आपीनमण्डलशशाङ्कवद् अन्तर् एव श्रीमद्रसायनमयस् सुखम् एति तज्ज्ञः । विज्ञातसर्वभुवनत्रयवस्तुसारẖ कुर्वन् न नाम कुरुते परम् अभ्युपेतः
Just as the nectarous moon waxes within its orb, so too does the one who knows this, immersed in the bliss composed of supreme elixir, attain happiness within. Having realized the essence of all things in the three worlds, though acting, he truly does nothing, having reached the highest state.
सप्तानां योगभूमीनाम् अभ्यासẖ क्रियते कथम् । कीदृशानि च चिह्नानि भूमिकां प्रति योगिनः
How is the practice of the seven stages of yoga undertaken? And what are the signs that indicate each stage for the yogi?
यतẖ कुतश्चित् सम्पन्नम् अविद्याव्याधिवेदनम् । सत्यं भवत्व् असत्यं वा चिकित्सां त्व् अस्य मे शृणु
When the pain of ignorance arises from any cause, whether it is real or unreal, listen now to my instruction on its remedy.
पराद् अनन्ताद् यद्य् एषा तत् तद् एवेयम् अक्षतम् । न जातेयं न चाविद्या बोधमात्राद् भवेद् अतः
If this ignorance arises from the Supreme, the Infinite, then it remains untouched as it is; it is neither born nor is it ignorance, for from pure awareness alone does it seem to exist.
पक्षम् एतम् अनादृत्य स्वसङ्कल्पविलासिनः । सत्याम् अपीहाविद्यायां शृणु निर्नाशने क्रमम्
Setting aside this view of the play of one's own imagination, listen to the method for the gradual destruction of ignorance, even if it appears real here.
जन्तुḫ प्रथमजातस् तु सुषुप्तावस्थचेतनः । भाविभावनदुẖखात्मा क्रिमिसंविद् भवत्य् अधीः
The first-born creature, whose consciousness is in deep sleep, whose nature is the suffering of future imaginings, possesses the awareness of a worm—dull and limited.
भवेच् चेन् नवजातस्य न भावी भावनोदयः । सुखादिसंविदा सद्यस् तत् स एव परं पदम्
If, in the newborn, there does not arise the imagination of future experiences, then, abiding only in the awareness of pleasure and such, that itself is the supreme state.
एतावतैव सौषुप्ती स्थितिर् भिन्ना परात् पदात् । यद् भाविवासनौघासौ जडा चोपलधर्मिणी
This alone is the state of deep sleep, distinct from the supreme state, where the mass of future tendencies and inertness, like that of a stone, prevail.
तुर्यावस्थासमा स्वस्था सद्रूपा शान्तवासना । जीवन्मुक्तेस् स्थितिर् अतो न सुषुप्तोपमा भवेत्
The state of the liberated while living is equal to the fourth state, natural, of true nature, with peaceful tendencies; therefore, it should not be compared to deep sleep.
अग्रस्थवस्तुसम्बोधसन्तताभ्यासयोगतः । बालस् सुषुप्तावस्थायाẖ क्रमान् निर्याति राघव
By the practice of continuous awareness of the supreme reality, a child gradually emerges from the state of deep sleep, O Raghava.
किञ्चिज्जातधियो जन्तोर् देशभाषार्थवेदिनः । गृह्णामीदं त्यजामीदम् इति सञ्जायते स्थितिः
When a being's mind has slightly awakened and knows the meaning of place, language, and objects, then the thought arises: 'I take this, I leave that.'
एतावन्मात्रबुद्धिर् यस् स्ववृद्धजनगोचरः । भवेत् स्वकर्मशास्त्राणां विषयो ऽसाव् अलं विधेः
He whose intellect is limited to this extent, who is within the range of elders, becomes the subject of his own prescribed duties and scriptures; that is sufficient for regulation.
कुलवृद्धप्रयुक्तेन स्वनिश्चयवतैव वा । भाव्यं पदपदार्थानां तेन तज्ज्ञेन वै ततः
The meanings of words and objects should be understood by one who knows them, either as determined by family elders or by one's own conviction.
जन्तुḫ पदपदार्थज्ञो हेयं त्यजति तज्ज्ञधीः । उपादेयम् उपादत्ते नालोकयति मध्यमम्
A being who knows the meanings of words and objects, whose mind is thus discerning, abandons what is to be rejected, accepts what is to be accepted, and does not consider what is intermediate.
