ऐका स्पृहाची सिकवण । युक्ति बुद्धि शाहाणपण । जेणें राहे समाधान । निरंतर ॥ १ ॥

Listen to this teaching on desirelessness — such skill, intelligence, and wisdom as bring lasting contentment to the mind.

सोपा मंत्र परी नेमस्त । साधें वोषध गुणवंत । साधें बोलणें सप्रचित । तैसें माझें ॥ २ ॥

This teaching is simple yet exacting — like a plain medicine that truly cures, or plain words that truly prove themselves, so is what I say here.

तत्काळचि अवगुण जाती । उत्तम गुणाची होये प्राप्ती । शब्दवोषध तीव्र श्रोतीं । साक्षपें सेवावें ॥ ३ ॥

If this medicine of words is taken in attentively through the ears, faults vanish at once and good qualities are gained.

निस्पृहता धरूं नये । धरिली तरी सोडूं नये । सोडिली तरी हिंडों नये । वोळखीमधें ॥ ४ ॥

Do not take up desirelessness lightly; but once adopted, never abandon it; and if it slips, do not go wandering back among one's old acquaintances.

कांता दृष्टी राखों नये । मनास गोडी चाखऊं नये । धारिष्ट चळतां दाखऊं नये । मुख आपुलें ॥ ५ ॥

One should not look at women with desire, nor let the mind taste that pleasure; and even if resolve wavers, one must not let it show on the face.

येकेस्थळीं राहों नये । कानकोंडें साहों नये । द्रव्य दारा पाहों नये । आळकेपणें ॥ ६ ॥

One should not settle in one place for long, should not put up with what is unbearable to hear, and out of laziness should not look covetously at wealth or women.

आचारभ्रष्ट होऊं नये । दिल्यां द्रव्य घेऊं नये । उणा शब्द येऊं नये । आपणावरी ॥ ७ ॥

Do not let one's conduct fall from purity, do not accept wealth even if offered, and behave so that no blame ever falls on oneself.

भिक्षेविषीं लाजों नये । बहुत भिक्षा घेऊं नये । पुसतांहि देऊं नये । वोळखी आपली ॥ ८ ॥

Feel no shame in begging alms, but do not take more alms than needed; and even if asked, do not reveal who one really is.

धड मळिन नेसों नये । गोड अन्न खाऊं नये । दुराग्रह करूं नये । प्रसंगें वर्तावें ॥ ९ ॥

Do not wear fine but dirty clothes, do not crave sweet food, and act according to the occasion rather than out of stubbornness.

भोगीं मन असों नये । देहदुःखें त्रासों नये । पुढें आशा धरूं नये । जीवित्वाची ॥ १० ॥

Do not let the mind dwell on pleasures, do not despair over bodily hardship, and do not cling to hope of a long life ahead.

विरक्ती गळों देऊं नये । धारिष्ट चळों देऊं नये । ज्ञान मळिण होऊं नये । विवेकबळें ॥ ११ ॥

Do not let dispassion weaken, do not let courage falter, and through the strength of discernment keep one's knowledge from becoming tainted.

करुणाकीर्तन सोडूं नये । अंतर्ध्यान मोडूं नये ॥ प्रेमतंतु तोडूं नये । सगुणमूर्तीचा ॥ १२ ॥

Do not give up heartfelt kirtan, do not let inner meditation break, and never let the thread of love binding one to the personal form of God be severed.

पोटीं चिंता धरूं नये । कष्टें खेद मानूं नये । समैं धीर सांडूं नये । कांहीं केल्या ॥ १३ ॥

Do not harbor worry in the heart, do not grieve over hardship, and whatever happens, never lose one's composure.

अपमानितां सिणों नये । निखंदितां कष्टों नये । धिःकारितां झुरों नये । कांहीं केल्या ॥ १४ ॥

If insulted, do not lose heart; if reviled, do not suffer over it; and if scorned, never pine over it, whatever happens.

लोकलाज धरूं नये । लाजवितां लाजों नये । खिजवितां खिजों नये । विरक्त पुरुषें ॥ १५ ॥

A man of true renunciation should not care for public opinion, should not feel shamed even if others try to shame him, and should not lose his temper even if provoked.

शुद्ध मार्ग सोडूं नये । दुर्जनासीं तंडों नये । समंध पडों देऊं नये । चांडाळासी ॥ १६ ॥

Do not abandon the pure path, do not quarrel with wicked people, and avoid entangling oneself with base, evil persons.

