एष ते कथितस् सर्वो दामव्यालकटक्रमः । मायेयम् एव संसारी शून्यैवात्यन्तभासुरा
This entire sequence of the rope, serpent, and stick has been explained to you; this world is but illusion—utterly void, yet exceedingly radiant.
भ्रमयत्य् अपरिज्ञाता मृगतृष्णाम्बुधीर् इव । संशाम्यति परिज्ञाता मृगतृष्णाम्बुधीर् इव
When not understood, it whirls one about like a mirage-ocean; when understood, it comes to rest, just like a mirage-ocean.
महतो ऽपि पदाद् एवं रामाज्ञानवशाद् अधः । पतन्ति मोहिता मूढा दामव्यालकटा इव
Thus, O Rama, even from a great height, the deluded and bewildered fall down under the sway of ignorance, just like the rope, serpent, and stick.
क्व भ्रूक्षेपविनिष्पिष्टमेरुमन्दरसह्यता । क्व राजगृहदार्वन्तर् व्रणे मषकरूपता
Where is the crushing of Mount Meru, Mandara, and Sahya by a mere frown? Where is the condition of being a mosquito in a wound within the palace firewood?
क्व चपेटच्छटामात्रपातितार्केन्दुबिम्बता । क्व प्रद्युम्नगिरौ गेहभित्तिव्रणविहङ्गता
Where is the state of being the moon’s disk felled by a mere slap? Where is the state of being a bird in a wound on the wall of a house on Mount Pradyumna?
क्व पुष्पलीलयालोलकरतोलितमेरुता । क्वार्ष्यशृङ्गे नृसिंहस्य गृहे क्रकरपोतता
Where is the playful lifting of Mount Meru with a hand as if it were a flower, and where is the state of being like a trembling pigeon in the house of a lion atop the peak of a barren mountain?
चिदाकाशो हि मिथ्यैव रजसा रञ्जितप्रभः । स्वरूपम् अत्यजन्न् एव विरूपम् इव बुध्यते
For the space of consciousness, colored by passion, is truly an illusion; without ever abandoning its own nature, it appears as if it were something else.
स्वयैव वासनाभ्रान्त्या सत्ययेवाप्य् असत्यया । मृगतृष्णाम्बुबुद्ध्येव याति जन्तुर् अवान्तरम्
By its own delusion of latent impressions, even what is unreal seems real; just as, mistaking a mirage for water, a creature turns inward.
तरन्ति ते भवाम्भोधिं स्वप्रवाहधियैव ये । शास्त्रेणासद् इदं दृश्यम् इति निर्वासनं स्थिताः
They cross the ocean of existence by the current of their own insight—those who, through the teaching, remain free of impressions, knowing this visible world to be unreal.
तारारवविकारीणि शुष्कतर्कमतानि ये । यान्ति श्वभ्रजलान्य् आशु नाशुभं नाशयन्ति ते
Those whose minds are disturbed by the tumult of arguments and dry reasoning quickly fall into the abyss of confusion, but they do not destroy what is inauspicious.
स्वानुभूतिप्रसिद्धेन मार्गेणागमगामिना । न विनाशो भवत्य् अङ्ग गच्छतां पतताम् इव
Without the path that proceeds through direct personal experience, not merely through scripture, there is no liberation for those who are going or falling, just as there is none for those who perish.
इदं मे स्याद् इदं मे स्याद् इति बुद्धिमतां मतिः । स्वेन दौर्भाग्यदैन्येन न भस्माप्य् उपतिष्ठते
The thought, 'May this be mine, may this be mine,' does not even leave ashes for those of intelligence, due to their own misfortune and poverty.
वेत्ति नित्यम् उदारात्मा त्रैलोक्यम् अपि यस् तृणम् । तं त्यजन्त्य् आपदस् सर्वा रसतेव जरत्तृणम्
He who always knows, with a noble mind, even the three worlds as mere straw—all misfortunes abandon him, just as old straw is left behind by a cow.
परिस्फुरति यस्यान्तर् नित्यं सत्त्वचमत्कृतिः । ब्राह्मम् अण्डम् इवाखण्डं लोकेशाः पालयन्ति तम्
He within whom the constant wonder of pure being shines, whom the lords of the world protect as whole, like the undivided Brahma-egg.
अप्य् आपदि दुरन्तायां नैव रन्तव्यम् अक्रमे । राहुर् अप्य् अक्रमेणैव पिबन्न् अप्य् अमृतं मृतः
Even in the midst of dire calamity, one should not indulge in unrighteousness; for Rahu, though drinking nectar unlawfully, perished.
