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.
मनो हि सर्वभूतानां प्रसादम् अनुगच्छति । न तथेन्दौ यथा शान्ते जने जनितकौतुकम्
The mind naturally follows after the serenity of all beings; not even the moon evokes such wonder as a peaceful person does among people.
शमशालिनि सौहार्दवति सर्वेषु जन्तुषु । सुजने परमं तत्त्वं स्वयम् एव प्रसीदति
In one who is established in tranquility and goodwill toward all creatures, the highest truth reveals itself spontaneously.
मातरीव परं यान्ति विषमाणि मृदूनि च । विश्वासम् इह भूतानि सर्वाणि शमशालिनि
Just as with a mother, all beings—whether harsh or gentle—place their trust in one who is tranquil.
न रसायनपानेन न लक्ष्म्यालिङ्गनेन च । तथा सुखम् अवाप्नोति शमेनान्तर् यथा जनः
Not by drinking elixirs, nor by embracing fortune, does one attain such happiness as a person does through inner tranquility.
सर्वाधिव्याधिवलितं क्रान्तं तृष्णावरत्रया । मनश् शमामृतासेकैस् समाश्वासय राघव
O Raghava, comfort the mind, afflicted by all kinds of ailments and bound by the cords of craving, with the nectar-stream of tranquility.
यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि शमशीतलया धिया । तत् ते ऽतिस्वदते स्वादु नेतरत् तात मानसे
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, when done with a mind cooled by tranquility, that alone tastes supremely sweet to you, my dear—not otherwise, in the mind.
शमामृतरसस्नातं मनो याम् एति निर्वृतिम् । छिन्नान्य् अपि तयाङ्गानि मन्ये रोहन्ति राघव
O Raghava, when the mind, bathed in the nectar of tranquility, attains contentment, I believe that even limbs once severed are restored by it.
न पिशाचा न रक्षांसि न दैत्या न च शत्रवः । न च व्याघ्रभुजङ्गाद्या द्विषन्ति शमशालिनम्
Neither spirits, nor demons, nor daityas, nor enemies, nor tigers, serpents, and the like, bear enmity toward one who abides in tranquility.
सुसन्नद्धसमस्ताङ्गं प्रशमामृतवर्मणा । वेधयन्ति न दुःखानि शरा वज्रशिलाम् इव
When one is fully protected by the armor of the nectar of tranquility, sorrows cannot pierce him, just as arrows cannot penetrate a stone of diamond.
न तथा राजते राजामात्यान्तःपुरसंस्थितः । समया स्वस्थया वृत्त्या यथोपशमशोभितः
A king, even when surrounded by ministers and the women of his inner palace, does not shine as much as one adorned by the beauty of tranquility and steady conduct.