विवेकाद् वृद्धभीत्या वा शास्त्रार्थव्यवहारिणः । विचारपूर्वं यस्येहा स पुमान् इति कथ्यते
By discernment or out of fear of elders, one who acts according to the meaning of the scriptures, whose actions are preceded by reflection, is called a person.
प्रवृत्तश् च निवृत्तश् च भवति द्विविधḫ पुमान् । स्वर्गापवर्गोन्मुखयोश् शृणु लक्षणम् एतयोः
A person is of two kinds: one engaged in action and one withdrawn from action. Listen to the characteristics of these two, who are oriented toward heaven and liberation.
किम् एतन् नाम निर्वाणं वरं संसृतिर् एव नः । इति कर्तव्यकर्ता यस् स प्रवृत्त इति स्मृतः
He who ponders, 'What is this so-called liberation? Perhaps only worldly existence is real for us,' and thus deliberates on what is to be done or not done, is called one who is engaged in action.
चलार्णवयुगच्छिद्रकूर्मग्रीवार्पणोपमा । अनेकजन्मान्तरतो भाविनी तस्य मोक्षधीः
His thought of liberation, arising from countless previous births, is like the fleeting contact of a tortoise's neck with the holes between the waves of a moving ocean.
असारा बत संसारव्यवस्थालं ममैतया । किं कर्मभिḫ पर्युषितैर् दिनं तैर् एव नीयते
Alas, the arrangement of worldly life is truly unsubstantial for me; what use are these worn-out actions? The day passes away with them alone.
क्षयातिशयनिर्मुक्तं किं स्याद् विश्रमणं परम् । इति निश्चयवान् यो ऽन्तस् स निवृत्त इति स्मृतः
He who is inwardly resolved, 'What could be the highest rest, free from decay and excess?' is known as one who has turned away from action.
स वर्तमान एवेह जन्मनि त्व् अविवेकिनि । स योगभूमिष्व् एतासु विषयो विशदाशयः
He remains, even in this present birth, among those lacking discernment; yet, in these stages of yoga, he is a subject with a clear intention.
कथं विरागवान् भूत्वा संसाराब्धिं तराम्य् अहम् । एवंविचारणपरो यदा भवति सन्मतिः
How, having become dispassionate, shall I cross the ocean of worldly existence? When such a good mind becomes intent on this kind of inquiry,
साधुसङ्गमम् आदत्ते सच्छास्त्रम् अपि वीक्षते । विरागम् उपयात्य् अन्तर् भावनास्व् अनुवासरम्
It seeks the company of the virtuous, looks upon true scriptures, and gradually attains inner detachment through repeated contemplation.
क्रियासूदाररूपासु रमते मानम् ईहते । ग्राम्यासु जडचेष्टासु चलासु विचिकित्सते
It delights in noble actions, seeks honor, and hesitates regarding coarse, inert, and unstable activities of the common world.
नोदाहरति मर्माणि पुण्यशर्माणि चेष्टते । अनन्योद्वेगकारीणि मृदुकर्माणि सेवते
He does not speak words that wound, he acts in ways that bring merit and happiness, and he engages only in gentle deeds that do not cause distress to others.
स्नेहप्रणयगर्भाणि पेशलान्य् उचितानि च । देशकालोपपन्नानि वचनान्य् अभिभाषते
He speaks words that are filled with affection and friendliness, that are appropriate and pleasing, and that are suited to the time, place, and circumstance.
तदासौ प्रथमाम् एकां प्राप्तो भवति भूमिकाम् । वक्ष्यमाणस्वभावो ऽथ तत्र रूढिम् उपेष्यति
At that time, he attains the first stage, and, possessing the qualities to be described, he becomes established in it.
देवायतनदेशेषु ब्राह्मणावसथेषु च । वनेषु रमते नित्यं प्रथमां भूमिकाम् इतः
He delights always in places of temples, in the dwellings of brahmins, and in forests, having reached this first stage.
शास्त्रसज्जनसम्पर्कैḫ प्रज्ञां वर्धयति स्वयम् । शुक्लपक्षẖ कलाम् इन्दोर् इव सौन्दर्यशालिनीम्
Through contact with scriptures and noble people, he increases his wisdom on his own, like the waxing moon growing in beauty.
सर्वास्तिवादनिरतḫ पेशलḫ प्रणयान्वितः । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा सज्जनान् उपसेवते
Devoted to the doctrine of universal existence, gentle and full of affection, he serves good people with mind, action, and speech.