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—
सुहृत्केलिविलासेषु सभोद्यानाशनादिषु । शास्त्रतर्कविवादेषु न तथास्थीयते स्थिरम्
In the company of friends, in playful enjoyment, in gatherings, gardens, meals, and so on, or in debates and discussions on scriptures—there is not such firm attachment.
उपशान्तेन दान्तेन स्वात्मारामेण मौनिना । ज्ञतैवान्विष्यते ज्ञेन विज्ञानैकान्तवादिना
It is only by the one who is tranquil, self-restrained, delighting in the Self, silent, and wise—who seeks knowledge and asserts the exclusivity of true understanding—that this is realized.
एवम् अभ्यासवशतḫ परे विश्रम्यते पदे । निम्ने ऽम्भसेव शान्तेन स्वयम् एव विवेकिना
Thus, by the force of practice, one rests in the supreme state; just as water settles in a low place, so too does the discerning one naturally become peaceful.
सबाह्याभ्यन्तरं शान्ता ज्ञतैवार्थतयोदिता । न सम्भवति भिन्नो ऽर्थ इत्य् एव परमं पदम्
That which is described as the known, which is peaceful both outwardly and inwardly, where no separate object exists—this alone is the supreme state.
नार्थोपलब्धिर् नो शून्यम् अस्ति बोधात्मतां विना । इत्य् अन्तरनुभूतिस्थम् आहुस् तत् परमं पदम्
There is neither attainment of objects nor emptiness without the essence of awareness; thus, that which is established in inner experience is called the supreme state.
अबोधबोधबोधेन द्वैतैक्योपशमे सति । निर्वाणम् आसितं शान्तम् आहुस् स्वं परमं पदम्
When duality and unity are both pacified by the knowledge of non-knowledge and knowledge, the peaceful nirvana is attained, and this is called one's own supreme state.
स्वसंविन्मात्रविश्रामवताम् अमनसां सताम् । न स्वदन्ते हि विषयाḫ पयांसि दृषदाम् इव
For those noble ones whose minds rest solely in their own awareness, sense objects do not bring pleasure, just as milk does not delight stones.
निरोधपदम् आपन्नो निर्मना मौनमन्थरः । स्वभावे स्थित एवास्ते चित्रे कृत इवात्मवान्
Having attained the state of restraint, devoid of mind and gently silent, he remains established in his own nature, as if fashioned in a wondrous form, possessing himself.
सर्वार्थम् अर्थरहितं महद् एव पराणुवत् । अशून्यम् एव शून्यात्म हृदयं वेद्यवेदिनः
His heart, though empty in essence, is not truly void; it is vast, like the supreme, lacking all purpose yet encompassing every meaning, the heart of one who knows and is known.
अहन्त्वंजगदीहादि दिक्कालकलनादि च । ज्ञस्य ज्ञानादि शून्यादि स्थितम् एव न विद्यते
For the knower, notions such as 'I-ness', desire for the world, directions, time, knowledge, and emptiness, though appearing to be established, do not truly exist.