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Book 1 - Vairagya Prakaranam

Chapter 27 — The Vanity of the World

1. श्रीराम उवाच ।
अन्यच्च ताताऽतितरामरम्ये मनोरमे चेह जगत्स्वरूपे ।
न किंचिदायाति तदर्थजातं येनातिविश्रान्तिमुपैति चेतः ॥ १ ॥
Sri Rama said:
O sage! this seemingly pleasing but actually unpleasant world, has nothing in it that is productive of such a thing as can afford tranquility to the soul.
2. बाल्ये गते कल्पितकेलिलोले मनोमृगे दारदरीषु जीर्णे ।
शरीरके जर्जरतां प्रयाते विदूयते केवलमेव लोकः ॥ २ ॥
After the playful boyhood is over, the mind wastes itself in the society of women like the deer fallen in a cavern, then the body bends down under old age, and the man has only to grieve (for his folly).
3. जरातुषाराभिहतां शरीरसरोजिनीं दूरतरे विमुच्य ।
क्षणाद्गते जीवितचञ्चरीके जनस्य संसारसरोऽवशुष्कम् ॥ ३ ॥
As the body is stricken with the frost of old age, its beauty flies afar from it like the bloom of the fading lotus, and then the fountain of man’s worldliness is at once dried up.
4. यदा यदा पाकमुपैति नूनं तदा तदेयं रतिमातनोति ।
जराभराऽनल्पनवप्रसूना विजर्जरा कायलता नराणाम् ॥ ४ ॥
As the body gets towards its decline, so much does death rejoice in it. The body grows lean with grey hairs upon the head, just as a creeper fades away with the flowers upon it.
5. तृष्णानदी सारतरप्रवाहग्रस्ताखिलानन्तपदार्थजाता ।
तटस्थसंतोषसुवृक्षमूलनिकाषदक्षा वहतीह लोके ॥ ५ ॥
All living creatures are borne away by the stream of avarice, which upsets the tree of contentment growing on the bank and flows on for ever in this world.
6. शारीरनौश्चर्मनिबन्धबद्धा भवाम्बुधावालुलिता भ्रमन्ती ।
प्रलोड्यते पञ्चभिरिन्द्रियाख्यैरधोभवन्ती मकरैरधीरा ॥ ६ ॥
Human body is like a vessel covered with skin; and glides over the ocean of the world (without its helmsman of reason). It is tossed about by sensual pleasures, and goes down under the water by the pressure of its whale-like passions.
7. तृष्णालताकाननचारिणोऽमी शाखाशतं काममहीरुहेषु ।
परिभ्रमन्तः क्षपयन्ति कालं मनोमृगा नो फलमाप्नुवन्ति ॥ ७ ॥
The world is a wilderness abounding in creepers of avarice and trees of sensuality, with hundreds of desires as their branches. Our minds like monkeys pass their time in roving about this forest without getting the fruits (they seek).
8. कृच्छ्रेषु दूरास्तविषादमोहाः स्वास्थ्येषु नोत्सिक्तमनोभिरामाः ।
सुदुर्लभाः संप्रति सुन्दरीभिः रनाहतान्तःकरणा महान्तः ॥ ८ ॥
Those that do not yield to grief in troubles, that are not elated with prosperity, nor smitten at heart by women, are rare in this world.
9. तरन्ति मातङ्गघटातरङ्गं रणाम्बुधिं ये मयि ते न शूराः ।
शूरास्त एवेह मनस्तरङ्गं देहेन्द्रियाम्भोधिमिमं तरन्ति ॥ ९ ॥
Those who fight boldly in the battle fields and withstand the war-elephants, are not so very brave in my opinion, as those who withstand the surges of the mind amidst the streams of carnal appetites.
10. अक्लिष्टपर्यन्तफलाभिरामा न दृश्यते कस्यचिदेव काचित् ।
क्रियादुराशाहतचित्तवृत्तिर्यामेत्य विश्रान्तिमुपैति लोकः ॥ १० ॥
I see no such deeds in the world which endure to the last (or final emancipation) of men. Actions proceeding from a desire of fruition in fools, serve only for their restlessness on earth.
11. कीर्त्या जगद्दिक्कुहरं प्रतापैः श्रिया गृहं सत्त्वबलेन लक्ष्मीम् ।
ये पूरयन्त्यक्षतधैर्यबन्धा न ते जगत्यां सुलभा महान्तः ॥ ११ ॥
Such men are rare in the world, that have filled the corners of the world with their fame and valour, who have filled their houses with true riches acquired by honest means and an unwavering patience.
