नाणुम् अप्य् अवगच्छामि विश्रान्तिं श्रान्तमानसः । प्रभ्रमन् भोगभङ्गेषु मरुभूमिष्व् इवाध्वगः
Weary in mind, I do not find even the slightest rest, wandering among the ruins of pleasures like a traveler in desert lands.
आपातमधुरारम्भा भङ्गुरा भवहेतवः । अचिरेण विकारिण्यो भीषणा भोगभूमयः
The grounds of enjoyment, though sweet at first encounter, are unstable causes of worldly existence; they soon change, becoming dreadful and fearsome.
मानावमानपरया दुरहङ्कारकान्तया । न रमे वामया तात हतविद्याधरश्रिया
O dear one, I take no delight in that fickle woman, devoted to pride and disdain, whose charm is the arrogance of ego and whose splendor as a vidyādhara is now destroyed.
दृष्टाश् चैत्ररथोद्यानभुवẖ कुसुमकोमलाः । कल्पवृक्षलतादत्तसमस्तविभवश्रियः
I have seen the gardens of Caitraratha, soft with blossoms, and the wealth and splendor bestowed by the wish-fulfilling trees and creepers.
विहृतं मेरुकुञ्जेषु विद्याधरपुरेषु च । विमानवरमालासु वातस्कन्धस्थलीषु च
I have wandered in the groves of Meru, in the cities of the vidyādharas, among the rows of splendid aerial palaces, and on the plateaus carried by the wind.
विश्रान्तं सुरसेनासु कान्ताभुजलतासु च । हारिहारविलासासु लोकपालपुरीषु च
I have rested among the armies of the gods, in the embrace of beloved women, amidst the play of dazzling garlands and ornaments, and in the cities of the guardians of the world.
न किञ्चिद् उचितं साधु सर्वम् आधिविषोष्मणा । दग्धं भस्मायते तात विज्ञातम् अधुना मया
Nothing is truly fitting or good; all has been scorched to ashes by the fever of affliction—this, O dear one, I have now come to know.
रूपालोकनलोलेन वनिताननगृध्नुना । सावभासेन दोषाय दुẖखं नीतो ऽस्मि चक्षुषा
Drawn by the restless gaze toward beauty, longing for the faces of women, I have been led by my eyes, with their deceptive brilliance, into suffering.
इदं गुणावहं नेदम् इति मुक्त्वा विकल्पनम् । रूपमात्रानुसारित्वाद् अवस्तुन्य् अपि धावति
Having abandoned the thought, 'This possesses qualities, this does not,' the mind, following only appearances, rushes even toward what is unreal.
तावद् आयाति विरतिं न शठं यावद् आपदम् । नानीतवत् परां चेतḫ परानर्थेहितोन्मुखम्
So long as the mind, deceitful and intent on others’ affairs, has not experienced calamity, it does not attain true dispassion, nor does it turn away from seeking what is not its own.
घ्राणम् एतद् अनर्थाय धावच् चैवाभितस् स्फुटम् । न निवारयितुं तात शक्नोमीह हयं यथा
This sense of smell is truly for misfortune, and it rushes everywhere; father, I am unable to restrain it here, just as one cannot hold back a horse.
गन्धोदकप्रणालेन सुखदुẖखानुपातिना । वैरिणेवातिदोषेषु घ्राणेनास्मि नियोजितः
Through the channel of fragrance and water, which brings pleasure and pain, I am compelled by the nose, as by an enemy, toward excessive faults.
चिरं रसनया चाहम् अनया नयहीनया । गर्धगोमायुगुप्तेषु दुẖखाद्रिष्व् अलम् आहतः
For a long time, with this tongue, which lacks discernment, I have been struck by suffering, tasting what is hidden among donkeys and cows.
निषेद्धुं न च शक्नोमि स्पर्शलम्पटतां त्वचः । ग्रीष्मकालसमिद्धस्य तापम् अंशुमतो यथा
Nor am I able to restrain the skin’s craving for touch, just as one cannot avoid the heat of the sun intensified in summer.
शुभशब्दरसार्थिन्यो मुने श्रवणशक्तयः । मां योजयन्ति विषमे तृणेच्छा हरिणं यथा
O sage, the faculties of hearing, seeking pleasant sounds and tastes, entangle me in difficulty, like a deer drawn by the desire for grass.
