ह्यस् त्वयोक्तो य आनन्दी विविक्तो वचसां गणः । अमृतावर्षणेनेव तेनेहाश्वासिता वयम्
Indeed, the words you spoke—joyful and distinct from the multitude of ordinary speech—have refreshed us here, as if by a shower of nectar.
चन्द्रांशव इवोत्सार्य तमांस्य् अमृतनिर्मिताः । अन्तश् शीतलयन्त्य् एता महताम् अमला गिरः
Just as moonbeams, made of nectar, dispel darkness, so too do these pure words of the great cool the heart from within.
अपूर्वाह्लाददायिन्य उच्चैस्तरपदाश्रयाः । अतिमोहापहारिण्यस् सूक्तयो ऽमृतवृष्टयः
Bestowing unprecedented delight, resting in the highest meaning, these wise sayings are showers of nectar that remove even the deepest delusion.
आत्मरत्नावलोकैकदीपिका पारमार्थिकी । यस्माद् उक्तिलतोदेति स वन्द्यस् सज्जनद्रुमः
He is to be revered as a tree of virtue, from whom arises a vine of speech that is the sole lamp illuminating the jewel of the Self and the ultimate truth.
दुरीहितं दुर्विहितं सर्वं सज्जनसूक्तयः । प्रमार्जयन्ति शीतांशोस् तमस्काण्डम् इवांशवः
All the misdeeds and ill-fated actions are wiped away by the wise sayings of the virtuous, just as the rays of the cool moon dispel masses of darkness.
तृष्णालोभादयो ऽस्माकं संसारनिगडा मुने । तवोक्त्या तनुतां याताश् शरदीवासिताम्बुदाः
Desires, greed, and the like—the chains of worldly existence for us—have become thin by your words, O sage, just as autumn disperses the clouds.
सम्प्रवृत्ता वयं द्रष्टुम् आत्मानम् अपकल्मषम् । रसाञ्जनानीतदृशो जात्यन्धा इव काञ्चनम्
We have now begun to behold the stainless Self, our vision clarified by your teachings, like those born blind who, with eyes anointed, see gold for the first time.
संसारवासनानाम्नी मिहिका हृदयाम्बरे । प्रवृत्ता तनुतां गन्तुं त्वदुक्तिशरदेह नः
The mist called the tendencies of worldly existence, in the sky of the heart, has begun to thin because of the autumn of your words.
मुने मन्दारमञ्जर्यस् तरङ्गा वामृताम्भसः । न तथाह्लादयन्त्य् अन्तर् यथोदारधियां गिरः
O sage, the waves of nectar from the coral blossoms of the heavenly tree do not bring as much delight within as the words of those with noble understanding.
यद् यद् राघव संयाति महाजनसपर्यया । दिनं तद् इह सालोकं शेषास् त्व् अन्धा दिनालयः
O Raghava, each day that passes in the company of great souls here is truly illuminated; the rest are but blind days dwelling in darkness.
राम राजीवपत्त्राक्ष प्रकृतार्थदिदृक्षया । मुनिम् आबोधय पुनः प्रसादे समवस्थितम्
Rama, lotus-eyed one, eager to see the true nature of things, once again awaken the sage who abides in tranquility.
इत्य् उक्ते भूभृता तत्र रामाभिमुखम् आस्थितः । उवाचेदम् उदारात्मा वसिष्ठो भगवान् मुनिः
When the king had spoken thus, the noble-hearted sage Vasistha, facing Rama, addressed him with these words.
राघव स्वकुलैकेन्दो तं मयोक्तं महामते । कच्चित् स्मरसि वाक्यार्थं पूर्वापरविचारितम्
Raghava, sole moon of your lineage, wise one, do you remember the meaning of what I have previously explained, having considered it from all sides?
उत्पत्तीनां विचित्राणां सत्त्वादिगुणभेदतः । कच्चित् स्मरसि सर्वासां विभागम् अरिमर्दन
Do you recall, O destroyer of foes, the distinctions among all the various creations according to the differences in the qualities of sattva and the others?
कच्चित् सर्वम् असर्वं च सद् असच् च सदोदितम् । रूपं स्मरसि देवस्य विमलं परमात्मनः
Do you remember the ever-taught form of the divine, O Rama—the all, the not-all, the existent and the non-existent, the pure form of the supreme Self?
