Contemplations – Bhartri Hari

Bhartri Hari

Index of Topics

A biased person cannot see logic	Labeta sikataasu tailamapi	लभेत सिकतासु तैलमपि
A fool cannot be satisfied	Prahasya maṇimudhdarenam	प्रसह्य मणिमुद्धरेन्मकर
Brave persons never deviate	Nindantu neetinipuṇaa	निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणा यदिवा स्तुवन्तु
Desire stays youthful	Valeebhirmukham	वलीभिर्मुखमाक्रान्तं पलितेनाङ्कितं
Don’t be a burden to the planet	Yeṣhaam na vidyaa	येषां न विद्या न तपो न दानं
Don’t be fooled by jewels & perfume	Keyooraaṇi na bhooṣhayanti	केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं
Even God cannot convince a fool	Agyah sukhamaaraadhyah	अज्ञः सुखमाराध्यः
Even pleasure has fun with us	Bhogaa na bhuktaa	भोगा न भुक्ता वयमेव भुक्ताः
Every action has its reaction	Aakraantam maraṇena janma	आक्रान्तं मरणेन जन्म
For how long should we worship	Yaavat-svastham-idam	यावत्स्वस्थमिदं शरीरमरुजं
Give up desires voluntarily	Avashyam yaataarash	अवश्यं यातारश्चिरतरमुषित्वापि
Half of life is spent in sleep	Aayur-varṣhshatam nriṇaam	आयुर्वर्षशतं नृणां परिमितं
Like a moth to fire	Ajaanandaahaatmyam patatu	अजानन्दाहात्म्यं पततु
Like a droplet at the tip of a leaf	Bhogaa meghavitaanam	भोगा मेघवितानम
Life is wasted if not put to good use	Na dhyaatam padamishvarasya	न ध्यातं पदमीश्वरस्य
Mind, why do you wander away?	Paribhramasi kim mudhaa	परिभ्रमसि किं मुधा क्वचन
Some quit while others succeed	Prarabhyate na khalu	प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्नभयेन नीचैः
Three kinds of people	Ete satpuruṣhaah paraartha	एते सत्पुरुषाः परार्थघटकाः
Time passes by	Aadityasya gataagatairaharah	आदित्यस्य गतागतैरहरहः
Trees offer their fruits	Bhavanti namraastarava	भवन्ति नम्रास्तरव फलोद्गमैः
We enslave ourselves to others	Phalam svechhaa-abhayam	फलं स्वेच्छालभ्यं प्रतिवनमखेदं
Worship voluntarily	Kshaantam na kshama	क्षान्तं न क्षमया गृहोचितसुखं

Don’t be a burden to the planet

येषां न विद्या न तपो न दानं ज्ञानं न शीलं न गुणो न धर्मः ।
ते मर्त्यलोके भुवि भारभूता मनुष्यरूपेण मृगाश्चरन्ति ॥

Those who have neither knowledge nor penance, nor liberty, nor knowledge, nor good conduct, nor virtue, nor the observance of duties, pass their life in this world of mortals like beasts in human form and are only a burden on the planet.

येषाम् those न not विद्या wisdom, learning, knowledge न not तप religious austerity न not दान charity ज्ञान knowledge न not शीलम् morality न not गुण virtues, talent न not धर्मः righteous lifestyle, religion ते they मृत्युलोक the (earth) realm/world where death occurs भुवि the earth भार burden भूता become मनुष्य human beings रूपेण in the form of मृगा deer/wild animal like deer चरन्ति grazing living, moving

Don’t be fooled by jewels and perfume

केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चंद्रोज्ज्वला
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालंकृताः मूर्धजाः ।
वाण्येका समलंकरोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
क्षीयन्तेऽखिलभूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ॥

Bracelets do not really decorate a person, nor do necklaces glittering like the moon, nor bath, nor smearing the body with fragrance, nor flowers, nor decorated hair, Only that speech embellishes a person, which has been refined by education. Indeed, all false ornaments decay; the only real precious item is speech.

