एकाम् अथ द्वितीयां वा तृतीयां चेतरां च वा । आरूढस्य मृतस्य स्यात् कीदृशी भगवन् गतिः
O Blessed One, what is the fate of one who has ascended to the first, second, or third stage, or to any other, but then dies?
मूढस्यारूढदोषस्य तावत् संसृतिर् आतता । यावज् जन्मान्तरशतैश् काकतालीययोगतः
For one who is deluded and has not ascended, transmigration continues as long as, by some rare coincidence, over hundreds of lifetimes, liberation is not attained.
अथ वा साधुसङ्गत्या प्रवृत्तस्य नरस्य नो । उदेति वैराग्यमतिर् मरौ पुष्पलता यथा
Or, when a person engages with the company of the virtuous, the mind inclined to dispassion does not arise—just as a flowering creeper does not grow in a desert.
वैराग्यमतिर् एवं सा प्रवृद्धा भूमिकाक्रमे । नियोजयति संसारे तटीम् इव तरङ्गिणी
Thus, when the mind of dispassion increases, it leads one through the stages of spiritual attainment, just as a riverbank guides the flow of a stream.
केचिज् जन्ममहायोगैर् अप्य् अलब्धविचारणाः । अरघट्टघटीयन्त्रम् इवोर्ध्वाधḫपरास् स्थिताः
Some, even after many births of intense effort, remain without discernment, like the upper and lower parts of a waterwheel that simply move up and down.
प्रथमां वेतरां वापि योगभूमिं तु यो ऽभ्यसेत् । आयुẖक्षयम् अवाप्नोति पुनḫपाश्चात्यजन्मने
Whoever practices even the first or any other stage of yoga attains the exhaustion of their lifespan, and then is not born again.
स तम् अभ्यस्तम् एवान्तर् बुद्धौ परिकरं वरम् । वहन् याति मृतेḫ पार्श्वं यथा स्रोतस् सरिद्रयम्
Carrying within the mind only those excellent attainments that have been practiced, one proceeds after death to the next state, just as a river's current flows to the sea.
तत्र तैश् शुभसङ्कल्पैḫ पवित्रकलनात्मकः । तादृग्गुणमयैर् एव मित्रबन्धुभिर् अन्वितः
There, endowed with pure intentions and accompanied by friends and relatives possessing similar qualities, one is formed by such virtuous attributes.
अदीनात्मा जगद्भावान् अखिलान् अपरामृशन् । संस्मरन् परया भक्त्या जगत्तरणकारणम्
With a steadfast mind, not touching upon all worldly states, remembering with supreme devotion the cause of crossing the world-ocean.
सद्वासनामनोरूपो विजहाति शरीरकम् । वातावधूननाधूतम् आमोदẖ कुसुमं यथा
Taking the form of noble impressions and intentions, he abandons the body, like a fragrant flower released by the wind.
प्राणवातान्वितो जीवगन्धो देहसरोरुहम् । प्रविहाय समुड्डीनẖ कम् अप्य् आकाशम् आगतः
Carrying the scent of life with the breath of prāṇa, he abandons the lotus of the body and rises up, arriving at some space.
मुहूर्तम् एकं सौषुप्तीम् अवस्थाम् अनुतिष्ठति । देहभारं परित्यज्य गाढां निद्राम् उपागतः
For a moment, he remains in the state of deep sleep, having cast off the burden of the body, entering into profound slumber.
क्षणात् प्रबोधम् आयातस् सतताभ्यस्तया स्वया । आपूर्यते वासनया सरित्खात इवाम्भसा
In an instant, he comes to awakening by his own habit of constant practice, and is filled with impressions, like a riverbed with water.
संस्मृत्य स्वधिया साधुस् स स्वभावनया तया । व्योम्नि व्योमवपुर् यस्मिंस् तिष्ठेत् पुर्यष्टकान्वितः
Remembering with his own mind, he stands by his own nature; in the sky, with a sky-like form, he remains, accompanied by the subtle body.
न तु दूरे न निकटे व्योम नेदं न चेतरत् । काम् अप्य् अवर्णनायोग्यां ताम् आकाशदशां विदुः
This sky is neither far nor near, neither this nor something else; they know it as a state of space, indescribable by any attribute.
