हृदयबिले कृतकुण्डल उल्बणकलनाविषो मनोभुजगः । यस्योपशान्तिम् आगत उदितं तम् अरिन्दमं वन्दे
I bow to that subduer of enemies in whom the serpent of the mind, whose poison is fierce imagination and who has made a coil in the cave of the heart, has become tranquil.
स्वाश्रयं प्रथमं देहं कृतघ्ना नाशयन्ति ये । ते कुकार्यमहाकोशा दुर्जयास् स्वेन्द्रियारयः
Those who destroy their own body, their own support, are ungrateful; they are great repositories of evil deeds, and their own senses, the enemies, are hard to conquer.
कलेवराश्रयं प्राप्य विषयामिषगर्धतः । अक्षगृध्रा विवल्गन्ति कार्याकार्योग्रपक्षिणः
Having gained a body as their base, the senses, greedy like vultures for objects of pleasure, roam about restlessly, like fierce birds of prey for what should and should not be done.
विवेकतन्तुजालेन गृहीता येन ते शठाः । तस्याङ्गानि न लुम्पन्ति पाषाणकवलं यथा
Those deceivers who are caught by the net of discrimination do not harm its parts, just as a lump of stone does not damage a net.
आपातरमणीयेषु रमन्ति विषयेषु ये । अत्यन्तविरसान्तेषु पतन्ति नरकेषु ते
Those who delight in pleasures that are charming at first fall into hells when those pleasures become utterly tasteless in the end.
विवेकधनवान् अस्मिन् कुकलेवरपत्तने । इन्द्रियारिभिर् अन्तस्स्थैर् अवशो नाभिभूयते
He who is wealthy in discrimination, in this city of the wretched body, is not overpowered by the inner enemies—the senses—even though he is helpless.
तथा न सुखिता भूपा मृण्मयोग्रपुरीजुषः । यथा स्वाधीनमनसस् स्वशरीरपुरीश्वराः
Kings who dwell in mighty clay cities are not as happy as those who, with minds under their own control, are lords of the city of their own bodies.
स्वाक्रान्तेन्द्रियभृत्यस्य सुगृहीतमनोरिपोः । वसन्त इव मञ्जर्यो वर्धन्ते बुद्धबुद्धयः
For one whose servant-senses are subdued and whose mind-enemy is well restrained, wise insights flourish like springtime blossoms.
प्रक्षीणचित्तदर्पस्य निगृहीतेन्द्रियद्विषः । पद्मिन्य इव हेमन्ते क्षीयन्ते भोगवासनाः
For one whose pride of mind is exhausted and whose sense-enemies are subdued, desires for enjoyment fade away like lotuses in winter.
तावन् निशीव वेताल्यो वल्गन्ते हृदि वासनाः । एकतत्त्वदृढाभ्यासाद् यावन् न विजितं मनः
Desires roam in the heart like ghosts at night, until the mind is conquered through steadfast practice of oneness with the truth.
भृत्यो ऽभिमतकर्तृत्वान् मन्त्री सत्कार्यकारणात् । सामन्तस् स्वेन्द्रियाक्रान्तेर् मनो मन्ये विवेकिनः
I consider the mind of the discerning person to be a servant because of its obedience, a minister because of its accomplishment of noble deeds, and a lord because it has subdued its own senses.
लालनात् स्निग्धललना पालनात् पावनः पिता । सुहृद् उत्तमविश्वासान् मनो मन्ये मनीषिणाम्
Through nurturing, gentle care is fostered; through protection, the father becomes pure. I consider the mind of the wise as the best friend, endowed with supreme trust.
स्वालोकितं शास्त्रदृशा सुध्यातं स्वनुनाथितम् । प्रयच्छति परां सिद्धिं त्यक्त्वात्मानं मनःपिता
When the mind, guided by the vision of scripture, purified and awakened by one's own insight, relinquishes itself, it grants the highest accomplishment.
सुघृष्टस् सुपरामृष्टस् सुधृतस् स्वनुबोधितः । सुगुणायोजितो भाति हृदि हृद्यो मनोमणिः
Well polished, thoroughly cleansed, firmly established, awakened by self-knowledge, adorned with noble qualities, the jewel of the mind shines delightfully in the heart.
जन्मवृक्षकुठाराणि तथोदर्कोदयानि च । दिशत्य् एष मनोमन्त्री कर्माणि शुभकर्मणः
This minister of the mind, through auspicious actions, provides axes to cut the tree of birth and also brings forth their subsequent results.
