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,
एवंगुणविशिष्टस्य कैलासवनकुञ्जके । तपः प्रचरतो राम मम कालो ऽत्यवर्तत
O Rama, thus endowed with such qualities, while practicing austerities in a grove of the Kailasa forest, my time passed by.
अथैकदा कदाचित् तु बहुलस्याष्टमे दिने । गते श्रावणपक्षस्य रात्र्यर्धे क्षयम् आगते
Then, once, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, when half the night of the month of Shravana had passed away,
दिक्षु संशान्तरूपासु काष्ठमौनस्थितास्व् इव । खड्गच्छेद्यान्धकारेषु कुञ्जेषु गहनेषु च
When the directions appeared tranquil, as if established in deep silence, and in the thickets and dense groves where darkness could be cut by a sword,
अवश्यायलसन्मुक्ताहासे सरति मारुते । आलवालोपधानेषु मृगेष्व् आश्रमशायिषु
As the wind moved, adorned with the gentle smile of dew, among the grass-beds and among the animals lying in the hermitage,
अमृतांशुकरस्यन्दम् आत्मनः परिवृद्धये । लिहत्सु शशिरश्मिभ्यः पल्लवेष्व् अमृतद्रवम्
As the nectarous rays of the moon, for the growth of themselves, were licked up from the leaves as the immortal essence by the moonbeams,
कुमुद्वतीष्व् ओषधीषु चकोरीषु लतासु च । पिबन्तीष्व् अमृतस्यन्दं करैर् आकीर्णम् ऐन्दवम्
As the nectar flow, scattered with lunar beams, was drunk by the lotuses, the herbs, the chakora birds, and the creepers,
शैलविश्रान्तनीलाभ्रपल्लवस्य विसारिणः । कृत्तिकागुच्छके व्योमतापिञ्छस्य त्रिभागगे
Like the spreading tuft of blue clouds resting upon a mountain, or a cluster of Krittika stars, or a plume of the sky divided into three parts—
तारौघप्रतिबिम्बेन गिरौ स्फटिकभूमिषु । विकासिपुष्पप्रकरे द्विगुणत्वम् उपागते
By the reflection of the multitude of stars on the crystal slopes of the mountain, the blossoming array of flowers appears doubled in its radiance.
मयि पल्लवपल्यङ्कगते मुक्तेहया धिया । चिन्तयत्य् अमलाभासम् आत्मतत्त्वम् अविप्लुतम्
As I recline upon a couch of tender leaves, with a mind freed from desire, I contemplate the pure, undisturbed essence of the Self.
द्वितीयमद्देहवति व्योम्नि सप्तर्षिमण्डले । मदर्थम् इव ताम् एव दिशम् आपततीव च
In the sky, within the constellation of the Seven Sages, there seems to be a second body, as if hastening toward that very direction for my sake.