निर्वाणम् आसीत निरस्तखेदं समस्तशङ्कास्तमयाभिरामम् । सुषुप्तसोम्यं समशान्तचित्तं शरद्घनाभोगविशुद्धम् अन्तः
Let liberation be established—free from all distress, delightful with the fading of every doubt, gentle as deep sleep, with a mind calm and even, inwardly pure as autumn clouds.
संसारभारसुश्रान्तस् सङ्कटेषु लुठत्तनुः । यो ऽभिवाञ्छति विश्रान्तिं तस्य क्रमम् इमं शृणु
For one exhausted by the heavy burden of worldly existence, whose body is tossed in difficulties, who longs for rest—listen to this method.
पूर्वं विवेककणिका यदास्य हृदि जायते । संसारनिर्वेदमयी कारणाद् वाप्य् अकारणात्
When a spark of discernment arises in his heart—whether caused by disenchantment with worldly life or for no reason at all—
तदाश्रयति सच्छायान् साधून् उन्नतिशालिनः । अध्वश्रमहरांस् तापतप्तो मार्गतरून् इव
then he seeks the company of noble, elevated souls, who, like trees along the road, relieve the fatigue of travelers scorched by the sun.
दूरे परिहरत्य् अज्ञान् यज्ञयूपान् इवाध्वगः । स्नानदानतपोयज्ञान् करोति विबुधानुगः
He shuns ignorant people as a traveler avoids sacrificial posts along the path, and, following the wise, he engages in bathing, giving, austerity, and sacrifice.
पेशलं चानुरूपं च व्यवहारम् अकृत्रिमम् । लोक्यम् आह्लादनं धत्ते चन्द्रबिम्बम् इवामृतम्
He adopts conduct that is gentle, appropriate, and genuine, delightful to behold, like the nectar of the moon’s disk.
परप्रज्ञानुगो भावḫ परार्थपरिपूरकः । पवित्रकर्मरसिकẖ को ऽपि सोम्यḫ प्रवर्तते
His disposition follows the wisdom of others and fulfills the welfare of others; he delights in pure actions, and some gentle one thus proceeds.
नवनीतस्थलीवाच्छा स्निग्धा मृद्वी मनोहरा । जनं सुखयति स्वाद्वी तदीया नवसङ्गतिः
His fresh association is pure, gentle, and charming, like clarified butter—pleasing and sweet, it brings happiness to people.
शीतलानि पवित्राणि चरितानि विवेकिनः । इन्दोर् इवांशुजालानि जनं शीतलयन्त्य् अलम्
The actions of the discerning are cool and pure, and, like the rays of the moon, they thoroughly refresh people.
न तथोद्यानषण्डेषु पुष्पप्रकरहारिषु । विश्रम्यते वीतभयं यथा साधुसमागमे
One does not rest as fearlessly even in groves and gardens filled with masses of flowers as in the company of the virtuous.
मन्दाकिनीपयांसीव सङ्गतानि विवेकिनाम् । प्रक्षालयन्ति पापानि प्रयच्छन्ति विशुद्धताम्
Just as the waters of the Mandakini river, when gathered together, wash away impurities, so too do the actions of the discerning purify sins and bestow clarity.
विवेकिषु विरक्तेषु संसारोत्तरणार्थिषु । जनश् शीतलताम् एति हिमहारगृहेष्व् इव
Among those who are discerning, detached, and seeking to cross the ocean of worldly existence, people attain coolness, as if in houses made of great snow.
ननु नागरतोदारा या विवेकिनि विद्यते । सुरगन्धर्वकन्यासु सा नवासु न विद्यते
Indeed, the nobility found in a discerning woman is not present even in the young maidens of the gods and gandharvas.
प्रज्ञा प्रसादम् आयाति क्रमाद् उचितकर्मणः । अन्तẖ करोति शास्त्रार्थम् अर्थं मकुरभूर् इव
Gradually, through appropriate actions, wisdom attains serenity and inwardly reflects the meaning of scripture, just as a mirror reflects an object.
सत्प्रज्ञोन्नतिम् आयाति शास्त्रार्थरसशालिनी । विवेकिनी विलासेन कदलीव महावने
True wisdom, rich with the essence of scriptural meaning, rises to excellence in the discerning, flourishing gracefully like a plantain tree in a great forest.
