यथोषसि प्रवृत्तायाम् आलोको ऽवश्यम् एष्यति । अस्यां वा चितिमात्रायां स्वविवेकस् तथैष्यति
Just as light inevitably appears when a lamp is lit, so too, in this pure awareness, one's own discernment will surely arise.
श्रुतायां प्राज्ञवदनाद् बुद्धायां स्वयम् एव वा । शनैश् शनैर् विचारेण बुद्धौ संस्कार आगते
Whether from hearing wise words or from one's own understanding, gradually, through inquiry, impressions are established in the intellect.
पूर्वं तावद् उदेत्य् अन्तर् भृशं संस्कृतवाक्यता । शुद्धा मुक्तालतेवोच्चैर् या सभास्थानभूषणम्
First, there arises within a strong command of refined speech, pure and lofty like a string of pearls, which becomes the ornament of the assembly hall.
परा विरागतोदेति महत्त्वगुणशालिनी । सा यया स्नेहम् आयान्ति राजानो ऽजगरा अपि
Then, supreme dispassion arises, endowed with the quality of greatness, by which even kings, though as formidable as serpents, are drawn into friendship.
पूर्वापरज्ञस् सर्वत्र नरो भवति बुद्धिमान् । पदार्थानां यथा दीपहस्तो निशि सुलोचनः
A person who knows both past and future becomes wise in all matters, like one holding a lamp in the night who sees objects clearly.
लोभमोहादयो दोषास् तानवं यान्त्य् अलं शनैः । धियो दिशस् समासन्नशरदो मिहिका यथा
Defects such as greed and delusion gradually diminish, just as autumn mists recede from the directions as the season advances.
केवलं समपेक्षन्ते विवेकाभ्यसनं धियः । न काचन फलं धत्ते स्वभ्यासेन विना क्रिया
The intellect depends solely on the practice of discernment; no action yields fruit without its own repeated exercise.
मनः प्रसादम् आयाति शरदीव महत् सरः । परं साम्यम् उपादत्ते निर्मन्दर इवार्णवः
The mind attains clarity, like a great lake in autumn, and reaches supreme tranquility, like the ocean when its waves are stilled.
निरन्तःकालिमा वज्रशिखेवास्ततमःपटा । परिज्वलत्य् अलं प्रज्ञा पदार्थप्रविभागिनी
All inner darkness is dispelled, like a thunderbolt shattering a mass of clouds, as discernment blazes forth, illuminating the distinctions among things.
दैन्यदारिद्र्यदुःखाद्या दृष्टयो दर्शितान्तराः । न निकृन्तन्ति मर्माणि ससन्नाहम् इवेषवः
Views of misery, poverty, and suffering are seen as mere appearances; they do not pierce the core, just as blunted arrows do not wound the vital parts.
हृदयं नावलुम्पन्ति भीमास् संसृतिभीतयः । पुरस्स्थितम् अपि प्राज्ञं महोपलम् इवाखवः
Terrifying fears of worldly existence do not shake the heart of the wise, even when they stand before him, just as a great stone is unmoved by birds.
कथं स्याद् आदिता जन्मकर्मणोर् दैवपुंस्त्वयोः । इत्यादिसंशयगणश् शाम्यत्य् अह्नि यथा तमः
Questions such as, 'How do birth and action arise? What is fate and what is manhood?'—all these doubts are dispelled as darkness is by the day.
सर्वथा सर्वभावेषु सङ्गतिर् ह्य् उपशाम्यति । यामिन्याम् इव यातायां प्रज्ञालोक उपागते
In every way, in all things, attachment ceases when the light of wisdom arises, just as the night ends with the coming of dawn.
समुद्रस्येव गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यं मेरोर् इव स्थिरम् । अन्तश्शीतलता चेन्दोर् इवोदेति विचारिणः
Depth like the ocean, steadfastness like Mount Meru, and inner coolness like the moon—these arise in the inquirer.
सा जीवन्मुक्तता तस्य शनैः परिणतिं गता । शान्ताशेषविकल्पस्य भवत्य् आविश्य योगिनः
That state of living liberation gradually matures in him, and, entering the yogi whose doubts are completely pacified, it becomes established.
