रम्भास्तम्भो यथा पत्त्रमात्रम् एवान्तरान्तरा । अन्तर् अन्तस् तथेदं हि विश्वं ब्रह्म विवर्त्य् अथ
Just as the stalk of a plantain tree is nothing but layers of sheaths within sheaths, so too is this universe, which is Brahman, unfolded layer upon layer within itself.
सब्रह्मात्मादिभिश् शब्दैर् यद् एतैर् अभिधीयते । शून्यम् अव्यपदेश्यं तन् न नकिञ्चिन् न किञ्चन
That which is described by words such as 'Brahman', 'Self', and so on, is in truth void, indescribable; it is neither anything nor nothing.
या या विभाव्यते सत्ता सा सानुभवनिर्मिता । रम्भास्तम्भवद् एवातश् चिन्मात्रम् अमलं ततम्
Whatever existence is conceived, it is fashioned only by experience; thus, like the stalk of a plantain, all-pervading pure consciousness alone remains.
सूक्ष्मत्वाद् अप्य् अलभ्यत्वात् परमात्मा परो ऽणुकः । अनन्तत्वाद् असाव् एव प्रोक्तो मेर्वादिधूलिमान्
Because of its subtlety and inaccessibility, the supreme Self is said to be the ultimate atom; yet, because of its infinitude, it is also described as containing Meru and the dust of the earth.
अणोर् अप्य् अत्यनन्तस्य पुरो ऽस्य जगदाद्य् अपि । परमाणुवद् आभाति प्रमितत्वाद् अरूपवत्
Even the origin of the universe, in the presence of this infinite subtlety, appears like a minute atom, for it is limited and without form.
परो ऽणुर् एषो ऽलभ्यत्वात् पूरकत्वान् महागिरिः । सर्वावयवरूपो ऽपि निरस्तावयवः पुमान्
This supreme atom, being inaccessible, is also the great mountain by virtue of its completeness; though it is the form of all parts, it is the person devoid of all parts.
अस्य विज्ञप्तिमात्रस्य मज्जामात्रं जगत्त्रयी । विज्ञानमात्रमध्यं हि साधो विद्धि जगत्त्रयम्
For this consciousness alone, the three worlds are merely its immersion; indeed, O noble one, know that the three worlds exist only within the midst of pure consciousness.
विज्ञानमात्रम् अकलाकलितं जगन्ति शान्तं स्वभावसुकुमारम् अनन्तरूपम् । वेतालबालक पदं तद् अलङ्घनीयम् एवंस्मयस् समनुभावय शान्तम् आस्स्व
The worlds are nothing but consciousness, untouched by time, peaceful by nature, exquisitely subtle, and without any form; that is the state of the Vetala-child, which cannot be surpassed—thus, experience this peace and remain tranquil.
इति राजमुखाच् छ्रुत्वा वेतालश् शान्तिम् आययौ । भावितात्मतया तत्र विचारोदितया धिया
Hearing this from the king's mouth, the Vetala attained peace, with a mind imbued with contemplation and awakened by inquiry.
उपशान्तवपुर् भूत्वा गत्वैकान्तम् अनिन्दितः । बभूवाविचलध्यानी विस्मृत्य विषमां क्षुधम्
Becoming composed in form, going to a secluded place, faultless, he became unwavering in meditation, forgetting the harsh pangs of hunger.
एतद् राम मयोक्तं ते वेतालप्रश्नजालकम् । एवंक्रमेण चिदणाव् एवेदं संस्थितं जगत्
O Rama, I have told you this web of Vetala's questions; in this way, the world is established solely in the atom of consciousness.
चिदणोः कोशगं विश्वं विचारेण विलीयते । कोपो वेतालकस्येव शिष्यते यत् परं तु तत्
Through inquiry, the universe arising from the sheath of consciousness dissolves; what remains, as with the Vetala's anger, is only the supreme.
संहृत्य सर्वतश् चित्तं स्तिमितेनान्तरात्मना । प्रवाहापतितं कुर्वन् निरिच्छस् तिष्ठ शान्तधीः
Gathering the mind from everywhere, with the stillness of the inner self, let the flow subside; remain with a peaceful intellect, free from desires.
आकाशविशदं कृत्वा मनसैव मनो मुनिः । तिष्ठैकशमशान्तात्मा व्योमवद्विशदाशयः
Making the mind clear like the sky, the sage, by mind alone, remains with a tranquil and peaceful self, with a pure disposition like the sky.
स्थिरबुद्धेर् अमूढस्य यथाप्राप्तानुवर्तिनः । राज्ञो भगीरथस्येव दुस्साधम् अपि सिध्यति
Even what is difficult becomes accomplished for one whose mind is steady, unconfused, and who acts according to what comes, just as it did for King Bhagiratha.
