Sādhana-Pañcakam: “Five Verses on Spiritual Practice”
Translated by Swami Tyagananda
Vedo nityam adhīyatāṁ tad-utitaṁ karma svanuṣṭhīyatāṁ
teneśasya vidhīyatāṁ apacitiḥ kāmye matis-tyajyatām;
Pāpaughaḥ paridhūyatāṁ bhava-sukhe doṣo’nusandhīyatāṁ
ātmecchā vyavasīyatāṁ nija-gṛhāt tūrṇaṁ vinirgamyatām.
वेदो नित्यमधीयतां तदुदितं कर्म स्वनुष्ठीयतां
तेनेशस्य विधीयतामपचिति: काम्ये मतिस्त्यज्यताम् ।
पापौघ: परिधूयतां भवसुखे दोषोऽनुसन्धीयतां
आत्मेच्छा व्यवसीयतां निजगृहात् तूर्णं विनिर्गम्यताम् ॥ १
Study spiritual texts (“Vedas”) regularly and put into practice their teachings. Worship the Divine in that manner and give up the thought of desires. Wash away the cascading fruits of bad karma and examine the defects of worldly excitement. Hold on to the awareness of the Ātman and let go of your limited identity. (1)
Saṅgaḥ satsu vidhīyatāṁ bhagavato bhaktir-dhṛḍhā dhīyatāṁ
śāntādiḥ paricīyatāṁ dṛḍhataraṁ karmāśu santyajyatām;
Sad-vidvān-upasarpyatāṁ pratidinaṁ tat pāduke sevyatāṁ
brahmaikākṣaram arthyatāṁ śruti-śiro-vākyaṁ samākarṇyatām.
सङ्ग: सत्सु विधीयतां भगवतो भक्तिर्दृढा धीयतां
शान्तादि: परिचीयतां दृढतरं कर्माशु संत्यज्यताम् ।
सद्विद्वानुपसर्प्यतां प्रतिदिनं तत्पादुके सेव्यतां
ब्रह्मैकाक्षरमर्थ्यतां श्रुतिशिरोवाक्यं समाकर्ण्यताम् ॥ २
Remain in the company of the holy (thoughts, words, deeds; books, music, art; people) and strengthen your devotion to God. Cultivate qualities such as self-restraint and give up all work prompted by selfish desire. Approach those who are wise and holy, and serve them. Seek only the Imperishable Being (“God”) and hear the words of the scripture. (2)
Vākyārthaśca vicāryatāṁ śruti-śiraḥ pakṣaḥ samāśrīyatāṁ
dustarkāt suviramyatāṁ śruti-matas-tarko’nusandhīyatām;
Brahmaivāsmi vibhāvyatāṁ ahar-ahar-garvaḥ parityajyatāṁ
dehe’haṁ matir-ujjhyatāṁ budhajanair-vādaḥ parityajyatam.
वाक्यार्थश्च विचार्यतां श्रुतिशिर: पक्ष: समाश्रीयतां
दुस्तर्कात् सुविरम्यतां श्रुतिमतस्तर्कोऽनुसन्धीयताम् ।
ब्रह्मैवास्मि विभाव्यतामहरहर्गर्व: परित्यज्यताम्
देहेऽहम्मतिरुज्झ्यतां बुधजनैर्वाद: परित्यज्यताम् ॥ ३
Reflect over the meaning of the scripture and take refuge in its perspective. Keep away from vain arguments and follow the reasoning of the scripture. Always be aware that you are Brahman and completely give up all egoism. Eliminate the thought of “I” connected with the body and don’t argue with the wise. (3)
Kṣud-vyādhiśca cikitsytāṁ pratidinaṁ bhikṣauṣadhaṁ bhujyataṁ
svādvannaṁ na tu yāchyatāṁ vidhivaśāt prāptena santuṣyatām;
Sītoṣṇādi viṣahyatāṁ na tu vṛthā vākyaṁ sam-uccāryatāṁ
audasīnyam abhīpsyatāṁ jana-kṛpā naiṣṭhuryyam utsṛjyatām.
क्षुद्व्याधिश्च चिकित्स्यतां प्रतिदिनं भिक्षौषधं भुज्यतां
स्वाद्वन्नं न तु याच्यतां विधिवशात्प्राप्तेन संतुष्यताम् ।
शीतोष्णादि विषह्यतां न तु वृथा वाक्यं समुच्चार्यतां
औदासीन्यमभीप्स्यतां जनकृपा नैष्ठुर्य्यमुत्सृज्यताम् ॥ ४
Through the daily medicine of alms, treat the disease of hunger. Don’t hanker after delicious food; be contented with whatever comes of its own. Forbear the polarities such as cold and heat, and do not utter useless words. Do not expect kindness from others and abandon all harshness toward others. (4)
Ekānte sukham āsyatāṁ paratare ceto samādhīyatāṁ
pūrṇātmā susamīkṣyatāṁ jagad idaṁ tad bādhitaṁ dṛsyatām;
Prāk-karma pravilāpyatāṁ citibalān-nāpy-uttaraiḥ śliṣyatāṁ
prārabdhaṁ tviha bhujyatāṁ atha parabrahmātmanā sthīyatām.
एकान्ते सुखमास्यतां परतरे चेतो समाधीयतां
पूर्णात्मा सुसमीक्ष्यतां जगदिदं तद्बाधितं दृश्यताम् ।
प्राक्कर्म प्रविलाप्यतां चितिबलान्नाप्युत्तरै: श्लिष्यतां
प्रारब्धं त्विह भुज्यतामथ परब्रह्मात्मना स्थीयताम् ॥
Live happily in solitude and focus the mind on God. See carefully the infinite Self and notice how it eliminates this fleeting existence called the world. Through the power of spiritual knowledge, dissolve your past karma, remain unaffected by your later karma, and experience your present karma. In this way, remain established in the awareness of the Supreme Self. (5)