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.
तावन् नायाति वैवश्यं चिन्ताविषविजृम्भणैः । यावद् अर्थमहानर्थो न कदर्थार्थम् अर्थ्यते
One does not fall into distress from the poison of anxiety until the great misfortune of wealth is sought for the sake of trivial gain.
अनुत्तमसुखं यस्मै चिराय परिरोचते । जरत्तृणशिखादृष्ट्या सो ऽर्थं पश्यतु शाम्यतु
Let him who delights for long in unsurpassed happiness look upon wealth as dry grass and be at peace.
भूरिभावविकाराणां जरामरणकर्मणाम् । दैन्यदौरात्म्यदाहानाम् अर्थस् सार्थपतिस् स्मृतः
The leader of the caravan is said to be the purpose for the many changes of condition, the actions of old age and death, and the burning of misery and misfortune.
अस्मिञ् जगति जन्तूनां जरामरणशालिनाम् । अजरामरतां कर्तुं सन्तोषो ऽस्ति रसायनम्
In this world, for beings subject to old age and death, contentment is the elixir that can grant the state of being free from aging and dying.
वसन्तो नन्दनोद्यानम् इन्दुर् अप्सरसस् स्मरः । इत्य् एकतस् समुदितं सन्तोषामृतम् एकतः
On one side are gathered spring, the garden of Nandana, the moon, celestial nymphs, and love; on the other side is the nectar of contentment.
सरसḫ प्रावृषेवान्तस् सन्तोषेणैति पूर्णताम् । गम्भीरां शीतलां हृद्यां प्रसन्नां रसशालिनीम्
Within, like the rainy season filling the lake, contentment brings fullness—deep, cool, delightful, and rich in essence.
साधुर् ओजस्विताम् एत्य सन्तोषेण विराजते । सुपुष्पितवराकारो वसन्तेनेव पादपः
The virtuous one, attaining vigor through contentment, shines like a tree in spring, splendid with abundant blossoms.
पादपातपरामर्शपिष्टकीटवद् ईहते । दीनप्रकृतिर् अर्थार्थी दुẖखाद् दुẖखान्तरं व्रजन्
The one whose nature is dejected, seeking after gain, strives like a worm crushed by the touch of a foot, moving from one sorrow to another.
कल्लोलविकलाẖ क्षुब्धसमुद्रपतिता इव । नाप्नुवन्ति स्थितिं स्वस्थां विकृताकृतयो ऽर्थिनः
Those whose minds are distorted by desire, like broken waves fallen into a turbulent sea, do not attain a stable and healthy state.
सम्पदḫ प्रमदाश् चैव तरङ्गोत्सङ्गभङ्गुराः । कस् तास्व् अहिफणच्छत्त्रच्छायासु रमते बुधः
Wealth and women are as fragile as waves rising and falling; what wise person delights in the shade of a serpent's hood?
अर्थोपार्जनरक्षाणां जानन्न् अपि कदर्थनाम् । यẖ करोति स्पृहां मूढो नृपशुस् तं न संस्पृशेत्
Even knowing the troubles of acquiring and protecting wealth, the fool who still desires it—let the wise not associate with such a man-beast.
मनसो बाह्यम् आरम्भम् आन्तरं च लुनाति यः । समं वैतृष्ण्यदात्रेण तस्य क्षेत्रं प्रकाशते
He who cuts off both the outward and inward activities of the mind—his field is illumined equally by the gift of freedom from craving.
जगत्त्वम् अज्ञसम्बुद्धं ज्ञो विदन्न् असद् एव यत् । सतीव तत्र स्फुरति तद् अनभ्यासजृम्भितम्
The world appears real to the ignorant and the awakened alike, but the knower, understanding it as unreal, sees it merely as a semblance, arising from lack of practice in discernment.
संसारनिर्वेदवशाद् उपेत्य सत्सङ्गमं शास्त्रम् उपेत्य तेन । शास्त्रार्थभावेन निरस्य भोगान् वैतृष्ण्यदार्ढ्यात् परमार्थम् एति
By the power of disenchantment with worldly life, coming to the company of the good and to scripture, and, understanding the meaning of scripture, rejecting enjoyments through firmness in dispassion, one attains the highest truth.
रूढे संसारनिर्वेदे स्थिते साधुसमागमे । शास्त्रार्थे भाविते बुद्ध्या भोगवैतृष्ण्य आगते
When disenchantment with worldly life is established, when the company of the virtuous is secured, when the meaning of scripture is contemplated with understanding, and when dispassion towards enjoyments has arisen—
जाते विषयवैरस्ये सज्जनत्वे तथोदिते । प्रकाशे सम्मुखीभूते हृदये कलितोदये
When aversion to sense objects is born, when virtue is thus spoken of, when illumination appears before one, and when the heart is touched by the dawn of wisdom—
धनानि नाभिवाञ्छ्यन्ते तमांसीव विवेकिना । त्यज्यन्ते विद्यमानानि संशुष्कामेध्यपर्णवत्
The wise do not desire wealth, just as they do not desire darkness; whatever wealth is present is abandoned like withered, impure leaves.
नीरागपान्थदृष्ट्यैव दृश्यन्ते दारबन्धवः । यथाशक्ति यथाकालम् उपचर्यन्त एव च
Wife and relatives are seen with the detached gaze of a dispassionate traveler; they are cared for only as much as ability and occasion allow.
इन्द्रियेष्व् अपि संलग्ना इन्द्रियार्थाḫ पुनḫ पुनः । न भोगा अनुभूयन्ते नूनं शान्तमनस्तया
Even when the sense objects repeatedly come into contact with the senses, pleasures are not truly experienced by one whose mind is at peace.
एकान्तेषु दिगन्तेषु सरस्सु विपिनेषु च । उष्यन्ते पुण्यदेशेषु निजेष्व् एव गृहेषु वा
Whether dwelling in solitude, at the horizon, by lakes, in forests, in sacred places, or even in one's own home—