12. Mārgavarga
The Chapter about the Path
(20 Verses)
[12.1]
[stm.]
Āryasatyāni catvāri prajñayā paśyate yadā,
eṣa mārgaṁ prajānāti bhavatṛṣṇāpradālanam.
When one sees with wisdom the four Noble Truths, one knows this path is the destroyer of craving for existence.
[12.2]
[stm. + sim.]
Uddhataṁ hi rajo vātair yathā vṛṣṭena śamyati,
evaṁ śāmyanti saṁkalpāḥ prajñayā paśyate yadā.
Just as dust disturbed by the winds is calmed by rain, so intentions cease when one sees with wisdom.
[12.3]
[stm.]
Śreṣṭhā hi prajñā loke ’smiṁ, yeyaṁ nirvedhagāminī,
yayā samyak prajānāti jātimaraṇasaṁkṣayam.
Wisdom is best in this world, which leads to penetration, by which one rightly knows the complete destruction of birth and death.
[12.4]
[stm.]
Mārgeṣv aṣṭāṅgikaḥ śreṣṭhaś, Catvāry Āryāṇi satyataḥ,
śreṣṭho virāgo dharmāṇāṁ, Cakṣuṣmāṁ dvipadeṣu ca.
Amongst paths the eightfold is best, amongst truths the Four Noble Truths, amongst states dispassion is best, amongst the two-legged the Visionary is best. We must understand śreṣṭho as working twice in this pādayuga.
[12.5]
[stm.]
Anityāṁ sarvasaṁskārāṁ prajñayā paśyate yadā,
atha nirvidyate duḥkhād: eṣa mārgo viśuddhaye.
When one sees with wisdom all conditioned things are impermanent, then one grows tired because of suffering: this is the path to purity.
[12.6]
[stm.]
Duḥkhaṁ hi sarvasaṁskārāṁ prajñayā paśyate yadā,
atha nirvidyate duḥkhād: eṣa mārgo viśuddhaye.
When one sees with wisdom all conditioned things are suffering, then one grows tired because of suffering: this is the path to purity.
[12.7]
[stm.]
Śunyataḥ sarvasaṁkārāṁ prajñayā paśyate yadā,
atha nirvidyate duḥkhād: eṣa mārgo viśuddhaye.
When one sees with wisdom all conditioned things are empty, then one grows tired because of suffering: this is the path to purity.
[12.8]
[stm.]
Sarvadharmā anātmānaḥ prajñayā paśyate yadā,
atha nirvidyate duḥkhād: eṣa mārgo viśuddhaye.
When one sees with wisdom all things are without self, then one grows tired because of suffering: this is the path to purity.
[12.9]
[adm.]
Ākhyāto vo mayā mārgas, tv ajñāyai śalyakṛntanaḥ,
yuṣmābhir eva karaṇīyam, ākhyātāras Tathāgatāḥ.
The path was declared to you by me, the cutting of the darts of ignorance, this is indeed to be done by you, the Realised Ones only point the way.
[12.10]
[adm.]
Deśito vo mayā mārgas, tṛṣṇāśalyanikṛntanaḥ,
yuṣmābhir eva karaṇīyam, deṣṭāro hi Tathāgatāḥ.
The path has been shown by me to you, the cutting of thorns of craving, this is surely to be done by you, the Realised Ones are only teachers.
[12.11]
[stm.]
Eṣo hi mārgo nāsty anyo, darśanasya viśuddhaye,
pratipannakāḥ prahāsyanti dhyāyino Mārabandhanam.
This is the path, there is no other, to purity of insight, the meditators who enter this path abandon the bonds of Māra.
[12.12]
[stm. + sim.]
Eṣo ’ñjaso hy eṣa ca vai parākramas,
tv ekāyano haṁsapatho yathā hrade,
yam adhyagāc Chakyamuniḥ samāhitas,
tam eva cākhyāti gaṇeṣv abhīkṣṇaśaḥ.
