ऐका विरक्तांची लक्षणें । विरक्तें असावें कोण्या गुणें । जेणें आंगीं सामर्थ्य बाणें । योगियाचें ॥ १ ॥

Now hear the characteristics of a person of true renunciation. What qualities should such a person possess, so that the strength and capability of a true yogi takes root within him?

जेणें सत्कीर्ति वाढे । जेणें सार्थकता घडे । जेणेंकरितां महिमा चढे । विरक्तांसी ॥ २ ॥

These are the qualities through which good repute grows, through which one's life is made worthwhile, and through which the glory of a renunciate increases.

जेणें परमार्थ फावे । जेणें आनंद हेलावे । जेणें विरक्ति दुणावे । विवेकेंसहित ॥ ३ ॥

Qualities through which the spiritual goal is attained, through which joy wells up within, and through which one's renunciation, joined with discernment, grows twice as strong.

जेणें सुख उचंबळे । जेणें सद्विद्या वोळे । जेणें भाग्यश्री प्रबळे । मोक्षेंसहित ॥ ४ ॥

Qualities through which happiness surges forth, through which true learning is gained, and through which good fortune, together with liberation, grows strong.

मनोरथ पूर्ण होती । सकळ कामना पुरती । मुखीं राहे सरस्वती । मधुर बोलावया ॥ ५ ॥

Through these, one's heartfelt wishes are fulfilled, all desires are satisfied, and the goddess of speech herself dwells upon one's tongue, granting sweet words.

हे लक्षणें श्रवण कीजे । आणी सदृढ जीवीं धरिजे । तरी मग विख्यात हो‍ईजे । भूमंडळीं ॥ ६ ॥

One should listen to these characteristics and hold them firmly in the heart; only then does a person become renowned throughout the world.

विरक्तें विवेकें असावें । विरक्तें अध्यात्म वाढवावें । विरक्तें धारिष्ट धरावें । दमनविषईं ॥ ७ ॥

A renunciate should live with discernment, cultivate spiritual knowledge, and hold firm courage in the matter of disciplining the senses.

विरक्तें राखावें साधन । विरक्तें लावावें भजन । विरक्तें विशेष ब्रह्मज्ञान । प्रगटवावें ॥ ८ ॥

A renunciate should preserve his spiritual practice, devote himself to worship, and bring forth deep knowledge of the ultimate truth.

विरक्तें भक्ती वाढवावी । विरक्ते शांती दाखवावी । विरक्तें येत्नें करावी । विरक्ती आपुली ॥ ९ ॥

A renunciate should increase his devotion, demonstrate peace of mind, and diligently strengthen his own renunciation.

विरक्तें सद्क्रि या प्रतिष्ठावी । विरक्तें निवृत्ति विस्तारावी । विरक्तें नैराशता धरावी । सदृढ जिवेंसीं ॥ १० ॥

A renunciate should uphold good conduct, spread the path of renunciation, and hold on firmly, with his whole heart, to freedom from desire.

विरक्तें धर्मस्थापना करावी । विरक्तें नीति आवलंबावी । विरक्तें क्ष्मा सांभाळावी । अत्यादरेंसी ॥ ११ ॥

A renunciate should establish righteousness, follow moral conduct, and cherish forgiveness with the utmost care.

विरक्तें परमार्थ उजळावा । विरक्तें विचार शोधावा । विरक्तें सन्निध ठेवावा । सन्मार्ग सत्वगुण ॥ १२ ॥

A renunciate should illuminate the spiritual path, seek out true understanding, and keep the right way and sattvic virtue always close at hand.

विरक्तें भाविकें सांभाळावीं । विरक्तें प्रेमळें निववावीं । विरक्तें साबडीं नुपेक्षावीं । शरणागतें ॥ १३ ॥

A renunciate should look after the devout, comfort the loving-hearted, and never neglect the simple, innocent souls who come seeking refuge.

विरक्तें असावें परम दक्ष । विरक्तें असावें अंतरसाक्ष । विरक्तें वोढावा कैपक्ष । परमार्थाचा ॥ १४ ॥

A renunciate should remain extremely alert, stay inwardly a witness to himself, and always take up the cause of the spiritual path.

विरक्तें अभ्यास करावा । विरक्तें साक्षेप धरावा । विरक्तें वग्त्रृत्वें उभारावा । मोडला परमार्थ ॥ १५ ॥

A renunciate should engage in study, pursue his goals with earnest zeal, and, through the power of his own eloquence, restore the spiritual path wherever it has fallen into decline.

