अनेन क्रमयोगेन संयोगेन महात्मनाम् । नियोगेन सताम् अन्तḫ प्रयोगेण स्वसंविदाम्
By this gradual method, through association with the great-souled, by the guidance of the virtuous, and by the application of one's own awareness,
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन तावद् अभ्यास उह्यते । करामलकवद् यावत् सर्वसारो ऽनुभूयते
Through personal effort and perseverance, practice is pursued until the very essence of all is directly experienced, as clearly as a fruit in one's palm.
या योदेति मनाग् इच्छा तस्यास् तस्या निपातनात् । पदम् आसाद्यते सारं कयाचिन् नान्यया धिया
Whatever slight desire arises, by directing it toward that goal, the essential state is attained by that very intention, and by no other means of thought.
दृष्टे सकलसीमान्ते त्रिजगत्कणदीपके । संसारसरितḫ पारे सारे परमकारणे
When, at the farthest limit of perception, which illuminates the atoms of the three worlds, one reaches the other shore of the river of existence, the essence, the ultimate cause,
नाहं कर्तेश्वरẖ कर्ता नास्मि कर्ता न चेश्वरः । नायम् अस्मि न चान्यो ऽहम् अहम् अस्मीतरश् च वा
I am not the doer, nor the lord, nor am I the agent or the master; I am not this, nor am I another; I am not even the sense of 'I am.'
कृत्वा दूरतरे नूनम् इति शब्दार्थभावनाः । यन् मौनम् आसितं शान्तं श्रेष्ठासंसङ्ग उच्यते
When all notions of the meanings of words such as 'I did' or 'I am far away' have been set aside, that silent, peaceful abiding is called the highest detachment.
यन् नान्तर् नाम्बरे नाधो नोर्ध्वे नाशासु नावनौ । न पदार्थे नापदार्थे न जडे न च चेतने
That which is not within, nor in space, nor below, nor above, nor in directions, nor in the ocean; not in objects, nor in non-objects, not in the inert, nor in the conscious,
आसितं भासनं शान्तम् अवासनम् अभावनम् । अनाद्यन्तम् अजं कान्तं तच् छ्रेष्ठासङ्ग उच्यते
That abiding which is luminous, peaceful, without support, without conceptualization, without beginning or end, unborn, beloved—that is called the highest detachment.
अचित्तचेतनानन्दं सर्वभावान्तरासनम् । यद् वसन्तादिरसवत् तच् छ्रेष्ठासङ्ग उच्यते
That which is without mind, consciousness, or bliss, which is the inner seat of all beings—like the essence of spring and other seasons—that is called the highest non-attachment.
अनिमज्जनम् अर्थेषु भावनाभावनं हृदि । अवेदनं सुखादीनाम् असंसङ्गं परं विदुः
Not being immersed in objects, the absence of mental construction in the heart, not feeling pleasure or pain—this is known as supreme non-attachment.
कर्मस्व् अर्थेषु चिन्तासु वासनास्व् आत्मतासु च । अवेदनम् अमग्नत्वं श्रेष्ठासंसङ्ग उच्यते
Not being affected or absorbed in actions, objects, thoughts, tendencies, or even in the sense of self—this absence of involvement is called the highest non-attachment.
अज्ञानपङ्कपीठायां ज्ञप्तिभूमौ स्वभावतः । काकतालीययोगाद् वाक्षयाद् वा सर्वकर्मणाम्
On the ground of knowledge, which by nature is the seat above the mire of ignorance, by a chance conjunction like a crow alighting on a palm tree, or by mere seeing, all actions occur.
संविज्जलविलासायां विशद्देहमृणालकः । जातो हृदयसद्वाप्यां चिन्ताशफरिकान्वितः
In the play of consciousness, one whose pure body is like a lotus stalk, who is born in the true lake of the heart, is accompanied by thoughts like small fish.
सन्तोषामोदमधुरस् सत्कार्यामलपल्लवः । चित्तनालाग्रसंलीनो ऽविघ्नकण्टकसङ्कटः
Sweet with the fragrance of contentment, bearing the spotless leaves of noble deeds, merged at the tip of the mind’s stem, he is beset by the thicket of obstacles.
विवेकपद्मो रूढो ऽन्तर् विचारार्कविकासितः । फलं फलत्य् असंसङ्गं तृतीयां भूमिकां गतः
The lotus of discernment, firmly rooted within and blossoming by the sun of inquiry, bears the fruit of non-attachment, having reached the third stage.