सर्वार्थशीतला शुद्धा परमालोकदा सुधीः । परं प्रकाशम् आयाति ज्योत्स्नेव सकलैन्दवी
His intellect, cool to all objects, pure, and bestowing supreme illumination, attains the highest light, like the full radiance of the entire moon.
हृद्याकाशे विवेकार्के शमालोकिनि निर्मले । अनर्थसार्थकर्तारो नोद्यन्ति कलिकेतवः
In the sky of the heart, where the sun of discernment shines, pure with the light of tranquility, the seeds of misfortune do not arise.
शाम्यन्ति शुद्धिम् आयान्ति सौम्यास् तिष्ठन्ति सून्नते । अचञ्चले जडास् तृष्णाश् शरदीवाभ्रमालिकाः
Desires subside, become pure, remain gentle and humble, and, unmoving and inert, they vanish like clusters of autumn clouds.
यत्किञ्चनकरी क्रूरा ग्राम्यता विनिवर्तते । दीनानना पिशाचानां लीलेव दिवसागमे
Whatever cruel act brings about the abandonment of coarse behavior, is like the coming of day dispersing the miserable faces of ghouls.
धर्मभित्तौ भृशं लग्नां धियं धैर्यधुरं गताम् । आधयो न विलुम्पन्ति वाताश् चित्रलताम् इव
Afflictions do not plunder a mind firmly attached to the foundation of virtue and yoked to the harness of courage, just as winds do not strip a wondrous creeper.
न पतत्य् अवटे जन्तुर् विषयासङ्गरूपिणि । कः किल ज्ञातसरणिश् श्वभ्रे समनुधावति
A creature does not fall into the chasm that is the attachment to sense objects; who, knowing the path, would ever chase after the abyss?
सच्छास्त्रसाधुवृत्तानाम् अविरोधिनि कर्मणि । रमते धीर् यथाप्राप्ते साध्वीवान्तःपुराजिरे
The wise delight in actions that do not contradict the conduct of true scriptures and virtuous people, just as a noble lady enjoys the inner chambers as they come.
जगतां कोटिलक्ष्येषु यावन्तः परमाणवः । तेषाम् एकैकशो ऽन्तस्स्थान् सर्गान् पश्यत्य् असर्गधीः
Among the countless atoms in the multitudes of worlds, the mind free from creation perceives, within each one, the various creations.
मोक्षोपायावबोधेन शुद्धान्तःकरणं जनम् । न खेदयति भोगौघो न चानन्दयति क्वचित्
A person whose inner faculty is purified by understanding the means to liberation is neither distressed nor ever delighted by the flood of enjoyments.
परमाणौ परमाणौ सर्गवर्गा निरर्गलम् । ये पतन्त्य् उत्पतन्त्य् अम्बुवीचिवत् तान् स पश्यति
He observes, in each and every atom, the groups of creations falling and rising without obstruction, like waves in water.
न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति । कार्याण्य् एष प्रबुद्धो ऽपि निष्प्रबुद्ध इव द्रुमः
He neither hates actions that arise nor desires those that cease; though awakened, he is like a tree, indifferent to what must be done.
दृश्यते लोकसामान्यो यथाप्राप्तानुवृत्तिमान् । इष्टानिष्टफलप्राप्तौ हृदयेनापराजितः
The ordinary person in the world is seen to act according to circumstances as they arise, remaining undefeated in heart whether he attains desired or undesired results.
बुद्ध्वेदम् अखिलं शास्त्रं वाचयित्वा विवेच्य वा । अनुभूयत एवैतन् न तूक्तं वरशापवत्
Having understood this entire scripture, having read or examined it, one must directly experience it; it is not merely something spoken, like a boon or a curse.
शास्त्रं सुबोधम् एवेदं नानालङ्कारभूषितम् । काव्यं रसघनं चारु दृष्टान्तैः प्रतिपादकम्
This scripture is indeed easy to understand, adorned with various embellishments, poetic, rich in flavor, beautiful, and explained through examples.
बुध्यते स्वयम् एवेदं किञ्चित्पदपदार्थवित् । स्वयं यस् तु न वेत्तीदं श्रोतव्यं तेन पण्डितात्
One who knows the meaning of the words and their sense understands this by himself; but whoever does not know it should hear it from a learned teacher.