सच्छास्त्रसाधुसम्पर्कम् अर्कम् उग्रप्रकाशदम् । ये श्रयन्ति न ते यान्ति मोहान्ध्यस्य पुनर् वशम्
Those who seek the company of true scriptures and noble people, radiant like the sun, do not again fall under the sway of the darkness of delusion.
अवश्या वश्यम् आयान्ति यान्ति सर्वापदः क्षयम् । अवश्यं भवति श्रेयः क्रेयं यस्य गुणैर् यशः
All misfortunes inevitably come and go; inevitably, excellence arises for one whose virtues bring renown.
येषां गुणेष्व् असन्तोषो ऽरागो येषां श्रुतं प्रति । सत्य् अव्यसनिनो ये च ते नराः पशवो ऽपरे
Those who are not content with their virtues, who are not attached to learning, who are steadfast in truth—these are men; the others are mere beasts.
यशश्चन्द्रिकया येषां भासितं जनहृन्नभः । तेषां क्षीरसमुद्राणां नूनं मूर्तौ स्थितो हरिः
Those whose hearts' sky is illumined by the moonlight of fame—surely, in their very form, Hari abides as in the ocean of milk.
भुक्तं भोक्तव्यम् अखिलं दृष्टा द्रष्टव्यदृष्टयः । किम् अन्यद् भवभङ्गाय भूयोभोगेष्व् अलुब्धता
All that is to be enjoyed has been enjoyed; all sights to be seen have been seen. What else is needed to break worldly bondage, except freedom from greed for repeated pleasures?
यथाक्रमं यथाशास्त्रं यथाचारं यथास्थिति । स्थीयतां मुच्यताम् अन्तर् भोगगार्ध्यम् अवास्तवम्
Let one remain according to order, scripture, conduct, and situation; let the inner attachment to enjoyment, which is unreal, be abandoned and one be liberated.
संस्तवः क्रियतां कीर्त्या गुणैर् गगनगामिभिः । त्रायन्ते मृत्युनोपेतं न कदाचन भोगकाः
Let praise be offered with noble qualities that soar to the sky; enjoyments never save one who is seized by death.
गायन्ति सिद्धसुन्दर्यो येषाम् इन्दुसितं यशः । गीतिभिर् गगनाभोगे ते जीवन्ति मृताः परे
Those whose fame is bright as the moon are sung by celestial maidens; though dead to this world, they live on in the heavens through song.
परमं पौरुषं यत्नम् आस्थायादाय सूद्यमम् । यथाशास्त्रम् अनुद्वेगम् आचारात् को न सिद्धिभाक्
Who, taking up supreme human effort with diligent resolve, following the scriptures and without agitation, does not attain success through right conduct?
यथाशास्त्रं विहरता त्वरा कार्या न सिद्धिषु । चिरकालपरा पक्वा सिद्धिः पुष्टतरा भवेत्
One who acts according to scripture should not rush after accomplishments; success that ripens over a long time becomes more abundant.
वीतशोकभयायासम् अगर्धम् अपयन्त्रणम् । व्यवहारो यथाशास्त्रं क्रियतां मा विनश्यताम्
Let action, in accordance with scripture, be performed free from sorrow, fear, fatigue, greed, and constraint—do not let it be lost.
जीवो जीर्णान्धकूपेषु भवेष्व् अन्तर्धिम् आगतः । भवतां भूरिभङ्गानाम् अधुनोद्ध्रियताम् अतः
The soul, lost in the decayed pits of repeated births, has vanished; now, let it be rescued from these countless ruins.
इतः प्रभृति मा भूयो गम्यताम् अधराद् अधः । इदं निर्धार्यतां शास्त्रम् अस्त्रम् आपन्निवारणे
From this moment, do not fall ever lower; let this scripture be firmly established as a weapon against calamity.
रणे रभसनिर्लूनवारणे प्राणम् उज्झताम् । किम् अर्थमात्रया कार्यम् आर्याश् शास्त्रम् अवेक्ष्यताम्
In battle, when elephants are fiercely torn apart and life is at stake, what use is mere wealth? The noble should look to the scripture.
इदं बिम्बम् इदं निम्बम् इति मत्या विचार्यताम् । स्वया परप्रेरणया यात मा पशवो यथा
Let this be examined with discernment: 'This is a reflection, this is a reality.' Do not proceed under the influence of others, like cattle.