एवं मनोमणिं राम बहुपङ्ककलङ्कितम् । विवेकवारिणा सिद्ध्यै प्रक्षाल्यालोकवान् भव
Thus, O Rama, cleanse the jewel of the mind, stained by much mud and blemish, with the water of discernment for attainment, and become radiant.
भवभूमिषु भीमासु विवेकविततो ऽपि सन् । मा पतोत्पातपूर्णासु विवशः प्राकृतो यथा
Even when discernment is spread across the dreadful realms of existence, do not, like the ordinary, fall helplessly into those full of calamities.
संसारमायाम् उदिताम् अनर्थशतसङ्कुलाम् । मा महामोहमिहिकाम् इमां त्वम् अवधीरय
Do not disregard this great mist of delusion arising in the world, crowded with hundreds of misfortunes born of worldly illusion.
विवेकं परम् आश्रित्य बुद्ध्या सत्यम् अवेक्ष्य च । इन्द्रियारीन् अलं जित्वा तीर्णो भव भवार्णवात्
Relying on supreme discernment and perceiving truth with intellect, having conquered the enemies of the senses, cross over the ocean of existence.
असत्य् एव शरीरे ऽस्मिन् सुखदुःखेष्व् असत्सु च । दामव्यालकटन्यायो मा ते भवतु राघव
Let the analogy of the rope, snake, and stick not arise in you, O Raghava, regarding this body, which is itself unreal, and in the pleasures and pains that are likewise unreal.
अयम् अहम् इति निश्चयो वृथा यस् तम् अलम् अपास्य महामते सुबुद्ध्या । यद् इतरद् अवलम्ब्य तत् पदं त्वं व्रज पिब भुङ्क्ष्व न बध्यसे ऽमनस्कः
O wise one, abandon completely the false conviction, 'I am this,' with true discernment; relying on that which is other, reach that state, drink, eat, and remain unbound, free from mental agitation.
अस्मिन् विहरतो लोके लोकारामस्य धीमतः । श्रेयसे तिष्ठतो यत्नम् उत्तमार्थाभिपातिनः
While living in this world, enjoying its pleasures with wisdom, strive for what is best, aiming for the highest purpose, even as you remain established in what is beneficial.
दामव्यालकटन्यायो मा ते भवतु राघव । भीमभासद्रुटस्थित्या तवास्त्व् अतिविशोकता
Let the analogy of the rope, snake, and stick not arise in you, O Raghava; let there be for you an extreme freedom from sorrow, with a steadfastness like a tree scorched by a fierce light.
दामव्यालकटन्यायो मा भवत्व् इत्य् उदाहृतम् । ब्रह्मन् किम् एतद् भवता भवतापापहारिणा
The analogy of the rope, snake, and stick is cited as 'let it not arise'; O Brahman, what is this, spoken by you, the remover of worldly suffering?
उदारयैतया शुद्धं सम्प्रबोधय मां गिरा । घनतापापहारिण्या प्रावृषेव कलापिनम्
By this noble and pure speech, awaken me; like the raincloud dispelling intense heat, awaken me as the peacock is awakened in the rainy season.
दामव्यालकटन्यायं भीमभासद्रुटस्थितिम् । श्रुत्वा राघव तत् पश्चाद् यद् इष्टं तत् समाचर
O Raghava, having heard the analogy of the rope, snake, and stick, and the steadfastness like a tree scorched by fierce light, afterwards do whatever you desire.
आसीत् पातालकुहरे सर्वाश्चर्यमनोहरे । शम्बरो नाम दैत्येन्द्रो मायामणिमहार्णवः
There once lived in a cave in the netherworld, wondrous and enchanting, a king of demons named Shambara, an ocean of magical gems.
आकाशनगरोद्यानरचितासुरमन्दिरः । कृत्रिमोत्तमचन्द्रार्कभूषितात्मीयमण्डलः
He had built temples for the gods in cities and gardens made of sky, and his own realm was adorned with artificial moons and suns of the highest kind.
शिलाशकलसम्भूतपद्माढ्यरमणाचलः । अनन्तविभवारम्भपरिपूरितदानवः
He possessed delightful mountains filled with lotuses formed from precious stones, and his wealth was endless, overflowing with every kind of treasure.
गृहरत्नाङ्गनागेयजितामरवधूध्वनिः । चन्द्रबिम्बफलापूर्णक्रीडोपवनपादपः
The music of the women in his jeweled palaces surpassed the melodies of celestial nymphs, and the trees in his pleasure gardens bore fruits as full as the moon.