12. अप्यन्तरस्थं गिरिशैलभित्तेर्वज्रालयाभ्यन्तरसंस्थितं वा ।
सर्वं समायान्ति ससिद्धिवेगाः सर्वाः श्रियः सन्ततमापदश्च ॥ १२ ॥
Good and bad fortune always overtake a man, even if he were living in an aperture of the rock or within the walls of mountains, or even if he were enclosed within an iron built closet.
13. पुत्राश्च दाराश्च धनं च बुद्ध्या प्रकल्प्यते तात रसायनाभम् ।
सर्वं तु तन्नोपकरोत्यथान्ते यत्रातिरम्या विषमूर्च्छनैव ॥ १३ ॥
Our sons and riches are mere objects of delight to us. It is as erroneous to suppose them to be of any good to us at the end, as to expect any benefit from the decoction of poison.
14. विषादयुक्तो विषमामवस्था मुपागतः कायवयोवसाने ।
भावान्स्मरन्स्वानिह धर्मरिक्तान् जन्तुर्जरावानिह दह्यतेऽन्तः ॥ १४ ॥
Old people being reduced to calamitous circumstances at the pitiable state of the decay of their bodies and decline of life, have greatly to be tormented at the thoughts of the impious deeds (of their past lives).
15. कामार्थधर्माप्तिकृतान्तराभिः क्रियाभिरादौ दिवसानि नीत्वा ।
चेतश्चलद्बर्हिणपिच्छलोलं विश्रान्तिमागच्छतु केन पुंसः ॥ १५ ॥
Men having passed their early days in the gratification of their desires and other worldly pursuits at the expense of the acts of virtue and piety, are as much troubled with anxieties at the end, that their minds are seized with a tremor like that of the plumage of a peacock shaken by the breeze. How then can a man attain to tranquility at any time?
16. पुरोगतैरप्यनवाप्तरूपैस्तरङ्गिणीतुङ्गतरङ्गकल्पैः ।
क्रियाफलैर्दैववशादुपेतैर्विडम्ब्यते भिन्नरुचिर्हि लोकः ॥ १६ ॥
Wealth whether forthcoming or unattainable, whether got by labour or given by fortune, is all as deceitful to the worldly minded, as the high waters of rivers (swelling only to subside).
17. इमान्यमूनीहि विभावितानि कार्याण्यपर्यन्तमनोरमाणि ।
जनस्य जायाजनरञ्जनेन जवाज्जरान्तं जरयन्ति चेतः ॥ १७ ॥
That such and such desirable acts are to be done, are the constant thoughts of men, who desire to please their sons and wives, until they are worn out with age and become crazy in their minds.
18. पर्णानि जीर्णानि यथा तरूणां समेत्य जन्माशु लयं प्रयान्ति ।
तथैव लोकाः स्वविवेकहीनाः समेत्य गच्छन्ति कुतोऽप्यहोभिः ॥ १८ ॥
Like leaves on trees that grow to fall, and falling make room for others to shoot forth, are those men who devoid of reason, die away daily to be born again.
19. इतस्ततो दूरतरं विहृत्य प्रविश्य गेहं दिवसावसाने ।
विवेकिलोकाश्रयसाधुकर्म रिक्तेऽह्नि रात्रौ क उपैति निद्राम् ॥ १९ ॥
Men having travelled here and there and far and near, return to their homes at the end of the day; but none of them can have rest by day or night, except the virtuous few that live by honest dealings.
20. विद्राविते शत्रुजने समस्ते समागतायामभितश्च लक्ष्म्याम् ।
सेव्यन्त एतानि सुखानि यावत्तावत्समायाति कुतोऽपि मृत्युः ॥ २० ॥
After quelling his enemies and getting enough of riches in his clutches, the rich man just sits down to enjoy his gains; when death comes upon him, and interrupts his joy.
21. कुतोऽपि संवर्धिततुच्छरूपैर्भावैरमीभिः क्षणनष्टदृष्टैः ।
विलोड्यमाना जनता जगत्यां नवेत्युपायातमहो न पातम् ॥ २१ ॥
Seeing the vile trash of worldly gains earned and accumulated by the basest means to be but transitory, the infatuated mob do not perceive their approaching dissolution.
