Critical Edition
वसिष्ठ उवाच अप्रबुद्धमथाव्यक्तमिमं गुणविधिं शृणु गुणान्धारयते ह्येषा सृजत्याक्षिपते तथा
AI Translation: Vasishtha said: Listen to this unmanifest and unawakened method of the qualities. This holds the qualities, creates and withdraws them.
अजस्रं त्विह क्रीडार्थं विकुर्वन्ती नराधिप आत्मानं बहुधा कृत्वा तान्येव च विचक्षते
AI Translation: O Lord of men, they are always playing here, manifesting themselves in many ways. Having made themselves many, they see those very things.
एतदेवं विकुर्वाणां बुध्यमानो न बुध्यते अव्यक्तबोधनाच्चैव बुध्यमानं वदन्त्यपि
AI Translation: Thus, the one who is becoming manifest does not become manifest. And because of the manifestation of the unmanifest, they also say that the one who is becoming manifest is manifest.
न त्वेव बुध्यतेऽव्यक्तं सगुणं वाथ निर्गुणम् कदाचित्त्वेव खल्वेतदाहुरप्रतिबुद्धकम्
AI Translation: But he does not understand the unmanifest, whether it is endowed with qualities or without qualities. Sometimes, indeed, they say this about the unawakened one.
बुध्यते यदि वाव्यक्तमेतद्वै पञ्चविंशकम् बुध्यमानो भवत्येष सङ्गात्मक इति श्रुतिः
AI Translation: If it is understood that this is the unmanifest twenty-five, The one who understands becomes the self of attachment, so says the scripture.
अनेनाप्रतिबुद्धेति वदन्त्यव्यक्तमच्युतम् अव्यक्तबोधनाच्चैव बुध्यमानं वदन्त्युत
AI Translation: By this they say the Unmanifest is not awakened, the Unmanifest is not moved. And by the manifestation of the Unmanifest, they say it is being awakened.
पञ्चविंशं महात्मानं न चासावपि बुध्यते षड्विंशं विमलं बुद्धमप्रमेयं सनातनम्
AI Translation: The twenty-fifth great being, he too does not understand. The twenty-sixth Buddha, the stainless, immeasurable, eternal one,
सततं पञ्चविंशं च चतुर्विंशं च बुध्यते दृश्यादृश्ये ह्यनुगतमुभावेव महाद्युती
AI Translation: He always knows the twenty-fifth and the twenty-fourth, The visible and the invisible, both of great splendor.
अव्यक्तं न तु तद्ब्रह्म बुध्यते तात केवलम् केवलं पञ्चविंशं च चतुर्विंशं न पश्यति
AI Translation: O son, the unmanifest is not known as Brahman alone. He does not see the twenty-five or the twenty-four alone.
बुध्यमानो यदात्मानमन्योऽहमिति मन्यते तदा प्रकृतिमानेष भवत्यव्यक्तलोचनः
AI Translation: When one, being conscious, thinks of the self as different from another, then one is deluded by nature, with the unmanifest as the eye.
बुध्यते च परां बुद्धिं विशुद्धाममलां यदा षड्विंशो राजशार्दूल तदा बुद्धत्वमाव्रजेत्
AI Translation: And when he understands the highest wisdom, pure and spotless, Then, O best of kings, he will attain Buddhahood.
ततस्त्यजति सोऽव्यक्तं सर्गप्रलयधर्मिणम् निर्गुणः प्रकृतिं वेद गुणयुक्तामचेतनाम्
AI Translation: Then he abandons the unmanifest, which has the nature of creation and destruction, The attributeless one knows the unmanifest, which is endowed with attributes and devoid of consciousness.
ततः केवलधर्मासौ भवत्यव्यक्तदर्शनात् केवलेन समागम्य विमुक्तोऽऽत्मानमाप्नुयात्
AI Translation: Then, by seeing the Unmanifest, he becomes one with Dharma alone. Having united with the sole one, he becomes liberated and attains the Self.
