Shivananda Lahari by Adi Sankaracharya

 

 

"Naariistanabhara naabhiideshaMdRishhTvaa maagaamohaavesham.etanmaaMsaavasaadi vikaaraMmanasi vichintaya vaaraM vaaram. .. (3)

 

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman's navel and chest.

These are nothing but a modification of flesh.

Do not fail to remember this again and again in your mind

.

naliniidalagata jalamatitaralaMtadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam .viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastaMlokaM shokahataM cha samastam .. (4)

 

The life of a man is as uncertain as rain drops trembling on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief.

 

yaavadvittopaarjana saktaHstaavannija parivaaro raktaH .pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehevaartaaM ko.api na pRichchhati gehe .. (5)

 

So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even have a word with him when his body totters due to old age.

 

yaavatpavano nivasati dehetaavatpRichchhati kushalaM gehe .gatavati vaayau dehaapaayebhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye .. (6)

 

When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs away in fear of the corpse.

 

baalastaavatkriiDaasaktaHtaruNastaavattaruNiisaktaH .vRiddhastaavachchintaasaktaHpare brahmaNi ko.api na saktaH .. (7)

 

The childhood is lost by attachment to playfulness. Youth is lost by attachment to woman. Old age passes away by thinking over many past things. But there is hardly anyone who wants to be lost in parabrahmam.

 

kaate kaantaa kaste putraHsaMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH .kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataHtattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH .. (8)

 

Who is your wife ? Who is your son ? Strange is this samsara.

Of whom are you ? From where have you come ?

Brother, ponder over these truths here."

 

 

"Shivananda Lahari by Adi Sankaracharya

 

6

Ghato vaa mrithir pando apyaraunubhi cha dhoomogni rachala

Pato vaa thanthurva pariharathi kim ghorasamanam

Vridha kantakshebham vahasi tharasa tharka vachasa

Padhambhojam shmbhor bhaja parama soukhyam vrijasudhi.

 

This is the pot, no, this is only mud,

This is the earth, no , it is only atom,

This is the smoke, no, it is only fire,

This is the cloth, no , it is only the thread,

Can all this debate ever cure the cruel God of death?

Vainly you give pain to your throat,

By these torrent of words,

Instead worship the lotus like feet of Shambu,

Oh , intelligent one, and attain supreme happiness."