CHAPTER 65 — महामार्गे जीवन-मरण-कला | theWAY of Living and Dying

प्राज्ञ-पथिकः न गन्तव्ये लग्न-चित्तः, यतः पथः एव गन्तव्यम्। कुशल-शिल्पी पूर्व-धारणाभ्यः मनः रिक्तीकरोति, अन्तर्दृष्टिं हस्त-नियामकत्वेन अनुमन्यन्॥१॥

prājña-pathikaḥ na gantavye lagna-cittaḥ, yataḥ pathaḥ eva gantavyam। kuśala-śilpī pūrva-dhāraṇābhyaḥ manaḥ riktīkaroti, antardṛṣṭiṃ hasta-niyāmakatvena anumanyan॥1॥

The sage traveler is not fixated on arrival, for the journey itself is the destination. The skilled artisan empties the mind of preconceptions, allowing intuition to guide the hand.

महामार्गी सदा सावधानः, प्रत्येक-क्षणे पवित्रं प्रत्यक्षीकुर्वन्। न कश्चित् सत्त्वः परित्यज्यते, न कश्चित् सेवा-अवसरः उपेक्ष्यते। एषा प्रकाश-संप्रेषणस्य कला॥२॥

mahāmārgī sadā sāvadhānaḥ, pratyeka-kṣaṇe pavitraṃ pratyakṣīkurvan। na kaścit sattvaḥ parityajyate, na kaścit sevā-avasaraḥ upekṣyate। eṣā prakāśa-saṃpreṣaṇasya kalā॥2॥

The Wayist remains ever-vigilant, perceiving the sacred in each moment. No being is rejected, no opportunity for service overlooked. This is the art of passing the Light.

प्रत्येक-अनुभवम् आचार्य-रूपेण आलिङ्ग, यतः प्राज्ञः प्रज्ञायाः साकार-रूपम् एव। पाठस्य अनादरः अहंकार-व्यूहे आत्म-नाशः॥३॥

pratyeka-anubhavam ācārya-rūpeṇa āliṅga, yataḥ prājñaḥ prajñāyāḥ sākāra-rūpam eva। pāṭhasya anādaraḥ ahaṅkāra-vyūhe ātma-nāśaḥ॥3॥

Embrace each experience as a teacher, for what is a sage but wisdom personified? To dishonor the lesson is to lose oneself in the labyrinth of self-importance.

देह-रूपस्य अनित्य-स्वभावम् अभ्युपगच्छ। एतस्यां प्रत्यभिज्ञायां करुणायाः बीजं सम्यक्-कर्मणः प्रेरणा च निहिता॥४॥

deha-rūpasya anitya-svabhāvam abhyupagaccha। etasyāṃ pratyabhijñāyāṃ karuṇāyāḥ bījaṃ samyak-karmaṇaḥ preraṇā ca nihitā॥4॥

Acknowledge the transient nature of the physical form. In this recognition lies the seed of compassion and the impetus for right action.

मृत्यु-सजगता तव दिनानि त्वरया, तव कर्माणि च करुणया परिप्लावयतु। जीवन-संक्षेपस्य छायायां विनयः प्रफुल्लति॥५॥

mṛtyu-sajagatā tava dināni tvarayā, tava karmāṇi ca karuṇayā pariplāvayatu। jīvana-saṅkṣepasya chāyāyāṃ vinayaḥ praphullati॥5॥

Let the awareness of mortality infuse your days with urgency and your deeds with kindness. Humility blossoms in the shadow of life’s brevity.

प्रिय-जनानां संक्रमणं हर्षेण उत्सवय, न शोकेन। कृतज्ञतया तान् प्रेषय, यथा ते शोक-भार-रहिताः अग्रे यात्रां कर्तुं शक्नुयुः॥६॥

priya-janānāṃ saṅkramaṇaṃ harṣeṇa utsavaya, na śokena। kṛtajñatayā tān preṣaya, yathā te śoka-bhāra-rahitāḥ agre yātrāṃ kartuṃ śaknuyuḥ॥6॥

Celebrate the transition of loved ones with joy, not sorrow. Send them forth with gratitude, that they may journey onward unburdened by grief.

कालः जीवस्य परम-मूल्यवद् द्रव्यम्। तं प्राज्ञतया तेषु प्रयासेषु विनियोजय ये आत्मानं पोषयन्ति महत्तर-हितं च सेवन्ते॥७॥

kālaḥ jīvasya parama-mūlyavad dravyam। taṃ prājñatayā teṣu prayāseṣu viniyojaya ye ātmānaṃ poṣayanti mahattara-hitaṃ ca sevante॥7॥

Time is the soul’s most precious commodity. Invest it wisely in pursuits that nourish the spirit and serve the greater good.

