योगवासिष्ठम्-वैराग्यप्रकरणम्- सर्गः २०
यौवनावस्था दोषवर्णनम्
In these verses selected from the Vairagrya
Prakarana of Yogavasishtham Rama speaks to Viswamitra and other
sages about the pitfalls and dangers of
youth.
Prakarana of Yogavasishtham Rama speaks to Viswamitra and other
sages about the pitfalls and dangers of
youth.
बाल्यानर्थमथ
त्यक्त्वा पुमानभिहताशयः
त्यक्त्वा पुमानभिहताशयः
आरोहति
निपाताय यौवनं संभ्रमेण तु ॥१॥
निपाताय यौवनं संभ्रमेण तु ॥१॥
Leaving behind the
problems of childhood man, his mind numbed,
climbs into Youth with excitement, only to face a downfall.
problems of childhood man, his mind numbed,
climbs into Youth with excitement, only to face a downfall.
तत्रानन्तविलासस्य
लोलस्य स्वस्य चेतसः
लोलस्य स्वस्य चेतसः
वृत्तीरनुभवन्
याति दुःखाद् दुःखान्तरं जडः ॥२॥
याति दुःखाद् दुःखान्तरं जडः ॥२॥
In youth man experiences
the different moods of his fickle and
wavering mind indulging in endless pleasures. The fool is led from misery and sorrow to
greater misery and sorrow.
the different moods of his fickle and
wavering mind indulging in endless pleasures. The fool is led from misery and sorrow to
greater misery and sorrow.
स्वचित्तबिलसंस्थेन
नानासंभ्रमकारिणा
नानासंभ्रमकारिणा
बलात्कामपिशाचेन
विवशः परिभूयते ॥३॥
विवशः परिभूयते ॥३॥
He loses control on
himself and is forcefully overcome by the demon of carnal desires which abide
in his heart creating lot of excitement
himself and is forcefully overcome by the demon of carnal desires which abide
in his heart creating lot of excitement
निमेषभासुराकारमालोलघनगर्जितम्
विद्युत्प्रकाशमशिवं
यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥४॥
यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥४॥
I do not like this youth which is bright one moment, like
thundering of clouds next moment, like lightning yet another moment and always
inauspicious.
thundering of clouds next moment, like lightning yet another moment and always
inauspicious.
मधुरं
स्वादु तिक्तं च दूषणं दोषभूषणम्
स्वादु तिक्तं च दूषणं दोषभूषणम्
सुराकल्लोलसदृशं
यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥५॥
यौवनं मे न रोचते ॥५॥
I do not like this youth
which is sweet, tasty, bitter, full of bad qualities and their ornament and
like waves in sura, intoxicating drink.
which is sweet, tasty, bitter, full of bad qualities and their ornament and
like waves in sura, intoxicating drink.
ये केचन
समारंभास्ते सर्वे सर्वदुःखदाः
समारंभास्ते सर्वे सर्वदुःखदाः
तारुण्ये
सन्निधिं यान्ति महोत्पाता इव क्षये ॥६॥
सन्निधिं यान्ति महोत्पाता इव क्षये ॥६॥
Whatever endeavours
which are sources of misery and sorrow
which are sources of misery and sorrow
take their place in
youth like the fires, floods and earthquakes during deluge.
youth like the fires, floods and earthquakes during deluge.
.
कान्तावियोगजातेन
हृदि दुःस्पर्शवह्निना
हृदि दुःस्पर्शवह्निना
यौवने
दह्यते जन्तुः तरुर्दावाग्निना यथा ॥७॥
दह्यते जन्तुः तरुर्दावाग्निना यथा ॥७॥
The creature is burnt in
youth by the unbearable fire in the heart born of separation from a wife. It is
like a tree being burnt in a wildfire.
youth by the unbearable fire in the heart born of separation from a wife. It is
like a tree being burnt in a wildfire.
