अष्टावक्र उवाच यस्य बोधोदये तावत्- स्वप्नवद् भवति भ्रमः। तस्मै सुखैकरूपाय नमः शान्ताय तेजसे॥
Salutations to the One, blissful, serene light like awareness which removes delusion like a dream
अर्जयित्वाखिलान् अर्थान् भोगानाप्नोति पुष्कलान्। न हि सर्वपरित्याजम- न्तरेण सुखी भवेत्॥
One may indulge in all sorts of pleasure by acquiring various objects of enjoyment, but one cannot be truly happy without their inner renunciation
कर्तव्यदुःखमार्तण्डज्वाला दग्धान्तरात्मनः। कुतः प्रशमपीयूषधारा- सारमृते सुखम्॥
How can there be happiness, for one whose mind is burnt by the intense flame of what to be done and what not to be done. How can one attain bliss of the nectar-stream of peace without being desire-less?
भवोऽयं भावनामात्रो न किंचित् परमर्थतः। नास्त्यभावः स्वभावनां भावाभावविभाविनाम्॥
This existence is just imagination. It is nothing in reality, but there is no non-being for natures that know how to distinguish being from non being
न दूरं न च संकोचाल्- लब्धमेवात्मनः पदं। निर्विकल्पं निरायासं निर्विकारं निरंजनम्॥
The realm of one's own self is not far away, and nor can it be achieved by the addition of limitations to its nature. It is unimaginable, effortless, unchanging and spotless
व्यामोहमात्रविरतौ स्वरूपादानमात्रतः। वीतशोका विराजन्ते निरावरणदृष्टयः॥
By the simple elimination of delusion and the recognition of one's true nature, those whose vision is unclouded live free from sorrow
समस्तं कल्पनामात्र- मात्मा मुक्तः सनातनः। इति विज्ञाय धीरो हि किमभ्यस्यति बालवत्॥
Knowing everything as just imagination, and himself as eternally free, how should the wise man behave like a fool?
आत्मा ब्रह्मेति निश्चित्य भावाभावौ च कल्पितौ। निष्कामः किं विजानाति किं ब्रूते च करोति किम्॥
Knowing himself to be God and being and non-being just imagination, what should the man free from desire learn, say or do?
अयं सोऽहमयं नाहं इति क्षीणा विकल्पना। सर्वमात्मेति निश्चित्य तूष्णींभूतस्य योगिनः॥
Considerations like 'I am this' or 'I am not this' are finished for the yogi who has gone silent realising 'Everything is myself'
न विक्षेपो न चैकाग्र्यं नातिबोधो न मूढता। न सुखं न च वा दुःखं उपशान्तस्य योगिनः॥
For the yogi who has found peace, there is no distraction or one-pointedness, no higher knowledge or ignorance, no pleasure and no pain
स्वाराज्ये भैक्षवृत्तौ च लाभालाभे जने वने। निर्विकल्पस्वभावस्य न विशेषोऽस्ति योगिनः॥
The dominion of heaven or beggary, gain or loss, life among men or in the forest, these make no difference to a yogi whose nature it is to be free from distinctions
क्व धर्मः क्व च वा कामः क्व चार्थः क्व विवेकिता। इदं कृतमिदं नेति द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्तस्य योगिनः॥
There is no religion, wealth, sensuality or discrimination for a yogi free from the pairs of opposites such as 'I have done this' and 'I have not done that'
कृत्यं किमपि नैवास्ति न कापि हृदि रंजना। यथा जीवनमेवेह जीवन्मुक्तस्य योगिनः॥
There is nothing needing to be done, or any attachment in his heart for the yogi liberated while still alive. Things are just for a lifetime
क्व मोहः क्व च वा विश्वं क्व तद् ध्यानं क्व मुक्तता। सर्वसंकल्पसीमायां विश्रान्तस्य महात्मनः॥
There is no delusion, world, meditation on That, or liberation for the pacified great soul. All these things are just the realm of imagination
येन विश्वमिदं दृष्टं स नास्तीति करोतु वै। निर्वासनः किं कुरुते पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति॥
He by whom all this is seen may well make out he doesn't exist, but what is the desireless one to do? Even in seeing he does not see
येन दृष्टं परं ब्रह्म सोऽहं ब्रह्मेति चिन्तयेत्। किं चिन्तयति निश्चिन्तो यो न पश्यति॥
He by whom the Supreme Brahma is seen may think 'I am Brahma', but what is he to think who is without thought, and who sees no duality
दृष्टो येनात्मविक्षेपो निरोधं कुरुते त्वसौ। उदारस्तु न विक्षिप्तः साध्याभावात्करोति किम्॥
He by whom inner distraction is seen may put an end to it, but the noble one is not distracted. When there is nothing to achieve, what is he to do?
