N°20: The path
२०. मार्गवर्गः विंशः
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Of all the paths, the Eightfold Path is the best; of all truths, the Four Noble Truths are the best; of all the ways to be, distancing oneself from things is best; of all people, the enlightened ones are the best.
मार्गाणामष्टाङ्गिकः श्रेष्ठः सत्यानां चत्वारि पदानि । विरागः श्रेष्ठो धर्माणां द्विपदानां च चक्षुष्मान्
॥ १॥
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This is the path; there is no other that leads to making your thoughts and your mind pure. Follow this path and defeat MARA. This is the path; there is no other path that leads to purifying your thoughts and your mind.
एष वो मार्गो नाऽस्त्यन्यो दर्शनस्य विशुद्धये ।
एतं हि यूयं प्रतिपद्यध्वं मारस्यैष प्रमोहनः ॥ २॥
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This is the path that leads to the end of suffering. This is the path I made known after the arrows of sorrow fell away.
एतं हि यूयं प्रतिपन्ना दुःखस्यान्तं करिष्यथ ।
आख्यातो वै मया मार्गः आज्ञाय शल्य-संस्थानम् ॥ ३॥
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You are going to have to do all the work yourself, the Buddhas only show the path. Follow the path and go into meditation; go beyond the power of MARA.
युष्माभिः कार्यं आतप्यं आख्यातारस्तथागताः ।
प्रतिपन्नाः प्रमोक्ष्यन्ते ध्यायिनो मारबन्धनात् ॥ ४॥
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Everything that arises is temporary and will perish. Those who accept this are free of suffering. This path leads to pure wisdom.
सर्वे संस्कारा अनित्या इति यदा प्रज्ञया पश्यति ।
अथ निर्विन्दति दुःखानि एष मार्गो विशुद्धये ॥ ५॥
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Nothing that arises is from itself immune to suffering. Those who make space to accept this are free of suffering. This path leads to pure wisdom.
सर्वे संस्कारा दुःखा इति यदा प्रज्ञया पश्यति ।
अथ निर्विन्दति दुःखानि एष मार्गो विशुद्धये ॥ ६॥
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Everything that is formed is selfless. Those who accept this are free of suffering. This path leads to pure wisdom.
सर्वे धर्मा अनात्मान इति यदा प्रज्ञया पश्यति ।
अथ निर्विन्दति दुःखानि एष मार्गो विशुद्धये ॥ ७॥
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Right now. The time to wake up is now, when you are still young and powerful. Those who always procrastinate and wait with a weak will and derived thoughts will never find the way to pure wisdom.
उत्थानकालेऽनुत्तिष्ठन् युवा बलि आलस्यमुपेतः ।
संसन्न-सङ्कल्प-मनाः कुसीदः प्रज्ञया मार्गं अलसो न विन्दति ॥ ८॥
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Guard your thoughts, your words, your actions. Make it a discipline and you will progress so quickly on the path to pure wisdom.
वाचाऽनुरक्षी मनसा सुसंकृतः कायेन चाऽकुशलं न कुर्यात् ।
एतान् त्रीन् कर्मपथान् विशोधयेत् आराधयेत् मार्गं ऋषिप्रवेदितम् ॥ ९॥
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Meditating brings wisdom; meditating too little is not going to yield anything. Try to become aware of what drives you and what is holding you back and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
योगाद् वै जायते भूरि अयोगाद् भूरिसंक्षयः ।
एतं द्वेधापथं ज्ञात्त्वा भवाय विभवाय च ।
तथाऽऽत्मानं निवेशयेद् यथाभूरि प्रवर्धते ॥ १०॥
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Cut down the entire forest of desires, not just one tree. Cut down the entire forest and you're well on your way to liberation.
वनं छिन्धि मा वृक्षं वनतो जायते भयम् ।
छित्त्वा वनं च वनथं च निर्वना भवथ भिक्षवः ॥ ११॥
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If there are still traces of lust in your mind and your spirit, you are still stuck to life, just like a calf that keeps suckling.
यावद्धि वनथो न छिद्यतेऽणुमात्रोऽपि नरस्य नारीषु ।
प्रतिबद्धमनाः नु तावत् स वत्सः क्षीरप इव मातरि ॥ १२॥
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Pull away all your desires just like the petals of a daisy in the summer. Follow the path to NIRVANA with a guide who knows the way.
उच्छिन्धि स्नेहमात्मनः कुमुदं शारदीकमिव पाणिना ।
शान्तिमार्गमेव बृंहय निर्वाणं सुगतेन देशितम् ॥ १३॥
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"When winter comes I stay in my house only. During heavy storms weather I take shelter in my other house. Summers I tend to spend in my summer residence." Someone who thinks like that forgets the final destination.
इह वर्षासु वसिष्यामि इह हेमन्तग्रीष्मयोः ।
इति बालो विचिन्तयति अन्तरायं न बुध्यते ॥ १४॥
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Death comes and drags anyone along, even if they are still obsessed with family and possessions, just as stormy weather can drag away an entire sleeping village.
तं पुत्र-पशु-सम्मतं व्यासक्तमनसं नरम् ।
सुप्तं ग्रामं महौघ इव मृत्युरादाय गच्छति ॥ १५॥
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Neither children nor parents can save people who are seized by death.
न सन्ति पुत्रास्त्राणाय न पिता नाऽपि बान्धवाः ।
अन्तकेनाधिपन्नस्य नाऽस्ति ज्ञातिषु त्राणता ॥ १६॥
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Remember this and don't put off your journey following the path that leads to NIRVANA.
एतमर्त्थवशं ज्ञात्वा पण्डितो शीलसंवृतः ।
निर्वाणगमनं मार्गं क्षिप्रमेव विशोधयेत् ॥ १७॥
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