विरक्तें विमळज्ञान बोलावें । विरक्तें वैराग्य स्तवीत जावें । विरक्तें निश्चयाचें करावें । समाधान ॥ १६ ॥

A renunciate should speak pure knowledge, continually extol the virtue of detachment, and find lasting contentment through firm resolve.

पर्वें करावीं अचाटें । चालवावी भक्तांची थाटे । नाना वैभवें कचाटें । उपासनामार्ग ॥ १७ ॥

Festivals should be celebrated on a grand scale, the community of devotees should be led and sustained, and the path of worship should be strengthened with all manner of splendor.

हरिकीर्तनें करावीं । निरूपणें माजवावीं । भक्तिमार्गे लाजवावीं । निंदक दुर्जनें ॥ १८ ॥

One should perform devotional recitations of God's glory, let spiritual discourse flourish abundantly, and, through the power of the path of devotion, put slanderers and wicked people to shame.

बहुतांस करावे परोपकार । भलेपणाचा जीर्णोद्धार । पुण्यमार्गाचा विस्तार । बळेंचि करावा ॥ १९ ॥

One should do good to many people, restore and revive goodness wherever it has decayed, and vigorously expand the path of virtue.

स्नान संध्या जप ध्यान । तीर्थयात्रा भगवद्भोजन । नित्यनेम पवित्रपण । अंतरशुद्ध असावें ॥ २० ॥

Daily bathing and prayer, mantra-repetition and meditation, pilgrimage, offering one's food to God before eating, daily discipline, and outward purity - all this should be accompanied by inner purity of heart.

दृढ निश्चयो धरावा । संसार सुखाचा करावा । विश्वजन उद्धरावा । संसर्गमात्रें ॥ २१ ॥

One should hold firm resolve, make one's own household life a happy one, and, simply through association with him, help uplift people throughout the world.

विरक्तें असावें धीर । विरक्तें असावें उदार । विरक्तें असावें तत्पर । निरूपणविषईं ॥ २२ ॥

A renunciate should be steady and composed, generous, and ever ready and willing to give spiritual instruction.

विरक्तें सावध असावें । विरक्तें शुद्ध मार्गें जावें । विरक्तें झिजोन उरवावें । सद्कीरर्तीसी ॥ २३ ॥

A renunciate should remain vigilant, walk the pure path, and, by wearing himself out in service, leave behind a good name.

विरक्तें विरक्त धुंडावे । विरक्तें साधु वोळखावे । विरक्तें मित्र करावे । संत योगी सज्जन ॥ २४ ॥

A renunciate should seek out other renunciates, learn to recognize true saints, and make friends of saints, yogis, and good people.

विरक्तें करावीं पुरश्चरणें । विरक्तें फिरावीं तीर्थाटणें । विरक्तें करावीं नानास्थानें । परम रमणीय ॥ २५ ॥

A renunciate should perform sustained spiritual disciplines, travel on pilgrimage, and establish various places of great beauty and sanctity.

विरक्तें उपाधी करावी । आणि उदासवृत्ति न संडावी । दुराशा जडो नेदावी । कोणयेकविषईं ॥ २६ ॥

A renunciate may take up worldly responsibilities for the good of others, but he should never abandon his underlying detachment, and should never let false hope or craving attach itself to anything.

विरक्तें असावें अंतरनिष्ठ । विरक्तें नसावें क्रियाभ्रष्ट । विरक्तें न व्हावें कनिष्ठ । पराधेनपणें ॥ २७ ॥

A renunciate should be inwardly steadfast, should never fall into corrupt conduct, and should never lower himself by becoming dependent upon another.

विरक्तें समय जाणावा । विरक्तें प्रसंग वोळखावा । विरक्त चतुर असाअवा । सर्वप्रकारें ॥ २८ ॥

A renunciate should know the right time, recognize the right circumstance, and be wise and capable in every respect.

विरक्तें येकदेसी नसावें । विरक्तें सर्व अभ्यासावें । विरक्तें अवघें जाणावें । ज्याचें त्यापरी ॥ २९ ॥

A renunciate should not remain one-sided or narrow in outlook; he should study everything thoroughly, and come to know each subject exactly as it truly is.