हास्यं हर्षं च संवर्धय, यतः एते दिव्य-वरदाने पथं प्रकाशयतः। हास-रहितं दिनम् अजीवितं दिनम्॥८॥

hāsyaṃ harṣaṃ ca saṃvardhaya, yataḥ ete divya-varadāne pathaṃ prakāśayataḥ। hāsa-rahitaṃ dinam ajīvitaṃ dinam॥8॥

Cultivate laughter and joy, for these are divine gifts that illuminate the path. A day without mirth is a day unlived.

पवित्र-इन्द्रिय-सुख-कलाम् अभ्यस्व। प्रत्येक-अनुभवे स्वम् सम्पूर्णतया मज्जय - सरलतम-श्वासात् गभीरतम-प्रकाशनं यावत्॥९॥

pavitra-indriya-sukha-kalām abhyasva। pratyeka-anubhave svam sampūrṇatayā majjaya - saralatama-śvāsāt gabhīratama-prakāśanaṃ yāvat॥9॥

Practice the art of sacred sensuousness. Immerse yourself fully in each experience, from the simplest breath to the most profound revelation.

तव कर्म समर्पणं भवतु, तव विश्रामः ध्यानम्। सर्वत्र अनित्ये शाश्वतस्य दृष्टिं धारय॥१०॥

tava karma samarpaṇaṃ bhavatu, tava viśrāmaḥ dhyānam। sarvatra anitye śāśvatasya dṛṣṭiṃ dhāraya॥10॥

Let your work be an offering, your rest a meditation. In all things, maintain the perspective of the eternal within the temporal.

तव जीवे आत्म-बीजं पोषय। यथा भक्ता माता स्व-शिशुं परिचरति, तथा त्वम् आविर्भवन्तं स्व-दिव्य-स्वभावं पोषयेः॥११॥

tava jīve ātma-bījaṃ poṣaya। yathā bhaktā mātā sva-śiśuṃ paricarati, tathā tvam āvirbhavantaṃ sva-divya-svabhāvaṃ poṣayeḥ॥11॥

Nurture the seed of spirit within your soul. As a devoted mother tends her child, so must you nurture your emerging divine nature.

कठिन-कार्याणि सुगमानि स्थितानि एव उपागच्छ, महाकार्याणि लघु-पद-क्रमेण। महामार्गी साधारणे सम्पूर्ण-उपस्थित्या असाधारणं साधयति॥१२॥

kaṭhina-kāryāṇi sugamāni sthitāni eva upāgaccha, mahākāryāṇi laghu-pada-krameṇa। mahāmārgī sādhāraṇe sampūrṇa-upasthityā asādhāraṇaṃ sādhayati॥12॥

Approach difficult tasks while they are yet easy, great works through small steps. The Wayist accomplishes the extraordinary by attending to the ordinary with full presence.

व्यवस्थायाम् अन्तर्निहितां अव्यवस्थां, पूर्णतायाम् अन्तर्भूतम् अपूर्णत्वम् आलिङ्ग। एतस्मिन् विरोधाभासे महामार्गस्य पूर्णता निहिता॥१३॥

vyavasthāyām antarnihitāṃ avyavasthāṃ, pūrṇatāyām antarbhūtam apūrṇatvam āliṅga। etasmin virodhābhāse mahāmārgasya pūrṇatā nihitā॥13॥

Embrace the chaos inherent in order, the imperfection within perfection. In this paradox lies the fullness of The Way.

सरलतायाः, सावधानतायाः, अनासक्तेः च मनोवृत्तिं संवर्धय। एते पथे तव सहचराः भवन्तु॥१४॥

saralatāyāḥ, sāvadhānatāyāḥ, anāsakteḥ ca manovṛttiṃ saṃvardhaya। ete pathe tava sahacarāḥ bhavantu॥14॥

Cultivate an attitude of simplicity, mindfulness, and non-attachment. Let these be your companions on the journey.