22. प्रियासुभिः कालमुखं क्रियन्ते जनैडकास्ते हतकर्मबद्धाः ।
यैः पीनतामेव बलादुपेत्य शरीरबाधेन न ते भवन्ति ॥ २२ ॥
Men loving their own lives, and making mouths at the demise of others, are like a herd of sheep bound to the stake, and staring at the slaughter of their fellows, yet feeding themselves to fall as fattened victims to death.
23. अजस्रमागच्छति सत्वरैवमनारतं गच्छति सत्वरैव ।
कुतोऽपि लोला जनता जगत्यां तरङ्गमाला क्षणभङ्गुरेव ॥ २३ ॥
The multitude of people on earth, is ever seen to appear in and disappear from it as fast as the passing waves of the sea, but who can tell from where they come and to where they return.
24. प्राणापहारैकपरा नराणां मनो मनोहारितया हरन्ति ।
रक्तच्छदाश्चञ्चलषट्पदाक्ष्यो विषद्रुमालोललताः स्त्रियश्च ॥ २४ ॥
Women are as delicate as poisonous creepers, that with their red petaled lips and garments, and their eyes as busy as fluttering bees, are killers of mankind and stealers of their ravished hearts.
25. इतोऽन्यतश्चोपगता मुधैव समानसंकेतनिबद्धभावा ।
यात्रासमासंगसमा नराणां कलत्रमित्रव्यवहारमाया ॥ २५ ॥
Men are as passengers in a procession, repairing from this side and that to join at the place of their meeting. Such is the delusive union of our wives and friends here (for our meeting in the next world).
26. प्रदीपशान्तिष्विव भुक्तभूरिदशास्वतिस्नेहनिबन्धनीषु ।
संसारमालासु चलाचलासु न ज्ञायते तत्त्वमतात्त्विकीषु ॥ २६ ॥
As the burning and extinguishing of the lamp depend on the wick and its moistening oil; so does our course in this transitory world (depend on our acts and affections only). Nobody knows the true cause of this mysterious existence.
27. संसारसंरम्भकुचक्रिकेयं प्रावृट्पयोबुद्बुदभङ्गुरपि ।
असावधानस्य जनस्य बुद्धौ चिरस्थिरप्रत्ययमातनोति ॥ २७ ॥
The revolution of the world is comparable with that of the potter’s wheel and the floating bubbles of rain water; that appear to be lasting to the ignorant observer only.
28. शोभोज्ज्वला दैववशाद्विनष्टा गुणाः स्थिताः संप्रति जर्जरत्वे ।
आश्वासनादूरतरं प्रयाता जनस्य हेमन्त इवाम्बुजस्य ॥ २८ ॥
The blooming beauty and graces (of youth), are destined to be snatched away at the approach of old age. The youthful hopes also of men fly at a distance like the bloom of lotus buds in winter.
29. पुनःपुनर्दैववशादुपेत्य स्वदेहभारेण कृतोपकारः ।
विलूयते यत्र तरुः कुठारैराश्वासने तत्र हि कः प्रसङ्गः ॥ २९ ॥
The tree which is ordained to be useful to mankind by the loads of fruits and flowers that it bears upon its body, is fated also to be hewn down by the cruel axe at last. How then can beneficent men expect to avoid the cruel hand of death.
30. मनोरमस्याप्यतिदोषवृत्तेरन्तर्विंघाताय समुत्थितस्य ।
विषद्रुमस्येव जनस्य सङ्गादासाद्यते संप्रति मूर्च्छनैव ॥ ३० ॥
Society with relatives is (of all others) as perilous as that of a poisonous plant; it is pleasant for its domestic affections, which are in reality but delusions of the soul.
31. कास्ता दृशो यासु न सन्ति दोषाः कास्ता दिशो यासु न दुःखदाहः ।
कास्ताः प्रजा यासु न भङ्गुरत्वं कास्ताः क्रिया यासु न नाम माया ॥ ३१ ॥
What is that thing in the world, which has no fault in it; and what is that which does not afflict or grieve us; what being is born that is not subjected to death, and what are those acts that are free from deceit?
