अशिरस्कहकाराभम् अशेषाकारसंस्थितम् । अजस्रम् उच्चरन्तं तं स्वम् आत्मानम् उपास्महे
We worship our own Self, which is without head or form, established in all forms, and constantly resounds without ceasing.
सन्त्यज्य हृद्गुहेशानं देवम् अन्यं प्रयान्ति ये । ते रत्नम् अभिवाञ्छन्ति त्यक्तहस्तस्थकौस्तुभाः
Those who abandon the Lord dwelling in the cave of the heart and seek another deity are like those who desire a jewel after casting away the Kaustubha gem held in their own hand.
सर्वाशाः किल सन्त्यज्य फलम् एतद् अवाप्यते । येनाशाविषवल्लीनां मूलमाला विलूयते
Indeed, by abandoning all desires, this fruit is attained, by which the root-garland of the poisonous creepers of desire is torn up.
बुद्ध्वाप्य् अत्यन्तवैरस्यं यः पदार्थेषु दुर्मतिः । बध्नाति भावनां भूयो नरो नासौ स गर्दभः
Even after realizing the utter hostility in objects, if a foolish person again binds his mind to them, that man is not a donkey.
उत्थितानुत्थितान् एतान् इन्द्रियाहीन् पुनः पुनः । हन्याद् विवेकवज्रेण वज्रेणेव हरिर् गिरीन्
Again and again, one should destroy these senses, whether risen or not, with the thunderbolt of discrimination, just as Hari destroys mountains with a thunderbolt.
उपशमसुखम् आवहेत् पवित्रं शमवशतश् शमम् एति साधुचेतः । प्रशमितमनसस् स्वके स्वरूपे भवति सुखे स्थितिर् उत्तमा चिराय
Let the pure-hearted one, by the power of tranquility, attain the happiness of peace; with the mind pacified, abiding in one's own true nature, supreme happiness endures for a long time.
इति सिद्धगणोद्गीता गीताश् श्रुत्वा महीपतिः । विषादम् आजगामाशु भीरू रणरवाद् इव
Thus, having heard the songs sung by the hosts of perfected beings, the king quickly fell into despair, just as the timid do at the sound of battle.
जगाम परिवारं स्वम् आकर्षन् स्वगृहं प्रति । स्वतीरवृक्षानुसृतः प्रावृडोघ इवार्णवम्
He returned to his household, drawing his retinue along, like the swelling of the rainy season’s flood following the trees on the riverbank toward the ocean.
परिवारम् अशेषेण विसर्ज्यात्र स्वम् आलयम् । एक एवारुरोहाग्र्यं गृहम् अर्क इवाचलम्
Having dismissed his entire retinue there, he alone ascended to his lofty house, like the sun mounting a mountain peak.
ततः प्रोड्डयनालोलखगपक्षतिचञ्चलाः । आलोकयंल् लोकगतीर् विललापेदम् आतुरः
Then, restless, his mind fluttering like the wings of birds at dusk, he gazed upon the ways of the world and lamented in his distress:
हा कष्टम् अतिकष्टासु लोकलोलदशास्व् अयम् । पाषाणेष्व् इव पाषाण आलुठामि बलाद् अलम्
Alas, how grievous are these ever-changing states of the world! I am tossed about among stones, like a stone, helplessly and in vain.
अपर्यन्तस्य कालस्य को ऽप्य् अंशो जीव्यते मया । तस्मिन् भावं निबध्नामि धिङ् माम् अधमचेतसम्
Of endless time, only a fragment is lived by me; upon that I fix my thoughts—shame on me, whose mind is so base.
कियन्मात्रम् इदं नाम राज्यम् आजीवितं मम । किम् एतेन विना दुःखं तिष्ठामि हतधीर् यथा
How small indeed is this so-called kingdom I have enjoyed in life! What is it worth? Without it, I remain in sorrow, my mind ruined as before.
आदाव् अन्ते ऽप्य् अनन्तो ऽहं मध्ये पेलवजीवितः । बालश् चित्रेन्दुनेवाहं किं मुधा धृतिमान् स्थितः
In the beginning and end I am infinite, yet in the middle my life is frail; like a child marveling at the painted moon, why do I stand firm in vain?
प्रपञ्चरचितेनायम् इन्द्रजालेन जालिना । हा कष्टम् अभिमुह्यामि केनास्मि परिमोहितः
This world, constructed by the magician of illusion, is a net of magic; alas, I am bewildered—by whom have I been so thoroughly deluded?
