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.
मोक्षोपायाभिधानेयं संहिता सारसम्मिता । त्रिंशद् द्वे च सहस्राणि ज्ञाता निर्वाणदायिनी
This scripture, called the means to liberation, is esteemed as the essence; thirty-two thousand verses are known to grant nirvana.
दीपे यथा विनिद्रस्य ज्वलिते सम्प्रवर्तते । आलोको ऽनिच्छतो ऽप्य् एवं निर्वाणम् अनया भवेत्
Just as light spreads from a lamp that burns without sleep, even without desire, so liberation arises from this.
स्वयं ज्ञाता श्रुता वापि भ्रान्तिशान्त्यैव सौख्यदा । आप्तोक्तिवर्णिता सद्यो यथामृततरङ्गिणी
Whether known by oneself or heard, it brings happiness by pacifying confusion; when described by the words of the wise, it is immediate, like the flow of nectar.
यथा रज्ज्वाम् अहिभ्रान्तिर् विनश्यत्य् अवलोकनात् । तथैतत्प्रेक्षणाच् छान्तिम् एति संसारदुःखिता
Just as the illusion of a snake in a rope vanishes upon seeing it, so by perceiving this, one suffering in the world attains peace.
युक्तियुक्तार्थवाक्यानि कल्पितानि पृथक् पृथक् । दृष्टान्तसारसूक्तानि चास्यां प्रकरणानि षट्
In this work, there are six sections, each composed of statements grounded in reasoning, separately constructed, and containing apt illustrations and meaningful sayings.
वैराग्याख्यं प्रकरणं प्रथमं परिकीर्तितम् । वैराग्यं वर्धते येन सेकेनेव मरौ तरुः
The first section is called 'Dispassion'; by which, as by watering a tree in the desert, dispassion is increased.
सार्धं सहस्रं ग्रन्थस्य यस्मिन् हृदि विचारिते । प्रकाशा शुद्धतोदेति मणाव् इव विमार्जिते
When the thousand verses of this section are reflected upon in the heart, pure illumination arises, just as a jewel shines when polished.
मुमुक्षुव्यवहाराख्यं ततः प्रकरणं कृतम् । सहस्रमात्रं ग्रन्थस्य सूक्तिग्रन्थेन सुन्दरम्
Next is the section called 'The Conduct of the Seeker of Liberation', beautiful with a thousand verses composed of meaningful sayings.
स्वभावो हि मुमुक्षूणां नराणां यत्र वर्ण्यते । एवंस्वभावो मोक्षस्य योग्य इत्य् अवगम्यते
Here, the nature of those who seek liberation among men is described, so that it may be understood who is fit for liberation by such a nature.
अथोत्पत्तिप्रकरणं दृष्टान्ताख्यायिकामयम् । पञ्चग्रन्थसहस्राणि विज्ञानप्रतिपादनम्
Then comes the section on 'Origination', filled with illustrative stories; it consists of five thousand verses and teaches the understanding of knowledge.