शरीरषण्डकोद्भूता रम्या यौवनवल्लरी । लग्नम् एव मनोभृङ्गं मदयत्य् उन्नतिं गता
The delightful creeper of youth, sprung from the mound of the body, intoxicates the bee of the mind that is attached to it, having reached its height.
शरीरमरुतापोत्थां युवतामृगतृष्णिकाम् । मनोमृगाः प्रधावन्तः पतन्ति विषमावटे
The mirage of young women, arising from the heat of the body's wind, causes the deer of the mind to run and fall into dangerous ravines.
शरीरशर्वरीज्योत्स्ना चित्तकेसरिणस् सटा । लहरी जीविताम्भोधेर् युवता मे न रोचते
The radiance of youth, like moonlight in the night of the body, the mane of the lion called mind, a wave on the ocean of life—this young woman no longer pleases me.
दिनानि कतिचिद् येयं फलिता देहजङ्गले । युवताशरद् अस्यां हि न समाश्वासम् अर्हथ
For a few days, this youth flourishes in the wilderness of the body; but in this autumn of youth, you should not place your trust.
झगित्य् एव प्रयात्य् एष शरीराद् युवताखगः । क्षणेनैवाल्पभाग्यस्य हस्ताच् चिन्तामणिर् यथा
Swiftly does the bird of youth fly away from the body, just as, in a moment, the wish-fulfilling gem slips from the hand of one with little fortune.
यदा यदा परां कोटिम् अभ्यारोहति यौवनम् । वल्गन्ति सरसाः कामास् तदा नाशाय केवलम्
Whenever youth reaches its highest peak, desires surge forth abundantly, but only to bring about destruction.
तावद् एव विवल्गन्ति रागद्वेषपिशाचिकाः । नास्तम् एति समस्तैषा यावद् यौवनयामिनी
So long as the night of youth endures, the goblins of passion and aversion continue to dance; all this does not come to an end until youth itself sets.
नानाधिकारबहुले वराके क्षणनाशिनि । कारुण्यं कुरु तारुण्ये म्रियमाणे सुते यथा
In this pitiable youth, filled with many duties and vanishing in a moment, show compassion, as you would for a dying child.
हर्षम् आयाति यो मोहात् पुरुषः क्षणभङ्गिना । यौवनेन महामुग्धस् स वै नरमृगस् स्मृतः
The man who, out of delusion, rejoices in fleeting youth, utterly infatuated, is regarded as a human beast.
मानमोहमदोन्मत्तं यौवनं यो ऽभिलष्यति । अचिरेण स दुर्बुद्धिः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते
He who desires youth, intoxicated by pride, delusion, and arrogance, that foolish one soon meets with regret.
ते धर्म्यास् ते महात्मानस् त एव पुरुषा भुवि । ये सुखेन समुत्तीर्णास् साधो यौवनसङ्कटात्
Those are the righteous ones, those are the great souls, those alone are the true men on earth, who have easily crossed over the peril of youth, O noble one.
सुखेन तीर्यते ऽम्भोधिर् उत्कृष्टमकराकरः । न कल्लोलवनोल्लासि सदोषं हतयौवनम्
The ocean, with its splendid shoals of mighty fish, is easily crossed; but the ocean of ruined youth, agitated with waves of faults, is not.
विनयभूषितम् आर्यजनास्पदं करुणयोज्ज्वलम् आवलितं गुणैः । इह हि दुर्लभम् अङ्ग सुयौवनं जगति काननम् अम्बरगं यथा
Adorned with humility, a refuge for noble people, radiant with compassion, endowed with virtues—such excellent youth is rare in this world, like a forest in the sky.
मांसपुत्तलिकायाश् च यन्त्रलोलाङ्गपञ्जरे । स्नाय्वस्थिग्रन्थिशालिन्यास् स्त्रियाः किम् इव शोभनम्
What beauty is there in a woman, whose body is a puppet of flesh, whose limbs move by mechanism, and whose frame is full of knots of sinew and bone?
त्वङ्मांसरक्तबाष्पास्रु पृथक् कृत्वा विलोचनम् । समालोकय रम्यं चेत् किं मुधा परिमुह्यसि
If you separate skin, flesh, blood, vapor, and tears from the eye, and then observe it, what charm remains? Why are you deluded in vain?
