23. Ātmavarga
The Chapter about the Self
(26 Verses)
[23.1]
[adm.]
Subhāṣitasya śikṣeta, śramaṇopāsanasya ca,
ekāsanasya ca rahaś, cittavyupaśamasya ca.
One should train in well-spoken words, and attendance on ascetics, in sitting alone in solitude, and in calming down the mind.
[23.2]
[adm.]
Ekāsanaṁ tv ekaśayyām, ekacaryām atandritaḥ,
ramayec caikam ātmānaṁ, vaneṣv ekaḥ sadā vaset.
Sitting alone, lying alone, living solitary and diligent, one should delight in solitude oneself, and should always live alone in the forests.
[23.3]
[adm. + ana.]
Yaḥ sahasraṁ sahasrāṇāṁ saṁgrāme dviṣatāṁ jayet,
yaś cātmānaṁ jayed ekaṁ – saṁgrāmo durjayaḥ sa vai.
There is the one who might conquer a thousand times a thousand enemies in battle, and there is the one who might conquer his own self – that is a battle indeed hard to win.
[23.4–23.5]
[stm.]
Ātmā hy asya jitaḥ śreyāṁ yac ceyam itarāḥ prajāḥ,
ātmadāntasya puruṣasya, nityaṁ saṁvṛtacāriṇaḥ,
na Devā nāpi Gandharvā na Māro Brāhmaṇā saha,
jitasyāpajitaṁ kuryus, tathā prājñasya bhikṣuṇaḥ.
Victory over oneself is better than that over other people, for the person who trains himself, who lives constantly well-restrained, neither Devas, nor Gandharvas, not Māra together with Brahmins, can turn victory into defeat, for such a wise monastic.
[23.7]
[adm.]
Ātmānam eva prathamaṁ pratirūpe niveśayet,
tato ’nyam anuśāsīta, na kliśyeta hi paṇḍitaḥ.
First one should establish oneself in what is suitable, afterwards one can advise another, for the wise one should not be defiled.
[23.8]
[adm.]
Ātmānaṁ hi tathā kuryāc chāsītānyaṁ yathā svayam,
sudānto bata me nityam: ātmā sa hi sudurdamaḥ.
One should do oneself as one would advise another to do, being constantly well-trained: for the self is very difficult to train.
[23.9]
[adm.]
Ātmānaṁ hi tathā kuryāc chāsītānyaṁ yathā svayam,
ātmā dānto mayā nityam, ātmadānto hi paṇḍitaḥ.
One should do oneself as one would advise another to do, being constantly trained by oneself, for a trained self is wise.
[23.10]
[adm.]
Ātmano ’rthaṁ parārthena bahunāpi na hāpayet,
ātmārthaṁ paramaṁ jñātvā, svakārthaparamo bhavet.
One should not neglect one’s own goal for the sake of another, however great, knowing that one’s goal is supreme, be one for whom his goal is supreme.
[23.11]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, nāthaṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains a protector.
[23.12 From here till the end of the chapter all fourteen verses are variations on the verse above. ]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, arthaṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains the goal.
[23.13]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, Dharmaṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains the Dharma.
[23.14]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, yaśo labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains fame.
[23.15]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, kīrtiṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains renown.
[23.16]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, sukhāṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains happiness.
[23.17]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, svargaṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains heaven.
[23.18]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, ciraṁ svargeṣu modate.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, he rejoices in the heavens for a long time.
[23.19]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, ciraṁ svarge pratiṣṭhati.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, he is established in heaven for a long time.
[23.20]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, prajñāṁ labhati paṇḍitaḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, a wise one obtains wisdom.
[23.21]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet,
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, jñātimadhye virocate.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, one shines in the midst of one’s relatives.
[23.22]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, śokamadhye na śocati.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, one does not grieve in the midst of grief.
[23.23]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, sarvaṁ chindati bandhanam.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, one cuts all the bonds.
[23.24]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, sarvās tyajati durgatīḥ.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, one gives up all bad destinations.
[23.25]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, sarvaduḥkhāt pramucyate.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, one is freed from all suffering.
[23.26]
[rh.q.]
Ātmā tv ihātmano nāthaḥ, ko nu nāthaḥ paro bhavet?
Ātmanā hi sudāntena, Nirvāṇasyaiva so ’ntike.
The self is the protector of self here, for who else could be a protector? Through training oneself well, that one is indeed in the presence of Nirvāṇa.
Ātmavargaḥ, 23
The Chapter about the Self, the Twenty-Third