एवंरूपेण मनसा महात्मानो महाशयाः । जीवन्मुक्ता जगत्य् अस्मिन् विहरन्ति हि योगिनः
With such a mind, the great-souled, noble-hearted yogis who are liberated while living, indeed move about in this world.
उषित्वा सुचिरं कालं धीरास् ते यावदीप्सितम् । तनुम् अन्ते परित्यज्य यान्ति केवलतां तताम्
Having lived for a long time as they wish, those steadfast ones, at the end, abandon the body and attain the state of pure being.
को ऽहं कस्य च संसार इत्य् आपद्य् अपि धीमता । चिन्तनीयं प्रयत्नेन सप्रतीकारम् आत्मना
Even when faced with the thought, 'Who am I, and whose is this world?' the wise must diligently reflect with self-inquiry and countermeasures.
कार्यसङ्कटसन्देहं राजा जानाति राघव । निष्फलं सफलं वापि विचारेणैव नान्यथा
O Raghava, the king knows the confusion and doubt of action only through discernment, whether it is fruitless or fruitful, and not otherwise.
वेदवेदान्तसिद्धान्तस्थितयस् स्थितिकारणम् । निर्णीयन्ते विचारेण दीपेनेव भुवो निशि
The conclusions of the Vedas and Vedanta, and the reasons for their establishment, are determined by discernment, just as a lamp reveals the earth at night.
अनष्टम् अन्धकारेषु बहुतेजस्स्व् अजिह्मितम् । पश्यत्य् अपि व्यवहितं विचारच् चारुलोचनम्
Even in darkness, a clear and unwavering eye, radiant with discernment, sees what is hidden, just as a bright light does not fail.
विवेकान्धो हि जात्यन्धश् शोच्यश् सर्वस्य दुर्मतिः । दिव्यचक्षुर् विवेकात्मा जयत्य् अखिलवस्तुषु
Truly, one blind to discrimination is pitiable, like one blind from birth, and is of poor understanding; but the self of discernment, possessing divine sight, prevails over all things.
परमात्ममयी पाल्या महानन्दैकसाधनी । क्षणम् एकं परित्याज्या न विचारचमत्कृतिः
The wonder of discernment, which is filled with the Supreme Self and is the sole means to great bliss, should be cherished and not abandoned even for a moment.
विचारचारुः पुरुषो महताम् अपि रोचते । परिपक्वं चमत्कारि सहकारफलं यथा
A person adorned with discernment is esteemed even among the great, just as a fully ripened mango delights all.
विचारकान्तमतयो नानेकेषु पुनः पुनः । पतन्ति दुःखगर्तेषु ज्ञातोर्ध्वगतयो नराः
Those whose minds lack the beauty of discernment, though they may rise in knowledge, repeatedly fall into pits of suffering.
न विरौति तथा रोगी नानर्थशतजर्जरः । अविचारविनष्टात्मा यथाज्ञः परिरोदिति
No one cries out in pain as much—not the sick, nor one afflicted by hundreds of misfortunes—as the ignorant person whose self is destroyed by lack of discernment.
वरं कर्दमकीटत्वं श्वभ्रकण्टकता वरम् । वरम् अन्धगुहाहित्वं न नरस्याविचारिता
Better to be a worm in the mud, better to be among thorns in a pit, better to dwell in a dark cave, than for a person to be without discernment.
सर्वानर्थनिजावासं सर्वसाधुतिरस्कृतम् । सर्वदौस्स्थित्यसीमान्तम् अविचारं परित्यजेत्
One should abandon unreflectiveness, which is the dwelling place of all misfortune, rejected by all the virtuous, and the utmost limit of perpetual distress.
नित्यं विचारयुक्तेन भवितव्यं महात्मना । भवान्धकूपे पततां विचारो ह्य् अवलम्बनम्
A noble soul must always be engaged in reflection; for those who fall into the pit of existence, reflection is indeed the support.
स्वयम् एवात्मनात्मानम् अवष्टभ्य विचारतः । संसारमोहजलधेस् तारयेत् स्वमनोमृगम्
By firmly holding oneself with one's own self through reflection, one can lead the mind-deer across the ocean of delusion called saṃsāra.