धीरो लोकविपर्यस्तो वर्तमानोऽपि लोकवत्। नो समाधिं न विक्षेपं न लोपं स्वस्य पश्यति॥
The wise man, unlike the worldly man, does not see inner stillness, distraction or fault in himself, even when living like a worldly man
भावाभावविहीनो यस्- तृप्तो निर्वासनो बुधः। नैव किंचित्कृतं तेन लोकदृष्ट्या विकुर्वता॥
Nothing is done by him who is free from being and non-being, who is contented, desireless and wise, even if in the world's eyes he does act
प्रवृत्तौ वा निवृत्तौ वा नैव धीरस्य दुर्ग्रहः। यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत्कृत्वा तिष्ठते सुखम्॥
The wise man who just goes on doing what presents itself for him to do, encounters no difficulty in either activity or inactivity
निर्वासनो निरालंबः स्वच्छन्दो मुक्तबन्धनः। क्षिप्तः संस्कारवातेन चेष्टते शुष्कपर्णवत्॥
He who is desireless, self-reliant, independent and free of bonds functions like a dead leaf blown about by the wind of causality
असंसारस्य तु क्वापि न हर्षो न विषादिता। स शीतलहमना नित्यं विदेह इव राजये॥
There is neither joy nor sorrow for one who has transcended samsara. He lives always with a peaceful mind and as if without a body
कुत्रापि न जिहासास्ति नाशो वापि न कुत्रचित्। आत्मारामस्य धीरस्य शीतलाच्छतरात्मनः॥
He whose joy is in himself, and who is peaceful and pure within has no desire for renunciation or sense of loss in anything
प्रकृत्या शून्यचित्तस्य कुर्वतोऽस्य यदृच्छया। प्राकृतस्येव धीरस्य न मानो नावमानता॥
For the man with a naturally empty mind, doing just as he pleases, there is no such thing as pride or false humility, as there is for the natural man
कृतं देहेन कर्मेदं न मया शुद्धरूपिणा। इति चिन्तानुरोधी यः कुर्वन्नपि करोति न॥
This action was done by the body but not by me'. The pure-natured person thinking like this, is not acting even when acting
अतद्वादीव कुरुते न भवेदपि बालिशः। जीवन्मुक्तः सुखी श्रीमान् संसरन्नपि शोभते॥
He who acts without being able to say why, but not because he is a fool, he is one liberated while still alive, happy and blessed. He thrives even in samsara
नाविचारसुश्रान्तो धीरो विश्रान्तिमागतः। न कल्पते न जाति न शृणोति न पश्यति॥
He who has had enough of endless considerations and has attained to peace, does not think, know, hear or see
असमाधेरविक्षेपान् न मुमुक्षुर्न चेतरः। निश्चित्य कल्पितं पश्यन् ब्रह्मैवास्ते महाशयः॥
He who is beyond mental stillness and distraction, does not desire either liberation or anything else. Recognising that things are just constructions of the imagination, that great soul lives as God here and now
यस्यान्तः स्यादहंकारो न करोति करोति सः। निरहंकारधीरेण न किंचिदकृतं कृतम्॥
He who feels responsibility within, acts even when not acting, but there is no sense of done or undone for the wise man who is free from the sense of responsibility
नोद्विग्नं न च सन्तुष्ट- मकर्तृ स्पन्दवर्जितं। निराशं गतसन्देहं चित्तं मुक्तस्य राजते॥
The mind of the liberated man is not upset or pleased. It shines unmoving, desireless, and free from doubt
निर्ध्यातुं चेष्टितुं वापि यच्चित्तं न प्रवर्तते। निर्निमित्तमिदं किंतु निर्ध्यायेति विचेष्टते॥
He whose mind does not set out to meditate or act, meditates and acts without an object
