ति न धनानि न बन्धवः
In attaining that supreme attainment, there is no use for hardship; neither friends, nor wealth, nor relatives are of help.
न हस्तपादचलनं न देशान्तरसङ्गमः । क्लेशातिशयसाध्यो वा न तीर्थायतनाश्रयः
Neither movement of hands and feet, nor traveling to other places, nor excessive austerity, nor resorting to holy sites is required.
पुरुषार्थैकसाध्येन वासनैकार्थकर्मणा । केवलं तन् मनोमात्रजयेनासाद्यते पदम्
That state is attained solely by conquering the mind, through action directed to a single aim—the one true purpose of human life.
विवेकमात्रसाध्यं तद्विचारैकान्तनिश्चयम् । त्यजता दुःखजालानि नरेण तद् अवाप्यते
It is achieved only by discernment, by firm resolve through inquiry; when a person abandons the nets of sorrow, he attains it.
सुखसेव्यासनस्थेन तद् विचारयता स्वयम् । न शोच्यते पदं प्राप्य न च भूयो ऽभिजायते
Seated comfortably and reflecting on it by oneself, one attains that state, and, having reached it, is not to be grieved nor born again.
तत् समस्तसुखासारसीमान्तं साधवो विदुः । तद् अनुत्तमनिष्ष्यन्दं परम् आहू रसायनम्
The noble ones know that as the ultimate boundary of all the essence of happiness; they call that supreme, incomparable flow the true elixir.
क्षयित्वात् सर्वभावानां स्वर्गमानुष्ययोर् द्वयोः । सुखं नास्त्य् एव सलिलं मृगतृष्णास्व् इवैतयोः
Because all states in heaven and among humans are perishable, there is truly no happiness in either—just as there is no water in a mirage.
अतो मनोजयश् चिन्त्यश् शमस् सन्तोषसाधनः । अनन्तशमसम्भोगस् तस्माद् आनन्द आप्यते
Therefore, mastery over the mind should be contemplated, which is attained through tranquility and contentment; from the enjoyment of endless peace, true bliss is obtained.
जीवता गच्छता चैव भ्रमता पतता तथा । रक्षसा दानवेनापि देवेन पुरुषेण वा
Whether living, moving, wandering, or falling—be it a demon, a celestial, a god, or a human—
मनःप्रशमनोद्भूतं तत् प्राप्य परमं सुखम् । विकासिशमपुष्पस्य विवेकोच्चतरोः फलम्
Upon attaining that supreme happiness born of the pacification of the mind, one gains the fruit of the highest discernment, like the blossom of the flower of tranquility fully opened.
व्यवहारपरेणापि कार्यवृन्दम् अचिन्वता । भानुनेवाम्बरस्थेन नोज्झ्यते न च वाञ्छ्यते
Even one engaged in worldly affairs, not seeking out a multitude of actions, is neither abandoned nor desired, like the sun stationed in the sky.