SAUNDARANANDA 16.24 to 16. 29: Cessation -- A Backward Step

16.24
doSha-kShayo jaatiShu yaasu yasya
vairaagyatas taasu na jaayate saH
doSh'-aashayaas tiShTati yasya yatra
tasy' opapattir vi-vashasya tatra

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16.24
In whichever realms of existence a man has ended faults,

Thanks to that dispassion he is not born in those realms.

Wherever he remains susceptible to a fault,

That is where he makes his appearance,
whether he likes it or not.


16.25
taj janmano n'aika-vidhasya, saumya,
tRShN"aadayo hetava ity avetya
taaMsh chindhi duHkhaad yadi nirmumukShaa
kaarya-kShayaH kaaraNa-saMkShayaadd hi

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16.25
So my friend,
with regard to the many forms of becoming,

Know their causes to be [the faults]
that start with thirsting

And cut out those [faults],
if you wish to be freed from suffering;

For ending of the effect
follows from eradication of the cause.

16.26
duHkha-kShayo hetu-parikShayaac ca
shaantam shivaM saakShi-kuruShva dharmaM
tRShNaa-viraagaM layanaM nirodhaM
sanaatanaM traaNam a-haaryam aaryaM

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16.26
Again, the ending of suffering
follows from the disappearance of its cause.

Experience that reality for yourself
as peace and well-being,

A place of rest, a cessation,
an absence of the red taint of thirsting,

An eternal refuge which is irremovable and noble,

16.27
yasmin na jaatir na jaraa na mRtyur
na vyaadhayo n'aa-priya-samprayogaH
n'ecchaa-vipanna priya-viprayogaH
kShemaM padaM naiShThikam a-cyutam tat.

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16.27
In which there is no becoming, no aging, no dying,

No illnesses, no being touched by unpleasantness,

No disappointment, or separation from what is pleasant:

It is a fundamental step -- ultimate and indestructible.

16.28
diipo yathaa nirvRtim abhyupeto
n' aaiv' aavaniM gacchati n' aantarikShaM
dishaM na kaaM cid vidishaM na kaaM cit
sneha-kShayaat kevalam eti shaantiM

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16.28
A lamp that has gone out

Reaches neither to the earth nor to the sky,

Nor to any cardinal nor to any intermediate point:

Because its oil is spent it reaches nothing but extinction.

16.29
evaM kRtii nirvRtim abhyupeto
n' aaiv' aavaniM gacchati n'aantarikShaM
dishaM na kaaM cid vidishaM na kaaM cit
klesha-kShayaat kevalam eti shaantiM

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16.29
In the same way,
a man of action who has come to quiet

Reaches neither to the earth nor to the sky,

Nor to any cardinal nor to any intermediate point:

From the ending of his afflictions
he attains nothing but extinction.