तत्त्वं यथार्थमाकर्ण्य मन्दः प्राप्नोति मूढतां। अथवा याति संकोचम- मूढः कोऽपि मूढवत्॥
A stupid man is bewildered when he hears the real truth, while even a clever man is humbled by it just like the fool
एकाग्रता निरोधो वा मूढैरभ्यस्यते भृशं। धीराः कृत्यं न पश्यन्ति सुप्तवत्स्वपदे स्थिताः॥
The ignorant make a great effort to practice one-pointedness and the stopping of thought, while the wise see nothing to be done and remain in themselves like those asleep
अप्रयत्नात् प्रयत्नाद् वा मूढो नाप्नोति निर्वृतिं। तत्त्वनिश्चयमात्रेण प्राज्ञो भवति निर्वृतः॥
The stupid does not attain cessation whether he acts or abandons action, while the wise man find peace within simply by knowing the truth
शुद्धं बुद्धं प्रियं पूर्णं निष्प्रपंचं निरामयं। आत्मानं तं न जानन्ति तत्राभ्यासपरा जनाः॥
People cannot come to know themselves by practices - pure awareness, clear, complete, beyond multiplicity and faultless though they are
नाप्नोति कर्मणा मोक्षं विमूढोऽभ्यासरूपिणा। धन्यो विज्ञानमात्रेण मुक्तस्तिष्ठत्यविक्रियः॥
The stupid does not achieve liberation even through regular practice, but the fortunate remains free and actionless simply by discrimination
मूढो नाप्नोति तद् ब्रह्म यतो भवितुमिच्छति। अनिच्छन्नपि धीरो हि परब्रह्मस्वरूपभाक्॥
The stupid does not attain Godhead because he wants to become it, while the wise man enjoys the Supreme Godhead without even wanting it
निराधारा ग्रहव्यग्रा मूढाः संसारपोषकाः। एतस्यानर्थमूलस्य मूलच्छेदः कृतो बुधैः॥
Even when living without any support and eager for achievement, the stupid are still nourishing samsara, while the wise have cut at the very root of its unhappiness
न शान्तिं लभते मूढो यतः शमितुमिच्छति। धीरस्तत्त्वं विनिश्चित्य सर्वदा शान्तमानसः॥
The stupid does not find peace because he is wanting it, while the wise discriminating the truth is always peaceful minded
क्वात्मनो दर्शनं तस्य यद् दृष्टमवलंबते। धीरास्तं तं न पश्यन्ति पश्यन्त्यात्मानमव्ययम्॥
How can there be self knowledge for him whose knowledge depends on what he sees. The wise do not see this and that, but see themselves as unending
क्व निरोधो विमूढस्य यो निर्बन्धं करोति वै। स्वारामस्यैव धीरस्य सर्वदासावकृत्रिमः॥
How can there be cessation of thought for the misguided who is striving for it. Yet it is there always naturally for the wise man delighted in self
भावस्य भावकः कश्चिन् न किंचिद् भावकोपरः। उभयाभावकः कश्चिद् एवमेव निराकुलः॥
Some think that something exists, and others that nothing does. Rare is the man who does not think either, and is thereby free from distraction
शुद्धमद्वयमात्मानं भावयन्ति कुबुद्धयः। न तु जानन्ति संमोहा- द्यावज्जीवमनिर्वृताः॥
Those of weak intelligence think of themselves as pure non-duality, but because of their delusion do not know this, and remain unfulfilled all their lives
मुमुक्षोर्बुद्धिरालंब- मन्तरेण न विद्यते। निरालंबैव निष्कामा बुद्धिर्मुक्तस्य सर्वदा॥
The mind of the man seeking liberation can find no resting place within, but the mind of the liberated man is always free from desire by the very fact of being without a resting place
विषयद्वीपिनो वीक्ष्य चकिताः शरणार्थिनः। विशन्ति झटिति क्रोडं निरोधैकाग्रसिद्धये॥