ततस् स जीवो व्योम्न्य् अत्र प्राणवातमयात्मकः । शनैḫ प्राग्भावम् आदत्ते मधौ रसम् इवाङ्कुरः
Then, that jīva, in this sky, whose nature is made of prāṇa and wind, gradually takes up its previous state, like a sprout absorbing sap in spring.
भावना या सदाभ्यस्ता ताम् एव मरणावधौ । स्मरञ् जीवो जहातीमं भीमं भारं कलेवरम्
The jīva, recalling that contemplation which was always practiced, at the time of death, abandons this dreadful burden of the body.
यं यं भावं स्मरन् देहात् सदाभावितम् उत्प्लुतः । तस्यैव फलम् आप्नोति स्वपौरुषबलार्जितम्
Whatever state he remembers, having always contemplated it and departed from the body, he attains the result of that, earned by his own strength.
आदेहं यत् सदाभ्यस्तं जीवेन तद् असौ मृतौ । सर्वान् भावान् अनादृत्य स्मरतीदं कृतं मया
Whatever has been constantly practiced by the living being in this body, that alone, at the time of death, disregarding all other states, he remembers: 'This I have done.'
युद्धराज्यसुरारामपाठरोदनविभ्रमान् । स्वकर्मफलभीतो ऽसौ नाग्रस्थान् अपि पश्यति
Fearing the results of his own actions, he does not even see those present before him, being absorbed in memories of battles, kingdoms, pleasures, studies, weeping, and confusions.
य आसन्नफलो भावस् स्ववशेनावशेन वा । सर्वभावोपमर्देन स एवाग्रे विलोक्यते
Whatever state, whether by one's own will or otherwise, is nearest to bearing fruit, that alone, suppressing all other states, is seen ahead.
शुभम् अस्तु ममेदानीं चिरं माशुभम् अस्तु मे । आकीटामरम् आशैषा क्षीयते न कदाचन
'May good come to me now, may evil not befall me for a long time'—this hope, extending from the smallest insect to the gods, never diminishes.
क्षीयते भावनैषान्तẖ केवलं विदितात्मनः । आकाशविशदश् शान्तो ज्ञḫ प्रनिर्वाति शाम्यति
This hope is diminished only in one who knows the Self; clear as space, peaceful, the knower, having become tranquil, is at rest.
जडश् चेत् तत् पुरो भावान् मृतौ कांश्चिन् न पश्यति । अजडश् चेत् तदभ्यस्तैर् भावैर् आक्रम्यते ऽवशः
If he is dull, then at death he does not see any states before him; but if he is not dull, he is inevitably seized by those states he has practiced.
एवम् आकाशरूपो ऽसौ जीवस् संवृतवासनः । तं मुहूर्तं जडावस्थो युगं यातं प्रपश्यति
Thus, this living being, having the nature of space and covered by latent impressions, in a moment of insensibility, perceives an age as having passed.
अभवं प्राग् अहं जन्तुर् मृतस् तत्रास्मि बन्धुषु । युगम् अत्र परिक्षीणम् अभिपश्यति स क्षणात्
He thinks, 'Formerly I did not exist; now, having died, I am among these relatives,' and in a moment perceives that an age has been completed there.
मुहूर्त एव सञ्जाते स जीवो युगनिश्चये । इह जातु प्रवृत्तो ऽस्मि देश इत्य् अवबुध्यते
When a moment passes at the appointed time, the living being becomes aware: 'I have now begun to act here, in this place.'
अभवं प्राग् अहं जन्तुर् मृतस् तत्रास्मि बन्धुषु । ततẖ कृता मे स्वजनैḫ पिण्डदानादिकाẖ क्रियाः
Previously, I was a creature who died among my relatives; then, my kin performed rites for me, such as offering oblations.
ताभिर् लब्धशरीरेण मया सुकृतदुष्कृते । भुक्ते चिरतरं कालं जातो ऽस्म्य् अद्येत्थम् उत्थितः
By those rites, I obtained a body, and through my good and bad deeds, I enjoyed for a long time; now, I have arisen in this way.
इत्थं मुहूर्त एवासौ गते प्रत्ययवान् भवन् । स्ववासनानुसारेण देहम् आत्मनि पश्यति
Thus, as soon as a moment passes, he becomes convinced, and according to his own tendencies, perceives a body within himself.