This is the path The referent is brought over from the preceding verse. for directness, this indeed is the path for striving, a one-way path, like the path of a goose across a lake, which Śakyamuni travelled, composed, he declares it amongst the communities repeatedly.
[12.13]
[stm.]
Ekāyanaṁ jātijarāntadarśī
mārgaṁ vadaty eṣa hitānukampī,
etena mārgeṇa hi tīrṇavantas,
tariṣyate ye prataranti caugham.
The one compassionate for welfare, who sees the end of birth and old age, proclaims the path as one way, by this path some crossed over the flood earlier, some will cross, and there are those who are crossing.
[12.14]
[stm.]
Atyantaniṣṭhāya damāya śuddhaye,
saṁsārajātīmaraṇakṣayāya,
anekadhātupratisaṁvidhāya,
mārgo hy ayaṁ lokavidā prakāśitaḥ.
For the complete attainment of training and purity, for the destruction of transmigration through births and deaths, for disposing of the manifold elements, this path was proclaimed by the knower of the worlds.
[12.15]
[stm. + sim.]
Gaṅgāgataṁ yadvad apetadoṣaṁ,
saṁsyandate vāri tu sāgareṇa,
tathaiva mārgaḥ Sugatapradeśitaḥ,
saṁsyandate ’yaṁ hy amṛtasya prāptaye.
Just as water coming from the Ganges, free from faults, flows along with the ocean, so does this path, taught by the Sugata, flow along to the attainment of the deathless.
[12.16]
[adm.]
Yo Dharmacakraṁ hy ananuśrutaṁ purā,
prāvartayat sarvabhūtānukampī,
taṁ tādṛśaṁ Devanarāgrasatvaṁ,
nityaṁ namasyeta bhavasya pāragam.
The one who turned the Dharma Wheel, unheard of formerly, the one having compassion for all beings, such a one, the supreme being amongst Devas and humans, the one who crossed over existence, one should constantly worship.
[12.17]
[adm. + sim.]
Sadā vitarkāṁ kuśalāṁ vitarkayet,
sadā punaś cākusalāṁ vivarjayet,
tato vitarkāṁś ca vicāritāni ca
prahāsyate vṛṣṭir ivoddhataṁ rajaḥ.
One should always think wholesome thoughts, and again always avoid unwholesome ones, and then he will abandon thoughts and reflections as the rain removes disturbed dust.
[12.18]
[adm.]
Sa vai vitarkopaśamena cetasā,
spṛśeta Saṁbodhisukhaṁ hy anuttaram,
śubhaṁ samādhiṁ manasā nibandhayed,
vivekajaṁ bhāvayitvāpramāṇam,
pradālayitvā tribhur ālayāṁs trīṁ
jahāti bandhāṁ nipakaḥ pratismṛtaḥ.
With a mind that has calmed thinking, one should experience the supreme happiness of Full Awakening, he should establish beautiful concentration with the mind, having cultivated the immeasurables born of seclusion, having destroyed the three attachments with the three wholesome thoughts, The referent is again in the previous verse. the discerning one, mindful, abandons the bonds.
[12.19]
[stm.]
Prajñāyudho dhyānabalopapetaḥ,
samāhito dhyānarataḥ smṛtātmā,
lokasya buddhvā hy udayavyayaṁ ca,
vimucyate vedakaḥ sarvato ’sau.
Having the weapon of wisdom, endowed with the strength of meditation, composed, delighting in meditation, mindful of himself, having understood the rise and fall of the world, the Perfect One is freed in every way.
[12.20]
[stm.]
Sukhaṁ sukhārthī labhate samācaraṁ,
kīrtiṁ samāpnoti yaśaś ca sarvataḥ,
ya āryam aṣṭāṅgikam āñjasaṁ śivaṁ
bhāvayati mārgaṁ hy amṛtasya prāptaye.
The one seeking happiness finds happiness through good conduct, he attains renown and fame everywhere, the one who cultivates the noble, auspicious eightfold direct road for the attainment of the path to the deathless.
Mārgavargaḥ, 12.
The Chapter about the Path, the Twelfth