व्यामोहसम्भ्रमानर्थदेशकालगमागमाः । चेतसः प्रभवन्त्य् एते पादपाद् इव पल्लवाः
Delusion, confusion, and the coming and going of objects, places, and times—all these arise from the mind, like leaves from the branches of a tree.
जलम् एव यथाम्भोधिर् औष्ण्यम् एव यथानलः । तथा विविधसंरम्भस् संसारश् चित्तम् एव हि
Just as water is the ocean, and heat is fire, so too is the manifold activity of the world nothing but the mind itself.
सकर्तृकर्मकरणं यद् इदं चेत्यम् आततम् । द्रष्टृदर्शनदृश्याढ्यं तत् सर्वं चित्तम् एव वः
All that is perceived here—agent, action, instrument, and the entire field of cognition, filled with seer, seeing, and seen—is indeed your mind alone.
चित्तं जगन्ति भुवनानि वनान्तराणि संलक्ष्यते स्वयम् उपागतम् आत्मभेदैः । केयूरमौलिकटकैस् तदतत्स्वरूपं त्यक्तैककाञ्चनधियेव जनेन हेम
The mind itself appears as worlds, realms, and forests, manifesting itself in various forms, just as gold, though one, is seen as bracelets, crowns, and armlets by people who have set aside the notion of gold as a single substance.
अत्र ते शृणु वक्ष्यामि वृत्तान्तम् इमम् अद्भुतम् । जागतीहेन्द्रजालश्रीश् चित्तायत्ता स्थिता यथा
Now listen as I relate to you this wondrous story, showing how the splendor of the world's illusion is entirely dependent on the mind.
अस्त्य् अस्मिन् वसुधापीठे नानानगवनाकुलः । उत्तराः पाण्डवा नाम स्फीतो जनपदो महान्
On this earth there is a great and flourishing land, crowded with various cities and forests, known as the Northern Pāṇḍavas.
नीरन्ध्रनवजम्बीरवनविश्रान्ततापसः । विद्याधरीकृतलतादोलोपवनपत्तनः
There, ascetics dwell in groves of fresh jambīra trees without gaps, and the parks and towns are adorned with swings made by celestial maidens from creepers.
वातोद्धूताब्जकिञ्जल्कपुञ्जपिञ्जरपर्वतः । लसत्कुसुमसम्भारवनमालावतंसकः
Its mountains are golden with clusters of pollen from lotuses scattered by the wind, and its forests are garlanded with shining masses of blossoms.
करञ्जमञ्जरीकुञ्जगुप्तपर्यन्तजङ्गलः । खर्जूरान्तरितग्रामघुङ्घुमध्वनिताम्बरः
Its wilds are bordered by thickets of karañja flowers, and the sky resounds with the jingling of villages hidden among date palms.
पाकपिङ्गमिलच्छ्रेणिशालिकेदारपिङ्गलः । नीलकण्ठरवोद्दामवनमण्डलमण्डितः
Adorned with rows of ripening paddy fields, golden millet, and wheat, with flocks of peacocks, and garlanded by splendid forests.
सारसारवसंरम्भरणत्कमलकाननः । तमालपटलानीलगिरिग्रामककुण्डलः
Resounding with the cries of cranes and sarus birds, filled with blooming lotus groves, and encircled by clusters of dark tamāla trees and blue mountain villages.
विचित्रविहगव्यूहविरावाहितकाकलिः । नदीपरिसरोन्निद्रपारिभद्रद्रुमारुणः
Echoing with the calls of various flocks of wondrous birds, and reddened by pārihadraka trees drowsing on the riverbanks.
गायत्कलमकेदारदारिकाहूतमन्मथः । पुष्पस्थलवलद्वातव्याधूतकुसुमाम्बुदः
Where the sweet singing of girls in the millet fields summons the god of love, and the wind scatters clouds of blossoms from the flower-laden meadows.
दरीगृहविनिष्क्रान्तसिद्धचारणवन्दितः । स्वर्गाद् इव समाहूय लावण्यम् अभिनिर्मितः
Honored by perfected beings and celestial wanderers emerging from their homes, as if beauty itself had been summoned from heaven and fashioned there.
गायत्किन्नरपर्यन्तकदलीषण्डमण्डितः । मन्दानिलबलोद्धूतपुष्पोपवनपाण्डुरः
Adorned with groves of banana trees at whose edges kinnara couples sing, and pale with flower gardens stirred by the gentle force of the wind.