तपीळपण धरूं नये । भांडवितां भांडों नये । उडवितां उडऊं नये । निजस्थिती आपुली ॥ १७ ॥

Do not be quick to anger, do not fight even if provoked to fight, and do not let one's inner steadiness be shaken even when goaded.

हांसवितां हासों नये । बोलवितां बोलों नये । चालवितां चालों नये । क्षणक्ष्णा ॥ १८ ॥

Do not laugh just because someone tries to make you laugh, do not speak just because prompted, and do not let others sway your conduct moment to moment.

येक वेष धरूं नये । येक साज करूं नये । येकदेसी होऊं नये । भ्रमण करावें ॥ १९ ॥

Do not stick to one fixed appearance or dress; do not settle in one place — keep wandering.

सलगी पडों देऊं नये । प्रतिग्रह घेऊं नये । सभेमध्यें बैसों नये । सर्वकाळ ॥ २० ॥

Do not become overly familiar with anyone, do not accept gifts as alms, and do not stay seated in gatherings all the time.

नेम आंगीं लाऊं नये । भरवसा कोणास देऊं नये । अंगीकार करूं नये । नेमस्तपणाचा ॥ २१ ॥

Do not bind oneself to rigid outward rules, do not give firm assurances to anyone, and do not commit oneself to fixed obligations.

नित्यनेम सांडूं नये । अभ्यास बुडों देऊं नये । परतंत्र होऊं नये । कांहीं केल्यां ॥ २२ ॥

Do not abandon one's daily discipline, do not let spiritual practice lapse, and whatever happens, never become dependent on others.

स्वतंत्रता मोडूं नये । निरापेक्षा तोडूं नये । परापेक्षा होऊं नये । क्षणक्ष्णा ॥ २३ ॥

Do not lose one's independence, do not give up freedom from expectation, and do not become, moment after moment, dependent on others' favor.

वैभव दृष्टीं पाहों नये । उपाधीसुखें राहों नये । येकांत मोडूं देऊं नये । स्वरूपस्थितीचा ॥ २४ ॥

Do not gaze covetously at worldly splendor, do not settle into the comfort of external entanglements, and do not let the solitude needed for abiding in one's true nature be disturbed.

अनर्गळता करूं नये । लोकलाज धरूं नये । कोठेंतरी होऊं नये । आसक्त कदां ॥ २५ ॥

Do not behave recklessly or without restraint, do not be ruled by regard for public opinion, and never become attached to anything, anywhere.

परंपरा तोडूं नये । उआपाधी मोडूं देऊं नये । ज्ञानमार्गे सोडूं नये । कदाकाळीं ॥ २६ ॥

Do not break the tradition handed down, do not let one's rightful role or institution collapse, and never, at any time, abandon the path of knowledge.

कर्ममार्ग सांडूं नये । वैराग्य मोडूं देऊं नये । साधन भजन खंडूं नये । कदाकाळीं ॥ २७ ॥

Do not abandon the path of right action, do not let dispassion crumble, and never let one's practice and devotion be interrupted.

अतिवाद करूं नये । अनित्य पोटीं धऊं नये । रागें भरीं भरों नये । भलतीकडे ॥२८॥

Do not indulge in excessive argument, do not cherish what is impermanent, and do not let anger carry one away in any direction.

न मनी त्यास सांगों नये। कंटाळवाणें बोलों नये । बहुसाल असो नये । येकें स्थळीं ॥ २९ ॥

Do not preach to one who is unwilling to listen, do not talk on tediously, and do not stay too long in one place.

कांहीं उपाधी करूं नये । केली तरी धरूं नये । धरिली तरी सांपडों नये । उपाधीमध्यें॥ ३० ॥

Avoid taking on entanglements if possible; if one must, do not cling to them; and if one does hold them, do not become trapped within them.

थोरपणें असो नये । महत्त्व धरून बैसों नये । कांहीं मान इछूं नये । कोठेंतरी ॥ ३१ ॥

Do not live in a show of greatness, do not sit puffed up with self-importance, and do not desire honor anywhere.

साधेपण सोडूं नये । सानेपण मोडूं नये । बळात्कारें जोडूं नये । अभिमान आंगीं ॥ ३२ ॥

Do not give up simplicity, do not give up humility, and do not force pride upon oneself.

अधिकारेवीण सांगों नये । दाटून उपदेश देऊं नये । कानकोंडा करूं नये । परमार्थ कदा ॥ ३३ ॥

Do not instruct without the authority to do so, do not force teaching upon someone, and never make spiritual matters feel like a burden to the listener.

