यद् वक्षि तद् अनुष्ठेयं मया विधिर् इव श्रुतेः । अविकारितम् एवाशु सत्यम् एतद् व्रतं मम
Whatever you say, that I must do, just as a rule is to be followed from the scripture; this is my vow—unwavering and true.
यथा बालः पितुर् वाक्यं मुक्तहेतूपपादनम् । आदत्ते हि तथैवेदं गृहाण त्वं वचो मम
Just as a child accepts his father's words without seeking reasons or explanations, in the same way, you should accept my words.
श्रवणानन्तरं बुद्ध्या शुभम् इत्य् एव भावयन् । शृणु गीतम् इव त्यक्त्वा हेत्वर्थित्वं वचो मम
After hearing, simply hold in your mind that it is good; listen to my words as you would a song, setting aside the search for reasons.
स्वचरितसदृशं तवोदयन्त्याश् चिरसमयेन विबोधनं च बुद्धेः । भवभयभिदुरं महाकवीनां शृणु कथयामि यथाक्रमं मनोज्ञम्
I will narrate, in due order and with charm, an account that matches your own conduct and will awaken your understanding in time—a tale of great poets that shatters the fear of worldly existence; listen.
अस्ति कश्चित् पुमाञ् श्रीमान् स्थानं नित्यविरुद्धयोः । गुणलक्ष्म्योर् अशेषेण यथाब्धिर् वडवाम्बुनोः
There is a certain man, prosperous, whose station is ever between two opposing qualities—just as the ocean is between the submarine fire and the waters.
कलावाञ् शास्त्रकुशलो व्यवहारे विचक्षणः । सर्वसङ्कल्पसीमान्तं न तु जानात्य् अजं पदम्
He is skilled in the arts, learned in the scriptures, and discerning in worldly affairs; yet he does not know the unborn state, the ultimate limit of all intentions.
अनन्तयत्नसंसाध्ये स चिन्तामणिसाधने । प्रवृत्तो वाडवो वह्निर् अब्धिसंशोषणे यथा
He engages with endless effort in seeking the wish-fulfilling gem, just as the submarine fire strives to dry up the ocean.
तस्य यत्नेन महता कालेनाध्यवसायिनः । सिद्धश् चिन्तामणिः किं वा न सिध्यत्य् उन्नतात्मनाम्
Through great effort and perseverance over time, he attains the wish-fulfilling gem; for those of noble spirit, what cannot be accomplished?
प्रवृत्तिम् उद्यमं प्रज्ञां प्रयुङ्क्ते चेद् अखेदवान् । अकिञ्चनो ऽपि शक्रत्वं तद् अवाप्नोत्य् अविघ्नतः
If one applies activity, effort, and discernment without weariness, even if possessing nothing, he attains the station of Indra without hindrance.
मणिम् अग्रे स्थितं प्राप्तं हस्तप्राप्यं ददर्श सः । मेरोर् उदयशृङ्गस्थो मुनिर् इन्दुम् इवोदितम्
He saw the jewel placed before him, within reach of his hand, like a sage standing on the eastern peak of Mount Meru beholding the risen moon.
बभूव मणिराजेन्द्रे न तु निश्चयवान् असौ । राज्ये झगिति सम्प्राप्ते सुदीन इव पामरः
The jewel became the lord of jewels, yet he himself was not resolute—when the kingdom suddenly arrived, he was as dejected as a wretched man.
इदं सञ्चिन्तयाम् आस मनसा स्मयशालिना । सम्प्राप्तोपेक्षया दीर्घदुःखसम्भ्रमभाविना
He began to reflect in his mind, with a smile, on this sudden attainment, expecting long confusion and sorrow to follow.
अयं मणिर् मणिर् नायं मणिश् चेत् तद् भवेन् न सः । स्पृशामि न स्पृशाम्य् एनं कदाचित् स्पर्शतो व्रजेत्
Is this a jewel, or is it not a jewel? If it is a jewel, then it is not that; sometimes I touch it, sometimes I do not—perhaps by touch it will depart.
नैतावतैव कालेन मणीन्द्रः किल सिध्यति । यत्नेनाजीवितान्तेन सिध्यतीत्य् आगमक्रमः
It is said that a lord of jewels is not attained in such a short time; according to tradition, it is achieved only by effort extending to the end of life.
क्रियानिकूणितेनाक्ष्णा लोलालाततलोपमम् । रत्नालोकं प्रपश्यामि द्विचन्द्रत्वम् इव भ्रमात्
With eyes narrowed in action, his brow restless, I see the jewel's radiance—like the illusion of two moons.