केयूराणी bracelets (of upper arm) न not भूषयन्ति adorn, decorate पुरुषम् person हारा garlands/necklaces चन्द्रोज्ज्वला ornament shining like the moon न not स्नानम् bath न विलेपनम् not smearing with fragrant oils कुसुमम् flower न अलंकृत not decorated मूर्धजाः hair, hairstyle वाणी speech एक alone समलङ्करोति highly decorates पुरुषम् person या which संस्कृता cultured, refined language धार्यते is held/upheld, is worn क्षीयन्ते decay, destroyed, made insignificant खलु indeed भोषणानि ornaments/jewel/precious item सततम् always, continuous, uninterrupted वाक् speech भूषणम् ornament/decoration/jewel भूषणम् ornment/decoration

Some quit while others succeed

प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्नभयेन नीचैः
प्रारभ्य विघ्नविहता विरमन्ति मध्याः ।
विघ्नैः पुनः पुनरपि प्रतिहन्यमानाः
प्रारब्धमुत्तमगुणा न परित्यजन्ति ॥

There are three categories of people when contemplating any action: those who never start off for fear of encountering obstacles; those who start but at the slightest hint of obstacles would abandon the task; Those who, in spite of repeated obstacles, persist in their endeavor until they achieve success.

प्रारभ् begin, commence, undertake ते they न not खलु indeed विघ्न any difficulty or trouble, agitated भय fear नीचैः below, low, down विहता repulse, reject impede, warded off विरमन्ति pause, stopping मध्याः center पुनः again पुनरपि on the other hand, also प्रतिहन् to be beaten back, to be deprived, to keep away प्रारब्ध one who has commenced or begun, undertaken उत्तम best, excellent गुणाः values परित्यजन् abandoning, causing to abandon

Trees offer their fruits

भवन्ति नम्रास्तरव फलोद्गमैः
नवांबुभिर्भूमिविलंबिनो घनाः ।
अनुद्धता सत्पुरुषाः समृद्धिभिः
स्वभाव एवैष परोपकारिणाम् ॥

Tress laden with fruits bend down (so that people may enjoy the fruits). Clouds laden with water come down (in the form of rain cooling the earth and watering plants and trees). In the same way noble men do not become conceited when fortune embraces them but use their wealth to help others. This is the nature of persons who are always eager to be of help to fellow humans.

भवन्ति present time नम्र humbly, humility आस्तरव spreading फलोद्गम development of fruits, spread of fruits नवाम्बु fresh water भिर् timidly भूमि earth विलम्बिन् hung with, pendulous, hanging down घनाः dense, bushy अनुद्धत humble सत्पुरुषाः good and wise person समृद्धिभिः thrive, grow, plenty of, opulence स्वभाव nature, inherent nature एवैष endeavor परोपकारिणाम् beneficient, benevolent, assisting others

Brave persons never deviate

निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणा यदिवा स्तुवन्तु
लक्ष्मीः समाविशातु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम् ।
अद्यैव वा मरणमस्तु युगान्तरे वा
न्यायात्पथात्प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः ॥

Those of courage and determination will not ever deviate from the righteous path whether knowers of codes of conduct (neeti nipunaah) praise or blame them, whether Goddess Lakshmi (wealth) comes to them or leaves them, whether death comes immediately or after ages.

निन्दन्तु blame, censure, reproach नीति ethics, behavior निपुण good, expert, master यत् that, because इव like, as if, as स्तुवन्तु praise लक्ष्मीः goddess समाविशातु come, enter गच्छतु go वा or यथेष्टम् at pleasure अद्यैव this very day, at this time वा or मरणम् death अस्तु is so युगान्तरे another period, another age वा or न्याय law, justice, rule न्यायपथ different philosophical system प्रविचलति desist from, swerve from पदं step, concept न no, not धीराः brave, steady, firm, patience

Even God cannot convince a fool

अज्ञः सुखमाराध्यः
सुखतरमाराध्य्ते विशेषज्ञ: ।
ज्ञानलवदुर्विदग्धं
ब्रह्मापि तं नरं न रञ्जयति ॥

The ignorant one is easily convinced. It is easier to convince a really knowledgeable person. But even God will not be able to convince a fool who, with his half-baked knowledge, thinks that he is the wisest person in the world.

