विहरन् भूतलं गच्छंस् त्वत्पितामहपत्तनम् । प्राप्तो ऽस्मि काम् अप्य् आदीर्घाम् अरण्यानीं महातपाम्
As I wandered over the earth and journeyed toward your grandfather's city, I came upon a certain vast and ancient forest, a place of great austerity.
पांसुप्रतर्दगहनां प्रकचत्तप्तसैकताम् । अदृष्टपारपर्यन्तां क्वचिद् ग्रामकलाञ्छिताम्
It was dense with clouds of dust, its sand scorched and glaring, its limits unseen, stretching endlessly, with the occasional sign of a small village.
अक्षुब्धखानिलालोकजलभूशान्तिशालिनीम् । ततां शून्यां महारम्भां ब्रह्मसत्ताम् इवामलाम्
There reigned an undisturbed calm of air, light, water, and earth—a vast emptiness, grand in its expanse, pure in its essence, like the being of Brahman.
अविद्याम् इव सम्मोहमृगतृष्णागतभ्रमाम् । जाड्यदाम् आततां शून्यां दिग्दाहमिहिकाकुलाम्
It was like ignorance itself—bewildering, haunted by the mirage of delusion, pervaded by dullness, empty, scorched in every direction, and shrouded in mist.
अथ तस्याम् अरण्यान्यां यावत् प्रविहराम्य् अहम् । तावत् पश्यामि पुरतो वदन्तं पथिकं श्रमात्
Then, as I wandered in that forest, I saw ahead of me a weary traveler speaking aloud.
अहो नु परिखेदाय प्रौढप्रायातपो रविः । परितापाय पापो ऽयं दुर्जनेनेव सङ्गमः
"Ah, truly, the sun, grown fierce, brings only exhaustion; its heat is torment, like the company of wicked people."
सङ्गलन्तीव मर्माणि स्फुरतीवाग्निर् आतपे । सङ्कुचत्पल्लवापीडास् ताम्यन्ति वनराजयः
It is as if the sun's heat pierces the very core, as if fire flares in the sunlight; the forest groves, their leaves withered, are languishing.
तावत् तद् एतम् अग्रस्थं ग्रामकं प्रविशाम्य् अहम् । श्रमम् अत्रापनीयाशु वहाम्य् अध्वानम् आशुगः
So I entered that small village ahead, quickly seeking relief from my fatigue, and swiftly continued my journey.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य सो ऽग्रस्थं किरातग्रामकं यदा । प्रवेष्टुम् इच्छति तदा मया प्रोक्त इदं वचः
Thinking thus, when he wished to enter the village of hunters that was seized, I spoke these words to him.
अपरिज्ञात नीराग मार्गमित्र शुभाकृते । मरुमार्गमहारण्यपान्थ स्वागतम् अस्तु ते
Unknown, unattached, friend of the path, doer of good, traveler of the desert wilderness, welcome to you.
चिरं मनुष्यदेशे ऽस्मिन् निर्जनग्रामधन्वनि । नागराध्वग विश्रान्तिं विश्रान्तो ऽपि न लप्स्यसे
For a long time in this land of humans, in this deserted village and wasteland, you, city traveler, though resting, will not find rest.
श्रमो विश्रमणेनैव वर्धते पामरास्पदे । तृड् वै लवणपानेन भूय एवाभिवर्धते
Fatigue increases by resting in a place of the lowly; thirst, indeed, grows ever more by drinking salty water.
एते ग्रामैकशरणाḫ पल्लवस्पन्दभीरवः । अयथायथसञ्चारा हरिणा इव जन्तवः
These creatures, seeking shelter in a single village, fearful of the trembling of leaves, wander rightly or wrongly like deer.
न स्फुरन्ति विचारेषु न ज्वलन्त्य् अनुभूतिषु । न त्रसन्ति दुराचाराद् अश्मयन्त्रमया इव
They do not stir in reflection, do not blaze in experience, nor tremble from evil conduct, as if made of stone and gears.
कामार्थरागविद्वेषपरिनिष्ठितपौरुषाः । कर्मण्य् आपातमधुरे रमन्ते दग्धबुद्धयः
Established in passion, wealth, attachment, and aversion, their minds burned, they delight in actions sweet only in their onset.
