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.
समानवैपरीत्येन समानसमगामिनी । उदानविपरीतत्वाद् उदानसमगामिनी
By the opposition of samāna, it moves along with samāna; by the reversal of udāna, it moves along with udāna.
व्यानस्था व्याधिजननी सर्वाङ्गरसचारिणी । हृत्कण्टशूलोत्प्लवनवैवर्ण्योन्मादकारिणी
Situated in vyāna, the generator of disease, it circulates through all the limbs’ essence, causing pain in the heart and throat, swelling, discoloration, and madness.
प्रायस् सौचिकहस्तस्था सुप्तोर्णागण्डकोटरे । बालहस्ते ऽङ्गुलीतल्पवेधनैकविलासिनी
Mostly found in the hand of the cleaner, asleep in the hollow of the nails, it delights solely in piercing the fingertip of a child’s hand.
पादप्रविष्टा रुधिरपानपाजिरविस्तृता । तुष्यत्य् अतितरां तुच्छभोजना तुच्छभोजनैः
Entering the foot, spreading through the blood and the channels of excretion, it is excessively satisfied by trivial food, with trivial food.
शेते कर्दमकोशस्था चिरकालम् अधोमुखी । इच्छानुरूपम् आसाद्य क इवास्पदम् उज्झति
It lies in the muddy cavity, face down for a long time; having attained what it desires, who abandons such a dwelling place?
क्रौर्येणापहृतात्मानं दर्शयत्य् उपवेधनैः । उत्सवाद् अपि नीचानां कलहो हि सुखायते
One whose mind is seized by cruelty displays it through various means; for even in celebrations, conflict brings pleasure to the base.
कपर्दिका वलभ्यान्तरात्मानं बहु मन्यते । दुरुच्छेदा हि भूतानाम् अहङ्कारचमत्कृतिः
A person who treasures a coin hidden in a box esteems it greatly; for the marvel of ego is difficult to uproot from beings.
श्वेतिकायुग्मलभ्येन साहृतेनात्मना नृणाम् । मृतिम् आधास्यते चित्रा स्वार्थे नोदेति मूढता
With a mind captivated by a pair of dice, a person brings about their own ruin; yet, in pursuit of self-interest, folly does not arise in the clever.
वस्त्रतन्तुविभेदेन परमारणम् आशु मे । इदं सम्पद्यत इति भवत्य् अत्यन्तनिर्मला
By the breaking of a thread in cloth, I quickly obtain the ultimate destruction; thus, this thought arises, utterly pure.
स्थापिता मलम् आदत्ते सूची यद् घर्षणं विना । परापवेधविरहाद् व्याधिस् सो ऽस्याः प्रवर्तते
A needle, when set aside, gathers dirt without friction; in the absence of external piercing, disease arises in it.