एतत्तत्तत्त्वमित्याहुर्निस्तत्त्वमजरामरम् तत्त्वसंश्रयणादेतत्तत्त्ववन्न च मानद पञ्चविंशतितत्त्वानि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
AI Translation: This is the truth, they say, the deathless, the immortal, because it is the support of truth, but not, O you who are to be honored, like truth.
न चैष तत्त्ववांस्तात निस्तत्त्वस्त्वेष बुद्धिमान् एष मुञ्चति तत्त्वं हि क्षिप्रं बुद्धस्य लक्षणम्
AI Translation: He is not a knower of truth, my son, he is a knower of untruth. He is intelligent. He quickly releases the truth, the characteristic of the Buddha.
षड्विंशोऽहमिति प्राज्ञो गृह्यमाणोऽजरामरः केवलेन बलेनैव समतां यात्यसंशयम्
AI Translation: The wise one, who is the twenty-sixth, is grasped as immortal and deathless. He undoubtedly attains equality with the sole power.
षड्विंशेन प्रबुद्धेन बुध्यमानोऽप्यबुद्धिमान् एतन्नानात्वमित्युक्तं सांख्यश्रुतिनिदर्शनात्
AI Translation: The one who is awakened by the twenty-six (principles) is also unawakened. This is said to be the diversity, as shown by the Sāṃkhya scripture.
चेतनेन समेतस्य पञ्चविंशतिकस्य च एकत्वं वै भवत्यस्य यदा बुद्ध्या न बुध्यते
AI Translation: When the twenty-five-fold (universe) is united with the conscious (Self), it is one, when it is not perceived by the intellect.
बुध्यमानोऽप्रबुद्धेन समतां याति मैथिल सङ्गधर्मा भवत्येष निःसङ्गात्मा नराधिप
AI Translation: O king of Mithila, the one who is awake becomes equal to the one who is not awake. This one who is attached becomes one who is not attached.
निःसङ्गात्मानमासाद्य षड्विंशकमजं विदुः विभुस्त्यजति चाव्यक्तं यदा त्वेतद्विबुध्यते चतुर्विंशमगाधं च षड्विंशस्य प्रबोधनात्
AI Translation: Having attained the self free from attachment, they know the unborn twenty-sixth. When this is realized, the all-pervading one abandons the unmanifest. By the awakening of
एष ह्यप्रतिबुद्धश्च बुध्यमानश्च तेऽनघ प्रोक्तो बुद्धश्च तत्त्वेन यथाश्रुतिनिदर्शनात् नानात्वैकत्वमेतावद्द्रष्टव्यं शास्त्रदृष्टिभिः
AI Translation: For this is the unawakened, the awakening, and the awakened, O sinless one, as described by you, according to the teaching of the scriptures. The diversity and
मशकोदुम्बरे यद्वदन्यत्वं तद्वदेतयोः मत्स्योऽम्भसि यथा तद्वदन्यत्वमुपलभ्यते
AI Translation: Just as the difference between a mosquito and a banyan tree is perceived, so is the difference between these two. Just as the difference between a fish and water is perceived,
एवमेवावगन्तव्यं नानात्वैकत्वमेतयोः एतद्विमोक्ष इत्युक्तमव्यक्तज्ञानसंहितम्
AI Translation: Thus should be understood the difference and non-difference between these two. This is said to be the liberation, the knowledge of the unmanifest.
पञ्चविंशतिकस्यास्य योऽयं देहेषु वर्तते एष मोक्षयितव्येति प्राहुरव्यक्तगोचरात्
AI Translation: This is the twenty-fifth, which is present in the bodies. They say that this should be liberated from the unmanifest.
सोऽयमेवं विमुच्येत नान्यथेति विनिश्चयः परेण परधर्मा च भवत्येष समेत्य वै
AI Translation: This is the only way to be liberated, not otherwise, is the conclusion. When he has attained the other, he becomes the other's dharma.