कठीण वैराग्य सोडूं नये । कठीण अभ्यास सांडूं नये । कठिणता धरूं नये । कोणेकेविशैं ॥ ३४ ॥

Do not give up rigorous dispassion, do not give up rigorous practice — yet do not be harsh in any other respect.

कठीण शब्द बोलों नये । कठीण आज्ञा करूं नये । कठीण धीरत्व सोडूं नये । कांहीं केल्यां ॥ ३५॥

Do not speak harsh words, do not give harsh commands — but whatever happens, never abandon firm resolve.

आपण आसक्त होऊं नये । केल्यावीण सांगों नये । बहुसाल मागों नये । शिष्यवर्गांसी ॥ ३६ ॥

Do not become attached oneself, do not teach what one has not practiced, and do not demand much from one's disciples.

उत्धट शब्द बोलों नये । इंद्रियेंस्मरण करूं नये । शाक्तमार्गें भरों नये । मुक्तपणें भरीं ॥ ३७ ॥

Do not speak insolent words, do not dwell in memory on sensory pleasures, and do not drift, under the guise of freedom, toward indulgent paths.

नीच कृतीं लाजों नये । वैभव होतां माजों नये । क्रोधें भरीं भरों नये । जाणपणें ॥ ३८ ॥

Do not be ashamed of humble tasks, do not grow arrogant if wealth comes, and do not knowingly let oneself be carried away by anger.

थोरपणें चुकों नये । न्याये नीति सांडूं नये । अप्रमाण वर्तों नये । कांहीं केल्या ॥ ३९ ॥

Do not err out of a sense of greatness, do not abandon justice and morality, and whatever happens, never act dishonestly.

कळल्यावीण बोलों नये । अनुमानें निश्चये करूं नये । सांगतां दुःख धरूं नये । मूर्खपणें ॥ ४० ॥

Do not speak without understanding, do not conclude on mere guesswork, and do not foolishly take offense when corrected.

सावधपण सोडुं नये । व्यापकपण सांडुं नये । कदा सुख मानूं नये । निसुगपणाचें ॥ ४१ ॥

Do not lose alertness, do not lose breadth of vision, and never take pleasure in carelessness.

विकल्प पोटीं धरूं नये । स्वार्थआज्ञा करूं नये । केली तरी टाकूं नये । आपणास पुढें ॥ ४२ ॥

Do not harbor doubt within, do not give orders out of self-interest; and if one does, do not later disown responsibility for it.

प्रसंगेंवीण बोलों नये । अन्वयेंवीण गाऊं नये । विचारेंवीण जाऊं नये । अविचारपंथें ॥ ४३॥

Do not speak without occasion, do not sing without context, and do not go, thoughtlessly, down an unconsidered path.

परोपकार सांडूं नये । परपीडा करूंनये । विकल्प पडों देऊं नये । कोणीयेकासी ॥ ४४ ॥

Do not give up doing good to others, do not cause anyone pain, and do not let doubt about oneself arise in anyone's mind.

नेणपण सोडूं नये । महंतपण सांडूं नये । द्रव्यासाठीं हिंडों नये । कीर्तन करीत ॥ ४५ ॥

Do not give up an appearance of simplicity before the world, yet do not lose one's true stature; and do not go about doing kirtan for money.

संशयात्मक बोलों नये । बहुत निश्चये करूं नये । निर्वाहेंवीण धरूं नये । ग्रंथ हातीं ॥ ४६ ॥

Do not speak ambiguously, do not rush into many firm conclusions, and do not take up the writing of a scripture-text without adequate grounding.

जाणपणें पुसों नये । अहंभाव दिसों नये । सांगेन ऐसें म्हणों नये । कोणीयेकासी ॥ ४७ ॥

Do not question others while showing off one's knowledge, do not let ego show, and do not insist to anyone, "I alone will tell you."

ज्ञानगर्व धरूं नये । सहसा छळणा करूं नये । कोठें वाद घालुं नये । कोणीयेकासी ॥ ४८ ॥

Do not be proud of one's knowledge, do not needlessly torment anyone, and do not enter into arguments with anyone.

स्वार्थबुद्धी जडों नये । कारबारीं पडों नये । कार्यकर्ते होऊं नये । राजद्वारीं ॥ ४९ ॥

Do not let self-interest take root, do not get drawn into administrative affairs, and do not become an official at a royal court.

कोणास भर्वसा देऊं नये । जड भिक्षा मागों नये । भिक्षेसाथीं सांगों नये । परंपरा आपुली ॥५० ॥

Do not give firm promises to anyone, do not beg for a heavy or difficult alms, and do not disclose one's lineage just to obtain alms.