अज्ञः ignorance, ignorant person सुखम easy, joyful आराधय convince, satisfy, homage सुखतरम् easier आराधय convince, satisfy विशेषज्ञ: expert, knowledgeable person ज्ञान knowledge लव loss दुर्विदग्धम् wrongly taught, silly ब्रह्म God, creator अपि also, even तम् to him नरम् man, person न no, not रञ्जयति gratify, is able to satisfy

A biased person cannot see logic

लभेत सिकतासु तैलमपि यत्नतः पीडयन्
पिबेच्च मृगतृष्णिकासु सलिलं पिपासार्दितः ।
कदाचिदपि पर्यटन्शशविषाणमासादयेन्
न तु प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ॥ ५॥

With enough effort, one may extract oil by squeezing sand; one can possibly drink water at a mirage; one may even spot a rabbit with horns while roaming the world. But, it is impossible to get a prejudiced person to see logic.

लभेत one may get सिकतासु sand तैलम oil अपि also, even यत्नतः with effort, diligently पीडयन् squeeze, with force पिबेच्च may, maybe मृगतृष्णिका mirage सलिलम् rainwater, water पिपासार्दितः thirsty person कदाचित् sometime अपि even पर्यटन wandering, traveling, roaming शशविषानम् absurdity असदायेत् approaching, may get न तु but not प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्ख obstinate fool जन know चित्त mind आराधय convince, satisfy

A fool cannot be satisfied

प्रसह्य मणिमुद्धरेन्मकरवक्त्रदंष्ट्राङ्कुरात्समुद्रमपि संतरेत्प्रचलदुर्मिमालाकुलम् ॥
भुजङ्गमपि कोपितं शिरसि पुष्पवद्धारयेन्न तु प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ॥

With enough courage, one could extract the pearl stuck in between the crooked teeth of a crocodile. One can even sail across an ocean that is filled with treacherous huge waves. One may even be able to wear an angry snake on one’s head as if it were a flower. But, it is impossible to satisfy an obstinate fool.

प्रसह्य with force, using force मणिमुद्धरेन् jewel, pearl मकर crocodile वक्त्र spout, snout दंष्ट्रा large and crooked teeth अङ्कुर blood, water समुद्रमपि even the sea संतरेत् crossing प्रचलदुर्मिमालाकुलम् wide and treacherous waves भुजङ्गम serpent अपि even कोपितं furious, enraged शिरसि head पुष्पवत् like a flower न not तु you प्रतिनिविष्टमूर्ख obstinate fool जन know चित्त mind आराधय convince, satisfy

Three kinds of people

एते सत्पुरुषाः परार्थघटकाः स्वार्थं परित्यज्य ये
सामान्यास्तु परार्थमुद्यमभृतः स्वार्थाविरोधेन ये ।
तेऽमी मानवराक्षसाः परहितं स्वार्थाय विघ्नन्ति ये
ये विघ्नन्ति निरर्थकं परहितं ते के न जानीमहे ॥

There are three kinds of people: Satpurusha – those good and wise persons who help others without thinking about themselves. Saamaanya – those that help by expecting something in return, and Maanav raakshasa rogues, fiend, demons in human form; those who worsen other people’s lives for their own sake.