इतः केशा इतो रक्तम् इतीयं प्रमदातनुः । किम् एतया निन्दितया करोतु विपुलाशयः
Here is hair, there is blood—such is the body of a woman. What can a person of broad mind do with this contemptible thing?
वासोविलेपनैर् यानि लालितानि पुनः पुनः । तान्य् अङ्गान्य् अवलुम्पन्ति क्रव्यादास् सर्वदेहिनाम्
The limbs that are repeatedly adorned with clothes and perfumes are ultimately devoured by flesh-eating creatures in all bodies.
मेरोश् शृङ्गतटोल्लासिगङ्गाजलरयोपमाः । दृष्टा यस्मिन् स्तने मुक्ता हारस्योल्लासशालिनः
On whose breast pearls are seen, shining with the splendor of a necklace, resembling the waves of the Ganges that gleam on the peaks and slopes of Mount Meru.
श्मशानेषु दिगन्तेषु स एव ललनास्तनः । श्वभिर् आस्वाद्यते काले लघुपिण्ड इवान्धसः
In cremation grounds and at the edges of the quarters, that same cherished breast is devoured by dogs in time, like a small lump by the blind.
रक्तमांसादिदिग्धानि करभस्य यथा वने । तथैवाङ्गानि कामिन्यास् तत् प्रत्य् अपि हि को ग्रहः
Just as the limbs of a calf in the forest are smeared with blood and flesh, so too are the limbs of a woman; what is there to be gained from them?
आपातरमणीयत्वं कल्प्यते केवलं स्त्रियाः । मन्ये तद् अपि नास्त्य् अत्र मुने मोहैककारणे
The apparent charm of a woman is merely imagined; I consider that even this does not exist here, O sage, for delusion is the sole cause.
विपुलोल्लासदायिन्या मदोन्मथनपूर्वकम् । को विशेषो विकारिण्या मदिराया इह स्त्रियाः
What difference is there between a woman, who gives abundant delight preceded by intoxication, and liquor, which is also unstable?
ललनालानसंलीना मुने मानवदन्तिनः । प्रबोधं नाधिगच्छन्ति दीर्घैर् अपि शमाङ्कुशैः
Those whose minds are absorbed in the charms of women, O sage, do not attain awakening, even with long efforts at restraint.
केशकज्जलधारिण्यस् तीक्ष्णाः प्रकृतितस् सदा । दुष्कृताग्निशिखा नार्यो दहन्ति तृणवन् नरम्
Women, adorned with hair and kohl, are always sharp by nature; like flames of the fire of misdeeds, they burn men as grass.
ते वन्द्यास् ते महात्मानस् त एव पुरुषा भुवि । ये सुखेन समुत्तीर्णास् साधो यौवतसङ्कटात्
Those are to be revered, those are the great souls, those alone are men on earth, who have easily crossed the peril of youth, O noble one.
ज्वलताम् अपि दूरे ऽपि सरसा अपि नीरसम् । स्त्रियो हि नरकाग्नीनां दारु चारु च दारुणम्
Even from afar, even if they seem delightful, women are both wood for the fires of hell—beautiful, yet harsh and dreadful.
कीर्णान्धकारकवरी तरत्तारकलोचना । पूर्णेन्दुबिम्बवदना कुमुदोत्करहासिनी
Her eyes are like stars shining through the scattered darkness of her hair; her face is a full moon, and she smiles like a cluster of blooming lotuses.
लीलाविलोलपरुषा कार्यसंहारकारिणी । परं विमोहनं बुद्धेः कामिनी दीर्घयामिनी
Playful yet harsh, she brings about the destruction of endeavors; she is a woman of long nights, supremely enchanting to the mind.
पुष्पाभिराममधुरा करपल्लवलासिनी । भ्रमरभ्रूविलासाढ्या स्तबकस्तनधारिणी
Sweet as flowers, delightful, her tender hands are like new leaves; her eyebrows curve like bees, and she bears breasts like clusters of blossoms.
पुष्पकेसरगौराङ्गी नरमारणतत्परा । ददात्य् उत्तमवैवश्यं कान्ता विषमहालता
Her limbs are pale as flower filaments, intent on the destruction of men; this beloved, a deadly vine, brings supreme helplessness.