भवभावनया मुक्तं युक्तम् उत्तमसंविदा । चित्तमुक्ताकलापं त्वम् अच्छाच्छं हृदये कुरु
Freed from the notion of worldly existence, endowed with supreme understanding, make your heart transparent, O you whose mind is a cluster of pearls of freedom.
ममेदम् इदम् अन्यस्येत्य् एवंकलनयोज्झितम् । मनो मुक्तविभागं ते मुक्तम् एव न संशयः
The mind that has abandoned the notions of 'mine', 'this is mine', and 'that belongs to another', and is free from all division, is indeed liberated—there is no doubt of this.
तवोत्तमानुभावस्य य इदानीं नरा भुवि । चेष्टाम् अनुसरिष्यन्ति ते ऽपि यास्यन्त्य् अशोकताम्
Those people on earth who now follow your supreme conduct will also attain a state free from sorrow.
राघवव्यवहारेण विहरिष्यन्ति ये नराः । भवार्णवात् तरिष्यन्ति स्वमनःपोतकेन ते
Those who live according to the example of Rāghava will cross the ocean of worldly existence by means of the boat of their own mind.
भवत्तुल्यमतिर् यस् स्यात् सुजनस् समदर्शनः । योग्यो ऽसौ ज्ञानदृष्टीनां पूर्णेन्दुस् सुरुचाम् इव
He whose mind is like yours, who is a noble person seeing all equally, is fit for the vision of knowledge, like the full moon is fit for beautiful rays.
त्वम् अशोकां दशां प्राप्तो यथाप्राप्तानुवृत्तिमान् । यावद्देहं धिया तिष्ठ रागद्वेषविहीनया
You have attained a state free from sorrow and act as is appropriate; remain as long as the body lasts, with a mind free from attachment and aversion.
बहिर् लोकोचिताचारस् त्व् अन्तस् त्यक्ताखिलैषणः । परां शीतलताम् एत्य तिष्ठ पूर्णेन्दुबिम्बवत्
Outwardly, maintain the conduct appropriate to the world, but inwardly, having abandoned all desires, remain in supreme coolness, like the full disc of the moon.
इतरासु तु ये जाता जातिष्व् अगुणशालिनः । अविचार्यास् त एते हि गोमायुशिशुधर्मकाः
But those who are born in other classes and lack virtues are not to be considered; they are like the offspring of jackals, following their own nature.
ये स्वभावा महाबाहो नृणां सात्त्विकजन्मनाम् । तान् भजन् पुरुषो याति पाश्चात्योदारजन्मताम्
O mighty-armed one, by following the natural qualities of those born with a sattvic nature, a person attains a noble birth in the west.
यान् एव सेवते जन्तुर् इह जातिगुणान् सदा । अप्य् अन्यजातिजातो ऽपि याति तज्जातितां क्षणात्
Whatever qualities of birth a creature constantly cultivates here, even if born in another species, it quickly attains the nature of that species.
प्राक्तना अखिला भावा जातिकर्मवशानुगाः । पौरुषेणावजीयन्ते धीरैर् धीरा इवारयः
All previous tendencies, following from birth and actions, are overcome by the resolute through their own effort, just as the steadfast conquer enemies.
प्राक्तनाशुभजातिस्थकर्मदोषाकुलाम् अपि । धैर्येणाभ्युद्धरेद् बुद्धिं पङ्कान् मुग्धमृगीम् इव
Even if the mind is troubled by faults arising from past evil birth and actions, with courage one should lift it up, as one would rescue a deer stuck in mud.
तामसीं राजसीं चैव जातिम् अन्याम् अपि श्रिताः । स्वविवेकवशाद् यान्ति सन्तस् सात्त्विकजातिताम्
Those who have taken on tamasic, rajasic, or any other birth, through the power of their own discernment, the virtuous attain a sattvic birth.
अन्तश् चित्तमणौ स्वच्छे यद् राघव नियोज्यते । तन्मयो हि भवत्य् एष तस्माज् जयति पौरुषम्
O Raghava, whatever is established within the pure jewel of the mind, one becomes that; therefore, effort prevails.
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन महार्हगुणशालिना । मुमुक्षवो भवन्तीह पाश्चात्यशुभजातयः
Through noble qualities, effort, and perseverance, even those of inferior birth here become seekers of liberation.
