अनन्तापारपर्यन्तवपुर् आत्मविदां वरः । धराधरशिरोधीरो विज्वरो भव राघव
With a form endless, boundless, and limitless, O best among knowers of the Self, be unwavering like a mountain peak, without fever, O Raghava.
आत्मन्य् एवात्मनौदार्यं भज पूर्ण इवार्णवः । आत्मन्य् एवात्मनाह्लादं भज पूर्णेन्दुबिम्बवत्
In the Self itself, embrace magnanimity, like the ocean when full; in the Self itself, delight in the Self, like the full orb of the moon.
विश्वप्रपञ्चरचनेयम् असत्यरूपा नासत्यरूपम् अनुधावति नाम तज्ज्ञः । तज्ज्ञो ऽसि शान्तकलनो ऽसि निरामयो ऽसि नित्योदितो ऽसि भव सुन्दर शान्तशोकः
This creation of the world is of an unreal form; the unreal does not pursue the unreal, so the knower of that is named thus. You are that knower, you are calm in mind, free from disease, ever awakened—be beautiful, peaceful, and free from sorrow.
एकातपत्रम् अवनौ गुरुणोपदिष्टः सम्यक् प्रपालय चिरं समयेह दृष्ट्या । राज्यं समस्तगुणरञ्जितराजलोकस् त्यागो न युक्त इह कर्मसु नापि रागः
Having been properly instructed by the teacher, protect this kingdom under one umbrella for a long time, with the perspective of the present moment; a kingdom adorned with all virtues and royal people—neither renunciation nor attachment to actions is appropriate here.
इमम् एवं परिस्पन्दं करोमीत्य् अस्तवासनम् । प्रवर्तते यः कार्येषु स मुक्त इति मे मतिः
He who acts in the world with the firm conviction, 'I perform this movement thus,' is liberated—this is my view.
पौरुषीं तनुम् आश्रित्य केचिद् एते क्रियारताः । स्वर्गान् नरकम् आयान्ति स्वर्गं च नरकात् पुनः
Some, engaged in action, taking up the body of effort, go from heaven to hell and from hell again to heaven.
केचित् कुकर्मनिरता विरतास् स्वविवेकतः । नरकान् नरकं यान्ति दुःखाद् दुःखं भयाद् भयम्
Some, devoted to evil deeds, withdraw due to their own discernment, and go from hell to hell, from suffering to suffering, from fear to fear.
केचित् स्ववासनातन्तुबद्धाः कर्मावलोडिताः । तिर्यक्त्वात् स्थावरतनुं यान्ति तिर्यक्तनुं ततः
Some, bound by the threads of their own tendencies and tossed about by the residue of actions, pass from animal existence to the form of immobile beings, and then again to animal bodies.
केचिद् आत्मविदो धन्या विचारितमनोदृशः । विच्छिन्नतृष्णानिगडा यान्ति निष्केवलं पदम्
Some, blessed and knowing the Self, whose minds have been examined and whose chains of craving are broken, attain the state free from all limitation.
पुरा कतिपयान्य् एव भुक्त्वा जन्मानि राघव । अस्मिञ् जन्मनि यो मुक्तस् स स्याद् राजससात्त्विकः
After experiencing only a few births, O Raghava, one who is liberated in this very birth is of a rajasic or sattvic nature.
जातो ऽसौ वृद्धिम् अभ्येति पार्वणश् चन्द्रमा इव । कुटजं प्रावृषीवैनं सौभाग्यम् अनुगच्छति
He is born and grows like the waxing moon on its fortnight, and, like the kutaja tree in the rainy season, good fortune follows him.
यस्येदं जन्म पाश्चात्यं तम् आश्व् एव महामते । विशन्ति विद्या विमला मुक्ता वेणुम् इवोत्तमम्
O wise one, into him whose birth is subsequent, pure knowledge enters swiftly, like a precious gem into a flawless bamboo.
आर्यता हृद्यता मैत्री सोम्यता मुक्तता ज्ञता । समाश्रयन्ति तं नित्यम् अन्तःपुरम् इवाङ्गनाः
Nobility, charm, friendship, gentleness, freedom, and wisdom always dwell in him, like women in the inner chambers.
यः कुर्वन् सर्वकार्याणि पुष्टे नष्टे ऽथ तत्फले । समस् स सर्वकालेषु न तुष्यति न शोचति
He who acts in all matters, whether the result is gained or lost, remains equal at all times, neither rejoicing nor grieving.
तमांसीव दिवा यान्ति तत्र द्वन्द्वानि सङ्क्षयम् । शरदीव घनास् तत्र गुणा गच्छन्ति शुद्धताम्
Just as darkness vanishes in daylight, so opposites are dissolved there; and like clouds in autumn, qualities attain purity in him.
