उपायं कल्पनात्मानम् अनुपायं विदुर् बुधाः । दुẖखदत्वान् निमेषेण भावाभावैषणभ्रमैः
The wise know that methods based on imagination are ineffective, for they bring suffering in an instant, through the confusion of seeking existence and nonexistence.
जगद्भ्रमं परिज्ञाय यद् अवासनम् आसितम् । विरसाशेषविषयं तद् धि निर्वाणम् उच्यते
Recognizing the illusion of the world and abiding without attachment, with all objects tasteless, that indeed is called liberation.
आख्यायिकार्थप्रतिभानरूपम् अचेत्यचिद्वारिभरद्रवात्मा । अवेद्यविद्रूपम् अशेषम् अच्छं पश्यन् विनिर्वामि जगत्स्वरूपम्
Seeing the true nature of the world as pure, transparent, and undivided—like the essence of water, beyond the known and unknown, appearing as the meaning behind stories—I rest in liberation.
जात्यन्धरूपानुभवानुरूपं यद् आगमैर् बुद्धम् अबोधरूपम् । अधस्पदीकृत्य तद् अन्तर् अस्मिन् बोधे निपत्यानुभवे भवाभूः
When, setting aside what is understood only through scriptures and is like the experience of one blind from birth, one falls inward into direct knowledge, then the cycle of becoming and non-becoming ceases.
अहन्तादि जगच् चेदं परिज्ञानाद् असत्यताम् । याति सानुभवे मोहात् सत्यम् एवान्यथाधियाम्
This world, beginning with the sense of 'I', becomes unreal through right understanding; but for those whose minds are deluded, it appears real.
अज्ञानज्वरमुक्तस्य बोधशीतलितात्मनः । एतद् एव भवेच् चिह्नं यद् भोगाम्बु न रोचते
For one freed from the fever of ignorance, whose mind is cooled by knowledge, the sign is this: the waters of sense enjoyment no longer appeal.
अलम् अन्यैḫ परिज्ञानैर् वाच्यवाचकविभ्रमैः । अनहंवेदनामात्रं निर्वाणं तद् विभाव्यताम्
Enough of other kinds of knowledge and the confusion of words and meanings; let the state of pure non-ego awareness, called liberation, be realized.
अभिज्ञाता यथा स्वप्ने पदार्था रमयन्ति नो । न च सन्ति तथैवास्मिन् नाहं जगद् इति भ्रमे
Just as objects recognized in a dream do not delight, nor do they truly exist, so too, in this illusion, the notions 'I am' and 'the world' are not real.
यथा स्वभावनाद् यक्षस् तरौ सस्वजनं पुरम् । पश्यत्य् असत्यम् एवैवं जीवḫ पश्यति संसृतिम्
As a yaksha, by its own nature, sees a city with its people in a tree—though it is unreal—so does the individual see the cycle of existence.
विभ्रमात्मा यथा यक्षो यक्षालोकश् च तौ मिथः । सद्रूपौ संस्थितौ मिथ्या तथाहन्त्वजगद्भ्रमौ
Just as the yaksha and the world of yakshas, both being forms of illusion, appear mutually real but are false, so too are the illusions of 'I' and 'world'.
अनावरणतो ऽरण्ये यक्षाद् विभ्रमरूपिणः । यथा स्फुरन्ति भूतानि तथेमानि चतुर्दश
Just as, in the forest, beings appear from the illusion of the yaksha, who is himself unhidden and of illusory form, so too do these fourteen worlds arise.
भ्रममात्रम् अहं मिथ्यैवेति बुद्ध्या विभावयन् । यक्षो ऽयक्षत्वम् आयाति चित्तं चाचित्तताम् इदम्
Recognizing with understanding that 'I' is merely an illusion and unreal, the yaksha ceases to be a yaksha, and this mind becomes mindless.
निरस्तसकलाशङ्कं त्यागग्रहणवर्जितम् । अविसारिसमस्तेच्छं शान्तम् आस्स्व यथास्थितम्
Remain as you are: free from all doubts, untouched by grasping or renunciation, unmoved by any desire, and at peace.
अत्यन्तासम्भवद्दृश्यं द्रष्ट्रात्मकम् इदं ततम् । अथ वा नैव द्रष्ट्रात्म सवाच्यं किम् अवाप्यते
This, which appears as the world, is utterly impossible and pervaded by the seer alone; or rather, it cannot even be said to be of the nature of the seer—what is gained by such statements?
