सुखं दुःखं च मनसि तिले तैलम् इव स्थितम् । तद् देशकालवशतो घनं वा तनु वा भवेत्
Pleasure and pain reside in the mind, like oil in a sesame seed; depending on place and time, they may become dense or subtle.
तैलं तिलस्य च क्रान्त्या स्फुटताम् एति शाश्वतीम् । चेतसो मननासङ्गाद् घनीभूते सुखासुखे
Just as oil emerges from sesame seeds through pressing and attains a lasting clarity, so too, when pleasure and pain are condensed by the mind's constant reflection, they become manifest.
देशकालाभिधानेन राम सङ्कल्प एव हि । कथ्यते तद्वशाद् यस्माद् देशकालौ स्थितिं गतौ
O Rama, what is called 'place' and 'time' is truly only imagination; for it is by the power of imagination that place and time appear to exist.
प्रशाम्यत्य् उल्लसत्य् एति याति नन्दति वल्गति । मनश् शरीरसङ्कल्पे फलिते न शरीरकम्
The mind, in its projection of the body, subsides, rises, moves, delights, and leaps about; but when the projection is fulfilled, there is no actual body.
नानास्फालसमुल्लासैस् स्वसङ्कल्पोपकल्पितैः । मनो वल्गति देहे ऽस्मिन् स्वश्ववार इवाजिरे
The mind leaps within this body, through various surges and excitements, all fashioned by its own imagination, like a horse galloping in its own enclosure.
चापले प्रसरस् तस्माद् अन्तर् येन न दीयते । मनो विनयम् आधत्ते तस्यालान इव द्विपः
Therefore, when there is no inner indulgence in restlessness, the mind assumes self-control, like an elephant restrained by a tether.
न स्पन्दते मनो यस्य शस्त्रस्तम्भ इवोत्तमः । सद्वस्तुनो ऽसौ पुरुषश् शिष्टाः कर्दमकीटकाः
He whose mind does not stir, like a pillar fixed by a weapon, is the true person; the rest are like worms in the mud.
यस्याचापलतां यातं मन एकत्र संस्थितम् । अनुत्तमपदेनासौ ध्यानेनानुगतो ऽनघः
He whose mind, once restless, has become established in one place, follows the supreme state through meditation, O sinless one.
संयमान् मनसश् शान्तिम् एति संसारसम्भ्रमः । मन्दरे ऽस्पन्दतां याते यथा क्षीरमहार्णवः
When the mind is restrained, the confusion of worldly existence comes to rest, just as the ocean of milk becomes still when Mount Mandara ceases to churn it.
मनसो वृद्धयो या या भोगसङ्कल्पविभ्रमैः । संसारविषवृक्षस्य ता एवाङ्कुरयोनयः
Whatever growths arise in the mind through the confusions of desires for enjoyment—these alone are the sources of the sprouts of the poisonous tree of worldly existence.
चित्तं चलत्कुवलयं वलयन्त एते मूढा महाजडजवे मदमोहमन्दाः । आवर्तवर्तिनि विलूनविशीर्णचित्ताश् चक्रभ्रमे पुरुषदुर्भ्रमराः पतन्ति
The mind, like a restless blue lotus, is encircled by these deluded ones—greatly dull, swift in folly, intoxicated and slow with delusion—whose minds, torn and scattered in the whirling cycle, fall like bees lost in the spinning of a wheel.
अस्य चित्तमहाव्याधेश् चिकित्सायां वरौषधम् । स्वायत्तं शृणु युक्त्यात्मसुसाधं स्वात्मनि स्थितम्
Hear now the supreme remedy, self-dependent and easily applied, for the great disease of the mind—an excellent medicine, established within oneself, to be used with discernment.
स्वेनैव पौरुषेणाशु स्वसंवेदनरूपिणा । यत्नेन चित्तवेतालस् त्यक्त्वेष्टं वस्तु जीयते
By one's own effort, swiftly and with the power of direct self-awareness, the ghost of the mind is subdued through diligence, abandoning the desired object.
त्यजन्न् अभिमतं वस्तु यस् तिष्ठति निरामयः । जितम् एव मनस् तेन कुदान्त इव दन्तिना
He who stands free from affliction, having abandoned the desired object, has truly conquered the mind—just as one who has subdued an elephant is called a tamer.
स्वसंवेदनयत्नेन पाल्यते चित्तबालकः । अवस्तुनो वस्तुनि च योज्यते बोध्यते ऽपि च
With the effort of self-awareness, the childlike mind is to be guarded; it is to be joined to the real from the unreal, and thus it is to be instructed.