पेशलाचारमधुरं सर्वे वाञ्छन्ति तं जनाः । वेणुं मधुरनिस्स्वानं वने मृगगणा इव
All people desire one whose conduct is gentle and sweet, just as the herds of deer in the forest are drawn to the flute with its melodious sound.
नरं पाश्चात्यजन्मानम् एवम्प्राया गुणश्रियः । जातम् एवानुधावन्ति बलाका इव वारिदम्
In the same way, virtues and prosperity naturally follow a person born in the West, just as cranes flock to a cloud.
ततो ऽसौ गुणसम्पूर्णो गुरुम् एवानुगच्छति । स तम् एकं विवेकेन नियोजयति पावनम्
Then, one endowed with virtues follows a teacher, and that teacher, through discernment, directs him alone to what is pure.
विचारवैराग्यवता चेतसा गुणशालिना । देवं पश्यत्य् अथात्मानम् एकरूपम् अनामयम्
With a mind endowed with inquiry and detachment, and rich in virtues, one then perceives the divine—one's own self—of a single form, free from affliction.
अतो राम विचारेण चारुणा शान्तचेतसा । प्रबोधनीयं प्रथमं मनो मननमन्थरम्
Therefore, O Rama, by means of charming inquiry and a peaceful mind, the mind—restless with thoughts—must first be awakened.
ये हि पाश्चात्यजन्मानस् ते हि सुप्तं मनोमृगम् । प्रबोधयन्ति प्रथमं गुणगीतैर् महागुणाः
Indeed, those who are born in the West, being possessed of great virtues, first awaken the sleeping deer of the mind with songs of virtue.
प्रथितगुणान् सुगुरून् निषेव्य यत्नाद् अमलधिया प्रविचार्य चित्तरत्नम् । गतिम् अमलाम् उपयाति मानवो ऽस्मिञ् जगति विलोक्य चिरं प्रकाशम् अन्तः
By diligently serving renowned and noble teachers, and by thoroughly examining with a pure intellect the jewel of the mind, a person in this world attains a spotless state, having long observed the inner light.
एष तावत् क्रमः प्रोक्तस् सामान्यस् सर्वजन्तुषु । इमम् अन्यं विशेषं त्वं शृणु राजीवलोचन
Thus the general sequence has been described for all beings; now, lotus-eyed one, listen as I tell you another distinction.
अस्मिन् संसारसंरम्भे जातानां देहधारिणाम् । अपवर्गगतौ राम द्वाव् इमाव् उत्तमौ क्रमौ
In this tumult of worldly existence, for those who have taken on bodies, O Rama, there are two excellent paths toward liberation.
एकस् तावद् गुरुप्रोक्ताद् अनुष्ठानाच् छनैश् शनैः । जन्मना जन्मभिर् वापि सिद्धिदस् समुदाहृतः
One is gradual, attained through the practice taught by the teacher, slowly and steadily, over one or many lifetimes, and is known to grant perfection.
द्वितीयस् त्व् आत्मनैवाशु किञ्चिद्व्युत्पन्नचेतसः । भवति ज्ञानसम्प्राप्तिर् आकाशफलपातवत्
The second occurs swiftly, when a person gains some insight by their own mind; the attainment of knowledge happens like the sudden fall of a fruit from the sky.
नभःफलनिपाताभज्ञानसम्प्रतिपत्तये । अत्रेमं शृणु वृत्तान्तं प्राक्तनं कथयामि ते
For the understanding of this sudden attainment of knowledge, like the falling of a fruit from the sky, listen here to this ancient story I will tell you.
शृणु सुभग कथं महानुभावा व्यपगतपूर्वशुभाशुभार्गडौघाः । खपतितफलवत् परं विवेकं चरमभवा विमलं समाप्नुवन्ति
Listen, O fortunate one, how those of great stature, whose past merits and demerits have been washed away, attain supreme discernment—pure and final—like a fruit fallen from the sky.
अस्त्य् अस्तमितसर्वापद् उद्यत्सम्पद् उदारधीः । विदेहानां महीपालो जनको नाम वीर्यवान्
There was a king among the Videhas named Janaka, whose intellect was noble, whose calamities had all vanished, whose prosperity was rising, and who was endowed with great strength.
कल्पवृक्षो ऽर्थिसार्थानां मित्राब्जानां दिवाकरः । माधवो बन्धुपुष्पाणां स्त्रीणां मकरकेतनः
He was like a wish-fulfilling tree for those seeking favors, a sun among lotus-like friends, a springtime for the flowers of kinship, and the banner of love for women.