आभिजात्योन्नतोदारा शीतला रसशालिनी । नेह विश्वसिति प्रज्ञा मेघमाला मराव् इव
Here, nobility and greatness, coolness, and flavor abound; yet wisdom does not trust here, as a mass of clouds in the desert.
वरम् अन्धगुहाहित्वं शिलान्तẖ कीटता वरम् । वरं मरौ पङ्गुमृगो न ग्राम्यजनसङ्गमः
It is better to dwell in a dark cave, better to be an insect within a stone, better to be a lame deer in the desert, than to associate with worldly people.
निमेषास्वादमधुराẖ क्षणान्तरविरागिणः । मारणैकान्तनिरता ग्राम्या विषकणा इव
Worldly people are sweet only for a moment, quickly turning indifferent; they are ever intent on destruction, like poison-laden arrows.
वान्ति भस्मकणाकीर्णा जीर्णास् संशीर्णसद्मसु । तृणपर्णवनव्यग्रा ग्राम्यावकरवायवः
The winds of the village, busy with grass, leaves, and forest debris, blow through ruined, crumbling houses strewn with ashes.
एवम् उक्तेन तेनाहम् इदम् उक्तस् तदानघ । मद्वाक्येन समाश्वस्य स्नातेनेवामृताम्भसा
When he spoke thus, O sinless one, I replied to him; comforted by my words, he felt as if bathed in the nectar of immortality.
भगवन् को ऽसि पूर्णात्मा महात्मा कथम् आत्मवान् । पश्यन्न् अनाकुलो लोकं ग्रामयात्राम् इवाध्वगः
O blessed one, who are you—perfected soul, great soul, how are you self-possessed, witnessing the world undisturbed, like a traveler observing a village procession?
किं त्वया पीतम् अमृतं किं त्वं सम्राड् विराड् अथ । सर्वार्थरिक्तो ऽपि चिरं सुपूर्ण इव राजसे
Have you drunk the nectar of immortality? Are you a sovereign, a universal monarch? Though lacking all possessions, you seem to reign long and fully satisfied.
शून्यो ऽसि परिपूर्णो ऽसि घूर्णसीव स्थिरो ऽसि च । न सर्वम् असि सर्वं च न किञ्चित् किञ्चिद् एव वा
You are empty, yet you are completely full; you seem to whirl, yet you are steady. You are not everything, yet you are everything; you are nothing, yet you are something.
उपशान्तं च कान्तं च दीप्तम् अप्रतिघाति च । निभृतं चोर्जितं चेदं रूपं किम् इति ते मुने
O sage, why is your form so peaceful and lovely, radiant and unobstructed, quiet yet powerful?
भूसंस्थो ऽपि समस्तानां लोकानाम् उपरीव खे । संस्थितो ऽसि निरास्थो ऽसि घनास्थो ऽसि च लक्ष्यसे
Though you are established upon the earth, you appear above all worlds in the sky; you are established, you are unattached, you are dense, and you are perceived.
प्रसृतं च पदार्थेषु न पदार्थात्म चास्ति च । तवेन्दोर् इव शुद्धस्य मनो ऽमृतमयं स्थितम्
You are extended among objects, yet you are not the essence of objects; your mind, pure as the moon, remains immortal.
कलावान् अकलङ्को ऽन्तश्शीतलो भासुरस् समः । रसायनपरापूर्णḫ पूर्णेन्दुर् इव राजसे
You possess art, are spotless, cool within, radiant, equal; filled with the supreme elixir, you shine like the full moon.
त्वदिच्छायत्तसदसद्भावं पश्यामि ते चिति । संसारमण्डलम् इदं स्थितं फलम् इवाङ्कुरे
I see the existence and non-existence of things dependent on your will, O consciousness; this circle of worldly existence stands like fruit upon a sprout.
अहं तावद् अयं विप्रश् शाण्डिल्यकुलसम्भवः । मङ्किर् नाम महाभाग तीर्थयात्राप्रसङ्गतः
As for myself, I am this Brahmin, born in the Shaandilya lineage, named Mankir, O illustrious one, engaged in pilgrimage.
गत्वा सुदूरम् अध्वानं दृष्ट्वा तीर्थानि सम्प्रति । चिरकालेन सदनम् आत्मीयं गन्तुम् उद्यतः
Having traveled a great distance and seen the holy places, I am now, after a long time, intent on returning to my own home.