तत्रास्ति लवणो नाम राजा परमधार्मिकः । हरिश्चन्द्रकुलोद्भूतो भूमाव् इव दिवाकरः
There reigns a king named Lavaṇa, supremely righteous, born of the lineage of Hariścandra, shining on earth like the sun.
यद्यशःकुसुमोत्तंसपाण्डुरस्कन्धमण्डलाः । तत्र शैला विराजन्ते हराः प्रोद्धूलिता इव
There the mountains stand out, their shoulders pale with the garlands of his renowned glory, as if the peaks of Hara had been shaken and adorned.
कृपाणशकलोत्कृत्तनिश्शेषारातिमण्डलात् । अरातिलोकः प्राप्नोति यदनुस्मरणाज् ज्वरम्
When all his enemies have been utterly destroyed, cut down like bits of straw, even those who are not his foes are seized by fever at the mere recollection of him.
यस्योदारसमारम्भम् आर्यलोकानुपालनम् । चरितं संस्मरिष्यन्ति हरेर् इव चिरं जनाः
People will long remember the noble deeds of one whose undertakings are generous and who protects the virtuous, just as they remember the acts of Hari.
यस्याप्सरोभिर् अद्रीन्द्रमूर्धस्व् अमरसद्मसु । विकासिपुलकोल्लासं गीयन्ते गुणगीतयः
In the celestial abodes, on the peaks of the mountains of the gods, the Apsaras sing songs of his virtues, their bodies blossoming with delight.
यस्य स्वस्सुन्दरीगीता लोकपालचिरश्रुताः । विरिञ्चहंसैर् ध्वन्यन्ते स्वाभ्यासाद् गुणगीतयः
The songs sung by his own beautiful consorts, renowned among the guardians of the worlds, are echoed by Brahma’s swans, who repeat these songs of virtue out of habit.
स्वप्नेष्व् अपि न सामान्या यस्योदारचमत्कृतेः । राम दृष्टाश् श्रुता वापि दैन्यदोषमरीचयः
O Rama, even in dreams, no trace of the taint of misery is ever seen or heard in one whose noble marvels are extraordinary.
जिह्मतां यो न जानाति न दृष्टा येन गृध्नुता । उदारता येन धृता ब्रह्मणेवाक्षमालिका
He knows nothing of crookedness, nor has he ever seen greed; his magnanimity is steadfast, like the rosary held by Brahma.
दिनाष्टभाग आकाश आगते दिवसाधिपे । कदाचित् स सभास्थाने सिंहासनगतो ऽभवत्
When the lord of day arrives in the eighth part of the day, he would sometimes be seated in the assembly hall, enthroned upon the lion-seat.
सुखोपविष्टे तत्रास्मिन् राजनीन्दाव् इवाम्बरे । प्रविशन्तीषु सामन्तसेनासु च ससम्भ्रमम्
As he sat there comfortably, like the moon among the stars in the sky, the vassal armies would enter the hall with great excitement.
गायन्तीष्व् अथ कान्तासु सूपविष्टेषु राजसु । मनोहरति साह्लादे वीणावंशकलारवे
As the beloved women sang and the kings sat at ease, the sweet and delightful sounds of the lute and flute captivated the mind.
चारुचामरहस्तासु सविलासासु राजनि । देवासुरगुरुप्रख्ये विश्रान्ते मन्त्रिमण्डले
While the queens, graceful and charming, waved beautiful fans, and the assembly of ministers, equal to the teachers of gods and demons, rested nearby.
प्रस्तुतेषु प्रकृष्टेषु राजकार्येषु मन्त्रिभिः । प्रोक्तासु देशवार्तासु निपुणैश् चारतन्त्रिभिः
As the ministers skillfully discussed important royal affairs, and the expert spies reported news from the regions.
इतिहासमये पुण्ये वाच्यमाने च पुस्तके । पठत्सु च स्तुतीः पुण्याः पुरःप्रह्वेषु वन्दिषु
When, at an auspicious time for reciting histories, sacred texts were being read, and the bards, bowing before the king, sang holy praises.
सभां विवेश साटोपः कश्चित् ताम् ऐन्द्रजालिकः । वर्षणाहितसंरम्भो वसुधाम् इव वारिदः
Then, with pride, a certain magician entered the assembly, like a rain cloud eager to pour upon the earth.