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.
सज्जनो हि समुत्तार्य विपद्भ्यो निकटस्थितम् । नियोजयति सम्पत्सु स्वालोकेष्व् इव भास्करः
Indeed, a virtuous person, having rescued one close by from misfortune, establishes him in prosperity, as the sun does with its own rays.
परस्वादानविरतिḫ पूर्वम् एव प्रवर्तते । विवेकिनो निजार्थेषु सन्तोषश् चोपजायते
Abstention from taking what belongs to others begins early, and for the discerning, contentment arises regarding their own possessions.
परस्वादानविरतस् सन्तोषामृतनिर्भरः । विवेकी क्रमशस् स्वार्थान् अप्य् उपेक्षितुम् इच्छति
The discerning one, filled with the nectar of contentment and refraining from taking others’ possessions, gradually wishes to disregard even his own interests.
ददाति कणपिण्याकशाकान्य् अपि हि याचते । तेनैवाभ्यासयोगेन स्वमांसानि ददात्य् असौ
He gives even grains, flour, and vegetables when asked, and through the practice of such giving, he comes to offer even his own flesh.
नूनं विरलचिन्तानां विवेकम् अनुधावताम् । मौर्ख्यं लघुत्वम् आयाति धावताम् इव गोष्पदम्
Surely, for those whose thoughts are scattered and who pursue discernment, foolishness and shallowness arise, just as a puddle forms when water runs.
परार्थादानविरतिं पूर्वम् अभ्यस्य यत्नतः । आहर्तव्या विवेकेन ततस् स्वार्थेष्व् अरक्तता
At first, with effort, one should practice ceasing to act for the sake of others; then, through discernment, one must bring about dispassion even for one's own interests.
ततो भोगनिरासेन सह स्वार्थनिराकृतिः । परमायै स्वविश्रान्त्यै क्रियते कृतिभिẖ क्रमात्
Thereafter, by renouncing enjoyment along with the rejection of self-interest, the wise gradually attain supreme repose in their own being.
न तादृशं जगत्य् अस्ति दुẖखं नरककोटिषु । यादृशं यावदायुष्कम् अर्थोपार्जनशासनम्
There is no suffering in the world, nor in countless hells, like the lifelong burden of striving to acquire wealth.
आसने शयने याने गमने रमणे ऽर्जने । आढ्याश् चिन्तापरा एव न तु मूढा विदन्ति ताम्
Whether sitting, lying, traveling, moving, enjoying, or acquiring, the wealthy are always absorbed in anxiety; only the foolish do not perceive this.
नन्व् अर्था विततानर्थास् सम्पदस् सन्ततापदः । भोगा भवमहारोगा विपरीतेन भाविताः
Indeed, possessions are the root of endless misfortune, riches are a constant source of pain, and enjoyments are the great disease of existence—so it is understood by those who see clearly.