सुनिर्मलाऽपि
विस्तीर्णा पावन्यपि हि यौवने
विस्तीर्णा पावन्यपि हि यौवने
मतिः
कलुषतामेति प्रावृषीव तरङ्गिणी ॥८॥
कलुषतामेति प्रावृषीव तरङ्गिणी ॥८॥
Even a pure, broad and
holy mind becomes polluted in youth just like a river becomes turbid during the
rainy season.
holy mind becomes polluted in youth just like a river becomes turbid during the
rainy season.
उद्बोधयति
दोषालिं निकृन्तति गुणावलिम्
दोषालिं निकृन्तति गुणावलिम्
नराणां
यौवनोल्लासो विलासो दुष्कृतश्रियाम् ॥९॥
यौवनोल्लासो विलासो दुष्कृतश्रियाम् ॥९॥
Youth awakens all bad qualities and cuts down all good qualities
of men. The exuberance of youth is the
play of all sinful activities.
of men. The exuberance of youth is the
play of all sinful activities.
दिनानि
कतिचिद्योऽयं फलिता देहजङ्गले
कतिचिद्योऽयं फलिता देहजङ्गले
सुखदा
शरदस्यां हि न समाश्वासमर्हति ॥१०॥
शरदस्यां हि न समाश्वासमर्हति ॥१०॥
Youth yields the fruits
of joy only for a few days as in sharat
of joy only for a few days as in sharat
and it is no reason to
be complacent ( as winter is not far away)
be complacent ( as winter is not far away)
झटित्येव
प्रयात्येव शरीरात् युवताखगः
प्रयात्येव शरीरात् युवताखगः
क्षणेनेवाऽल्पभाग्यस्य
हस्ताच्चिन्तामणिर्यथा ॥११॥
हस्ताच्चिन्तामणिर्यथा ॥११॥
The bird of youth flies
away from the body all of a sudden like the Chintamani gem slips from the hand
of a person of little luck.
away from the body all of a sudden like the Chintamani gem slips from the hand
of a person of little luck.
यदा
यदा परा कोटिमध्यारोहति यौवनम्
यदा परा कोटिमध्यारोहति यौवनम्
वलयन्ति
सज्वरा कामास्तदा नाशाय केवलम् ॥१२॥
सज्वरा कामास्तदा नाशाय केवलम् ॥१२॥
Whenever youth reaches
its highest point then feverish desires
envelope man only to destroy him.
its highest point then feverish desires
envelope man only to destroy him.
हर्षमायाति
यो मोहात् पुरुषः क्षणभङ्गिना
यो मोहात् पुरुषः क्षणभङ्गिना
यौवनेन
महामुग्धः स वै साक्षात् मृगः
स्मृतः ॥१३॥
महामुग्धः स वै साक्षात् मृगः
स्मृतः ॥१३॥
The man who, captivated
and deluded by this fleeting youth, becomes overjoyed, is considered a mere
animal.
and deluded by this fleeting youth, becomes overjoyed, is considered a mere
animal.
मानमोहमदोन्मत्तयौवनं
योऽभिलष्यति
योऽभिलष्यति
अचिरेण
स दुर्बुद्धिः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते ॥१४॥
स दुर्बुद्धिः पश्चात्तापेन युज्यते ॥१४॥
That man of perverted
mind who desires this youth which is full of pride, delusion and intoxication
will, before long, regret the decision he has made.
mind who desires this youth which is full of pride, delusion and intoxication
will, before long, regret the decision he has made.
ते पूज्यास्ते
महात्मानस्त एव पुरुषा भुवि
महात्मानस्त एव पुरुषा भुवि
ये सुखेन
समुत्तीर्णा साधो यौवनसङ्कटात् ॥१५॥
समुत्तीर्णा साधो यौवनसङ्कटात् ॥१५॥
O sage! Only those who have crossed this difficult period of
youth with ease are great men deserving to be worshipped and real men on this
earth.
youth with ease are great men deserving to be worshipped and real men on this
earth.