सम्पूर्णशान्तमनसः परितृप्तवृत्तेर् नित्यं समे सुसमम् आत्मनि तिष्ठतो ऽन्तः । सिध्यन्ति दुर्लभतरा अपि वाञ्छितार्था गङ्गावतार इव सागरखातृनप्तुः
For one whose mind is completely peaceful, whose desires are fulfilled, who always remains balanced and equanimous within, even the rarest desired goals are attained, as was the descent of the Ganges for the one who dug the ocean trench.
यथा चित्तचमत्कृत्या राज्ञो गङ्गावतारणम् । भगीरथस्य सम्पन्नं तन् मे कथय भोः प्रभो
O Master, tell me how, by the marvel of his mind, King Bhagiratha accomplished the descent of the Ganges.
आसीद् भगीरथो नाम राजा परमधार्मिकः । भुवस् समुद्रद्वीपाया मण्डनातिलकोपमः
There was a king named Bhagiratha, supremely righteous, who was like the chief ornament among the islands and oceans of the earth.
सङ्कल्पानन्तरं प्रापुर् यथाभिमतम् अर्थिनः । चन्द्रप्रसन्नवदनाद् यस्माच् चिन्तामणेर् इव
After he resolved, those seeking favors received what they desired, as if from a wish-fulfilling jewel, from his moon-bright face.
साधूनां यो व्यवस्थार्थं धनान्य् अविरतं ददौ । तृणमात्रम् उपादत्ते करं तृणमणिर् यथा
For the sake of establishing the virtuous, he gave wealth ceaselessly, yet took for himself only a blade of grass, like a grass-jewel takes a blade.
वज्रसारम् अपि प्रोतम् अज्वलन्न् एव यो ऽभिनत् । अयोमणिर् अयोयन्त्रम् इव दुर्जनचेष्टितम्
He shattered even what was hard as diamond, without shining himself, like an iron magnet breaks an iron device, so did he break the actions of the wicked.
अधूमो ह्य् अदहञ् शीतो वितैक्ष्ण्यो हार्दम् अप्य् अलम् । तमो ऽहरन् नृणां नैशं यो मणिर् वेश्मनाम् इव
He was smokeless, non-burning, cool, without sharpness, yet full of warmth; he dispelled the darkness of people’s nights, like a jewel in a house.
किरन्न् अग्निकणासारम् अभितस् स्वप्रतापजम् । मध्याह्नसूर्यकान्ताग्निर् इव ज्वलति यो ऽरिषु
He who, shining with the essence of fire-sparks, born of his own radiance, blazes among enemies like the midday sun’s burning ray.
मृदुशीतसुखस्पर्शो यस् समाह्लादयन् महीम् । स्वे जने द्रवति स्निग्धस् सेन्दुर् इन्दुमणिर् यथा
He whose touch is gentle, cool, and pleasantly soothing, delighting the earth, melts with affection among his own people like a moon-gem with the moon.
जगद्यज्ञोपवीतस्य स्वर्गपातालवाहिनः । गङ्गावाहस्य येनोर्व्यां तृतीयः पूरितो गुणः
By whom the third quality of the sacred thread of the world, the stream of the Ganges flowing through heaven and the underworld, was fulfilled upon the earth.
अगस्त्यशोषितो ऽम्भोधिर् गङ्गापूरेण पूरितः । येन दुष्पूररूपो ऽपि महासार्थो ऽर्थिनाम् इव
By whom the ocean, dried up by Agastya, was filled with the flood of the Ganges, though it seemed impossible to fill, like a great caravan of petitioners.
गङ्गासोपानपद्धत्या येन पातालवासिनः । योजिता ब्रह्मणो लोके बान्धवा लोकबन्धुना
By whom, through the stairway of the Ganges, the dwellers of the netherworld were joined to the world of Brahma, as relatives are joined by a universal friend.
ब्रह्माणं शङ्करं जह्नुं तपसाराधयंश् च यः । भूयो भूयो ययौ खेदं न मूर्तव्यवसायवत्
He who, worshipping Brahma, Shiva, and Jahnu through austerity, again and again experienced weariness, not being one of firm resolve.
यौवने वर्तमानस्य तस्य भूमिपतेर् अथ । प्रविचारयतो लोकयात्रां पर्याकुलाम् इमाम्
Then, while still in his youth, that king, reflecting upon this tumultuous course of the world, became greatly disturbed.
स्वविरागचमत्कारविचारकणिकोदभूत् । चेतस्य् अपि सुतारुण्ये दैवाद् वल्ली मराव् इव
By fate, even in the freshness of his mind’s youth, a tender shoot of dispassion arose, sprung from the wonder of his own detachment, like a creeper on a tree.