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.
न च मे गन्तुम् उद्योगो विरक्तमनसो गृहम् । दृष्ट्वा तडित्प्रकाशानि भूतानि भुवनोदरे
But I have no inclination to return home, my mind detached, after seeing beings flashing like lightning within the womb of the world.
भगवन् मह्यम् आत्मानं कथयेहानुकम्पया । गम्भीराणि प्रसन्नानि साधुचेतस्सरांसि हि
O Lord, out of compassion, please tell me about the Self; for the streams of the minds of the good are deep and clear.
दर्शनाद् एव मित्रत्वं कुर्वतां महतां पुरः । कमलानीव भूतानि विकसन्त्य् आश्वसन्ति च
By the mere sight of the great, those who cultivate friendship blossom and find reassurance, just as lotuses open up.
ममेमं च मनोमोहं संसारभ्रमसम्भवम् । मन्ये हातुं समर्थस् त्वं सत्त्वबोधानुकम्पनैः
I believe you are able to remove this delusion of my mind, born from the confusion of worldly existence, through your compassion and awakening insight.
वसिष्ठो ऽस्मि महाबुद्धे मुनिर् अस्मि नभोगृहः । केनाप्य् अर्थेन राजर्षेर् इमं मार्गम् उपस्थितः
I am Vasistha, O greatly wise one, a sage whose dwelling is the sky; for some reason, I have come upon this path of the royal sage.
मा गा विषादं पन्थानम् आगतो ऽसि मनीषिणाम् । प्रायḫ प्राप्तो ऽसि संसारसागरस्यापरं तटम्
Do not enter the path of despair; you have come to the way of the wise. Indeed, you have nearly reached the far shore of the ocean of worldly existence.
वैराग्यविभवोदारा मतिर् उक्तिर् अपीदृशी । आकृतिश् शान्तरूपा च न भवत्य् अमहात्मनः
Such noble discernment, speech, and appearance—marked by the wealth of detachment and a peaceful form—do not arise in one who is not great-souled.
मणिर् मधुरकाषेण यथैति विमलात्मताम् । तथा कषायपाकेन चित्तम् एति विवेकिताम्
Just as a jewel attains purity through gentle polishing, so too does the mind become discerning through the ripening of inner purification.
किं ज्ञातुम् इच्छसि कथं संसारं हातुम् इच्छसि । उपदिष्टम् अहं मन्ये सम्पादयसि कर्मभिः
What do you wish to know? How do you wish to abandon worldly existence? I believe you will accomplish what has been taught through your actions.
विमलवासन उन्नतमानसḫ परिविविक्तमतिर् जनचेतसाम् । पदम् अशोकम् अलं खलु युज्यसे जगति नेतुम् इतीदम् इहोच्यते
With pure tendencies, an elevated mind, and a mind withdrawn from the thoughts of people, you are indeed fit to lead the world to the sorrowless state—thus is it said here.