अचेतना इव जनाः पवनैः प्राणनामभिः । ध्वनन्तस् संस्थिता व्यर्थं यथा कीचकवेणवः
People, as if unconscious, are kept moving by the winds called breath, sounding out in vain like hollow reeds blown by the wind.
शाम्यतीदं कथं दुःखम् इति तप्तो ऽस्मि चिन्तया । जरद्द्रुम इवोग्रेण कोटरस्थेन वह्निना
I am tormented by this thought: how will this suffering cease? Like an old tree scorched by a fierce fire burning within its hollow.
संसारदुःखपाषाणनीरन्ध्रहृदयो ऽप्य् अहम् । निजलोकभयाद् एव गलद्बाष्पैर् न रोदिमि
Even though my heart is sealed like a stone by the pain of worldly existence, I do not weep, for my tears are held back by fear of my own people.
शून्यमन्मुखवृत्तीस् तु शुष्करोदननीरसाः । विवेक एव हृत्संस्थो ममैकान्तेषु पश्यति
My face is empty, my actions hollow, my tears dry and devoid of feeling; only discernment, dwelling in my heart, observes me in solitude.
भृशं मुह्यामि संस्मृत्य भावाभावमयीं स्थितिम् । दारिद्र्येणेव सुभगो दूरे संसारचिन्तया
I am greatly bewildered when I recall the state composed of being and non-being, like a fortunate man, though far from poverty, is troubled by thoughts of the world.
मोहयन्ति मनोवृत्तिं खण्डयन्ति गुणान् अलम् । दुःखजालं प्रयच्छन्ति विप्रलम्भपराश् श्रियः
Wealth, devoted to separation, deludes the mind, destroys virtues, and brings a net of sorrow.
चिन्तानिचयवक्राणि नानन्दाय धनानि मे । सम्प्रसूतकलत्राणि गृहाण्य् उग्रापदां यथा
Wealth, twisted with heaps of anxieties, brings me no joy; wives and homes, once obtained, are like dreadful traps.
विविधदोषदशापरिचिन्तनैस् सततभङ्गुरकारणकल्पितैः । मम न निर्वृतिम् एति मनो मुने निगडितस्य यथा वनहस्तिनः
My mind finds no satisfaction, O sage, bound as it is by endless reflections on the many faults and the ever-fragile causes of things, just as a wild elephant is chained.
खलाः काले काले निशि निशितमोहैकमिहिकागतालोके लोके विषयहठचौरास् सुचतुराः । प्रवृत्ताः प्रोद्युक्ता दिशि दिशि विवेकैकहरणे रणे शक्तास् तेषां वदत विबुधाः के ऽद्य सुभटाः
At every turn, at every hour, in the darkness of night, the clever thieves of the senses, skilled in plundering discernment, roam the world; tell me, O wise ones, who among us today are true warriors in this battle?
इयम् अस्मिन् विनोदाय संसारे परिकल्पिता । श्रीर् मुने परिमोहाय सापि नूनम् अनर्थदा
This fortune, O sage, has been devised in this world for diversion; yet, indeed, it brings only confusion and is surely the source of misfortune.
उल्लासबहुलान् अन्तः कल्लोलान् अक्रमाकुलान् । जडान् प्रस्रवति स्फारान् प्रावृषीव तरङ्गिणी
Just as a river in the rainy season pours forth abundant, powerful, and tumultuous waves, so too does the dull mind overflow with countless inner surges of excitement.
चिन्तादुहितरो बह्व्यो भूरिदुर्ललितेरिताः । चञ्चलाः प्रभवन्त्य् अस्यास् तरङ्गास् सरितो यथा
Many restless waves arise in it, stirred by countless whims and fancies, just as a river's waves are set in motion by its own currents.
एषा हि पदम् एकत्र न निबध्नाति दुर्भगा । मुग्धेवानियताचारम् इतश् चेतश् च धावति
This unfortunate mind does not remain fixed in one place; like a bewildered person with erratic behavior, it runs here and there.
जनयन्ती परं दाहं परामृष्टाङ्गिका सती । विनाशम् एव धत्ते ऽन्तर् दीपलेखेव कज्जलम्
When touched, it produces intense burning within, and ultimately brings about its own destruction, like a streak of lamp soot turning into ash.
गुणागुणविचारेण विनैव किल पार्श्वगम् । राजप्रकृतिवन् मूढा दुरारूढावलम्बते
Without any discernment of virtue or vice, it blindly clings to whatever is nearby, like a foolish courtier attached to the king.