शास्त्रसङ्गमधीरेण चिन्तातप्तम् अतापिना । छिन्द्धि त्वम् अयसेवायो मनसैव मनो मुने
With the sword of your own mind, O sage, cut off the mind scorched by worry and attached to scriptures, just as iron is cut by iron.
अयत्नेन यथा बाल इतश् चेतश् च युज्यते । भव्यैस् तथैव चेतो ऽन्तः किम् इवात्रातिदुष्करम्
Just as a child’s mind is easily directed here and there, so too can the mind be turned inward towards the noble—what is so exceedingly difficult in this?
सत्कर्मणि समाक्रान्तम् उदर्कोदयदायिनि । स्वपौरुषेणैव मनश् चेतनेन नियोजयेत्
When engaged in righteous action, which brings forth future results, one should direct the mind with one's own effort and awareness.
स्वायत्तम् एकान्तहितं स्वेप्सितत्यागवेदनम् । यस्य दुष्करतां यातं धिक् तं पुरुषकीटकम्
If someone finds it difficult to renounce what is within their own power and for their own highest benefit, shame on such a person who is like a worm among men.
अरम्यं रम्यरूपेण भावयित्वा स्वसंविदा । मल्लेनेव शिशुश् चित्तम् अयत्नेनैव जीयते
By contemplating what is unpleasant as pleasant with one's own understanding, the mind, like a child to a wrestler, is easily subdued.
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन चित्तम् आश्व् एव जीयते । अचित्तेनासपत्नेन पदं ब्रह्मणि धीयते
Through personal effort and diligence, the mind is conquered just as a horse; without the mind as an adversary, the state of Brahman is attained.
स्वायत्तं च सुसाधं च स्वचित्ताक्रान्तिमात्रकम् । शक्नुवन्ति न ये कर्तुं धिक् तान् पुरुषजम्बुकान्
Those who cannot accomplish what is within their own power and easily done, which is merely mastery over their own mind, shame on them—they are jackals among men.
स्वपौरुषैकसाध्येन स्वेप्सितत्यागरूपिणा । मनःप्रशममन्त्रेण विनास्ति न शुभा गतिः
Without the mantra of calming the mind, which is achieved solely by one's own effort and the renunciation of one's own desires, there is no auspicious attainment.
मनोमारणमात्रेण साध्येन स्वात्मसंविदा । निस्सपत्नम् अनाद्यन्तम् अनिङ्गनम् इहोष्यताम्
By the mere conquest of the mind, accomplished through one's own awareness, let there be here an unobstructed, beginningless, endless, and flawless state.
ईप्सितावेदनाङ्ग्यां तु मनःप्रशमनश्रियि । गुरूपदेशशास्त्रार्थमन्त्राद्या युक्तयस् तृणम्
In the glory of calming the mind, which is the limb of desired realization, teachings from the guru, scriptures, mantras, and other methods are like straw.
सर्वं सर्वगतं शान्तं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा । असङ्कल्पनशस्त्रेण च्छिन्नं चित्तगदं यदा
When the disease of the mind is cut off by the sword of non-conceptualization, then all becomes the all-pervading, peaceful Brahman.
स्वसंवेदनसाध्ये ऽस्मिन् सङ्कल्पानर्थनाशने । शान्तस्याच्छाभ्रवपुषि पुंसः केव कदर्थना
In this state, attainable by self-awareness and the destruction of the false notions of the mind, what can disturb the one whose nature is tranquil and clear as a spotless cloud?
नूनं दैवम् अनादृत्य मूढसङ्कल्पकल्पितम् । पुरुषार्थेन संवित्त्या नय चित्तम् अचित्तताम्
Certainly, disregarding fate, which is imagined by the deluded mind, lead your mind to no-mind through effort and awareness.
तां महापदवीम् एकां काम् अप्य् अनुसरंश् चिरम् । चित्तं चिद्भक्षितं कृत्वा चित्त्वाद् अपि परं भव
Pursuing that unique supreme path for a long time, having made the mind consumed by consciousness, become even beyond mind itself.
भवभावनया मुक्तो युक्तः परमया धिया । धारयात्मानम् अव्यग्रो ऽग्रस्तचित्तं चितः परम्
Freed from the notion of becoming, established in supreme understanding, hold yourself unwavering, with the mind absorbed in the highest consciousness.