तुच्छो ऽप्य् अर्थो ऽल्पसत्त्वानां यात्य् अतिप्रार्थनीयताम् । सूचीवृत्तपिशाचीत्वं राक्षस्या तपसार्जितम्
Even a trivial thing becomes highly coveted by those of little strength; the needle-like ghosthood was attained by the demoness through austerity.
अपि पुण्यशरीराणां जातिबन्धो न शाम्यति । अनुसूचि पिशाचीत्वं राक्षस्या समुपार्जितम्
Even for those with meritorious bodies, the bondage of birth does not cease; the demoness acquired needle-like ghosthood as a result of her actions.
तस्यां दिगन्तभ्रमणे प्रवृत्तायां सहानिलैः । तत्रैव सा तनुस् स्थूला गलिता शारदाभ्रवत्
As she began to roam to the ends of the directions, carried by the winds, that gross body of hers dissolved there itself, like an autumn cloud.
कस्यचिद् विवशाङ्गस्य क्षीवस्य विपुलस्य वा । प्रविश्यान्तर् वातसूची भवत्य् अति विषूचिका
Entering the body of someone helpless, emaciated, or corpulent, the wind-needle within becomes an intense cholera-like affliction.
कस्यचित् तनुदेहस्य स्वच्छस्य सुधियो ऽपि च । प्रविश्य जीवसूचित्वे भवत्य् अन्तर् विषूचिका
Entering the subtle body of someone pure and wise, the needle of life within becomes an internal cholera-like disease.
एवं क्वचित् तृप्यति सा दुर्बुद्धिहृदयस्थिता । क्वचिद् उच्छिद्यते पुण्यैर् मन्त्रौषधिकृतक्रमैः
Thus, sometimes that misguided heart finds satisfaction; sometimes it is destroyed by virtue, through rituals of mantra and medicine.
आसीद् बहूनि वर्षाणि भ्रमणैकपरायणा । देहद्वयेन गच्छन्ती व्योम्नि भूमितले तथा
For many years, it wandered, devoted solely to roaming, moving with two bodies both in the sky and upon the earth.
रजस्तिरोहिता भूमौ हस्ते ऽङ्गुलितिरोहिता । प्रभातिरोहिता व्योम्नि वस्त्रे सूत्रतिरोहिता
On the ground, it is concealed by dust; in the hand, hidden by the finger; in the sky, veiled by radiance; in cloth, obscured by thread.
अन्तस्स्था स्नायुसरिति दुर्भगे पांसुपाण्डुनि । शुष्करेखासरित्खाते सूक्ष्मरेखाजरत्तृणे
Within, it dwells in the sinew-stream, in the unfortunate, pale dust; in the dry-lined riverbed, in the subtle-lined old grass.
अर्थहीने गतच्छाये शून्ये उच्छ्वासकारिणि । मक्षिकावातहरणे श्रीवृक्षपरिवर्जिते
In the meaningless, shadowless, empty, breath-giving place; where flies are swept by the wind, where the auspicious tree is absent.
स्थूलास्थिग्रन्थिवलिते नित्यकम्पस्फुरत्तले । अनात्मीयाच्छनीहारशुद्धांशुककृतभ्रमे
In the bulky, knotted bones, on the ever-trembling, quivering ground; in the illusion created by the pure rays of another's garment.
किणस्थाण्वग्रविश्रान्तमक्षिकाविङ्कवायसे । रौक्ष्यरूढरसद्वाते विलोलाङ्गुलिशाखिनि
Resting at the tip of a stalk, in the buzzing wind of flies; in the wind grown harsh and sapless, on the wavering branches of fingers.
मलाभ्रलेखासंसारे स्वाङ्गुलिव्रणगर्तके । स्वेदावश्यायदुष्ष्ठ्यूते पर्ववाल्मीकपर्वते
In the world of filth-cloud streaks, in the pits of wounds on one's own fingers; in the sweat, dew, and corrupted fluids, on the mountain of joints and anthills.
कचत्पांसुजलभ्रान्तौ नखाजगरकर्कशे । क्वचित् क्वचित् सरिद्भीतभीतयूकाकुपान्थके
Sometimes, in dust, water, and delusion, with nails rough as a serpent’s skin; sometimes, on the path beside a well, fearful of the river and infested with lice.