कर्मणा तेन तेनैषा विस्तारम् उपगच्छति । दोषाशीविषवेगस्य यत् क्षीरविसरायते
Through various actions, it expands further and further, just as the venom of a serpent spreads and mixes into milk.
तावच् छीतमृदुस्पर्शः परे स्वे च जने जनः । वात्ययेव हिमं यावच् छ्रिया न परुषीकृतः
A person remains gentle and pleasant to both friends and strangers, like the cool touch of frost, until prosperity hardens him, just as a storm turns frost harsh.
प्राज्ञाश् शूराः कृतज्ञाश् च पेशला मृदवश् च ये । पांसुमुष्ट्येव मणयश् श्रिया ते मलिनीकृताः
The wise, the brave, the grateful, the refined, and the gentle—like gems soiled by a handful of dust—are tainted by prosperity.
न श्रीस् सुखाय भगवन् दुःखायैव हि कल्पते । गुप्तं विनाशनं धत्ते मृतिं विषलता यथा
O Lord, prosperity does not bring happiness; it only leads to suffering. It secretly carries destruction, just as poison brings death.
श्रीमान् अजननिन्द्यश् च शूरश् चाप्य् अविकत्थनः । समदृष्टिः प्रभुश् चैव दुर्लभाः पुरुषास् त्रयः
Three kinds of men are rare: one who is wealthy yet not despised for his birth, one who is brave yet not boastful, and one who is impartial and powerful.
एषा हि विषमा दुःखभोगिनां गहना गुहा । घनमोहगजेन्द्राणां विन्ध्यशैलमहाटवी
This is indeed a perilous, dense cave for those who suffer; a vast forest in the Vindhya mountains for the mighty elephants of deep delusion.
सत्कार्यपद्मरजनी दुःखकैरवचन्द्रिका । सद्दृष्टिदीपिकावात्या कल्लोलौघतरङ्गिणी
It is the night of the lotus of noble deeds, the moonlight for the water-lily of sorrow, the hurricane for the lamp of true vision, the surging river of waves.
सम्भ्रमाभ्राद्रिपदवी विषादविषवर्धिनी । केदारिका विकल्पानां खदा कुभयभोगिनाम्
It is the mountain path of clouds of confusion, the poison that increases despair, the field of doubts, the pit for those who indulge in evil pleasures.
हिमं वैराग्यवल्लीनां विकारोलूकयामिनी । राहुदंष्ट्रा विवेकेन्दोस् सौजन्याम्भोजचन्द्रिका
It is the frost for the creepers of dispassion, the night for the owls of distortion, the jaws of Rahu for the moon of discernment, the moonlight for the lotus of kindness.
इन्द्रायुधवद् आलोलनानारागमनोहरा । लोला तडिद् इवोत्पन्नध्वंसिनी जडसंश्रया
Like a rainbow, it is alluring with many colors; restless like lightning, it arises and destroys, and is the refuge of dullness.
चपला वर्जिता रत्या नकुली नकुलीनजा । विप्रलम्भनतात्पर्यहेतूग्रमृगतृष्णिका
It is fickle, devoid of delight, like a mongoose among mongooses; a fierce mirage that causes separation and longing.
लहरीवैकरूपेण क्षणं पदम् अकुर्वती । चला दीपशिखेवातिदुर्ज्ञेयागतिगोचरा
Like a wave, taking a single form for a moment, not remaining still; like a flickering lamp flame, her movements are exceedingly hard to discern.
सिंहीव विग्रहव्यग्रकरीन्द्रकुलपातिनी । खड्गधारेव शिशिरा तीक्ष्णा तीक्ष्णाशयाश्रया
Like a lioness, fierce and intent on battle, bringing down the king of elephants; like a sharp sword, cold and keen, she abides in piercing intentions.
नानयोपहतार्थिन्या दुराधिपरिपीनया । पश्याम्य् अभव्यया लक्ष्म्या किञ्चिद् दुःखाद् ऋते सुखम्
With her purpose unshaken by others, swollen with the pride of a cruel ruler, I see in this inauspicious fortune scarcely any happiness apart from sorrow.
द्वारेणोत्सारिता लक्ष्मीः पुनर् एति तमोऽरिणा । अहो वत हृतस्थाना निर्लज्जा दुर्जनास्पदा
Driven out the door by the enemy of darkness, fortune returns again; alas, having lost her place, she is shameless and the refuge of the wicked.