Vairāgya-śatakam

etasmād viramendriyārtha-gahanād āyāsakād āśraya

etasmād viramendriyārtha-gahanād āyāsakād āśraya
śreyo-mārgam aśeṣa-duḥkha-śamana-vyāpāra-dakṣaṁ kṣaṇāt |
svātmībhāvam upaihi santyaja nijāṁ kallola-lolaṁ gatiṁ
mā bhūyo bhaja bhaṅgurāṁ bhava-ratiṁ cetaḥ prasīdādhunā ||
(Vairāgya-śatakam: 63)

“Therefore,

Desist from the troublesome labyrinth

Of the sense-objects.

Take shelter in the path

Of the highest good (śreyas),

Capable in the matter of extinguishing

Endless suffering within a moment.

Reach the state of your own self,

Abandoning your own [present] condition,

Inconstant like a wave.

Do not again

Foster transient affinity for the world

[Much less partake of transient pleasures of the world based on it].

O mind,

Be satisfied now.”

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paribhramasi kiṁ mudhā kvacana citta viśrāmyatāṁ

paribhramasi kiṁ mudhā kvacana citta viśrāmyatāṁ
svayaṁ bhavati yad yathā bhavati tat tathā nānyathā |
atītam ananusmarann api ca bhāvy asaṅkalpayann
atarkita-samāgamān anubhavāmi bhogān aham ||
(Vairāgya-śatakam: 62)

“Why do you wander about in vain?

O Mind!

Rest somewhere.

Whatever happens of its own accord

Happens howsoever

And not otherwise.

[So,] Not repeatedly recalling the past,

And not planning in regard to the future,

I experience unconsidered, approaching objects.

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ādityasya gatāgatair ahar ahaḥ saṁkṣīyate jīvitaṁ

ādityasya gatāgatair ahar ahaḥ saṁkṣīyate jīvitaṁ
vyāpārair bahu-kārya-bhāra-gurubhiḥ kālo’pi na jñāyate |
dṛṣṭvā janma-jarā-vipatti-maraṇaṁ trāsaś ca notpadyate
pītvā mohamayīṁ pramāda-madirām unmatta-bhūtaṁ jagat ||
(Vairāgya-śatakam: 43)

“With the rising and setting of the sun day by day, life is passing away. With affairs heavy with the burden of numerous tasks, the time is also unrecognized [as it passes away]. And [even] after having observed birth, old age, misfortune, and death [occurring all around], [still] fear is not arising [in the people’s mind]. Having drunk the intoxicating wine of remiss, the world has become mad.”

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vayam iha parituṣṭā valkalais tvaṁ dukūlaiḥ

vayam iha parituṣṭā valkalais tvaṁ dukūlaiḥ
sama iha paritoṣo nirviśeṣo viṣeśaḥ |
sa tu bhavatu daridro yasya tṛṣṇā viśālā
manasi ca parituṣṭe ko’rthavān ko daridraḥ ||
(Vairāgya-śatakam: 53)

“Here [i.e., in the forest], we [i.e., ascetics] are fully satisfied with bark garments, and you [O King, are fully satisfied in your palace] with fine raiments. In this regard, the full satisfaction [we both feel] is the same. The distinction [between the means of our satisfaction] is insignificant. He, rather, should be [considered] poor whose desires are vast. When the mind is fully satisfied, who is rich? Who is poor?”

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bhogā na bhuktā vayam eva bhuktāḥ

bhogā na bhuktā vayam eva bhuktāḥ
tapo na taptaṁ vayam eva taptāḥ |
kālo na yāto vayam eva yātās
tṛṣṇā na jīrṇā vayam eva jīrṇāḥ ||
(Vairāgya-śatakam of Bhartṛhari: 7)

“Pleasures [alt., foods] have not been consumed. We ourselves have been consumed [by them].
Austerities have not been practiced [lit., ‘inflamed‘]. We ourselves have been inflamed.
Time has not passed by. We ourselves have passed by.
Desires have not wasted away. We ourselves have wasted away.”

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