विशेषेण महाबुद्धे संसारोत्तरणे नृणाम् । सर्वत्रोपकरोतीह साधुस् साधुसमागमः
O great intellect, especially in crossing over worldly existence, the company of the virtuous is always beneficial in every way.
साधुसङ्गतरोर् जातं विवेककुसुमं शुभम् । रक्षन्ति ये महात्मानो भाजनं ते फलश्रियः
Those great souls who preserve the auspicious flower of discernment that grows on the tree of association with the virtuous become vessels of the wealth of its fruit.
शून्यम् आकीर्णताम् एति मृतिर् अप्य् उत्सवायते । आपत् सम्पद् इवाभाति विद्वज्जनसमागमे
In the company of the wise, emptiness becomes abundance, even death appears as a festival, and adversity shines like prosperity.
हिमम् आपत्सरोजिन्या मोहनीहारमारुतः । जयत्य् एको जगत्य् अस्मिन् साधुस् साधुसमागमः
In this world, the company of the virtuous alone conquers the frost of misfortune, the wind of delusion, and the darkness of ignorance, like the sun triumphing over them all.
परं विवर्धनं बुद्धेर् अज्ञानतरुशातनम् । समुत्सरणम् आधीनां विद्धि साधुसमागमम्
Know that association with the virtuous is the supreme enhancer of intelligence, the destroyer of the tree of ignorance, and the remover of afflictions.
विवेकः परमो दीपो जायते साधुसङ्गमात् । मनोहरोज्ज्वलो नूनम् अशोकाद् इव गुच्छकम्
From association with the virtuous, the highest lamp of discernment arises—certainly bright and delightful, like a cluster of flowers from the sorrowless tree.
निरपायां निराबाधां निर्वृतिं नित्यपीवरीम् । अनुत्तमां प्रयच्छन्ति साधुसङ्गविभूतयः
The powers gained from association with the virtuous bestow a happiness that is free from danger, free from disturbance, ever abundant, and unsurpassed.
अपि कष्टतरां प्राप्तैर् दशां विवशतां गतैः । मनाग् अपि न सन्त्याज्या मानवैस् साधुसङ्गतिः
Even by those who have reached the most difficult and helpless states, association with the virtuous should not be abandoned, even in the slightest, by human beings.
साधुसङ्गतयो लोके सन्मार्गशुभदीपिकाः । हार्दान्धकारहारिण्यो भासो ज्ञानविवस्वतः
In this world, associations with the virtuous are auspicious lamps on the path of righteousness; they dispel the darkness of the heart, shining with the light of knowledge.
यस् स्नातश् शीतसितया साधुसङ्गतिगङ्गया । किं तस्य दानैः किं तीर्थैः किं तपोभिः किम् अध्वरैः
He who has bathed in the cool, pure Ganges of association with the virtuous—what need has he for gifts, for holy places, for austerities, or for sacrifices?
नीरागाश् छिन्नसन्देहा गलितग्रन्थयो ऽनघ । साधवो यदि विद्यन्ते किं तपस्तीर्थसङ्ग्रहैः
If there exist virtuous ones who are free from passion, whose doubts are cut off, whose knots are dissolved, O sinless one, what need is there for austerities or collections of holy places?
विश्रान्तमनसो वन्द्याः प्रयत्नेन परेण हि । दरिद्रेणेव मणयः प्रेक्षणीया हि साधवः
Those whose minds are at rest are truly worthy of reverence and should be sought out with the greatest effort; the virtuous are to be beheld like jewels by the poor.
सत्समागमसौन्दर्यशालिनी धीमतां मतिः । कमलेवाप्सरोवृन्दे सर्वदैव विराजते
The intellect of the wise, adorned by the beauty of noble company, always shines like a lotus among a gathering of celestial nymphs.
तेनामलविलासस्य पदस्याग्रावचूलता । प्रथिता येन भव्येन न त्यक्ता साधुसङ्गतिः
By that noble one who has attained the pure state of play, the exalted association with the virtuous is never abandoned.
विच्छिन्नग्रन्थयस् तज्ज्ञास् साधवस् सर्वसम्मताः । सर्वोपायेन संसेव्यास् ते ह्य् उपाया भवाम्बुधौ
Those saints, whose knots of ignorance are severed and who are esteemed by all, should be served by every means, for they are the means to cross the ocean of worldly existence.