Seeing the tigers of the senses, the frightened refuge-seekers at once enter the cave in search of cessation of thought and one-pointedness
निर्वासनं हरिं दृष्ट्वा तूष्णीं विषयदन्तिनः। पलायन्ते न शक्तास्ते सेवन्ते कृतचाटवः॥
Seeing the desireless lion the elephants of the senses silently run away, or, if they cannot, serve him like courtiers
न मुक्तिकारिकां धत्ते निःशङ्को युक्तमानसः। पश्यन् शृण्वन् स्पृशन् जिघ्रन्नश्नन्नास्ते यथासुखम्॥
The man who is free from doubts and whose mind is free does not bother about means of liberation. Whether seeing, hearing, feeling smelling or tasting, he lives at ease
वस्तुश्रवणमात्रेण शुद्धबुद्धिर्निराकुलः। नैवाचारमनाचार- मौदास्यं वा प्रपश्यति॥
He whose mind is pure and undistracted from the simple hearing of the Truth sees neither something to do nor something to avoid nor a cause for indifference
यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तदा तत्कुरुते ऋजुः। शुभं वाप्यशुभं वापि तस्य चेष्टा हि बालवत्॥
The straightforward person does whatever arrives to be done, good or bad, for his actions are like those of a child
स्वातंत्र्यात्सुखमाप्नोति स्वातंत्र्याल्लभते परं। स्वातंत्र्यान्निर्वृतिं गच्छेत्- स्वातंत्र्यात् परमं पदम्॥
By inner freedom one attains happiness, by inner freedom one reaches the Supreme, by inner freedom one comes to absence of thought, by inner freedom to the Ultimate State
अकर्तृत्वमभोक्तृत्वं स्वात्मनो मन्यते यदा। तदा क्षीणा भवन्त्येव समस्ताश्चित्तवृत्तयः॥
When one sees oneself as neither the doer nor the reaper of the consequences, then all mind waves come to an end
उच्छृंखलाप्यकृतिका स्थितिर्धीरस्य राजते। न तु सस्पृहचित्तस्य शान्तिर्मूढस्य कृत्रिमा॥
The spontaneous unassumed behaviour of the wise is noteworthy, but not the deliberate, intentional stillness of the fool
विलसन्ति महाभोगै- र्विशन्ति गिरिगह्वरान्। निरस्तकल्पना धीरा अबद्धा मुक्तबुद्धयः॥
The wise who are rid of imagination, unbound and with unfettered awareness may enjoy themselves in the midst of many goods, or alternatively go off to mountain caves
श्रोत्रियं देवतां तीर्थम- ङ्गनां भूपतिं प्रियं। दृष्ट्वा संपूज्य धीरस्य न कापि हृदि वासना॥
There is no attachment in the heart of a wise man whether he sees or pays homage to a learned brahmin, a celestial being, a holy place, a woman, a king or a friend
भृत्यैः पुत्रैः कलत्रैश्च दौहित्रैश्चापि गोत्रजैः। विहस्य धिक्कृतो योगी न याति विकृतिं मनाक्॥
A yogi is not in the least put out even when humiliated by the ridicule of servants, sons, wives, grandchildren or other relatives
सन्तुष्टोऽपि न सन्तुष्टः खिन्नोऽपि न च खिद्यते। तस्याश्चर्यदशां तां तादृशा एव जानते॥
Even when pleased he is not pleased, not suffering even when in pain. Only those like him can know the wonderful state of such a man
कर्तव्यतैव संसारो न तां पश्यन्ति सूरयः। शून्याकारा निराकारा निर्विकारा निरामयाः॥
It is the sense of responsibility which is samsara. The wise who are of the form of emptiness, formless, unchanging and spotless see no such thing
अकुर्वन्नपि संक्षोभाद् व्यग्रः सर्वत्र मूढधीः। कुर्वन्नपि तु कृत्यानि कुशलो हि निराकुलः॥
Even when doing nothing the fool is agitated by restlessness, while a skillful man remains undisturbed even when doing what there is to do