एते this सत्पुरुषाः good and wise person परार्थघटकाः exerting oneself for others, striving for others (परार्थ designed for others घटकाः exerting for) स्वार्थं self-interest परित्यज्य excepting, to be given up, at a distance from सामान्य usual, normal, common, equality अस्तु be it so परार्थम् for others उद्यमभृत् striving hard, exertion स्वार्थ self-interest, directed to self अविरोध in consistent with, concurrence मानवराक्षसाः rogue, fiend in human form परहितं friendly, benevolent स्वार्थ self-interest विघ्न obstacle निरर्थकं useless, vain, nonsensical जानीमहे man

Even pleasure has fun with us

भोगा न भुक्ता वयमेव भुक्ताः
तपो न तप्तं वयमेव तप्ताः ।
कालो न यातो वयमेव याता-
स्तृष्णा न जीर्णा वयमेव जीर्णाः ॥ ७॥

In our efforts to enjoy pleasures, pleasure has had a pleasurable time with us. In our efforts to perform austerities, we ourselves have been performed. In our efforts to enjoy time, time has gone by. While the force of our desire is not reduced, we have been reduced to age.

भोगा worldly pleasures न not भुक्ता enjoyed वयं एव we ourselves भुक्ताः eaten up तपः austerities न not तप्तं performed वयं एव we ourselves तप्ताः burnt कालः time न not यातः gone वयं एव we ourselves याताः gone तृष्णा desire न not जीर्णा reduced वयं we एव alone जीर्णाः aged

Desire alone stays youthful

वलीभिर्मुखमाक्रान्तं पलितेनाङ्कितं शिरः ।
गात्राणि शिथिलायन्ते तृष्णैका तरुणायते ॥

The face may be covered with wrinkles, the head becomes white with gray hair, the limbs become feeble and weak, but yet Desire alone stays youthful.

वली with wrinkles मुखं face आक्रान्तं attacked पलितेन grey hair अङ्कितं painted white शिरः head गात्राणि limbs शिथिलायन्ते enfeebled तृष्णैका desire alone तरुणायते rejuvenating

Give up desires voluntarily

अवश्यं यातारश्चिरतरमुषित्वापि विषया
वियोगे को भेदस्त्यजति न जनो यत्स्वयममून् ।
व्रजन्तः स्वातन्त्र्यादतुलपरितापाय मनसः
स्वयं त्यक्ता ह्येते शमसुखमनन्तं विदधति ॥

Sensual pleasures will surely leave at some time, even if they are with us for a long time – they will still leave. So, what difference does it make if people discard them by their own choice? The mind is badly afflicted if pleasures leave us of their own accord (because the mind then becomes addicted to them). However, if people renounce them voluntarily, such self-control gives infinite bliss.

अवश्यं certainly यातारः gone चिरतरं long time उषित्वापि even after staying विषया sensual pleasures वियोगे departure कः what भेदः difference त्यजति give up न not जनः people यत्स्वयममून् that of their own accord व्रजन्तः leave स्वातन्त्र्यात् on their own अतुल incomparable परितापाय misery मनसः mental स्वयं by themselves त्यक्ता give up ह्येते verily these शम self-control सुखं happiness अनन्तं infinite विदधति specially give

Like a moth to fire, we yield to desire

अजानन्दाहात्म्यं पततु शलभस्तीव्रदहने
स मीनोऽप्यज्ञानाद्वडिशयुतमश्नातु पिशितम् ।
विजानन्तोऽप्येते वयमिह विपज्जालजटिलान्
न मुञ्चामः कामानहह गहनो मोहमहिमा ॥

Not aware of its burning power, a moth flies into the fire. Being ignorant of the hook, a fish eats the bait. But us humans, even with intellectual understanding and fully knowing the complexity and danger of attachment to sensuality and pleasure, we refuse to give it up. How profound is the glory of delusion.

