अहङ्कृतेर् अविद्याया भाविताया अकारणम् । नाशे क इव सन्देहो विचारैर् नाशहेतुभिः
When the ego, which is ignorance, is brought to an end without any cause, what doubt can remain about its destruction, since inquiry itself is the cause of its dissolution?
भगवन् सर्वतत्त्वज्ञ चित्ते ऽहङ्कारनामनि । गलिते वा गलद्रूपे लिङ्गं सत्त्वस्य किं भवेत्
O Lord, knower of all principles, when the ego called 'I' in the mind dissolves or its form disappears, what sign of existence remains for the being?
विवेकाब्दोदयेनाङ्ग शाम्यन्त्यां देहधन्वनि । स्वचित्तमृगतृष्णायां न संसृत्यातपो भवेत्
O dear one, when the sun of discernment rises and the desert of the body is pacified, then in the mirage of one's own mind, the heat of transmigration does not arise.
उरवो ऽपि हि सञ्जाता न स्पृशन्त्य् आशयं सितम् । लोभमोहादयो दोषाḫ पयांसीव सरोरुहम्
Even when strong passions arise, they do not touch the pure mind, just as water does not touch the lotus.
मुदिताद्याश् श्रियो वक्त्रं न मुञ्चन्ति कदाचन । सौभाग्यसुखदायिन्यḫ पुष्पलक्ष्म्यो मधुं यथा
Joys such as happiness never leave the face of prosperity; these goddesses of fortune, bestowers of happiness and good fortune, cling as bees do to flowers.
कथं संसृतिर् इत्य् एव विचारे मुदितोदये । उदेति सत्त्वं चित्तं च गलनाय प्रवर्तते
When inquiry arises as to 'How does transmigration occur?', and joy is born, then being and mind begin to move towards dissolution.
गलत्य् अहङ्कारमये चित्ते चलति दुष्कृते । वासनाग्रन्थयẖ खिन्ना इव त्रुट्यन्त्य् अलं शनैः
When the mind made of ego dissolves and evil actions subside, the knots of latent impressions, weary, gradually loosen completely.
कोपस् तानवम् आयाति शरदीव पयोधरः । मोहो मान्द्यम् उपादत्ते प्रभाते तिमिरं यथा
Anger becomes thin like a rain cloud in autumn; delusion takes on weakness like darkness at dawn.
कामẖ क्लमं गच्छति च दीर्घाध्वग इवातपे । लोभḫ पलायते क्वापि व्यालो दृष्ट्वेव बर्हिणम्
Desire grows weary, like a traveler on a long road beneath the sun; greed flees somewhere, like a serpent upon seeing a peacock.
नोल्लसन्तीन्द्रियाण्य् उच्चैर् अहनीव निशाचराः । न स्फुरत्य् उच्चकैẖ खेदḫ प्रावृषीवाकुलं रजः
The senses do not surge strongly, like night-dwellers during the day; fatigue does not flare up intensely, like dust subdued by the rains.
न दुẖखान्य् उपगर्जन्ति गजा इव वियौवनाः । न सुखान्य् उपधावन्ति पयांसीवोग्रसेतुना
Sorrows do not roar forth, like elephants deprived of their youth; pleasures do not rush in, like waters blocked by a mighty dam.
सुखदुẖखादयश् चैते दृश्यन्ते यदि वा मुखे । दृश्यन्ते एव तत् साधो न तु लिम्पन्ति ते मनः
Pleasure, pain, and the rest may appear outwardly, or may not; O noble one, they are seen indeed, but they do not stain the mind.
चित्ते गलति गीर्वाणगणस्य स्पृहणीयताम् । साधुर् गच्छत्य् उदेत्य् अस्य समताशीतचन्द्रिका
When such a state arises in the mind, worthy even of the gods' admiration, the sage attains the cool moonlight of equanimity.
इदं शान्तं च कान्तं च दीप्तम् अप्रतिघाति च । निभृतं चोर्जितं स्वच्छं भवतीन्द्वमलं वपुः
This state is peaceful and lovely, radiant and unimpeded; quiet, yet powerful, pure, and shining like the spotless moon.
भावाभावविभुग्नो ऽपि विचित्रो ऽपि महान् अपि । नानन्दाय न खेदाय सतां संसृतिविभ्रमः
Even though it is broken by the presence or absence of things, though varied and vast, the confusion of worldly existence brings neither joy nor sorrow to the wise.