असंसक्तमना मौनी मुनिर् मदबहिष्कृतः । भवत्य् अविद्यमानाभस् तृतीयां भूमिकाम् इतः
With a mind unattached, silent, the sage, free from intoxication, becomes as if non-existent, having attained the third stage.
समवायाद् विशुद्धानां समत्वाद् धर्मकर्मणाम् । काकतालीययोगेन प्रथमोदेति भूमिका
When pure qualities and actions are in balance, and by a chance conjunction like that of a crow and a palm fruit, the first stage arises.
भूमिḫ प्रोदितमात्रान्तर् अमृताङ्कुरिकैव सा । विवेकेनाम्बुसेकेन रक्ष्या पाल्याति धीमता
This stage, once arisen, is like a sprout of immortality; it must be protected and nurtured by the wise with the water of discernment.
येनांशेनोल्लसत्य् एषा विचारेणोदयं नयेत् । तम् एवानुदिनं यत्नात् कृषीवल इवाङ्कुरम्
By whatever means it has begun to shine forth, one should bring it to full manifestation through inquiry, diligently, like a farmer tending a sprout day by day.
एषा हि परिमृष्टान्तर् अन्यासां प्रसवैकभूः । पत्त्राणाम् अङ्कुर इव तद्रूढो ऽन्यासु रोहति
This, having been refined within, becomes the sole source of the birth of others; just as from a sprout leaves arise, so when this is established, others grow from it.
तृतीयेयम् असंसङ्गकारिणी भवतारिणी । अनयोदितयोदेति भानुभासेव पद्मिनी
This third stage brings about non-attachment and delivers one from the ocean of becoming; when it arises, it causes the next to arise, as the lotus blooms in sunlight.
विजित्यावग्रहक्षोभदुर्देशप्रमुखान् अरीन् । सुसिक्तमूला लतिका ददात्य् अविकलं फलम्
Having conquered enemies such as confusion, agitation, and unfavorable conditions, the creeper with well-watered roots yields its fruit perfectly.
असंसक्तमतिर् मौनी मदमात्सर्यवर्जितः । वृष्टशारदमेघाभो भवेद् भव्यस् त्रिभूमिकः
One whose mind is unattached, silent, free from pride and envy, becomes noble and established in the three stages, like a raincloud in the autumn sky.
विदिताखिलवेद्यस्य शान्तसन्देहसन्ततेः । नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन
For one who knows all that is to be known and whose stream of doubt is stilled, there is nothing to be gained here by action or inaction.
तृतीयां भूमिकां प्राप्तस् सामान्यासङ्गवान् इह । विचरत्य् असमुन्नद्धḫ परम् आकलयन् पदम्
Having attained the third stage, one here moves about with ordinary attachments, yet contemplates the supreme state without agitation.
श्रेष्ठासंसङ्गवान् एष तृतीये भूमिकापदे । भवति प्रोषिताशेषसङ्कल्पकलनास्पदे
In this third stage, one possesses the highest degree of detachment, having abandoned entirely the realm of all conceptual constructions.
लगत्य् असंसक्तमतेर् न कर्मफलभावना । वारीव पद्मपत्त्रस्य रत्नस्येवोपरञ्जना
For one whose mind is unattached, there is no notion of the fruits of action—just as water does not cling to a lotus leaf, nor does color adhere to a jewel.
नित्यासंसक्तया बुद्ध्या प्रकृतं बहिर् आचरन् । अन्तर् अक्षोभ एवास्ते हृदयेनापराजितः
With a mind perpetually unattached, engaging outwardly in worldly affairs, inwardly he remains unshaken, unconquered in heart.
एनाम् असंसङ्गदशाम् अवाप्य पतत्य् अपीच्छन्न् इह संसृतिं नो । इच्छा च नोदेति न राम ते भो योदेति सा सत्त्वचमत्कृतिर् हि
Having reached this state of non-attachment, even if he falls into worldly existence, he does not desire it, nor does any wish arise—O Rama, that is the wonder of pure being.
मूढस्यासत्कुलोत्थस्य प्रवृत्तस्य नरस्य च । अप्राप्तयोगसङ्गस्य कथम् उत्तरणं भवेत्
How can one who is deluded, born into an ignoble family, engaged in worldly activity, and lacking the association with yoga, ever cross over?