हरिकथा निरूपण । सगुणभजन ब्रह्मज्ञान । पिंडज्ञान तत्वज्ञान । सर्व जाणावें ॥ ३० ॥

The stories of God, spiritual discourse, devotion to the divine with form, knowledge of the formless absolute, knowledge of the body and self, and philosophy - all this he should come to know.

कर्ममार्ग उपासनामार्ग । ज्ञानमार्ग सिद्धांतमार्ग । प्रवृत्तिमार्ग निवृत्तिमार्ग । सकळ जाणावें ॥ ३१ ॥

The path of action, the path of worship, the path of knowledge, the path of doctrine, the path of worldly engagement, and the path of renunciation - all these paths he should come to know.

प्रेमळ स्थिती उदास स्थिती । योगस्थिती ध्यानस्थिती । विदेह स्थिती सहज स्थिती । सकळ जाणावें ॥ ३२ ॥

The state of loving devotion, the state of detachment, the state of yoga, the state of meditation, the bodiless state, and the natural, effortless state - all these states he should come to know.

ध्वनी लक्ष मुद्रा आसनें । मंत्र यंत्र विधी विधानें । नाना मतांचें देखणें । पाहोन सांडावें ॥ ३३ ॥

The various practices of sound, gazing, hand gestures, postures, mantras, mystic diagrams, rites and rituals, and the views of many different schools of thought - all these he should examine, and then discard whatever is not needed.

विरक्तें असावें जगमित्र । विरक्तें असावें स्वतंत्र । विरक्तें असावें विचित्र । बहुगुणी ॥ ३४ ॥

A renunciate should be a friend to the whole world, should remain independent, and should be richly endowed with many remarkable qualities.

विरक्तें असावें विरक्त । विरक्तें असावें हरिभक्त । विरक्तें असावें नित्यमुक्त । अलिप्तपणें ॥ ३५ ॥

A renunciate should truly be detached, be a devotee of God, and remain ever free and unattached, untouched by worldly bonds.

विरक्तें शास्त्रें धांडोळावीं । विरक्तें मतें विभांडावीं । विरक्तें मुमुक्षें लावावीं । शुद्धमार्गें ॥ ३६ ॥

A renunciate should thoroughly study the scriptures, refute mistaken doctrines, and guide seekers of liberation onto the pure path.

विरक्तें शुद्धमार्ग सांगावा । विरक्तें संशय छेदावा । विरक्तें आपला म्हणावा । विश्वजन ॥ ३७ ॥

A renunciate should teach the pure path, resolve people's doubts, and regard all the people of the world as his own.

विरक्तें निंदक वंदावें । विरक्तें साधक बोधावे । विरक्तें बद्ध चेववावे- । मुमुक्षनिरूपणें ॥ ३८ ॥

A renunciate should show respect even to those who slander him, offer guidance to spiritual seekers, and awaken those bound by worldly life through teaching that kindles the longing for liberation.

विरक्तें उत्तम गुण घ्यावे । विरक्तें अवगुण त्यागावे । नाना अपाय भंगावे । विवेकबळें ॥ ३९ ॥

A renunciate should adopt good qualities, give up bad ones, and, through the strength of discernment, overcome every kind of obstacle.

ऐसीं हे उत्तम लक्षणें । ऐकावीं येकाग्र मनें । याचा अव्हेर न करणें । विरक्त पुरुषें ॥ ४० ॥

These excellent qualities should be heard with a focused mind. A person of true renunciation should never dismiss or neglect them.

इतुकें बोलिलें स्वभावें । त्यांत मानेल तितुकें घ्यावें । श्रोतीं उदास न करावें । बहु बोलिलें म्हणौनी ॥ ४१ ॥

All this has been said naturally, as it came; take from it whatever seems fitting. Listeners should not grow indifferent merely because so much has been said.

परंतु लक्षणें ने घेतां । अवलक्षणें बाष्कळता । तेणें त्यास पढतमूर्खता । येवों पाहे ॥ ४२ ॥

But if one fails to adopt these excellent qualities, ill traits and empty foolishness take their place instead, and such a person risks becoming what is called a learned fool.

त्या पढतमूर्खाचें लक्षण । पुढिले समासीं निरूपण । बोलिलें असे सावधान- । हो‍ऊन आ‍इका ॥ ४३ ॥

The characteristics of that learned fool are described in the next chapter. Listen to it attentively.