वसन्तरसपूरस्य यथा विटपगुल्मता । स्वरूपमात्रभरतस् संविदस् सर्गता तथा
Just as the abundance of spring fills the trees and bushes, so the creation is filled only by the essence of consciousness.
यद् इदं जगदाभासं शुद्धचिन्मात्रवेदनम् । कात्रैकता द्विता का वा निर्वाणम् अलम् आस्यताम्
This world is a mere appearance, pure consciousness alone perceiving; what meaning is there in unity or duality here? Let perfect peace be established.
भूयतां चिन्मयव्योम्ना पीयतां परमो रसः । स्थीयतां विगताशङ्कं निर्वाणानन्दनन्दने
Become the sky of pure consciousness, drink the supreme nectar, and abide, free from all doubt, in the garden of nirvana-bliss.
किम् एतास्व् अतिशून्यासु संसारारण्यभूमिषु । मानवा वातहरिणा भ्रमथोद्भ्रान्तबुद्धयः
Why do people, their minds bewildered like deer scattered by the wind, wander in these utterly empty wildernesses of worldly existence?
जगत्त्रयमरीच्यम्बुविप्रलब्धान्धबुद्धयः । मा धावत घनव्यग्रम् आशयोपहताशयाः
Deluded by the mirage-waters of the three worlds, with minds blinded by hope, do not run about restlessly like clouds, your intentions obstructed by your own desires.
रूपालोकमनस्कारमृगतृष्णाम्बुपायिनः । व्यर्थं मा यूयम् आयूंषि नराẖ क्षपयतैणकाः
You who chase after forms, sights, and the mind’s mirage-waters—do not waste your lives in vain like thirsty deer.
जगद्गन्धर्वनगरागारगर्धेन नश्यथ । सुखरूपाणि दुẖखानि शासनायैव पश्यथ
You perish in the stench of the brothel of the illusory city of the world; you see pleasures as pains, only for the sake of discipline.
जगत्केशोण्डुकं भ्रान्त्यै मा महाम्बरमध्यगम् । अवलोकयताभ्रान्ते स्वरूपे परिणम्यताम्
Let the one who is deluded not look upon the world, which is like a ball of hair floating in the vast sky, but rather let him be transformed into his own true nature.
मानवा वातलोलोच्चपत्त्रप्रान्ताम्बुभङ्गुराः । मा नवासु नवास्व् अन्धगर्भशय्यासु शय्यताम्
Humans are as fragile as the water at the tip of a leaf, tossed by the wind; let them not rest again and again in the dark wombs of new births.
अविरामम् अनाद्यन्तं स्वभावे शान्तम् आस्यताम् । द्रष्टृदृश्यदशादोषाद् अस्वभावाद् विरम्यताम्
Abide ceaselessly, without beginning or end, in your own nature, which is peaceful; withdraw from the defect of perceiver and perceived, which is not your true nature.
अज्ञावबुद्धस् संसारस् साहं नास्ति मनाग् अपि । अविशिष्टं तु यत् सत्यं तस्य नाम न विद्यते
The cycle of existence is only for the ignorant and the unawakened; for that which is truly undifferentiated, there is not even the slightest name.
त्रोटयित्वा तु तृष्णायश्शृङ्खलावलितं बलात् । संसारपञ्जरं तिष्ठ सर्वस्योर्ध्वे मृगेन्द्रवत्
Having forcefully broken the chains of craving, which are wound around you, remain above the cage of worldly existence like a lion above all.
आत्मात्मीयग्रहभ्रान्तिशान्तिमात्रं विमुक्तता । यथातथास्थितस्यापि सा स्वसत्तैव योगिनः
Liberation is nothing but the peace that comes from the cessation of the delusion of 'I' and 'mine'; for the yogi, wherever he may be, that alone is his true being.
निर्वाणतावासनता परोपशमता ज्ञता । संसाराध्वनि खिन्नस्य शीता विश्रमभूमयः
For one who is weary on the path of worldly existence, the states of dwelling in liberation, resting in peace, and knowing the cessation of others, are cool places of repose.
तज्ज्ञज्ञातो न मूर्खाणां मूर्खज्ञातो न तद्विदाम् । विद्यते जगदर्थो ऽसाव् अवाच्यो ऽन्यस् तयोर् मिथः
That is known by the wise, not by fools; what is known by fools is not known by those who know that. The meaning of the world is thus inexpressible between the two.
विश्वता भ्रान्तिसंशान्तौ संस्थितैव न लभ्यते । महार्णवाम्बुवलिता पुत्रिकेव पयोमयी
When the confusion of the universe is calmed, it remains but cannot be grasped—like a daughter made of water, floating in the vast ocean.