तव देहं पवित्र-पात्र-रूपेण सम्मानय, तस्य आवश्यकतासु न उद्भोगः न उपेक्षा च। तस्य परिचर्यायां सादर-संरक्षकत्वस्य मध्यमं पन्थानं विन्द॥१५॥

tava dehaṃ pavitra-pātra-rūpeṇa sammānaya, tasya āvaśyakatāsu na udbhogaḥ na upekṣā ca। tasya paricaryāyāṃ sādara-saṃrakṣakatvasya madhyamaṃ panthānaṃ vinda॥15॥

Honor your body as a sacred vessel, neither indulging nor neglecting its needs. In its care, find a middle path of respectful stewardship.

तव सम्बन्धान् वृद्ध्यै सेवायै च अवसर-रूपेण आदरेण गृहाण, न तु नियन्त्रणीयान् शोषणीयान् वा परिग्रहान्॥१६॥

tava sambandhān vṛddhyai sevāyai ca avasara-rūpeṇa ādareṇa gṛhāṇa, na tu niyantraṇīyān śoṣaṇīyān vā parigrahān॥16॥

Cherish your relationships as opportunities for growth and service, not as possessions to be controlled or exploited.

तव साधनानि - कालं, शक्तिं, अवधानं - तव परम-मूल्यैः सह संरेखणेन व्यवस्थापय। तव वराः आध्यात्मिक-विकासस्य निष्ठां प्रतिबिम्बयन्तु॥१७॥

tava sādhanāni - kālaṃ, śaktiṃ, avadhānaṃ - tava parama-mūlyaiḥ saha saṃrekhaṇena vyavasthāpaya। tava varāḥ ādhyātmika-vikāsasya niṣṭhāṃ pratibimbayantu॥17॥

Allocate your resources - time, energy, attention - in alignment with your highest values. Let your choices reflect your commitment to spiritual evolution.

मानव-अनुभवस्य पूर्णं वर्ण-पटलम् आलिङ्ग - प्रकाशं छायां च, हर्षं शोकं च। आध्यात्मिक-वृद्धेः वस्त्र-पटे प्रत्येकस्य स्व-स्थानम् अस्ति॥१८॥

mānava-anubhavasya pūrṇaṃ varṇa-paṭalam āliṅga - prakāśaṃ chāyāṃ ca, harṣaṃ śokaṃ ca। ādhyātmika-vṛddheḥ vastra-paṭe pratyekasya sva-sthānam asti॥18॥

Embrace the full spectrum of human experience - the light and the shadow, the joy and the sorrow. Each has its place in the tapestry of spiritual growth.

तव धर्मेण सह घनिष्ठ-सहवासे जीव, कर्मणः पाठानां सदा सजगः। एतस्यां सावधानतायां प्रज्ञायाः सन्तोषस्य च बीजानि विन्द॥१९॥

tava dharmeṇa saha ghaniṣṭha-sahavāse jīva, karmaṇaḥ pāṭhānāṃ sadā sajagaḥ। etasyāṃ sāvadhānatāyāṃ prajñāyāḥ santoṣasya ca bījāni vinda॥19॥

Live in close companionship with your dharma, ever mindful of karma’s lessons. In this vigilance, find the seeds of wisdom and contentment.

अव्यवधानम् अभ्यस्व, बलं विना कुर्वन्, प्रभुत्वं विना नयन्। मार्दवे सत्य-बलं विन्द; सरलतायां गभीर-प्रभाव-शक्तिम्॥२०॥

avyavadhānam abhyasva, balaṃ vinā kurvan, prabhutvaṃ vinā nayan। mārdave satya-balaṃ vinda; saralatāyāṃ gabhīra-prabhāva-śaktim॥20॥

Practice non-interference, acting without forcing, leading without dominating. In yielding, find true strength; in simplicity, find profound effectiveness.

सर्व-जीवनार्थं श्रद्धां संवर्धय, प्रत्येके सत्त्वे दिव्य-स्फुलिङ्गम् अभिजानन्। एषा सजगता सर्व-प्राणिभिः सह तव संव्यवहारान् नियच्छतु॥२१॥

sarva-jīvanārthaṃ śraddhāṃ saṃvardhaya, pratyeke sattve divya-sphuliṅgam abhijānan। eṣā sajagatā sarva-prāṇibhiḥ saha tava saṃvyavahārān niyacchatu॥21॥

Cultivate reverence for all life, recognizing the divine spark in every being. Let this awareness guide your interactions with all creatures.