सुखमास्ते सुखं शेते सुखमायाति याति च। सुखं वक्ति सुखं भुंक्ते व्यवहारेऽपि शान्तधीः॥
Happy he stands, happy he sits, happy sleeps and happy he comes and goes. Happy he speaks, and happy he eats. Such is the life of a man at peace
स्वभावाद्यस्य नैवार्ति- र्लोकवद् व्यवहारिणः। महाहृद इवाक्षोभ्यो गतक्लेशः स शोभते॥
He who by his very nature feels no unhappiness in his daily life like worldly people, remains undisturbed like a great lake, all sorrow gone
निवृत्तिरपि मूढस्य प्रवृत्ति रुपजायते। प्रवृत्तिरपि धीरस्य निवृत्तिफलभागिनी॥
Even abstention from action leads to action in a fool, while even the action of the wise man brings the fruits of inaction
परिग्रहेषु वैराग्यं प्रायो मूढस्य दृश्यते। देहे विगलिताशस्य क्व रागः क्व विरागता॥
A fool often shows aversion towards his belongings, but for him whose attachment to the body has dropped away, there is neither attachment nor aversion
भावनाभावनासक्ता दृष्टिर्मूढस्य सर्वदा। भाव्यभावनया सा तु स्वस्थस्यादृष्टिरूपिणी॥
The mind of the fool is always caught in an opinion about becoming or avoiding something, but the wise man's nature is to have no opinions about becoming and avoiding
सर्वारंभेषु निष्कामो यश्चरेद् बालवन् मुनिः। न लेपस्तस्य शुद्धस्य क्रियमाणोऽपि कर्मणि॥
For the seer who behaves like a child, without desire in all actions, there is no attachment for such a pure one even in the work he does
स एव धन्य आत्मज्ञः सर्वभावेषु यः समः। पश्यन् शृण्वन् स्पृशन् जिघ्रन्न् अश्नन्निस्तर्षमानसः॥
Blessed is he who knows himself and is the same in all states, with a mind free from craving whether he is seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling or tasting
क्व संसारः क्व चाभासः क्व साध्यं क्व च साधनं। आकाशस्येव धीरस्य निर्विकल्पस्य सर्वदा॥
There is no man subject to samsara, sense of individuality, goal or means to the goal for the wise man who is always free from imaginations, and unchanging as space
स जयत्यर्थसंन्यासी पूर्णस्वरसविग्रहः। अकृत्रिमोऽनवच्छिन्ने समाधिर्यस्य वर्तते॥
Glorious is he who has abandoned all goals and is the incarnation of satisfaction, his very nature, and whose inner focus on the Unconditioned is quite spontaneous
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन ज्ञाततत्त्वो महाशयः। भोगमोक्षनिराकांक्षी सदा सर्वत्र नीरसः॥
In brief, the great-souled man who has come to know the Truth is without desire for either pleasure or liberation, and is always and everywhere free from attachment
महदादि जगद्द्वैतं नाममात्रविजृंभितं। विहाय शुद्धबोधस्य किं कृत्यमवशिष्यते॥
What remains to be done by the man who is pure awareness and has abandoned everything that can be expressed in words from the highest heaven to the earth itself?
भ्रमभृतमिदं सर्वं किंचिन्नास्तीति निश्चयी। अलक्ष्यस्फुरणः शुद्धः स्वभावेनैव शाम्यति॥
The pure man who has experienced the Indescribable attains peace by his own nature, realizing that all this is nothing but illusion, and that nothing is
शुद्धस्फुरणरूपस्य दृश्यभावमपश्यतः। क्व विधिः क्व वैराग्यं क्व त्यागः क्व शमोऽपि वा॥
There are no rules, dispassion, renunciation or meditation for one who is pure receptivity by nature, and admits no knowable form of being?
