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.
विषमाशाविषैर् एभिर् विषयेन्द्रियपन्नगैः । ये न दष्टा न दृष्टास् ते द्वित्रा एव जगत्य् अपि
Those who have not been bitten or seen by these venomous serpents of sense-objects and senses, poisoned by hope, are but a few in the world.
भोगभीमेभवलितां तृष्णातरलवागुराम् । लोभोग्रकरवालाढ्यां कोपकुन्तकुलाङ्किताम्
Entangled in the dreadful whirlpool of enjoyment, caught in the restless net of craving, enriched by the fierce claws of greed, marked by the spears of anger.
द्वन्द्वजालरथव्याप्ताम् अहङ्कारानुपालिताम् । चेष्टातुरङ्गमाकीर्णां कामकोलाहलाकुलाम्
Filled with the chariot of dualities, guarded by ego, crowded with the restless horses of activity, and agitated by the tumult of desires.
शरीरसीमान्तगतां दुरिन्द्रियपताकिनीम् । ये जेतुम् उद्यतास् तात त एवेह हि सद्भटाः
Those who strive to conquer the body, which is bounded by its limits and bears the banners of unruly senses, O dear one, are truly the noble warriors here.
सुसाध्यẖ करटोद्भेदो मत्तैरावणदन्तिनः । नोत्पथप्रतिपन्नानां स्वेन्द्रियाणां विनिग्रहः
It is easy to break open a crocodile’s mouth or subdue the tusks of a mad elephant, but restraining one’s own senses that have strayed from the right path is not so.
पौरुषस्य महत्त्वस्य सत्त्वस्य महतश् श्रियः । इन्द्रियाक्रमणं साधो सीमान्तो महताम् इह
Among all greatness of courage, excellence of character, and splendor, O noble one, mastery over the senses is the highest boundary here.
तावद् उत्तमताम् एति पुमान् अपि दिवौकसाम् । कृपणैर् इन्द्रियैर् यावन् न स्वैर् एव निपीड्यते
A person attains the highest status—even among the gods—as long as he is not oppressed by his own wretched senses.
यावज् जितेन्द्रियो जन्तुस् तावन् मेरुर् इवोन्नतः । जितश् चेद् इन्द्रियैर् याति तृणाद् अप्य् अपकृष्टताम्
As long as a being has conquered his senses, he stands tall like Mount Meru; but if defeated by them, he falls lower than even a blade of grass.
जितेन्द्रिया महासत्त्वा ये त एव नरा भुवि । शेषान् अहम् इमान् मन्ये मांसयन्त्रगणांश् चलान्
Those of great strength who have mastered their senses are the true men on earth; the rest, I regard as mere groups of flesh-driven machines, unstable and wavering.
मनस्सेनापतेस् सेनाम् इमम् इन्द्रियपञ्चकम् । जेतुं चेद् अस्ति मे यत्नो जयामि तद् अलं मुने
If I have the resolve to conquer this army of five senses with the mind as commander, then, O sage, I shall indeed achieve victory.