यद् वस्तु यच् च वा रम्यं यद् उदारम् अकृत्रिमम् । किञ्चित् तद् इह नास्त्य् एव किंनिष्ठेयं धृतिर् मम
Whatever thing is delightful, noble, and genuine—none of that is truly found here; so, upon what should my resolve be fixed?
दूरस्थम् अप्य् अदूरस्थं यन् मे मनसि वर्तते । इति निर्णीय बाह्ये ऽर्थे भावनां सन्त्यजाम्य् अहम्
Even what is far away or near, if it occupies my mind, having discerned this, I abandon all mental fixation on external things.
लोकाजवञ्जवीभावस् सलिलावर्तभङ्गुरः । दृष्टो ऽद्यापि हि दुःखाय केयम् आस्था सुखं प्रति
The world’s nature is crooked and deceptive, fragile like a whirlpool of water; even now it brings sorrow—so what reliance can there be on it for happiness?
प्रत्यब्दं प्रतिमासं च प्रत्यहं च प्रतिक्षणम् । सुखानि दुःखविद्धानि दुःखानि तु पुनः पुनः
Year by year, month by month, day by day, and moment by moment, pleasures are pierced by pain, while pains return again and again.
पुनः पुनः परामृष्टं दृष्टं पृष्टं निभालितम् । अतुच्छं न तद् अस्तीह सतां यत्रास्तु संस्थितिः
Again and again examined, seen, questioned, and observed—there is nothing here that is not hollow, in which the wise might find abiding.
अद्य ये महतां मूर्ध्नि ते दिनैर् निपतन्त्य् अधः । हतचित्त महत्तायां कैषा विश्वस्तता तव
Those who today are at the summit of greatness fall down in a few days; with the mind’s greatness destroyed, how can you place your trust in this?
अरज्जुर् एव बद्धो ऽहम् अपङ्को ऽस्मि कलङ्कितः । पतितो ऽस्म्य् उपरिस्थो ऽपि हा ममात्मन् हता स्थितिः
I am bound by a rope that is no rope, I am unstained yet tainted; I have fallen though I am above—alas, my own state is ruined.
कस्माद् अकस्मान् मोहो ऽयम् आगतो धीमतो ऽपि मे । असितः पिहितालोको भास्कराग्रम् इवाम्बुदः
How has this delusion suddenly come upon me, even though I am wise? My vision is darkened, like the sun’s peak covered by a black cloud.
क इमे मे महाभोगाः क इमे मम बन्धवः । बालो भूतभयेनेव शङ्के केनाहम् आकुलः
What are these great enjoyments to me? Who are these relatives of mine? Like a child frightened by imaginary beings, by what am I disturbed?
स्वयम् एव निबध्नामि जरामरणकारिणीम् । किम् इमाम् अहम् अर्थेषु धृतिम् उद्वेगभारिणीम्
I myself bind myself to old age and death; why do I hold to this resolve regarding possessions, which is laden with anxiety?
यातु तिष्ठतु वा सम्पन् ममैनां प्रति को ग्रहः । बुद्बुदश्रीर् इवैषा हि मिथ्यैवेत्थम् उपस्थिता
Let it come or remain—what hold does this prosperity have over me? For like the beauty of a bubble, it is falsely presented in this way.
ते महाविभवा भोगास् ते सन्तस् स्निग्धबान्धवाः । सर्वं स्मृतिपथं प्राप्तं वर्तमाने ऽपि का धृतिः
Those great riches and enjoyments, those dear and affectionate relatives—all have entered the realm of memory; what steadfastness is there even in the present?
क्व धनानि महीपानां ब्रह्मणां क्व जगन्ति वा । प्राक्तनानि प्रयातानि केयं विश्वस्तता मम
Where are the treasures of kings, or of Brahmās, or even the worlds themselves? All that was before has passed away; what is this trust I have?
गलितानीन्द्रलक्षाणि बुद्बुदानीव वारिणि । मां जीवितनिबद्धाशं विहसिष्यन्ति साधवः
The marks of Indra’s sovereignty have vanished like bubbles on water; the virtuous will laugh at me, who clings to life with hope.
कोटयो ब्रह्मणां याता गतास् सर्गपरम्पराः । प्रयाताः पांसुवद् भूपाः का धृतिर् मम जीविते
Millions of Brahmās have passed away, the cycles of creation have gone; kings have departed like dust—what steadfastness do I have in life?