मृत्युं समभावेन सम्मुखीकुरु, तां संक्रमणम् इति जानन्, न अन्तम्। प्रत्येकं दिनं तव अन्तिम-दिनम् इव यापय, तव अन्तिम-श्वासाय यथा हर्ष-यात्रायै तथा सज्जी-भव॥२२॥

mṛtyuṃ samabhāvena sammukhīkuru, tāṃ saṅkramaṇam iti jānan, na antam। pratyekaṃ dinaṃ tava antima-dinam iva yāpaya, tava antima-śvāsāya yathā harṣa-yātrāyai tathā sajjī-bhava॥22॥

Face death with equanimity, knowing it as a transition, not an end. Live each day as if it were your last, and prepare for your final breath as you would for a joyous journey.

तव मनोवृत्ति-कौशलैः तव शक्तीः परिवर्तय - येन तव दश-मनांसि केवलं श्रेष्ठेन पोषयसि, तव गृहं प्रिय-स्थानानि च शुभेन परिप्लावयसि, तव प्रभा-देहश्च देवताभ्यः सदा आकर्षकः भवेत्॥२३॥

tava manovṛtti-kauśalaiḥ tava śaktīḥ parivartaya - yena tava daśa-manāṃsi kevalaṃ śreṣṭhena poṣayasi, tava gṛhaṃ priya-sthānāni ca śubhena pariplāvayasi, tava prabhā-dehaśca devatābhyaḥ sadā ākarṣakaḥ bhavet॥23॥

Use your skills of Attitude to change your energies so you feed your ten minds only the best, and you infuse your home and loved spaces with goodness, and your aura-body always be attractive to deities.

सर्वत्र महामार्गस्य प्रवाहेन सह संरेखणं अन्विच्छ। न पुरः धावन्, न पश्चात् विलम्बमानः, ब्रह्माण्डीय-नृत्येन सह सामरस्य-गत्या चर॥२४॥

sarvatra mahāmārgasya pravāheṇa saha saṃrekhaṇaṃ anviccha। na puraḥ dhāvan, na paścāt vilambamānaḥ, brahmāṇḍīya-nṛtyena saha sāmarasya-gatyā cara॥24॥

In all things, seek to align with the flow of The Way. Neither rushing ahead nor lagging behind, move in harmony with the cosmic dance.

स्मर हे अन्वेषिन्, महामार्गे जीवन-मरण-कला न पूर्णीकरणीयं कौशलं, अपितु आलिङ्गनीयं नृत्यम्। प्रत्येकेन पादेन, प्रत्येकेन श्वासेन, सीमिते शाश्वतम्, क्षणे अनन्तं च मूर्तीकर्तुं तव अवसरः॥२५॥

smara he anveṣin, mahāmārge jīvana-maraṇa-kalā na pūrṇīkaraṇīyaṃ kauśalaṃ, apitu āliṅganīyaṃ nṛtyam। pratyekena pādena, pratyekena śvāsena, sīmite śāśvatam, kṣaṇe anantaṃ ca mūrtīkartuṃ tava avasaraḥ॥25॥

Remember, O seeker, that the art of living and dying in theWAY is not a skill to be perfected, but a dance to be embraced. With each step, each breath, you have the opportunity to embody the eternal within the finite, the infinite within the moment.

तस्मात्, सम्पूर्णतया जीव, सौजन्येन म्रियस्व, सर्वत्र च महामार्गेण सह प्रवाहय॥२६॥

tasmāt, sampūrṇatayā jīva, saujanyena mriyasva, sarvatra ca mahāmārgeṇa saha pravāhaya॥26॥

Thus, live fully, die gracefully, and in all things, flow with The Way.

व्याकरण टिप्पणियां | Grammatical Notes

Core Living-and-Dying Terminology:

Wayist Anthropological Terms (Verse 23):

Sacred Sensuousness Foreshadowing (Verse 9):

The Wayist Triad (Verse 14):

Body as Sacred Vessel (Verse 15):

Dharma-Karma Companionship (Verse 19):

Non-Interference (Verse 20):

Reverence for Life (Verse 21):

Eternity Within the Moment (Verses 10, 25):

Embracing Paradox (Verse 13):

Philosophical Precision:

This Sanskrit rendering captures the chapter’s central teaching: that life and death in theWAY are not two events but one continuous dance, practised through cultivated attitude, embodied presence, and reverence for the sacred in each moment — preparing the soul for its onward journey even as the body lives fully here.

Colophon: This translation represents the collaborative restoration work of the Wayist collective Salvar Dàosenglu, based on the ancient mahāmārga teaching tradition, rendered into contemporary English and restored to classical Sanskrit for posterity.

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