त एते नरकाग्नीनां संशुष्केन्धनतां गताः । यैर् दृष्टा हेलया सन्तो नरकानलवारिदाः
Those who have seen the saints with indifference have become like dry fuel for the fires of hell, while the saints themselves are rainclouds that quench the flames of hell.
दारिद्र्यं मरणं दुःखम् इत्यादिविषमो भ्रमः । सम्प्रशाम्यत्य् अशेषेण साधुसङ्गमभेषजैः
Poverty, death, suffering, and other such distressing delusions are completely pacified by the medicine of association with the virtuous.
सन्तोषस् साधुसङ्गश् च विचारो ऽथ शमस् तथा । एत एव भवाम्भोधाव् उपायास् तरणे नृणाम्
Contentment, association with the virtuous, inquiry, and tranquility—these alone are the means for people to cross the ocean of worldly existence.
सन्तोषः परमो लाभस् सत्सङ्गः परमा गतिः । विचारः परमं ज्ञानं शमो हि परमं सुखं
Contentment is the highest gain, noble company is the supreme path, inquiry is the highest knowledge, and tranquility is indeed the greatest happiness.
चत्वार एते विमला उपाया भवभेदने । यैर् अभ्यस्तास् त उत्तीर्णा मोहवारेर् भवार्णवात्
These four pure means—when practiced—lead to the dissolution of worldly existence; those who have mastered them have crossed the ocean of delusion and worldly life.
एकस्मिन्न् एव चैतेषाम् अभ्यस्ते विमलोदये । चत्वारो ऽपि किलाभ्यस्ता भवन्ति सुधियां वर
Indeed, when one of these is practiced and pure awakening arises, all four are said to be mastered by the wise.
एको ऽप्य् एको ऽपि सर्वेषां एषां प्रसवभूर् इव । सर्वसंसिद्धये तस्माद् यत्नेनैकं समाश्रयेत्
Even a single one among these serves as the source for all; therefore, for complete attainment, one should diligently take up at least one.
सत्समागमसन्तोषविचारास् त्व् अविचारितम् । प्रवर्तन्ते शमे स्वच्छे वहनानीव सागरे
Association with the good, contentment, inquiry, and tranquility—when not deliberately cultivated—arise naturally in a mind made clear, like streams flowing into the ocean.
विचारसन्तोषशमास् सत्समागमशालिनि । प्रवर्तन्ते श्रियो जन्तौ कल्पवृक्षाश्रिते यथा
Inquiry, contentment, and tranquility flourish in one who delights in the company of the good, just as riches flourish for one sheltered by the wish-fulfilling tree.
विचारशमसत्सङ्गास् सन्तोषवति मानवे । प्रवर्तन्ते प्रपूर्णेन्दौ सौन्दर्याद्या गुणा इव
Inquiry, tranquility, and association with the good arise in a person who possesses contentment, just as beauty and other qualities arise when the moon is full.
सत्सङ्गसन्तोषशमा विचारवति सन्मतौ । प्रवर्तन्ते मन्त्रिवरे राजनीव जयश्रियः
Association with the good, contentment, and tranquility manifest in one who values inquiry, just as victory and prosperity manifest for a king with a wise minister.
तस्माद् एकतमं नित्यम् एतेषां रघुनन्दन । पौरुषेण मनो जित्वा यत्नेनाभ्याहरेद् गुणम्
Therefore, O descendant of Raghu, always conquer the mind with effort and steadfastly cultivate at least one of these virtues.
परं पौरुषम् आश्रित्य जित्वा चित्तमतङ्गजम् । यावद् एको गुणो नाप्तस् तावन् नास्त्य् उत्तमा गतिः
Relying on supreme effort and having subdued the elephant of the mind, until even one virtue is attained, there is no highest attainment.
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन दन्तैर् दन्तान् विचूर्णयत् । यावन् नाभिनिविष्टं ते मनो राम गुणार्जने
With determined effort, grind teeth against teeth, Rama, until your mind is firmly set on acquiring virtue.
देवो भवाथ यक्षो वा पुरुषः पादपो ऽथ वा । तावत् तव महाबाहो नोपायो ऽस्तीह कश्चन
Whether you are a god, a yaksha, a human, or even a tree, mighty-armed one, there is no other means here for you.