अजानन् not knowing दाहात्म्यं burning power पततु falls शलभः moth तीव्र glowing दहने in fire स that मीनः fish अपि also अज्ञानाद् due to ignorance वडिश fishhook युतं with अश्नातु fish also due to ignorance eats from the hook पिशितं bait विजानन्तः intellectual understanding अपि even एते herewith वयमिह we here विपज्जालजटिलान् complex and dangerous न not मुञ्चामः give up कामानहह sensuality गहनः profound मोहमहिमा power of delusion

We enslave ourselves to others

फलं स्वेच्छालभ्यं प्रतिवनमखेदं क्षितिरुहां
पयः स्थाने स्थाने शिशिरमधुरं पुण्यसरिताम् ।
मृदुस्पर्शा शय्या सुललितलतापल्लवमयी
सहन्ते सन्तापं तदपि धनिनां द्वारि कृपणाः ॥

With fruits available at will in every place of trees, and cool, sweet water from holy streams in every place, and a bed that can be made of tender leaves and twigs, yet still those who are miserable people seek to endure sorrow at the gates of the rich.

फलम् fruit स्वेच्छा at will लभ्यम् got प्रतिवनम् in every forest अखेदम् without sorrow क्षितिरुहाम् walk on the earth पयः water स्थाने place शिशिरमधुरम् cool, sweet पुण्यसरिताम् holy streams मृदुस्पर्शा soft to touch शय्या bed सुललित tender लता creepers पल्लवमयी made of twigs सहन्ते suffer सन्तापम् grief तदपि still धनिनाम् of the wealthy द्वारि at the doors कृपणाः pitiable

Every action has its reaction

आक्रान्तं मरणेन जन्म जरसा चात्युज्ज्वलं यौवनं
सन्तोषो धनलिप्सया शमसुखं प्रौढाङ्गनाविभ्रमैः ।
लोकैर्मत्सरिभिर्गुणा वनभुवो व्यालैर्नृपा दुर्जनैः
अस्थैर्येण विभूतयोऽप्युपहता ग्रस्तं न किं केन वा ॥

Birth is ultimately taken over by death; energetic youthful days get overtaken by old age; contentment is overtaken by greed for wealth; our peace of mind becomes overcome by the seduction of the opposite gender; virtues are overtaken by the envy of others; forests are overrun by beasts of prey; kings are overcome by unscrupulousness; and even fame by instability. Indeed, is there anything on earth that is not afflicted by something?

आक्रान्तम् attacked, overrun, taken over मरणेन by death जन्म birth जरसा by old age च and अति exceedingly उज्वलम् bright यौवनम् youth सन्तोषः joy, contentment धनलिप्सया by greed शमसुखम् joy of self-control प्रौढ clever अङ्गना women विभ्रमैः wiles लोकैः people’s मत्सरिभिः envy गुणा virtues वनभुवः forests व्यालैः by beasts of prey नृपा दुर्जनैः kings by the unscrupulous अस्थैर्येण by transience, instability विभूतयः powers अपि even उपहता destroyed ग्रस्तं afflicted by न not किं what केन by what वा indeed

Like a droplet at the tip of a leaf

भोगा मेघवितानमध्यविलसत्सौदामिनीचञ्चला
आयुर्वायुविघट्टिताब्जपटलीलीनाम्बुवद्भङ्गुरम् ।
लोला यौवनलालसास्तनुभृतामित्याकलय्य द्रुतं
योगे धैर्यसमाधिसिद्धसुलभे बुद्धिं विधध्वं बुधाः ॥

Sensual pleasures are as fickle as the flash of lightning in the clouds. Life can collapse as easily as the drop of water on the edge of a lotus leaf swayed by the wind; so fickle is the longings in our youth stage of life. Quickly realizing this, let the wise ones engage their minds in equanimity, attained easily by courage.

भोगा enjoyments मेघवितानमध्य in a mass of clouds विलसत् play सौदामिनी lightning चञ्चला fleeting quick आयुः life वायु wind विघट्टित dispersed अब्ज lotus पटली leaf लीन attached अम्बुवत् like water भङ्गुरं insecure लोला unsteady यौवन youth लालसाः desires तनु body भृतां bearing इति thus आकलय्य realising द्रुतं speedily योगे in union with the Divine धैर्य patience समाधि equanimity सिद्ध attained सुलभे easily बुद्धिं mind/intellect विधध्वं fix बुधाः wise ones

