अद्यापयाते त्व् अपि कल्पनाया आकाशवल्लीफलवन्महत्त्वे । उदेति नो ऽलोभलवाहतानाम् उदारवृत्तान्तमयी कथैव
Even today, among those who are not swept away by even a trace of greed, a tale composed of noble deeds does not arise—just as a creeper in the sky does not bear fruit of greatness.
आदातुम् इच्छन् पदम् उत्तमानां स्वचेतसैवोपहतो ऽद्य लोकः । पतत्य् अशङ्कं पशुर् अद्रिकूटाद् आनीलवल्लीदलवाञ्छयेव
Desiring to attain the state of the noble, the world today, hindered only by its own mind, falls without hesitation—like a beast leaping from a mountain peak, longing for a blue creeper leaf.
अवान्तरन्यस्तनिरर्थकांसच्छायालतापत्त्रफलप्रसूनाः । शरीर एव क्षतसम्पदश् च श्वभ्रद्रुमा अद्यतना नराश् च
Like trees in a chasm, whose inner branches, useless shadows, leaves, fruits, and flowers are confined within, so too are the riches of the body today, and so too are people.
क्वचिज् जना मार्दवसुन्दरेषु क्वचित् करालेषु च सञ्चरन्ति । दशान्तरालेषु निरन्तरेषु वनान्तषण्डेष्व् इव कृष्णशाराः
People move about sometimes among those gentle and beautiful, sometimes among the fierce—just as black antelopes wander through the endless intervals between different forest groves.
धातुर् नवानि दिवसं प्रति भीषणानि रम्याणि चावलुलिताखिलमानवानि । कार्याणि कष्टफलपाकहतोदयानि विस्मापयन्ति न शठस्य मनांसि केषाम्
Every day, new and terrifying or delightful tasks, which unsettle all people, arise from the ripening of bitter fruits of action; yet these do not astonish the minds of the deceitful.
जनः कामासक्तो विविधकुकलावेदनपरस् समस् स्वप्ने ऽप्य् अस्मिञ् जगति सुलभो नाद्य सुजनः । क्रिया दुःखासङ्गाद् विधुरविधुरा नूनम् अखिला न जाने नेतव्या कथम् इव दशा जीवितमयी
People are attached to desires, intent on various wicked arts, and even in dreams, a good person is rare in this world today. Because of the association with suffering, all actions are truly uncertain and troubled—I do not know how this condition called life is to be led.
यच् चेदं दृश्यते किञ्चिज् जगत् स्थावरजङ्गमम् । तत् सर्वम् अस्थिरं ब्रह्मन् स्वप्नसङ्गमसन्निभम्
Whatever is seen here in this world, whether moving or unmoving, O Brahman, all of it is unstable—like a meeting in a dream.
शुष्कसागरसङ्काशो निखातो यो ऽद्य दृश्यते । स प्रातर् अभ्रसंवीतो नगस् सम्पद्यते मुने
What appears today as a dry ocean, sunken and visible, by morning, O sage, becomes a mountain covered with clouds.
यो वनव्यूहविस्तीर्णो विलीढगगनो ऽचलः । दिनैर् एव स यात्य् उर्वीसमतां कूपतां च वा
That mountain, vast with forests and touching the sky, unshakable—within days, it becomes level with the earth or sinks to the state of a pit.
यद् अङ्गम् अद्य संवीतं कौशेयस्रग्विलेपनैः । दिगम्बरं तद् एव श्वो दूरे विशरितावटे
The body that today is adorned with silk garlands and fragrant ointments—tomorrow, that very body lies far away, exposed to the elements in a deserted place.
यत्राद्य नगरं दृष्टं विचित्राचारचञ्चलम् । तत्रैवोदेति दिवसैस् संशून्यारण्यधन्वता
Where today a city is seen, bustling with varied and restless activities—in that very place, within days, a desolate forest or barren plain arises.
यः पुमान् अद्य तेजस्वी मण्डलान्य् अधितिष्ठति । स भस्मकूटतां राजन् दिवसैर् एव गच्छति
The man who today, O King, is powerful and rules over kingdoms—within days, he reaches the state of a heap of ashes.
अरण्यानी महाभीमा या नभोमण्डलोपमा । पताकाच्छादिताकाशा सैव सम्पद्यते पुरी
That terrifying wilderness, vast as the sky and covered with banners, itself becomes a city.