अन्तर् एवाशु वहति सर्वार्थान् प्रतिबिम्बितान् । आदर्शवद् अशेषेण प्रज्ञा नैर्मल्यशालिनी
Pure wisdom swiftly holds within itself all things reflected, completely, like a spotless mirror.
साधुसङ्गमशुद्धात्मा शास्त्रार्थपरिमार्जितः । प्राज्ञो भात्य् उद्धृतं वह्नेर् अग्निशौचम् इवांशुकम्
One whose mind is purified by association with the virtuous and refined by the meaning of scripture shines with wisdom, like a cloth lifted from fire, pure as the fire itself.
कचत्काञ्चनकान्तेन विमलालोककारिणा । भुवनं भास्करेणेव भाति साधुस् स्वचेतसा
Just as the sun, with its shining golden radiance, brings pure light to the world, so too does the mind of the virtuous shine forth.
तथानुगच्छति प्राज्ञश् शास्त्रसाधुसमागमौ । यथात्यन्तानुषङ्गेण ताव् एवाशु भवत्य् अयम्
In the same way, the wise person follows the company of scriptures and the good, so that by constant association with them, he quickly becomes like them.
क्रमात् सज्जनताम् एत्य शास्त्रार्थभरभावितः । भाति भोगान् अधẖ कुर्वन् पञ्जराद् इव निर्गतः
Gradually attaining the state of the virtuous, and imbued with the weight of scriptural meaning, he shines, placing pleasures beneath him, like one who has emerged from a cage.
भोगाभिगमदौर्भाग्यं दिनानुदिनम् उज्झता । तेन तत् कुलम् आभाति ताराचक्रम् इवेन्दुना
As he daily abandons the misfortune of being drawn to pleasures, his family shines because of him, like a constellation of stars illuminated by the moon.
अभोगकृपणा कापि नवैवास्य प्रवर्तते । मुखे कान्तिर् अपूर्वैव चन्द्रे राहौ मृते यथा
A new and unprecedented radiance appears on his face, as if the moon had gained a unique luster after the eclipse demon has perished.
तृणीकृतत्रिजगतां महताम् अभिधेयताम् । स याति कल्पविटपी नभसीव दिवौकसाम्
He attains the status of the great, who treat the three worlds as mere straw, just as the wish-fulfilling tree stands in the sky for the gods.
भोगानां द्वेषणेनान्तर् लज्जमानो मनस्व्य् अपि । भोगानाम् अन्यसम्पत्त्या परमं परितुष्यति
Even though strong-minded, he feels inward shame by despising pleasures, and finds supreme satisfaction in the happiness of others' enjoyments.
स्वा एवोपहसत्य् अन्तस् तरणी तरलक्रियाः । खेदस्मेरमुखो जातीर् जातिस्मर इवाधमाः
He secretly mocks his own fleeting actions, his face smiling with weariness, like one who remembers his past births looking at the lowly.
अथ तं द्रष्टुम् आयान्ति सौहार्देनैव साधवः । भूमाव् इवोदितं चन्द्रं विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनाः
Then, the virtuous come to see him out of friendship, their eyes wide with wonder, as if gazing at the moon risen on the earth.
नित्यानादृतभोगो ऽसौ तम् अप्य् उचितया धिया । प्राप्तम् अप्य् उचितारम्भं भोगं न बहु मन्यते
He always enjoys pleasures without attachment, and even when such enjoyment comes to him appropriately, he does not regard it as significant.
पूर्वं संसृतिवैरस्यम् अन्तर् एवोदितात्मनः । जायते जीर्णजाड्यस्य पाकाद् इव शरत्तरोः
Previously, a distaste for worldly existence arises within him, as ripening brings about the shedding of old dullness, like a tree in autumn.
ततस् सज्जनसम्पर्कम् उदर्कश्रेयसे स्वयम् । करोति स्वस्थतागृध्नुर् भिषगाश्रयणं यथा
Then, desiring well-being, he himself seeks the company of virtuous people for the sake of future benefit, just as one who longs for health turns to a physician.
तेनोदारमतिर् भूत्वा शास्त्रार्थेषु निमज्जति । महान् महाप्रसन्नेषु सरस्स्व् इव महागजः
Through this, becoming noble-minded, he immerses himself in the meaning of the scriptures, like a great elephant in vast, clear lakes.