Time passes by

आदित्यस्य गतागतैरहरहः संक्षीयते जीवितं
व्यापारैर्बहुकार्यभारगुरुभिः कालोऽपि न ज्ञायते ।
दृष्ट्वा जन्मजराविपत्तिमरणं त्रासश्च नोत्पद्यते
पीत्वा मोहमयीं प्रमादमदिरामुन्मत्तभूतं जगत् ॥

As the sun rises and sets every day, so life ebbs away. Time passes by unknowingly under the burden of all types of activities that we become engrossed in. If we observe birth, life, fear, old age, and even in death, see shall that the world has become lost in the delusion of intoxication from the addiction of constantly drinking the wine of infatuation and attachment.

आदित्यस्य of the sun गतागतैः going and coming अहरहः day after day संक्षीयते shortens जीवितं life व्यापारैः affairs बहुकार्य many duties भार burden गुरुभिः heavy कालोऽपि even time न not ज्ञायते not felt दृष्ट्वा seeing जन्म birth जरा old age विपत्ति calamity मरणं death त्रासः fear च and नोत्पद्यते not produce पीत्वा drinking मोहमयीं producing delusion प्रमाद stupefying मदिरां wine उन्मत्त mad भूतं become जगत् world

Life is wasted if not put to use

न ध्यातं पदमीश्वरस्य विधिवत्संसारविच्छित्तये
स्वर्गद्वारकवाटपाटनपटुर्धर्मोऽपि नोपार्जितः ।
नारी पीनपयोधरोरुयुगलं स्वप्नेऽपि नालिङ्गितं
मातुः केवलमेव यौवनवनच्छेदे कुठारा वयम् ॥

How can we break away from the bondage of this world, when we have not meditated on the Lord’s feet; nor have we performed such good acts to acquire merits enough to open heaven’s gates. So engrossed we are in infatuations and dreams which remain unreal so that in a dream we can never physically acquire a woman’s body. With the failure to break away from the bondages of life, our human birth only served the purpose of an axe to have cut the bloom of our mother’s youth.

न not ध्यातं meditated on पदमीश्वरस्य the Lord’s feet विधिवत् in prescribed form संसार wheel of life विच्छित्तये for destroying the (bondage) of the world स्वर्ग heaven द्वारकवाट panels of the door पाटनपटुः dextrous in breaking open धर्मः merit अपि even नोपार्जितः not accumulated नारी woman पीन rounded पयोधरः breasts युगलंम् pair उरु thigh स्वप्नेऽपि even in dream नालिङ्गितं embraced मातुः mother केवलं essentially एव only यौवन youth वन garden च्छेदे destroying कुठारा hatchet वयम् we

Half of life is spent in sleep

आयुर्वर्षशतं नृणां परिमितं रात्रौ तदर्धं गतं
तस्यार्धस्य परस्य चार्धमपरं बालत्ववृद्धत्वयोः ।
शेषं व्याधिवियोगदुःखसहितं सेवादिभिर्नीयते
जीवे वारितरङ्गचञ्चलतरे सौख्यं कुतः प्राणिनाम् ॥

We have a limited life span and half of our life is spent in hours of darkness. Our life is divided between childhood and old age, illness and good health, meeting and parting, sorrow and happiness, looking after ourselves, and begrudging service to others. Of where is true happiness when life is as fickle as ripples upon the water?

आयुः = life वर्ष = years शतं = 100 नृणां = humans परिमितं limited रात्रौ nights तदर्धं half गतं spent तस्य of that अर्ध्यस्य half परस्य other च and अर्धं half अपरं again बालत्व childhood वृद्धत्वयोः in old age शेषं remainder व्याधि illness वियोग separation दुःख sorrow सहितं along with सेवादिभिः serving others नीयते takes जीवे in life वारि water तरङ्ग ripples चञ्चलतरे fluctuating rapidly सौख्यं happiness कुतः where प्राणिनां of creatures

O my Mind, why do you wander away?