विरला शुष्कसन्दृष्टपिटकापूतपल्वले । मध्यस्थलेखामार्गौघे शीतश्वसनगोचरे
Sparse, dry, and cracked, with patches and muddy pools; in the middle of the path, swept by cold winds.
ग्रस्तयूकानरौघासृक्पूर्णसृक्विनखास्यताम् । दधताङ्गुष्ठयक्षेण क्रान्ते सर्वत्र पातिना
Bearing lice, stains, and blood, with blood-filled, nail-marked mouths; pressed by the thumb and axle, it is dragged everywhere by the one who pulls.
नानाविरचना चित्रपटपत्तनगामिनी । गमागमपरिश्रान्ता तत्रात्यन्तचिराश्वगा
With various designs, moving through towns like a painted cloth; weary from coming and going, it rests there for a very long time.
नगरान् नगरे न्यस्तसूत्रभाण्डिकभारिणी । प्राप्ते करतलारण्ये बलीवर्दविवर्तिनी
In each city, burdened with a bundle of threads and tools; when it reaches the forest of palms, it is turned about by the oxen.
गुप्ते विश्रमणायैव मनाक् करपरिच्युता । तन्तुप्रोतमुखाकृष्टिखिन्ना क्वापि विशीर्यते
Hidden, it slips a little from the hand to rest; worn out by the pull of the thread through the mouth, it breaks apart somewhere.
वेधनं कर्णसंश्लिष्टा कठिनापि न साकरोत् । न हि तीक्ष्णो बहिः कार्ये नीचत्वं विजहाति चेत्
Though hard, pressed to the ear, it does not pierce; for when the mind is dull, even a sharp thing does not act sharply.
सायस्सूची मनस्सूच्या वलिता विजहार ह । दिक्ष्व् अप्स्व् इव शिलागुर्वी नावङ्गवलिता सती
That weary needle, bent by the needle of the mind, wandered about; like a heavy stone in water, it did not sink though bent downward.
विससार दिगन्तेषु सान्तःकरणसत्तया । तृणलेखेव पवनशक्त्या संसृतिरूपया
The movement of transmigration, by the power of the mind’s essence, spreads to the ends of the directions, like a blade of grass moved by the force of the wind.
मुखेन सूक्ष्मसूत्रान्तं त्यजन्ती सुशिरोम्भने । परापूरोद्यमेनाशु जातेव हृदयान्विता
With its mouth, it releases the subtle thread to the very end, in the beautiful loom, swiftly, by the effort of the higher filling, as if a woman, joined with her heart, gives birth.
परापूररसेनेव सूच्या हृत् सुविकासितम् । अनारतवमत् सूक्ष्मसूत्रान्तम् इव सूम्भने
Just as, by the juice of the higher filling, a needle opens up the heart widely, so too it continually emits the subtle thread’s end in the loom.
तीक्ष्णैर् अपि चिरक्षीणः पूर्यते निर्विचारणम् । दृष्टान्तो ऽत्र क्षणात् सूच्या पूरितो जर्जरः पटः
Even things long worn out are filled up without deliberation by sharp things; here, the example is a tattered cloth instantly filled by a needle.
सूत्रांशुनिर्गतैर् योग्यं सूच्या हृदयम् अर्जितम् । परपूरणयैवाशु तेजश् च कचितार्करुक्
With rays of thread drawn out, the needle acquires the heart of the cloth; and by that very higher filling, the brilliance is quickly woven, like the rays of the sun.
अकस्मात् तेन रूढेण क्षीणपूरणरूपिणा । हृदये राक्षसी सूची कर्मणातप्यतेव सा
Suddenly, by that established form, which is the exhausted filling, the demon-needle is tormented in the heart, as if by the result of karma.
वेधं खुररवेणैव करोतीषत्प्रचारिता । प्रकृतेन निजेनापि खेदाय व्यवहारिता
It makes a piercing, just like the sound of a hoof, when slightly moved; even by its own nature, when employed, it brings about fatigue.
सञ्चारयति वस्त्रेषु सूत्रं चतुरवेधना । आदीर्घं वासनातन्तुं शरीरेष्व् इव वेदना
It moves the thread through the cloth in fourfold piercing, and the long thread of impression in the body, just like sensation.
सञ्चार्यमाणा वेगेन धावतीवाक्षिपाटने । अदर्शितमुखा एव दुर्जना मर्मवेधिनः
Driven swiftly, the needle runs in the cloth, its face unseen—just so, wicked people strike at the vital points, hidden from view.