10. Chapter 10 — Quietude
Verses 1–8
10.1
अष्टावक्र उवाच — aṣṭāvakra uvāca
विहाय वैरिणं काममर्थं चानर्थसंकुलं ।
धर्ममप्येतयोर्हेतुं सर्वत्रादरं कुरु ॥
vihāya vairiṇaṃ kāmamarthaṃ cānarthasaṃkulaṃ ।
dharmamapyetayorhetuṃ sarvatrādaraṃ kuru ॥
Be indifferent to everything having given up Kama (desire) the enemy, Artha (worldly prosperity) which is attended with mischief as well as Dharma (good works) which is the cause of these two.
10.2
स्वप्नेन्द्रजालवत् पश्य दिनानि त्रीणि पंच वा ।
मित्रक्षेत्रधनागारदारदायादिसंपदः ॥
svapnendrajālavat paśya dināni trīṇi paṃca vā ।
mitrakṣetradhanāgāradāradāyādisaṃpadaḥ ॥
Look upon friends, lands, wealth, houses, wives, presents and such other good fortunes as a dream or a juggler’s show, lasting three or five days.
10.3
यत्र यत्र भवेत्तृष्णा संसारं विद्धि तत्र वै ।
प्रौढवैराग्यमाश्रित्य वीततृष्णः सुखी भव ॥
yatra yatra bhavettṛṣṇā saṃsāraṃ viddhi tatra vai ।
prauḍhavairāgyamāśritya vītatṛṣṇaḥ sukhī bhava ॥
Know wherever there is desire there is the world. Betaking yourself to firm non-attachment, go beyond desire and be happy.
10.4
तृष्णामात्रात्मको बन्धस्तन्नाशो मोक्ष उच्यते ।
भवासंसक्तिमात्रेण प्राप्तितुष्टिर्मुहुर्मुहुः ॥
tṛṣṇāmātrātmako bandhastannāśo mokṣa ucyate ।
bhavāsaṃsaktimātreṇa prāptituṣṭirmuhurmuhuḥ ॥
Bondage consists only in desire and its destruction is said to be liberation. By non-attachment to the world alone is attained constant joy of the realization (of the Self).
10.5
त्वमेकश्चेतनः शुद्धो जडं विश्वमसत्तथा ।
अविद्यापि न किंचित्सा का बुभुत्सा तथापि ते ॥
tvamekaścetanaḥ śuddho jaḍaṃ viśvamasattathā ।
avidyāpi na kiṃcitsā kā bubhutsā tathāpi te ॥
You are One, Pure Intelligence. The universe is non-intelligent and unreal. Ignorance also is not anything. Yet what desire to know can there be for you?
10.6
राज्यं सुताः कलत्राणि शरीराणि सुखानि च ।
संसक्तस्यापि नष्टानि तव जन्मनि जन्मनि ॥
rājyaṃ sutāḥ kalatrāṇi śarīrāṇi sukhāni ca ।
saṃsaktasyāpi naṣṭāni tava janmani janmani ॥
Kingdom, sons, wives, bodies and pleasures have been lost to you birth after birth, even though you were attached {to them).
10.7
अलमर्थेन कामेन सुकृतेनापि कर्मणा ।
एभ्यः संसारकान्तारे न विश्रान्तमभून् मनः ॥
alamarthena kāmena sukṛtenāpi karmaṇā ।
ebhyaḥ saṃsārakāntāre na viśrāntamabhūn manaḥ ॥
Enough of prosperity, desire and pious deed. The mind did not find repose in these in the dreary forest of the world.
10.8
कृतं न कति जन्मानि कायेन मनसा गिरा ।
दुःखमायासदं कर्म तदद्याप्युपरम्यताम् ॥
kṛtaṃ na kati janmāni kāyena manasā girā ।
duḥkhamāyāsadaṃ karma tadadyāpyuparamyatām ॥
For how many births have you not done hard and painful work with your body, mind and speech!. Therefore cease at least to-day.