कुत एतावती स्फीता भाग्यसम्पन् ममातता । अधुनैव यद् आप्नोमि मणीन्द्रं सर्वसिद्धिदम्
How has such abundant fortune come to me, that I now obtain this lord of jewels, bestower of all accomplishments?
केचिद् एव महान्तस् ते महाभाग्या भवन्ति हि । येषाम् अल्पेन कालेन प्रयान्त्य् अभिमुखं श्रियः
Indeed, only a few among them are truly great and highly fortunate, for whom prosperity approaches directly in a short time.
अहम् अल्पतपास् साधुर् वराको मानुषः किल । सिद्धयः कथम् आयान्ति माम् अभाग्यैकभाजनम्
I am a person of little austerity, an ordinary human being, it is said; how could attainments come to me, who am but a vessel of misfortune?
एवं विकल्पसङ्कल्पैश् चिरम् अज्ञः परामृशन् । न मणिग्रहणे यत्नम् अकरोन् मौर्ख्यमोहितः
Thus, for a long time, the ignorant one, absorbed in such doubts and thoughts, did not make any effort to obtain the jewel, being deluded by foolishness.
न यदा येन लब्धव्यं न तत् प्राप्नोत्य् असौ तदा । चिन्तामणिर् अवाप्तो ऽपि दुर्धिया हेलयोज्झितः
When something is not to be obtained at a certain time or by a certain means, one does not attain it then; even if the wish-fulfilling jewel is acquired, it is disregarded and cast aside by a dull mind.
इति तस्मिन् स्थिते यातो मणिर् उड्डीय सिद्धयः । त्यजन्ति ह्य् अवमन्तारं शरा गुणम् इवोज्झिताः
So, while he remained there, the jewel flew away, and the attainments departed; indeed, powers abandon one who disrespects them, just as arrows fall away when the bowstring is released.
हृत्वा प्राक्सम्पदः पुंसस् स यातस् सिद्धयः किल । आगतास् सम्प्रयच्छन्ति सर्वं याता हरन्त्य् अलम्
Having previously taken away a person's wealth, those attainments departed; when they arrive, they bestow everything, but when they leave, they take it all away.
पुमान् भूयः क्रियायत्नं चक्रे रत्नेन्द्रसाधने । नोद्विजन्ते हि कार्येषु जना अध्यवसायिनः
The man once again made efforts and actions to obtain the supreme jewel; for people of determination are not disheartened in their undertakings.
ददर्शाथ कचद्रूपं काचखण्डम् अपण्डितः । हसद्भिर् वञ्चकैस् सिद्धैः पुरस् त्यक्तम् अलक्षितैः
Then, the unwise man saw a piece of glass in the form of a gem, which had been discarded by the accomplished ones, who, laughing, had left it behind unnoticed.
अयं चिन्तामणिर् इति मूढस् तस्मिन् स वस्तुताम् । बुबुधे मोहितो ह्य् अज्ञो मृदं हेमेति पश्यति
The deluded fool, thinking 'this is a wish-fulfilling gem,' is bewildered and ignorant; he sees mere clay and calls it gold.
अष्टौ षष्टिं द्विषन् मित्रं रज्जुं सर्पं स्थलं जलम् । चन्द्रौ द्वौ कुरुते चित्ते शिशोर् मोहो ऽमृतं विषम्
In the mind of a child, eight becomes sixty-eight, an enemy becomes a friend, a rope becomes a snake, dry land becomes water; two moons appear, nectar is seen as poison, and delusion reigns.
तं दग्धमणिम् आदाय प्राक्तनीं स श्रियं जहौ । सर्वं चिन्तामणेर् अस्मात् प्राप्यते किं धनैर् इति
Taking that burnt gem, he abandoned his former wealth, thinking, 'Everything can be obtained from this wish-fulfilling gem—what need is there for riches?'
देशो ऽयम् असुखो रूक्षो जनैः पापिभिर् आवृतः । किं तद् गेहं हतप्रायं के नाम मम बन्धवः
This land is unpleasant and harsh, filled with sinful people; what is that house, nearly destroyed, and who indeed are my relatives?
दूरं गत्वा यथाकामं सुखं तिष्ठामि सम्पदा । इत्य् आदाय मणिं मूढश् शून्यं काननम् आययौ
Going far away, I will live happily as I please, with prosperity—so thinking, the fool took the gem and went to an empty forest.
तत्र काचदलेनासौ तेन ताम् आपदं ययौ । कज्जलाद्रेर् इव निशा मौर्ख्यस्यैवाङ्ग या समा
There, because of that glass fragment, he fell into misfortune, just as night falls on a mountain of soot—such is the darkness of folly.