विशुद्धधर्मा शुद्धेन बुद्धेन च स बुद्धिमान् विमुक्तधर्मा मुक्तेन समेत्य पुरुषर्षभ
AI Translation: He who is pure in his conduct, and wise, shall be united with the Buddha who is pure. He who is liberated in his conduct, and liberated, shall be united with the best of
नियोगधर्मिणा चैव नियोगात्मा भवत्यपि विमोक्षिणा विमोक्षश्च समेत्येह तथा भवेत्
AI Translation: And by the one who has the nature of injunction, the self becomes the injunction. And by the one who is liberated, liberation would be so here, having come together.
शुचिकर्मा शुचिश्चैव भवत्यमितदीप्तिमान् विमलात्मा च भवति समेत्य विमलात्मना
AI Translation: He becomes one of pure deeds, pure, of immeasurable splendor, and of a pure soul, having met with one of a pure soul.
केवलात्मा तथा चैव केवलेन समेत्य वै स्वतन्त्रश्च स्वतन्त्रेण स्वतन्त्रत्वमवाप्नुते
AI Translation: The Self alone, having united with the Self alone, and the independent with the independent, attains independence.
एतावदेतत्कथितं मया ते; तथ्यं महाराज यथार्थतत्त्वम् अमत्सरत्वं प्रतिगृह्य चार्थं; सनातनं ब्रह्म विशुद्धमाद्यम्
AI Translation: I have told you this much, O great king, as it is, as it really is. Accepting the gift without avarice, one attains the eternal, pure, primordial Brahman.
न वेदनिष्ठस्य जनस्य राज;न्प्रदेयमेतत्परमं त्वया भवेत् विवित्समानाय विबोधकारकं; प्रबोधहेतोः प्रणतस्य शासनम्
AI Translation: This is not to be given to a man who is devoted to the Vedas. It should be given to one who is devoted to the Vedas. To one who desires to know, it is the
न देयमेतच्च तथानृतात्मने; शठाय क्लीबाय न जिह्मबुद्धये न पण्डितज्ञानपरोपतापिने; देयं त्वयेदं विनिबोध यादृशे
AI Translation: This should not be given to one who is not truthful, to a deceitful one, to a coward, to one of crooked intellect, to one who is devoted to the torment of others through knowledge
श्रद्धान्वितायाथ गुणान्विताय; परापवादाद्विरताय नित्यम् विशुद्धयोगाय बुधाय चैव; क्रियावतेऽथ क्षमिणे हिताय
AI Translation: To one who is full of faith, to one who is full of virtues, to one who is always free from censuring others, To one who has pure yoga, to the wise, to
विविक्तशीलाय विधिप्रियाय; विवादहीनाय बहुश्रुताय विजानते चैव न चाहितक्षमे; दमे च शक्ताय शमे च देहिनाम्
AI Translation: To one of secluded conduct, to one who loves the law, to one who is free from disputes, to one who has heard much, To one who knows and is not impatient, to one
एतैर्गुणैर्हीनतमे न देय;मेतत्परं ब्रह्म विशुद्धमाहुः न श्रेयसा योक्ष्यति तादृशे कृतं; धर्मप्रवक्तारमपात्रदानात्
AI Translation: He who gives this to one who is deficient in these qualities, will not attain the highest good. This is said to be the supreme Brahman, pure. He who gives to one who is not
पृथ्वीमिमां यद्यपि रत्नपूर्णां; दद्यान्नदेयं त्विदमव्रताय जितेन्द्रियायैतदसंशयं ते; भवेत्प्रदेयं परमं नरेन्द्र
AI Translation: If I were to give this earth filled with jewels, I would not give it to one who is not disciplined. O king, this is certainly to be given to one who has conquered the senses
कराल मा ते भयमस्तु किंचि;देतच्छ्रुतं ब्रह्म परं त्वयाद्य यथावदुक्तं परमं पवित्रं; निःशोकमत्यन्तमनादिमध्यम्
AI Translation: "O Karāla, let there be no fear for you at all. This supreme Brahman has been heard by you today. As it has been said, the supreme, the pure, the sorrow
अगाधजन्मामरणं च राज;न्निरामयं वीतभयं शिवं च समीक्ष्य मोहं त्यज चाद्य सर्वं; ज्ञानस्य तत्त्वार्थमिदं विदित्वा
AI Translation: Having seen the birth and death that are unfathomable, O king, that are free from disease, free from fear, and auspicious, Having known this to be the truth of knowledge,
अवाप्तमेतद्धि पुरा सनातना;द्धिरण्यगर्भाद्गदतो नराधिप प्रसाद्य यत्नेन तमुग्रतेजसं; सनातनं ब्रह्म यथाद्य वै त्वया
AI Translation: This has been obtained by you from the eternal Hiranyagarbha, O king, when he was speaking. Having propitiated him with great effort, the eternal Brahman, as it is today
पृष्टस्त्वया चास्मि यथा नरेन्द्र; तथा मयेदं त्वयि चोक्तमद्य तथावाप्तं ब्रह्मणो मे नरेन्द्र; महज्ज्ञानं मोक्षविदां पुराणम्
AI Translation: And as you asked me, O king, so have I told you this. And thus, O king, I have attained the great knowledge of the ancient knowers of liberation, from Brahma.