बुद्ध्यालोकनसाध्ये ऽस्मिन् वस्तुन्य् अस्तमितापदि । प्रवर्तते न यो मोहात् तं धिग् अस्तु नराधमम्
In this reality, which is to be realized by the light of understanding and is free from decline, whoever does not act out of delusion—let such a wretched man be condemned.
विश्रान्तिम् आप्तुम् उचितां चिरम् अङ्ग दुẖखरत्नाकरं जननसागरम् उत्तितीर्षोः । को ऽहं कथं जगद् इदं च परश् च कस् स्यात् किं भोगकैर् इति मतिḫ परमो ऽभ्युपायः
O dear one, for one who wishes to cross the ocean of birth, which is a mine of suffering, the supreme means to attain proper rest is this: 'Who am I? How did this world and the other arise? Whose is this? What is to be enjoyed, and by whom?'—such inquiry in the mind.
भवताम् आदिपुरुष इक्ष्वाकुर् नाम भूपतिः । इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो यथा मुक्तस् तथा शृणु
There was a king among you called Ikshvaku, the primeval man; listen to how he, the progenitor of the Ikshvaku lineage, attained liberation.
इक्ष्वाकुर् इति विख्यातो भूपो भास्करवंशजः । आसीत् पतिर् महीपानां पितॄणाम् इव धर्मराट्
The king, renowned as Ikshvaku, born of the solar dynasty, was lord among rulers of the earth, as Yama is lord among the ancestors.
हिमशीतस्वभावो ऽपि पदार्थान् अन्तर् अस्पृशन् । मध्याह्ने सूर्यकान्ताद्रिर् इव ज्वलति यो ऽरिषु
Though his nature was cool as snow, he did not touch worldly objects within; yet, in battle with enemies, he blazed like a sunstone mountain at noon.
यमबन्धुत्वम् अरिषु येन पापाशयेषु च । दीनारिस्त्रीदृशा श्यामवपुषा प्रकटीकृतम्
His kinship with Yama was made manifest among enemies and those of evil intent, by his dark form, like the goddess of misfortune to the wretched, the hostile, and women.
प्रतापेनार्कवंशत्वं येनारिषु व्यतन्यत । सोम्यत्वं तु सुहृद्विप्रवधूगुर्वाद्यबन्धुषु
By his radiance, his belonging to the solar race was displayed among foes; but among friends, Brahmins, wives, teachers, and other kin, he showed the gentleness of the moon.
यस्याननाब्जम् आश्रित्य लक्ष्मीर् भ्रूभ्रमरी सखी । अमन्यत हरेर् वक्षẖ क्षपाकुसुमपेलवम्
Lakshmi, with her brows like bees, taking refuge in the lotus of his face, considered the chest of Hari, soft as night-blooming flowers, to be inferior.
यस्य शीतलशुक्लेन यशसा वलितं जगत् । करोति चक्रवाकानां पूर्णेन्दूदयविभ्रमम्
The world was adorned by his cool, pure fame, which created for the chakravaka birds the illusion of a full moon rising.
सो ऽखण्डशक्तिप्रसरं स्वाराज्यं परिपालयन् । कदाचिद् एकान्तगतो मनसा समचिन्तयत्
He, maintaining his undivided sovereignty, once, when alone, reflected in his mind.
जरामरणसङ्क्षोभसुखदुẖखभ्रमस्थितेः । अस्य दृश्यप्रपञ्चस्य को हेतुस् स्याद् इति स्वयम्
What could be the cause of this visible world, which is subject to the confusion of old age, death, pleasure, pain, and delusion?
जगतो न विवेदासौ कारणं चिन्तयन्न् अपि । बालो ऽभ्रस्तनितस्येव तेनासौ पर्यतप्यत
Though he pondered the cause of the world, he did not discern it; thus, like a child frightened by thunder, he was tormented.
अथैकदापृच्छद् असौ ब्रह्मलोकागतं मनुम् । पूजितं स्वसभासंस्थं भगवन्तं प्रजापतिम्
Then, on one occasion, he questioned Manu, the revered lord of creatures, who had come to Brahmaloka and was honored, seated in his own assembly.
संयोजयति धार्ष्ट्येन भगवन् भूरितेजसम् । भवत्प्रसाद एवायं भवन्तं प्रष्टुम् ओजसा
With boldness he addressed him: 'Lord of great splendor, it is only by your grace that I have the strength to question you.'
स्फुरता हृदये नित्यं धूमश्यामेन तापिना । दह्ये ऽहं संशयेनान्तर् वाडवेनेव वारिधिः
A burning doubt, dark as smoke, constantly flares in my heart; I am scorched by this uncertainty, as the ocean is by the submarine fire.