सोइरिकींत पडों नये । मध्यावर्ति घडों नये । प्रपंचाची जडों नये । उपाधी आंगीं ॥ ५१ ॥

Do not become involved in matchmaking or family ties, do not act as a go-between, and do not let worldly entanglements attach themselves.

प्रपंचप्रस्तीं जाऊं नये । बाष्कळ अन्न खाऊं नये । पाहुण्यासरिसें घेऊं नये । आमंत्रणें कदां ॥ ५२ ॥

Do not get drawn into householders' domestic affairs, do not eat poor or careless food, and never accept invitations to be entertained as a guest.

श्राध पक्ष सटी सामासें । शांती फळशोबन बारसें । भोग राहात बहुवसें । नवस व्रतें उद्यापनें ॥ ५३ ॥

Occasions such as shraddha rites, the pitru-paksha fortnight, sixth-day and monthly ceremonies, propitiatory rites, naming and cradle ceremonies, votive offerings, vows, and vow-completions are many.

तेथें निस्पृहें जाऊं नये । त्याचें अन्न खाऊं नये । येळिलवाणें करूं नये । आपणासी ॥ ५४ ॥

A man of true detachment should not attend such occasions, should not eat the food served there, and should not make himself an object of ridicule.

लग्नमुहुर्तीं जाऊं नये । पोटासाठीं गाऊं नये । मोलें कीर्तन करूं नये । कोठेंतरी ॥ ५५ ॥

Do not go to wedding ceremonies, do not sing for one's livelihood, and do not perform kirtan anywhere for payment.

आपली भिक्षा सोडूं नये । वारें अन्न खाऊं नये । निस्पृहासि घडों नये । मोलयात्रा ॥ ५६ ॥

Do not give up one's own practice of begging, do not eat food offered for special occasions, and a truly desireless person should never travel or preach for payment.

मोलें सुकृत करूं नये । मोलपुजारी होऊं नये । दिल्हा तरी घेऊं नये । इनाम निस्पृहें ॥ ५७ ॥

Do not perform pious rites for payment, do not become a hired priest; and even if offered, a truly desireless person should not accept a grant or endowment.

कोठें मठ करूं नये । केला तरी तो धरूं नये । मठपती होऊन बैसों नये । निस्पृह पुरुषें ॥ ५८ ॥

Do not establish a monastery anywhere; if one is established, do not cling to it; a truly desireless person should not settle down as its head.

निस्पृहें अवघेंचि करावें । परी आपण तेथें न सांपडावें । परस्परें उभारावें । भक्तिमार्गासी ॥ ५९ ॥

A desireless person should set everything in motion, but must not himself get caught up in it — the path of devotion should be raised through mutual cooperation.

प्रेत्नेंविण राहों नये । आळस दृष्टी आणूं नये । देह अस्तां पाहों नये । वियोग उपासनेचा ॥ ६० ॥

Do not remain without effort, do not let laziness even enter one's sight; and as long as the body lasts, never let one's practice of worship lapse.

उपाधीमध्यें पडों नये । उपाधी आंगीं जडों नये । भजनमार्ग मोडूं नये । निसंगळपणें ॥ ६१ ॥

Do not fall into entanglements, do not let entanglement stick to oneself, and, remaining unattached, never let the path of devotion break down.

बहु उपाधी करूं नये । उपाधीविण कामा नये । सगुणभक्ति सोडूं नये । विभक्ति खोटी ॥ ६२ ॥

Do not take on too many undertakings, yet without any undertaking nothing gets done; do not give up devotion to the personal form of God — detachment without it is false.

बहुसाल धांवों नये । बहुसाल साहों नये । बहुत कष्ट करूं नये । असुदें खोटें ॥ ६३ ॥

Do not rush about excessively, do not endure excessively, and do not exert excessive, needless effort — such extremity is false austerity.

बहुसाल बोलों नये । अबोलणें कामा नये । बहुत अन्न खाऊं नये । उपवास खोटा ॥ ६४ ॥

Do not talk excessively, yet total silence is also of no use; do not eat excessively, and a mere show of fasting is likewise false.

बहुसाल निजों नये । बहुत निद्रा मोडुं नये । बहुत नेम धरूं नये । बाश्कळ खोटें ॥ ६५ ॥

Do not sleep excessively, yet do not entirely deprive oneself of sleep; do not impose excessive rules — such extremity is empty and false.