भीष्म उवाच एतदुक्तं परं ब्रह्म यस्मान्नावर्तते पुनः पञ्चविंशो महाराज परमर्षिनिदर्शनात्
AI Translation: Bhishma said: This is said to be the supreme Brahman from which one does not return again. The twenty-fifth, O great king, from the vision of the supreme sages.
पुनरावृत्तिमाप्नोति परं ज्ञानमवाप्य च नावबुध्यति तत्त्वेन बुध्यमानोऽजरामरः
AI Translation: Having attained the highest knowledge, he again attains rebirth. Not understanding the truth, he is not liberated, though he may be enlightened and immortal.
एतन्निःश्रेयसकरं ज्ञानानां ते परं मया कथितं तत्त्वतस्तात श्रुत्वा देवर्षितो नृप
AI Translation: This is the most beneficial of all knowledge. I have told you the truth about it, my son. Having heard it, O king, from the celestial sage,
हिरण्यगर्भादृषिणा वसिष्ठेन महात्मना वसिष्ठादृषिशार्दूलान्नारदोऽवाप्तवानिदम्
AI Translation: This was obtained by the great sage Vasishtha from Hiranyagarbha, and by Narada from the lion among sages, Vasishtha.
नारदाद्विदितं मह्यमेतद्ब्रह्म सनातनम् मा शुचः कौरवेन्द्र त्वं श्रुत्वैतत्परमं पदम्
AI Translation: This eternal Brahman has been known to me from Nārada. O lord of the Kurus, do not grieve after hearing this supreme state.
येन क्षराक्षरे वित्ते न भयं तस्य विद्यते विद्यते तु भयं तस्य यो नैतद्वेत्ति पार्थिव
AI Translation: He who knows the imperishable and the perishable has no fear. But he who does not know this, O king, has fear.
अविज्ञानाच्च मूढात्मा पुनः पुनरुपद्रवन् प्रेत्य जातिसहस्राणि मरणान्तान्युपाश्नुते
AI Translation: And because of ignorance, the deluded soul, again and again, is afflicted, After death, he experiences thousands of births, ending in death.
देवलोकं तथा तिर्यङ्मानुष्यमपि चाश्नुते यदि शुध्यति कालेन तस्मादज्ञानसागरात्
AI Translation: He attains the world of the gods, the animal world, and the human world. If he is purified by time from that ocean of ignorance,
Supplementary Passages:
12.296.48 After 48, T G3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *761 उत्तीर्णोऽस्मादगाधात्स परमाप्नोति शोभनम्
अज्ञानसागरो घोरो ह्यव्यक्तोऽगाध उच्यते अहन्यहनि मज्जन्ति यत्र भूतानि भारत
AI Translation: The ocean of ignorance is terrible, unmanifest, and said to be unfathomable. O descendant of Bharata, day after day, beings sink into it.
यस्मादगाधादव्यक्तादुत्तीर्णस्त्वं सनातनात् तस्मात्त्वं विरजाश्चैव वितमस्कश्च पार्थिव
AI Translation: Since you have risen from the unfathomable, the unmanifest, the eternal, therefore you are free from dust and darkness, O king.