या लतावलिता भीमा भात्य् अद्य विपिनावली । दिवसैर् एव सा याति मुने मरुमहीपदम्
That formidable stretch of forest, thick with creepers and shining today—within days, O sage, it turns into a desert land.
सलिलं स्थलतां याति स्थली भवति वारिभूः । विपर्यस्यति सर्वं हि सकाष्ठाम्बुतृणं जगत्
Water becomes land, and land turns into a watery expanse; indeed, everything in the world—wood, water, and grass—constantly changes places.
अनित्यं यौवनं बाल्यं शरीरं द्रव्यसञ्चयाः । भावाद् भावान्तरं यान्ति तरङ्गवद् अनारतम्
Youth, childhood, the body, and accumulations of wealth—all these are impermanent; from one state to another they pass, ceaselessly, like waves.
वातात्तदीपकशिखालोलं जगति जीवितम् । तडित्स्फुरणसङ्काशा पदार्थश्रीर् जगत्त्रये
Life in this world is as restless as the flame of a lamp disturbed by the wind; the splendor of objects in the three worlds flashes like lightning.
विपर्यासम् इयं याति भूरिभूतपरम्परा । बीजराशिर् इवाजस्रं प्रथमानः पुनः पुनः
This multitude of elements undergoes constant transformation, like a heap of seeds repeatedly sprouting again and again.
मनःपवनपर्यस्तभूरिभूतरजःपटा । पातोत्पातपरावर्तवराभिनयभूषिता
The mind, stirred by the wind, scatters the dust of countless elements, adorned with the drama of calamities and reversals, and the display of fortune and misfortune.
आलक्ष्यते स्थितिर् इयं जागती जनितभ्रमा । नृत्तावेशविवृत्तेव संसारारभटीनटी
This worldly existence, born of delusion, is perceived as a state; like a dancer's performance unfolding, so the actress of samsara begins her dance.
गन्धर्वनगराकारविपर्यासविधायिनी । अपाङ्गभङ्गुरोदारव्यवहारमनोरमा
She creates illusions like a city of gandharvas, arranging reversals; charming in her subtle gestures and delightful in her grand dealings.
तडित्तरलम् आलोकम् आतन्वाना पुनः पुनः । संसाररञ्जना ब्रह्मन् नृत्तमत्तेव राजते
Again and again she spreads a flickering light like lightning; O Brahman, the enchantment of samsara shines forth like a dance.
दिवसास् ते महान्तस् ते सम्पदस् ताः क्रियाश् च ताः । सर्वं स्मृतिपदं यातं यामो वयम् अपि क्षणात्
Those days are gone, those riches, those actions too; everything has entered the realm of memory, and we ourselves depart in a moment.
प्रत्यहं क्षयम् आयाति प्रत्यहं जायते पुनः । अद्यापि हतरूपाया नान्तो ऽस्या दग्धसंसृतेः
Every day it declines, every day it arises again; even now, for this ruined form, there is no end to this burnt-out samsara.
तिर्यक्त्वं पुरुषा यान्ति तिर्यञ्चो नरताम् अपि । देवाश् चादेवतां चैते किम् एवेह विभो स्थिरम्
Humans become animals, animals attain humanity; gods too lose their divinity—what here, O Lord, remains constant?
रचयन् रश्मिजालेन रात्र्यहानि पुनः पुनः । अतिवाह्य रविः कालं विनाशावधिम् ईक्षते
The sun, weaving day and night again and again with its rays, swiftly passes through time and observes its limit of destruction.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुश् च रुद्रश् च सर्वा वा भूतजातयः । नाशम् एवानुधावन्ति सलिलानीव वाडवम्
Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and all kinds of beings pursue only destruction, just as waters rush toward the submarine fire.
द्यौः क्षमा वायुर् आकाशं पर्वतास् सरितो दिशः । विनाशवाडवस्यैतत् सर्वं संशुष्कम् इन्धनम्
The sky, earth, wind, space, mountains, rivers, and directions—all are dry fuel for the fire of destruction.
धनानि बन्धवो भृत्या मित्राणि विभवाश् च ये । विनाशभयभीतस्य सर्वं नीरसतां गतम्
Wealth, relatives, servants, friends, and possessions—everything becomes tasteless for one who fears annihilation.
स्वदन्ते तावद् एवैते भावा जगति धीमतः । यावत् स्मृतिपथं याति न विनाशकुराक्षसः
These worldly states delight the wise only as long as they remain in memory, before the demon of destruction arrives.