परिभ्रमसि किं मुधा क्वचन चित्त विश्राम्यतां
स्वयं भवति यद्यथा भवति तत्तथा नान्यथा ।
अतीतमननुस्मरन्नपि च भाव्यसंकल्पयन्
नतर्कितसमागमाननुभवामि भोगानहम् ॥

Why do you wander around, Oh Mind? Where and on what thought can you focus and become calm and still? Whatever is happening, that is what will happen, and not otherwise, whether you are agitated or not. With such calmness and not spending time debating the indulgence of past memories and future desires will we truly enjoy real happiness and contentment.

परिभ्रम wandering, going about असि as किम् why मुधा mind क्व where क्वचन somewhere चित्त mind विश्रम् relax, rest विश्राम्यताम् for rest स्वयम् yourself यद्यथा whatever भवति happens तत्तथा that thus नान्यथा not otherwise अतीत past मननुस्मरन्नपि mental memories recalled च and भाव्य future संकल्पयन् desiring नतर्कित without debating समागमान् coming on their own अनुभवामि experience भोगान् enjoyments अहम् I

How long should we worship?

यावत्स्वस्थमिदं शरीरमरुजं यावज्जरा दूरतो
यावच्चेन्द्रियशक्तिरप्रतिहता यावत्क्षयो नायुषः ।
आत्मश्रेयसि तावदेव विदुषा कार्यः प्रयत्नो महान्
संदीप्ते भवने तु कूपखननं प्रत्युद्यमः कीदृशः ॥

For how long shall we seek the Supreme Soul? So long as our body is healthy and alive, so long as we are not senile, so long as we are able to use our senses, so long as we are so comatose, so long as our life is not in decay, so long as there is life, then we should be wise enough to continue to make efforts towards our Soul’s welfare. What is the use of digging a well after a house is already on fire?

यावत् as long as स्वस्थं free from disease इदं this शरीरं body अरुजं decrepitude यावत् as long as जरा old age दूरतः far off यावत् as long as च and इन्द्रिय organs शक्तिः strength अप्रतिहता unaffected यावत् so long as क्षयः decay न not अयुषः life आत्मश्रेयसि for one’s own supreme welfare तावत् till then एव alone विदुषा wise कार्यः deeds प्रयत्नः efforts महान् great संदीप्ते on fire भवने house तु indeed कूप well खननं digging प्रत्युद्यमः setting about कीदृशः what avails

Make your worship voluntarily

क्षान्तं न क्षमया गृहोचितसुखं त्यक्तं न संतोषतः
सोढा दुःसहशीतवाततपनक्लेशा न तप्तं तपः ।
ध्यातं वित्तमहर्निशं नियमितप्राणैर्न शम्भोः पदं
तत्तत्कर्म कृतं यदेव मुनिभिस्तैस्तैः फलैर्वञ्चिताः ॥

We sometimes forgive others because we have to; not because we should. We give up comforts and other things because we cannot afford them, not because we are making the sacrifice; we endure pain and discomfort, heat and cold not through tapas and penance; we focus on wealth night and day. we ask for wealth all the time, but we do not meditate or control our breathing or focus on the Almighty. We fool ourselves that, like saints, we practice kshama (forgiveness), tapas (renunciation) and dhyaana (worship) but we really do them as a necessity instead of a voluntary practice. Liberation of the soul comes to the saints because they voluntarily perform these acts. Such liberation could not come to us unless we change our ways.

क्षान्तं forgiven न not क्षमया forgiveness गृहोचितसुखं comforts of home-life त्यक्तं renounced न not संतोषतः with contentment सोढा tolerated, suffered, overcome दुःसह inclement शीत cold वात wind तपन heat क्लेशा suffered inclement weather न not तप्तं heated तपः austerities ध्यातं meditating वित्तं money अहर्निशं day and night नियमित controlled प्राणैः breath and vital forces न not शम्भोः of Shiva पदं feet तत्तत्कर्म those very acts कृतं done यदेव which verily मुनिभिः by reclusive saints तैस्तैः those only फलैः of good results वञ्चिताः deprived of