स्फुरतोऽनन्तरूपेण प्रकृतिं च न पश्यतः। क्व बन्धः क्व च वा मोक्षः क्व हर्षः क्व विषादिता॥
For him who shines with the radiance of Infinity and is not subject to natural causality there is neither bondage, liberation, pleasure nor pain
बुद्धिपर्यन्तसंसारे मायामात्रं विवर्तते। निर्ममो निरहंकारो निष्कामः शोभते बुधः॥
Pure illusion reigns in samsara which will continue until self realisation, but the enlightened man lives in the beauty of freedom from me and mine, from the sense of responsibility and from any attachment
अक्षयं गतसन्ताप- मात्मानं पश्यतो मुनेः। क्व विद्या च क्व वा विश्वं क्व देहोऽहं ममेति वा॥
For the seer who knows himself as imperishable and beyond pain there is neither knowledge, a world nor the sense that I am the body or the body mine
निरोधादीनि कर्माणि जहाति जडधीर्यदि। मनोरथान् प्रलापांश्च कर्तुमाप्नोत्यतत्क्षणात्॥
No sooner does a man of low intelligence give up activities like the elimination of thought than he falls into mental chariot racing and babble
मन्दः श्रुत्वापि तद्वस्तु न जहाति विमूढतां। निर्विकल्पो बहिर्यत्नाद- न्तर्विषयलालसः॥
A fool does not get rid of his stupidity even on hearing the truth. He may appear outwardly free from imaginations, but inside he is hankering after the senses still
ज्ञानाद् गलितकर्मा यो लोकदृष्ट्यापि कर्मकृत्। नाप्नोत्यवसरं कर्मं वक्तुमेव न किंचन॥
Though in the eyes of the world he is active, the man who has shed action through knowledge finds no means of doing or speaking anything
क्व तमः क्व प्रकाशो वा हानं क्व च न किंचन। निर्विकारस्य धीरस्य निरातंकस्य सर्वदा॥
For the wise man who is always unchanging and fearless there is neither darkness nor light nor destruction, nor anything
क्व धैर्यं क्व विवेकित्वं क्व निरातंकतापि वा। अनिर्वाच्यस्वभावस्य निःस्वभावस्य योगिनः॥
There is neither fortitude, prudence nor courage for the yogi whose nature is beyond description and free of individuality
न स्वर्गो नैव नरको जीवन्मुक्तिर्न चैव हि। बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन योगदृष्ट्या न किंचन॥
There is neither heaven nor hell nor even liberation during life. In a nutshell, in the sight of the seer nothing exists at all
नैव प्रार्थयते लाभं नालाभेनानुशोचति। धीरस्य शीतलं चित्तम- मृतेनैव पूरितम्॥
He neither longs for possessions nor grieves at their absence. The calm mind of the sage is full of the nectar of immortality
न शान्तं स्तौति निष्कामो न दुष्टमपि निन्दति। समदुःखसुखस्तृप्तः किंचित् कृत्यं न पश्यति॥
The dispassionate does not praise the good or blame the wicked. Content and equal in pain and pleasure, he sees nothing that needs doing
धीरो न द्वेष्टि संसारमा- त्मानं न दिदृक्षति। हर्षामर्षविनिर्मुक्तो न मृतो न च जीवति॥
The wise man does not dislike samsara or seek to know himself. Free from pleasure and impatience, he is not dead and he is not alive
निःस्नेहः पुत्रदारादौ निष्कामो विषयेषु च। निश्चिन्तः स्वशरीरेऽपि निराशः शोभते बुधः॥
The wise man stands out by being free from anticipation, without attachment to such things as children or wives, free from desire for the senses, and not even concerned about his own body
तुष्टिः सर्वत्र धीरस्य यथापतितवर्तिनः। स्वच्छन्दं चरतो देशान् यत्रस्तमितशायिनः॥
Peace is everywhere for the wise man who lives on whatever happens to come to him, going to wherever he feels like, and sleeping wherever the sun happens to set
पततूदेतु वा देहो नास्य चिन्ता महात्मनः। स्वभावभूमिविश्रान्ति- विस्मृताशेषसंसृतेः॥
Let his body rise or fall. The great souled one gives it no thought, having forgotten all about samsara in coming to rest on the ground of his true nature
अकिंचनः कामचारो निर्द्वन्द्वश्छिन्नसंशयः। असक्तः सर्वभावेषु केवलो रमते बुधः॥
The wise man has the joy of being complete in himself and without possessions, acting as he pleases, free from duality and rid of doubts, and without attachment to any creature
निर्ममः शोभते धीरः समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः। सुभिन्नहृदयग्रन्थि- र्विनिर्धूतरजस्तमः॥
The wise man excels in being without the sense of 'me'. Earth, a stone or gold are the same to him. The knots of his heart have been rent asunder, and he is freed from greed and blindness
सर्वत्रानवधानस्य न किंचिद् वासना हृदि। मुक्तात्मनो वितृप्तस्य तुलना केन जायते॥
Who can compare with that contented, liberated soul who pays no regard to anything and has no desire left in his heart?