बहु जनीं असों नये । बहु आरण्य सेऊं नये । बहु देह पाळूं नये । आत्महत्या खोटी ॥ ६६ ॥

Do not stay too much among crowds, nor withdraw too much into the forest; do not overly indulge the body, but neglecting it to the point of self-harm is equally wrong.

बहु संग धरूं नये । संतसंग सांडुं नये । कर्मठपण कामा नये । अनाचार खोटा ॥ ६७ ॥

Do not keep too much company, but never give up the company of the saintly; excessive ritualism is of no use, and disregard of all discipline is equally wrong.

बहु लोकिक सांडुं नये । लोकाधेन होऊं नये । बहु प्रीती कामा नये । निष्ठुरता खोटी ॥ ६८ ॥

Do not cut off relations with people entirely, yet do not become wholly dependent on their approval; excessive affection is of no use, and harshness is equally wrong.

बहु संशये धरूं नये । मुक्तमार्ग कामा नये । बहु साधनीं पडों नये । साधनेंवीण खोटें ॥ ६९ ॥

Do not harbor excessive doubt, yet an undisciplined, "free" path is of no use; do not get entangled in too many practices, but having no practice at all is equally wrong.

बहु विषये भोगूं नये । विषयत्याग करितां नये । देहलोभ धरूं नये । बहु त्रास खोटा ॥ ७० ॥

Do not indulge excessively in sense pleasures, yet complete renunciation of them is not really possible either; do not be attached to the body, but excessive self-torment is equally wrong.

वेगळा अनुभव घेऊं नये । अनुभवेंवीण कामा नये । आत्मस्थिती बोलों नये । स्तब्धता खोटी ॥ ७१ ॥

Do not seek some private experience apart from what the tradition teaches, yet without direct experience nothing avails; do not talk about the state of the Self without having realized it, and mere silent stupor is equally false.

मन उरों देऊं नये । मनेंवीण कामा नये । अलक्ष वस्तु लक्षा नये । लक्षेंवीण खोटें ॥ ७२ ॥

Do not let the restless mind persist, yet without mind nothing can be accomplished; do not try to fix in sight what cannot be seen, yet without some point of focus practice is false.

मनबुद्धिअगोचर । बुद्धीवीण अंधकार । जाणीवेचा पडो विसर । नेणीव खोटी ॥ ७३ ॥

That Reality lies beyond the reach of mind and intellect, yet without intellect there is only darkness; the sense of "knowing" should fade away, yet complete ignorance is equally false.

ज्ञातेपण धरूं नये । ज्ञानेंवीण कामा नये । अतर्क्य वस्तु तर्का न ये । तर्केंवीण खोटें ॥ ७४ ॥

Do not hold the pride of being "the knower," yet without knowledge nothing avails; the Reality beyond logic cannot be grasped by logic, yet without logic too, the effort is false.

दृश्यस्मरण काम नये । विस्मरण पडों नये । कांहीं चर्चा करूं नये । केलियावीण न चले ॥ ७५ ॥

Constantly dwelling on the visible world is of no use, yet it should not be entirely forgotten either; idle discussion should be avoided, yet without some discussion nothing proceeds.

जगीं भेद कामा नये । वर्णसंकर करूं नये । आपला धर्म उडऊं नये । अभिमान खोटा ॥ ७६ ॥

Discrimination in the world serves no purpose, yet one should not blur the distinct duties proper to each; do not abandon one's own dharma, and do not hold false pride in it either.

आशाबद्धत बोलों नये । विवेकेंवीण चालों नये । समाधान हालों नये । कांहीं केल्यां ॥ ७७ ॥

Do not speak bound by worldly hope, do not act without discernment, and whatever happens, do not let one's inner contentment waver.

अबद्ध पोथी लेहों नये । पोथीवीण कामा नये । अबद्ध वाचूं नये । वाचिल्यावीण खोटें ॥ ७८ ॥

Do not write an incoherent, faulty text, yet without writing nothing is accomplished; do not read carelessly, yet without reading too something is lacking.

निस्पृहें वगत्रुत्व सांडूं नये । आशंका घेतां भांडों नये । श्रोतयांचा मानूं नये । वीट कदा ॥ ७९ ॥

A truly desireless person should not give up the art of speaking or preaching, should not quarrel when questioned, and should never grow weary of his listeners.

हें सिकवण धरितां चित्तीं । सकळ सुखें वोळगती । आंगीं बाणें महंती । अकस्मात ॥ ८० ॥

If this teaching is held firmly in the heart, all manner of happiness follows of itself, and true saintly greatness comes to dwell in oneself unexpectedly.