प्रणताḫ प्रियकारिण्यḫ प्रह्वभृत्यसमीरिताः । वाद्यगेयरवोन्मिश्राश् शुभशब्दश्रियश् श्रुताः
Sounds that are pleasant, mingled with music, singing, and the voices of humble servants, and which bring delight, are heard as if bowing before me.
श्रियस् स्त्रियो दिशश् चैव तट्यश् चाम्भोधिभूभृताम् । दृष्टा विभ्रमहारिण्यḫ प्रक्वणन्मणिभूषणाः
Splendors, women, directions, and the shores of the ocean and mountains—these have been seen, dazzling and captivating, adorned with resounding jeweled ornaments.
चिरम् आस्वादितास् स्वादु चमत्कारमनोरमाः । प्रह्वकान्ताजनानीताष् षड्रसा गुणशालिनः
For a long time, delightful and wondrous enjoyments have been tasted—charming, brought by beloved women, possessing all six flavors and abundant qualities.
कौशेयकामिनीहारकुसुमास्तरणानिलाः । निर्विघ्नम् अभितस् स्पृष्टा भृशम् आभोगभूमिषु
Silken garments, necklaces, garlands, and soft breezes have been freely enjoyed everywhere on the fields of pleasure, without any hindrance.
वधूमुखौषधीपुष्पसमालम्भनभूमयः । अनुभूता मुने गन्धा मन्दानिलसमीरिताः
The fragrances arising from the faces of brides, medicinal herbs, and flowers, wafted by gentle breezes, have been experienced, O sage.
श्रुतं दृष्टं तथा स्पृष्टं भुक्तं घ्रातं पुनḫ पुनः । तत्रापि हि न तृप्तास् स्मो धिग् अज्ञानविजृम्भितं
Heard, seen, touched, tasted, and smelled again and again—yet even in all this, we have not found satisfaction. Fie on the expansion of ignorance!
एतावन्मात्रसारे ऽस्मिन् संसारे व्यस्तविग्रहे । संशुष्कविरसे भूयẖ किं भजामि वदाशु मे
In this world, whose essence is only this much, scattered and fragmented, dried up and flavorless—what more should I pursue? Tell me quickly.
भुक्त्वा वर्षसहस्राणि दुर्भोगपटलीम् इमाम् । आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं न तृप्तिर् उपजायते
Having consumed for thousands of years this mass of unsatisfying enjoyments, from the highest Brahma down to a blade of grass, no contentment arises.
साम्राज्यं सुचिरं कृत्वा तथा भुक्त्वा वधूगणम् । भङ्क्त्वाप्य् अरिगणान् उच्चैẖ किम् अपूर्वम् अवाप्यते
Having long held sovereignty, enjoyed the company of women, and utterly defeated hosts of enemies—what truly new thing has been attained?
येषां दिनाशनं नासीद् यैर् भुक्तं भुवनत्रयम् । ते ऽपि ते ऽप्य् अचिरेणैव समं भस्मत्वम् आगताः
Those for whom there was no day without eating, who consumed the three worlds, even they soon became equal to ashes.
प्राप्तेन येन नो भूयḫ प्राप्तव्यम् अवशिष्यते । तत्प्राप्तौ यत्नम् आतिष्ठेत् कष्टयापि हि चेष्टया
When nothing remains to be attained beyond what has already been gained, one should strive for that attainment, even with difficult effort.
येन कान्ताश् चिरं भुक्ता भोगास् तस्येह जन्तुभिः । दृष्टो न कस्यचिन् मूर्ध्नि तरुर् व्योमप्लवश् च वा
By whom beloveds and pleasures were long enjoyed among creatures here, yet no tree or sky-floating object has ever been seen atop anyone’s head.
चिरम् एतासु दूरासु विषयारण्यराजिषु । इन्द्रियैर् विप्रलब्धो ऽस्मि धूर्तबालैर् इवार्भकः
For a long time, in these distant forests of sense-objects, I have been deceived by the senses, like a child by cunning boys.
अद्य त्व् एते परिज्ञाता मया स्वविषयारयः । कष्टा इन्द्रियनामानो वञ्चयन्ति न मां पुनः
But today, I have recognized these enemies of the senses; these harsh ones named 'senses' will not deceive me again.
संसारे जङ्गले शून्ये मुग्धं नरमृगं शठाः । आश्वास्याश्वास्य निघ्नन्ति विषयेन्द्रियलुब्धकाः
In the wilderness of samsara, empty and wild, the cunning hunters of sense-objects and senses coax and kill the bewildered human-animal.