जानन्नपि न जानाति पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति। ब्रुवन्न् अपि न च ब्रूते कोऽन्यो निर्वासनादृते॥
Who but the upright man without desire knows without knowing, sees without seeing and speaks without speaking?
भिक्षुर्वा भूपतिर्वापि यो निष्कामः स शोभते। भावेषु गलिता यस्य शोभनाशोभना मतिः॥
Beggar or king, he excels who is without desire, and whose opinion of things is rid of 'good' and 'bad'
क्व स्वाच्छन्द्यं क्व संकोचः क्व वा तत्त्वविनिश्चयः। निर्व्याजार्जवभूतस्य चरितार्थस्य योगिनः॥
There is neither dissolute behaviour nor virtue, nor even discrimination of the truth for the sage who has reached the goal and is the very embodiment of guileless sincerity
आत्मविश्रान्तितृप्तेन निराशेन गतार्तिना। अन्तर्यदनुभूयेत तत् कथं कस्य कथ्यते॥
How can one describe what is experienced within by one desireless and free from pain, and content to rest in himself - and of whom?
सुप्तोऽपि न सुषुप्तौ च स्वप्नेऽपि शयितो न च। जागरेऽपि न जागर्ति धीरस्तृप्तः पदे पदे॥
The wise man who is contented in all circumstances is not asleep even in deep sleep, not sleeping in a dream, nor waking when he is awake
ज्ञः सचिन्तोऽपि निश्चिन्तः सेन्द्रियोऽपि निरिन्द्रियः। सुबुद्धिरपि निर्बुद्धिः साहंकारोऽनहङ्कृतिः॥
The seer is without thoughts even when thinking, without senses among the senses, without understanding even in understanding and without a sense of responsibility even in the ego
न सुखी न च वा दुःखी न विरक्तो न संगवान्। न मुमुक्षुर्न वा मुक्ता न किंचिन्न्न च किंचन॥
A man with tranquil mind is neither happy nor unhappy, neither detached nor attached. He is neither seeking liberation nor liberated. He is nothing of these, nothing of these
विक्षेपेऽपि न विक्षिप्तः समाधौ न समाधिमान्। जाड्येऽपि न जडो धन्यः पाण्डित्येऽपि न पण्डितः॥
A man with tranquil mind does not get distracted by disturbances, in meditation he does not meditate. A blessed man neither gains stupidity by his worldly acts, nor does he gets wisdom
मुक्तो यथास्थितिस्वस्थः कृतकर्तव्यनिर्वृतः। समः सर्वत्र वैतृष्ण्यान्न स्मरत्यकृतं कृतम्॥
A man with tranquil mind remains established in his self. Being without any duty, he is at peace. He is always the same.As he is without greed, he does not recall what he has done or not done
न प्रीयते वन्द्यमानो निन्द्यमानो न कुप्यति। नैवोद्विजति मरणे जीवने नाभिनन्दति॥
He is neither pleased when praised nor gets upset when blamed. He is neither afraid of death nor attached to life
न धावति जनाकीर्णं नारण्यं उपशान्तधीः। यथातथा यत्रतत्र सम एवावतिष्ठते॥
A man at peace does not run off to popular resorts or to the forest. Wherever, he remains in whatever condition he exists with a tranquil mind.