32. कल्पाभिधानक्षणजीविनो हि कल्पौघसंख्याकलने विरिञ्चयाः ।
अतः कलाशालिनि कालजाले लघुत्वदीर्घत्वधियोऽप्यसत्याः ॥ ३२ ॥
Those living a Kalpa age are reckoned as short-lived, compared with those living for many Kalpas, and they again are so in respect to Brahma. Hence the parts of time being all finite, the ideas of their length or shortness are altogether false.
33. सर्वत्र पाषाणमया महीध्रा मृदा मही दारुभिरेव वृक्षाः ।
मांसैर्जनाः पौरुषबद्धभावा नापूर्वमस्तीह विकारहीनम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Things that are called mountains are made of rocks, those that are called trees are made of wood, and those that are made of flesh are called animals, and man is the best of them. But they are all made of matter, and doomed to death and decay.
34. आलोक्यते चेतनयाऽनुविद्धा पयोनुबद्धोऽस्तनयो नभः स्थाः ।
पृथग्विभागेन पदार्थलक्ष्म्या एतज्जगन्नेतरदस्ति किंचित् ॥ ३४ ॥
Many things appear to be endued with intelligence, and the heavenly bodies seem to be full of water; but physicists have found out by analysis that, there is no other thing any where except (minutiae of) matter.
35. चमत्कृतिश्चेह मनस्विलोकचेतश्चमत्कारकरी नराणाम् ।
स्वप्नेऽपि साधो विषयं कदाचित्केषांचिदभ्येति न चित्ररूपा ॥ ३५ ॥
It is no wonder that this (unreal world) should appear a miraculous (reality) to the wise, and seem marvelously striking in the minds of mankind; since the visions in our dreams also appear so very fascinating to every one in their state of dreaming.
36. अद्यापि यातेऽपि च कल्पनाया आकाशवल्लीफलवन्महत्त्वे ।
उदेति नो लोभलवाहतानामुदारवृत्तान्तमयी कथैव ॥ ३६ ॥
Those that are corrupted in their greediness (after worldly enjoyments), will not even in their old age, receive the sermons on their eternal concerns, which they think to be false chimeras as those of a flower or a creeper growing in the sky.
37. आदातुमिच्छन्पदमुत्तमानां स्वचेतसैवापहतोऽद्य लोकः ।
पतत्यशङ्कं पशुरद्रिकूटादानीलवल्लीफलवाञ्छयैव ॥ ३७ ॥
People are still deluded in their minds in wishing to attain the state of their superiors; but they fall down still lower like beasts (goats) from the top of a hill, in wishing to lay hold on the fruits of a verdant creeper out of their reach.
38. अवान्तरन्यस्तनिरर्थकांशच्छायालतापत्रफलप्रसूनाः ।
शरीर एव क्षतसंपदश्च श्वभ्रद्रुमा अद्यतना नराश्च ॥ ३८ ॥
Young men spending their wealth in personal gratifications, are as useless as plants growing in the bowels of a deep and inaccessible cavern, which spread their fruits and flowers, leaves and branches and their shades to the use of nobody.
39. क्वचिज्जना मार्दवसुन्दरेषु क्वचित्कठोरेषु च संचरन्ति ।
देशान्तरालेषु निरन्तरेषु वनान्तखण्डेष्विव कृष्णसाराः ॥ ३९ ॥
Men are found to resemble the black antelopes (in their wanderings):some of them roving about the sweet, soft and beautiful sceneries of the country, and others roaming in sterile tracts and parts of boundless forests. (i. e. Some living in the society of men, and others as recluses from it).
40. धातुर्नवानि दिवसं प्रति भीषणानि रम्याणि वा विलुलितान्ततमाकुलानि ।
कार्याणि कष्टफलपाकहतोदयानि विस्मापयन्ति न शवस्य मनांसि केषाम् ॥ ४० ॥
The daily and diversified acts of nature are all pernicious in their nature; they appear pleasant and ravishing to the heart for a time, but are attended with pain in the end, and fill the mind of the wise with dismay.
41. जनः कामासक्तो विविधकुकलाचेष्टनपरः स तु स्वप्नेऽप्यस्मिञ्जगति सुलभो नाद्य सुजनः ।
क्रिया दुःखासङ्गाऽविधुरविधुरा नूनमखिला न जाने नेतव्या कथमिव दशा जीवितमयी ॥ ४१ ॥
Man is addicted to greediness, and is prone to a variety of wicked shifts and plots; a good man is not now to be seen even in a dream, and there is no act which is free from difficulty. I know not how to pass this state of human life.
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