यथेदम् उदितं विश्वं विश्वेशाद् ईश्वरेश्वरात् । कच्चित् स्मरसि तत् साधो साधुवादैकभाजन
Just as this universe has arisen from the Lord of the universe, the ruler of rulers—do you recall that, O noble one, who is the sole recipient of noble teachings?
रूपं कच्चिद् अविद्यायाः फल्गुभङ्गुरम् आततम् । अनन्तम् अन्तवच् चैव सम्यक् स्मरसि सन्मते
Do you truly remember, O wise one, that the form of ignorance is spread out, slight and fragile, infinite yet appearing finite?
चित्तम् एव नरो नान्यद् इति यत् प्रतिपादितम् । लवणादिविचारेण कच्चित् स्मरसि साधु तत्
Do you recall well, O virtuous one, what was established—that the mind alone is the person, and nothing else—through the inquiry into salt and so forth?
वाक्यार्थश् चाखिलः कच्चित् त्वया राम विचारितः । ह्यस्तनस्य विचारस्य रात्रौ हृदि निवेशितः
O Rama, have you thoroughly examined the meaning of all the statements, and has last night's inquiry been placed in your heart?
भूयो भूयः परामृष्टं हृदये सुनियोजितम् । प्रयोजनं फलत्य् उच्चैर् न हेलाहतसंस्थिति
What is repeatedly reflected upon and firmly established in the heart bears fruit abundantly; not so when it is neglected or treated carelessly.
भाजनं त्वं विविक्तानां वचसां शुद्धिशालिनाम् । विविक्तहृदयो वेणुर् मुक्तानाम् इव मानद
You are the vessel for pure and distinguished words, O bestower of honor; your heart is solitary and pure, like a bamboo for the liberated.
कमलासनपुत्रेण मुनिना सुमहौजसा । एवंवितीर्णावसरो रामो वाक्यम् उवाच ह
When the occasion had thus passed, Rama spoke these words to the sage, the son of the lotus-seated one, who possessed great power and knowledge.
भगवन् सर्वधर्मज्ञ तवैवैतद् विजृम्भितम् । यद् अहं परमोदारं बुद्धवान् वचनं तव
O revered one, knower of all dharmas, it is solely through you that this has been revealed; that I have attained your supremely noble teaching.
यद् आदिशसि तत् सर्वं तथैव न तद् अन्यथा । अपास्तनिद्रेण मया वाक्यार्थो निशि चिन्तितः
Whatever you command, all that is just so, not otherwise; free from sleep, I have reflected upon the meaning of your words during the night.
भवान्धकारक्षतये भवतोर्वीविवस्वता । ह्यः प्रसारितम् आह्लादि वाग्रश्मिपटलं प्रभो
To dispel the darkness of existence, O Lord, yesterday you spread forth a delightful array of radiant speech, like the sun upon the earth.
तद् अदीनम् अदीनात्मन् सर्वम् अन्तःकृतं मया । रम्यं पुण्यं विचित्रं च रत्नवृन्दम् इवाब्धिना
All that, O undepressed one of undepressed spirit, has been taken to heart by me—charming, virtuous, and wondrous, like a collection of gems from the ocean.
हितानुबन्धि हृद्यं च पुण्यम् आनन्दसाधनम् । शिरसा ध्रियते कैर् नो सिद्ध्यै त्वदनुशासनम्
Who would not, for success, bear your instruction upon their head—beneficial, pleasing, virtuous, and a source of bliss?
प्रक्षीयमाणसंसारनीहारावरणा वयम् । प्रसन्नास् त्वत्प्रसादेन वर्षान्त इव वासराः
We, whose veil of worldly delusion is being dissolved, are serene by your grace, like days at the end of the rainy season.
आपातमधुरारम्भं मध्ये सौभाग्यवर्धनम् । अनुत्तमफलोदर्कं पुण्यं त्वदनुशासनम्
Your instruction is virtuous—sweet at the outset, increasing good fortune in the middle, and yielding the highest fruit in the end.
विकासि सितम् अम्लानम् आह्लादि मुदिताशयम् । त्वद्वचःकुसुमं नित्यं श्रीमत्फलदम् अस्तु नः
May your words, ever blossoming, white, unfading, delightful, and gladdening the heart, always bestow upon us splendid fruit.