न तद् अस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा क्वचित् । पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन यन् नाप्नोति गुणान्वितः
There is nothing on earth or among the gods in heaven that a person endowed with qualities and striving with effort cannot attain.
त्वम् अजर्येण धैर्येण वरवैराग्यरंहसा । युक्तः प्रज्ञाप्ररूढेन किं नाप्नोषि तदीहितम्
Endowed with unwavering courage, supreme dispassion, and mature wisdom, what goal could you not achieve by your own endeavor?
हितं महासत्त्वतयात्मनस् त्वं विधाय बुद्ध्या भव वीतशोकः । भवत्क्रमेणैव ततो जनो ऽयम् उर्व्यां भविष्यत्य् अतिवीतशोकः
You, possessing great courage, act for the benefit of your own self with discernment and become free from sorrow; then, in due course, the people of this earth will also become thoroughly free from sorrow.
पाश्चात्यजन्मनि विवेकमहामहिम्ना युक्ते त्वयि प्रसृतसत्त्वगुणाभिरामे । सत्त्वस्थकर्मणि पदं ननु राम रामे मैषा करोतु भवबन्धविमोहचिन्ता
O Rama, in a future birth, when you are endowed with the supreme glory of discrimination and delighting in the abundant quality of goodness, let your mind, established in virtuous action, not be troubled by thoughts of bondage and delusion.
अथ स्थितिप्रकरणाद् अनन्तरम् इदं शृणु । उपशान्तिप्रकरणं ज्ञातं निर्वाणकारि यत्
Now, after the section on sustenance, listen to this: the section on quiescence, which is known to bring about liberation.
शरत्तारकिताकाशस्तिमितायां सुसंसदि । कथयत्य् एवम् आह्लादि वसिष्ठे पावनं वचः
In the assembly, tranquil as the autumn sky adorned with stars, Vasistha speaks these pure and delightful words.
श्रवणार्थं च मौनस्थपार्थिवे संसदन्तरे । निवात इव निस्स्पन्दकमले कमलाकरे
For the sake of hearing, those in the silent assembly, grounded like the earth, sat motionless, like lotuses still in windless air.
विलासिनीषु संशान्तमदमोहबलासु च । शमम् अन्तः प्रयान्तीषु चिरप्रव्राजितास्व् इव
Among the women, whose pride, delusion, and strength had subsided, there was inner calm, as if among those long devoted to renunciation.
कराम्भोरुहहंसेषु लीनेषु श्रवणाद् इव । मूकघुर्घुरघण्टेषु चामरेषु लिपाव् इव
The hands, like lotuses, rested quietly as if listening; the fans, like mute bells, were still, as if absorbed in silence.
नासाग्रपरिविश्रान्ततर्जन्यङ्गुलिकोटिषु । विचारयत्सु विज्ञानकलां तज्ज्ञेषु राजसु
The tips of index fingers, placed near the nostrils, were motionless in contemplation, as the wise kings reflected on the subtle knowledge.
रामे विकासम् आयाते प्रभात इव पङ्कजे । परित्यक्ततमःपीठे सूर्योदय इवाम्बरे
As Rama blossomed, like a lotus at dawn, the darkness having been abandoned, just as the sky at sunrise.
आकर्णयति वासिष्ठीर् गिरो दशरथे रसात् । कलापिनीव जीमूतनिर्ह्रादम् उरुवर्षणम्
The son of Dasaratha listened to Vasistha’s words, as a peacock listens intently to the deep, thundering sound of clouds about to pour rain.
आहृत्य सर्वभोगेभ्यो मनो मर्कटचञ्चलम् । श्रवणं प्रति यत्नेन भरते मन्त्रिणि स्थिते
Having withdrawn his restless mind, like a monkey, from all enjoyments, Bharata, with the ministers present, applied himself with effort to listening.
वसिष्ठोक्त्या परिज्ञाते स्वात्मनीन्दुकलामले । लक्ष्मणे विलसल्लक्ष्ये शिक्षाबलविलक्षणे
Lakshmana, in whom the pure moon-like Self had been realized through Vasistha’s teaching, shone as the very embodiment of discernment, beyond the power of instruction.
शत्रुघ्ने शत्रुदलने चेतसा पूर्णतां गते । अलम् आनन्दम् आयाते राकाचन्द्रोपमे स्थिते
Shatrughna, destroyer of foes, whose mind had attained fullness, stood there, filled with joy, like the full moon on the night of the full moon.