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.
स्कन्धवस्त्रजवप्रोता वेधाक्ष्णा सुखम् ईक्षते । कथम् एनं भिनद्मीति तीक्ष्णानाम् एतद् ईप्सितम्
Threaded with a skein of yarn, the sharp-eyed needle observes with ease: 'How shall I pierce this?'—this is the desire of the keen.
समम् एव च कौशेये क्षौमे च वसने शिता । जडः क इव वा नाम गुणागुणम् उपेक्षते
Whether in silk or linen garments, the sharp needle passes equally; who but a fool would disregard the difference between virtue and vice?
सा दधानोज्ज्वलं सूत्रम् अङ्गुष्ठाङ्गुलिपीडिता । अन्त्रतन्तुम् इवानन्तम् उद्गिरन्ती निरीक्षते
Pressed between thumb and finger, it bears a shining thread, and, as if spitting out an endless cord, it gazes ahead.
तीक्ष्णास्यहृदयत्वेन सरसेषु न केषुचित् । सूत्रितापि पदार्थेषु विशत्य् अलसगामिनी
Because of its sharp and heartless nature, even when threaded, it does not enter into soft things, moving forward sluggishly among objects.
अगर्दभीमुखप्रोता सुतीक्ष्णापि न चापि धीः । अवेधिताप्य् अहृदया राजपुत्र्य् अपि दुर्भगा
Though exceedingly sharp, if threaded through the mouth of a donkey, the needle—unpiercing and heartless—remains unfortunate, like a princess.
विना परापकारेण तीक्ष्णे सरणम् ईहते । वेधनाद् रोधिता सूचिः कर्णपाशे प्रलम्बते
Without harming others, the sharp one seeks no path; after piercing, the needle is restrained and hangs from the ear-lobe.
शेते किं चारु मैत्र्येव बुसे करपरिच्युता । स्वरूपसदृशं मित्रं कस्मै नाम न रोचते
Fallen from the hand, it lies beautifully in the cotton, like friendship; who would not delight in a friend resembling their own nature?
मिश्रिता मूढचित्तानां वृत्तिभिः प्राकृते जने । तिष्ठत्य् आत्मसमां को हि सङ्गतिं त्यक्तुम् इच्छति
Who among ordinary people, whose minds are mixed with deluded tendencies, wishes to abandon companionship with those who are equal to oneself?
भवत्य् अयस्कारचितौ सन्त्यक्तान्तर्धिगामिनी । भस्त्रावातैर् विवलिता गगनोड्डयनोन्मुखी
Once abandoned, the inner-moving force becomes restless in the iron chamber, stirred by the bellows’ winds, eager to rise into the sky.
प्राणापानप्रवाहस्था हृत्पद्मान्तरगामिनी । दुःखशक्तिर् महाघोरा जीवशक्तिर् इवोद्यता
Situated in the flow of prāṇa and apāna, moving within the heart’s lotus, the power of suffering, extremely fierce, arises like the force of the living soul.