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.
इन्द्रियोत्तमरोगाणां भोगाशावर्जनाद् ऋते । नौषधानि न तीर्थानि न च मन्त्राḫ प्रशान्तये
Except by turning away from the craving for enjoyment, there is no cure for the most severe diseases of the senses—not by medicines, not by sacred bathing places, nor by mantras.
नीतो ऽस्मि परमं खेदम् अभिधावद्भिर् इन्द्रियैः । एक एव महारण्ये तस्करैḫ पथिको यथा
I have been driven to utter exhaustion by the senses as they pursue their objects, just as a lone traveler in a great forest is pursued by robbers.
पङ्कवन्त्य् अप्रसन्नानि मद्गुदौर्भाग्यवन्ति च । गन्धिशेवालतुच्छानि पल्वलानीन्द्रियाणि च
The senses are like muddy, disturbed, and unfortunate ponds, filled with reeds, useless, and overgrown with foul-smelling weeds.
दुरतिक्रमणीयानि नीहारगहनानि च । जीवितानन्तजालानि जङ्गलानीन्द्रियाणि च
The senses are like jungles, dense with fog, difficult to cross, and filled with countless snares of life.
पङ्कजानि सरन्ध्राणि सुदुर्लक्ष्यगुणानि च । ग्रन्थिमन्ति जडाङ्गानि मृणालानीन्द्रियाणि च
The senses are like lotuses with mud, full of holes, possessing subtle qualities hard to discern, knotted, with stiff stalks.
रूक्षाणि रत्नलुब्धानि कल्लोलवलितानि च । दुर्ग्रहग्राहघोराणि क्षाराम्बूनीन्द्रियाणि च
The senses are rough, greedy for jewels, tossed by waves, and like briny waters—difficult to grasp, fierce, and dangerous.
बान्धवोद्वेगदायीनि देहान्तरपराणि च । करुणाक्रन्दकारीणि मरणानीन्द्रियाणि च
The senses bring distress to relatives, are attached to other bodies, and cause pitiful wailing—they are the agents of death.
अविवेकिष्व् अमित्राणि मित्राणि च विवेकिषु । गहनाततशून्यानि काननानीन्द्रियाणि च
Among the undiscriminating, the senses are enemies; among the discerning, they are friends. The senses are like forests—dense, vast, and empty.
घनास्फोटान्य् असाराणि मलिनानि जडानि च । विद्युत्प्रकाशान्य् एतानि महाभ्राणीन्द्रियाणि च
These senses are like dense thunderclaps—insubstantial, impure, and inert—yet they flash forth like lightning from great clouds.
क्षुद्रप्राणिगृहीतानि वर्जितानि कृतात्मभिः । रजस्तमोऽभिभूतानि स्वेन्द्रियाण्य् अवटानि च
Seized by petty creatures, abandoned by the wise, overwhelmed by passion and darkness, these senses are sunken and powerless.
पातनैकान्तदक्षाणि दोषाशीविषवन्ति च । रूक्षकण्टकलग्नानि श्वभ्राग्राणीन्द्रियाणि च
They are skilled only in causing downfall, filled with the poison of faults, harsh and thorny, and perched at the edge of abysses—such are the senses.
आत्मम्भरीण्य् अनार्याणि साहसैकरतानि च । अन्धकारविकारीणि रक्षांसि स्वेन्द्रियाणि च
They are ignoble, self-serving, ever intent on rashness, distorted by darkness—these senses are like demons.
अन्तश्शून्यान्य् असाराणि वक्राणि ग्रन्थिमन्ति च । दहनैकान्तयोग्यानि दुर्दारूणीन्द्रियाणि च
Empty within, unsubstantial, crooked, full of knots, fit only for burning, and hard to cut—such are the senses.
घनमोहप्रतर्दानि दुष्कूपगहनानि च । महावकरतुच्छानि कुपुराणीन्द्रियाणि च
They are battered by dense delusion, difficult to traverse, vast yet hollow, and like ruined cities—these are the senses.
अनन्तेषु पदार्थेषु करणानि घटादिषु । सभ्रमाणि सपङ्कानि चक्राङ्गानीन्द्रियाणि च
Among countless objects, the senses are like wheels and axles in pots and the like—confused, muddy, and with parts like spokes.
आपन्निमग्नम् इमम् एवम् अकिञ्चनं त्वं माम् उद्धरोद्धरणशील दयोदयेन । ये नाम केचन जगत्सु जयन्ति सन्तस् तत्सङ्गमं परमशोकहरं वदन्ति
I am thus sunk and helpless in this mire; O you who are skilled in rescue, lift me up with your compassion. They say that the company of the truly good, who alone conquer in the worlds, is the supreme remover of sorrow.
ततस् तस्य मया ब्रह्मंस् तच् छ्रुत्वा पावनं वचः । इदम् उक्तं यथापृष्टं सुस्पष्टपदया गिरा
Then, O Brahman, having heard his purifying words, I replied as you had asked, with speech that was clear and precise.
साधु विद्याधराधीश दिष्ट्या बुद्धो ऽसि भूतये । भवान्धकूपकुहराच् चिरेणोत्थातुम् इच्छसि
Well done, lord of the Vidyādharas! By fortune, you have awakened for your own good; after a long time, you wish to rise from the dark well of existence.
पावनीयं तव मती राजते शुद्धरूपिणी । विवेकेनानलेनेव कनकद्रवसन्ततिः
Your mind, which is to be purified, shines forth in its pure nature—like a stream of molten gold gleaming by the fire of discernment.
उपदेशगिराम् अर्थम् आदत्ते हारिहेलया । मकुरे निर्मले द्रव्यम् अयत्नेनैव बिम्बते
You grasp the meaning of words of instruction with effortless charm, just as a substance is reflected without effort in a spotless mirror.