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.
मनः प्रशान्तम् अत्यच्छं विश्रान्तं गतविभ्रमम् । अनीहं विगताभीष्टं नाभिवाञ्छति नोज्झति
The mind, utterly peaceful, crystal-clear, rested, free from confusion, without desire or longing—neither craves nor rejects anything.
मोक्षद्वारे द्वारपालान् इमाञ् शृणु यथाक्रमम् । येषाम् एकतमासक्त्या मोक्षद्वारे प्रविश्यते
At the gateway to liberation, listen in order to the gatekeepers, by attachment to any one of whom entry to the door of liberation is gained.
दुःखदोषदशा दीर्घा संसारमरुमण्डली । जन्तोश् शीतलताम् एति शीतलेन शमाम्बुना
The long desert of worldly existence, filled with suffering and faults, becomes cool for a living being through the refreshing water of tranquility.
शमेनासाद्यते श्रेयश् शमो हि परमं पदम् । शमश् शिवं शमश् शान्तिश् शमो भ्रान्तिनिवारणम्
Through tranquility, the highest good is attained; for tranquility is the supreme state—tranquility is auspiciousness, tranquility is peace, tranquility dispels delusion.
पुंसः प्रशमतृप्तस्य शीतलाच्छतरात्मनः । शमतोषितचित्तस्य शत्रुर् अप्य् एति मित्रताम्
For one satisfied by tranquility, whose nature is pure and cool, whose mind delights in tranquility—even an enemy becomes a friend.
शमचन्द्रमसा येषाम् आशयस् समलङ्कृतः । क्षीराब्धीनाम् इवोदेति तेषां परमशुद्धता
For those whose intentions are adorned by the moon of tranquility, supreme purity arises, just as it does from the ocean of milk.
हृत्कुशेशयकोशेषु येषां शमकुशेशयम् । सतां विकसितं ते हि द्विहृत्पद्मास् समा हरेः
Those whose hearts are lotus-like, with tranquility blossoming within, are truly the two lotus hearts of Hari, fully opened among the virtuous.
शमश्रीश् शोभते येषां मुखेन्दाव् अकलङ्किते । ते ऽमी कुलेन्दवो वन्द्यास् सौन्दर्यविजितेन्दवः
For those whose faces shine without blemish, graced by the beauty of tranquility, they are the lords of their lineage, worthy of veneration, surpassing even the moon in beauty.
त्रैलोक्योदरवर्तिन्यो नानन्दाय तथा श्रियः । साम्राज्यसम्पत्प्रतिमा यथा शमविभूतयः
The glories of tranquility, dwelling within the heart of the three worlds, are not for enjoyment like riches; they are like the wealth of sovereignty.
यानि दुःखानि यास् तृष्णा दुस्सहा ये दुराधयः । तत् सर्वं शान्तचेतस्सु तमो ऽर्केष्व् इव नश्यति
All sufferings, all cravings, all unbearable hardships—these are destroyed in those of peaceful mind, just as darkness vanishes before the sun.