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.
एकस्मिन्न् एव फलिते गुणे बलम् उपागते । क्षीयन्ते सर्व एवाशु दोषा विषदचेतसः
When a single virtue ripens and strength arises, all faults are swiftly destroyed in one whose mind is clear.
गुणे विवृद्धे वर्धन्ते गुणा दोषक्षयावहाः । दोषे विवृद्धे वर्धन्ते दोषा गुणविनाशिनः
When virtue increases, virtues grow that bring the destruction of faults; when faults increase, faults grow that destroy virtue.
मनोमहावने ह्य् अस्मिन् वेगिनी वासनासरित् । शुभाशुभबृहत्कूला नित्यं वहति जन्तुषु
In this vast forest of the mind, the swift river of tendencies flows, with great banks of good and evil, always carrying living beings.
सा हि स्वेन प्रयत्नेन यस्मिन्न् एव निपात्यते । कूले तेनैव वहति यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
By one's own effort, wherever this river is directed, it flows along that bank; act accordingly as you wish.
पुरुषयत्नजवेन मनोवने शुभतटानुगतां क्रमशः कुरु । वरमते निजभावमहानदीम् इह हि तेन मनाग् अपि नोह्यसे
By human effort, gradually guide the river of your mind toward the auspicious bank; establish your own great stream of disposition, for then you will not be hindered in the least.
एवम् आत्तविवेको यस् स भवान् इव राघव । योग्यो ज्ञानगिरश् श्रोतुं राजेव नयभारतीः
One who has attained discernment, like you, Raghava, is fit to hear the teachings of wisdom, just as a king is fit to hear the doctrines of statecraft.
अवदातो ऽवदातस्य विज्ञानस्य महाशयः । जडसङ्गोज्झितो योग्यश् शरदीन्दोर् यथा नभः
Pure, free from impurity, vast in the knowledge of consciousness, untouched by dullness, fit for yoga, like the autumn moon in the sky.
त्वम् एतयाखण्डितया गुणलक्ष्म्या समाश्रितः । मनोमोहहरं वाक्यं वक्ष्यमाणम् इदं शृणु
You are endowed with this unbroken wealth of virtues; listen to these words, which dispel the delusion of the mind, that I am about to speak.
पुण्यकल्पद्रुमो यस्य फलभारानतस् स्थितः । मुक्तये जायते जन्तोस् तस्येदं श्रोतुम् उद्यमः
For one whose tree of merit stands bowed with the weight of its fruits, the effort to hear this is born for the liberation of the soul.
पावनानाम् उदाराणां परबोधैकदायिनाम् । वचसां भाजनं भूत्यै भव्यो भवति नाधमः
The noble, pure, and supremely enlightening words are vessels for prosperity; only the worthy become their recipients, not the base.