को ऽहं कथम् अयं दोषस् संसाराख्य उपागतः । न्यायेनेति परामर्शो विचार इति कथ्यते
The inquiry—'Who am I? How has this fault called saṃsāra arisen?'—conducted according to reason, is called reflection.
अन्धान्धमोहमुखरं चिरं दुःखाय केवलम् । कृतं शिलाया हृदयं दुर्मतेश् चाविचारिणः
For the person lacking reflection, whose mind is hard as stone, only endless suffering is produced, filled with utter darkness and the tumult of delusion.
भावाभावग्रहोत्सर्गदृशाम् इह हि राघव । न विचाराद् ऋते तत्त्वं ज्ञायते साधु किञ्चन
O Rāghava, for those whose vision is fixed on the arising and ceasing of things, nothing true is ever known here except through reflection.
विचाराज् ज्ञायते तत्त्वं तत्त्वाद् विश्रान्तिर् आत्मनि । ततो मनसि शान्ते तु सर्वदुःखपरिक्षयः
Through reflection, truth is known; from truth, there is repose in the Self; then, when the mind is at peace, all suffering comes to an end.
सफलता फलते भुवि कर्मणां प्रकटतां किल गच्छत उत्तमात् । स्फुटविचारदृशैव विचारिता शमवते भवते ऽपि विरोचताम्
Indeed, the actions of the best become fruitful and manifest in the world; may your own reflection, clear-sighted and well-considered, bring you to peace and shine forth.
सन्तोषो हि परं श्रेयस् सन्तोषस् सुखम् उच्यते । सन्तुष्टः परम् अभ्येति विश्रामम् अरिसूदन
Contentment is indeed the highest good; contentment is called happiness. One who is content, O destroyer of foes, attains supreme rest.
सन्तोषैश्वर्यसुखिनां चिरविश्रान्तचेतसाम् । साम्राज्यम् अपि साधूनां जरत्तृणलवायते
For those whose minds have long rested in the happiness of contentment and prosperity, even the sovereignty of the virtuous appears as worthless as dry grass.
सन्तोषशालिनी बुद्धी राम संसारवृत्तिषु । विषमास्व् अप्य् अनुद्विग्ना न कदाचन दूयते
O Rama, a mind endowed with contentment remains undisturbed even amidst the turmoil of worldly affairs, and is never afflicted by adversity.
सन्तोषामृतपानेन ये परां तृप्तिम् आगताः । भोगश्रीर् अतुला तेषाम् एषा प्रतिविषायते
Those who have attained supreme satisfaction by drinking the nectar of contentment find all worldly enjoyments incomparable and insignificant.
न तथा तर्पयन्त्य् एताः पीयूषरसवीचयः । यथा हि मधुरास्वादस् सन्तोषो दोषनाशनः
The waves of nectar do not satisfy as much as the sweet taste of contentment, which destroys all faults.
अप्राप्तवाञ्छाम् उत्सृज्य सम्प्राप्ते समतां गतः । अदृष्टखेदाखेदो ऽन्तस् स सन्तुष्ट इहोच्यते
One who abandons unfulfilled desires, remains equal in what is attained, and is free from inner distress and agitation—such a person is called content here.
आत्मनात्मनि सन्तोषं यावद् याति न मानसम् । उद्भवन्त्य् आपदस् तावल् लता इव मनोवनात्
As long as contentment does not reach the mind from within oneself, calamities arise again and again, like creepers sprouting from fertile soil.
सन्तोषशीतलं चेतश् शुद्धविज्ञानदृष्टिभिः । भृशं विकासम् आयाति सूर्यांशुभिर् इवाम्बुजम्
A mind cooled by contentment, seen through pure and clear understanding, blossoms greatly like a lotus under the rays of the sun.
आशावैवश्यविवशे चित्ते सन्तोषवर्जिते । म्लाने वक्त्रम् इवादर्शे न ज्ञानं प्रतिबिम्बति
When the mind is unsettled by the sway of expectation and lacks contentment, knowledge does not reflect there, just as a faded face is not mirrored in a dull mirror.
अज्ञानघनयामिन्या सङ्कोचं न नराम्बुजम् । यात्य् असाव् उदितो यस्य नित्यं सन्तोषभास्करः
The lotus of a person does not wither in the dense night of ignorance, for whom the sun of contentment rises perpetually.