1. Worldly life is like a great flood with unlimited water animals and poisonous serpents running around biting.
2. Hopes, and the sense of "mine," are like shackles for the human body. They are like alligators tearing one into pieces. They drag one towards sorrow and put one into difficulties.
3. The ego is like a crocodile which throws one into the lower world and drowns one there. It is difficult for living beings to escape or be freed from there.
4. Desires hold tightly like an alligator that does not loosen its grip. When one develops hatred and it does not go away, and when pride and jealousy are never reduced, this is being caught in Illusion.
5. The habits and latent desires (vasanas) are like serpents that strangle one around the neck with tongues that vomit dangerous poison.
6. Taking the burden of family life on the head, one says "It's mine." Even when drowning one does not leave it and only takes pride in one's family name.
7. One gets caught in the darkness of delusion. The thief by the name of pride robs one of everything, and the ego haunts one like a ghost.
8. The majority of beings are caught in a whirlpool and are swept away, but some call to God for help, with a deep feeling of devotion.
9. God himself jumps into the flood and takes them to the other shore, while those who are without devotion get swept away.
10. God is hungry for devotion. He is enticed by seeing devotion, and helps the devotee in danger and protects him.
11. The sorrows of worldly life disappear for the one who loves God and calls upon him.
12. Those who give their allegiance to God enjoy the celebration of their own happiness. Such devotional people are blessed with good fortune.
13. Whatever type of faith one has in God, God is like that for them. He is the innermost knower of the thoughts of all beings.
14. If one is deceitful, God becomes a great deceiver. It’s a wonder to see his reciprocation.
15. Whatever way in which one praises God, in the same way, God gives contentment. If one's faith becomes a bit less, God moves away.
16. The image in the mirror appears just as one is. The control of that reflection lies with oneself.
17. Whatever one does, the image in the mirror will appear the same way. If one looks with eyes widened, it will also appear to have big eyes.
18. If one looks angry by raising the eyebrows, the image will also raise the eyebrows. If one laughs, the image looks happy.
19. Just like one's feelings are reflected, God is also like this. According to how one worships God, he receives back in the same way.
20. With faith in the "Supreme Truth" (Paramartha), the ways of devotion lead to the highest state of liberation when keeping the company of saintly people.
21. Those who give praise with deep feeling are purified and become one with God. By the power of their devotion they liberate their ancestors as well.
22. They have saved themselves and have become helpful to other people. Hearing of their salvation, those who were not devotional become full of faith.
23. Blessed are the mothers of those who sing the praises of God (Vishnu), as they alone among people have fulfilled their life.
24. How can their greatness be described, whom God himself protects? By his power, He tears down their sorrow.
25. At the end of many lives one escapes the cycle of birth and death. It is only with this human body that one can meet God.
26. Therefore, blessed are those devotees who have acquired the great treasure of God. It is the merit of countless lives that has born fruit.
27. Life itself is a box of jewels. The beautiful gems inside are in the form of singing the praises of God (in bhajans). In offering such praises to God one gets great joy.
28. The devotee of God may be inferior with regard to riches, but he is superior to Brahma and the other gods as he is always content and without any desires.
29. Those devotees who have given up attachment to worldly life and who hold to the support of God are protected by the "Lord of the Universe" (Jagadisha) from all sides.
30. For those who use discrimination feel great happiness even in the worldly life, while those who are learned fools get caught due to greed for worldly pleasures.
31. Those who have love for God rejoice in the bliss of the Self. Their wealth is different from that of other people. It is never-ending.
32. They become happy, and remain forever happy. Having forgotten the sorrows of worldly life and having become disinterested in the enjoyment of sensual gratification, they take pleasure in being one with the Lord, who is pleasure itself.
33. They have profited from the treasure box which is the human body and used it for the purpose of devotion to God. Others who are non-devotees are truly unfortunate and have lost the opportunity provided by having a human body.
34. In the same way that when one gets a treasure suddenly and then exchanges it for a small sum, the life of a non-devotee goes to waste.
35. One who has practiced severe austerities for a long time receives the prized touch-stone20 as a result, yet he is unfortunate. Because of his ignorance, he does not know how to use it.
36. In the same way, one who comes into the worldly life gets entrapped in the net of Illusion, and in the end goes away alone and empty handed.
37. It is with the proper association of the human body that many have attained the best spiritual state. Other poor people remain caught in the cycle of birth and death.
38. With the human body one should rush to fulfill one's life by keeping the company of saints. A great deal of suffering has been experienced in previous births in lower species.
39. No one can know or give any kind of assurance about what situation will come next, just like the birds that are carried away in all ten directions.
40. In the same way, one's own glory or prosperity is like that. Who knows how the future will be? One's wife or children may leave or become separated from you at any time.
41. This very moment is not ours to hold on to, and one's entire lifetime also passes away. When the life is wasted, one is placed in a lower birth as soon as the body dies.
42. In the lower births such as a dog or a pig, one is made to suffer many calamities. There is no chance there to attain the best spiritual state.
43. In the past you have suffered the miseries of residence in the womb, and you have had the good fortune to escape from there with great difficulty.
44. You suffered sorrow there all alone. There were no others for you there. In much the same way dear one, in the end, you will have to go alone.
45. What mother or father, or sister or brother, what well wishers, wife, son, or daughters will go with you?
46. You must realize that they are illusory. All of your relatives are there for their own happiness. They are not with you in your pleasure and pain.
47. What will become of your family life, and your family name? Why do you become tormented? All of your money, grains and wealth will be gone.
48. What about your house, and worldly life? Why are you worrying and carrying the burden of these things all of your life when in the end you drop them and go away.
49. What about youth and glory, or rejoicing and celebration? Understand all of this to be hollow and nothing but the deception of Illusion.
50. If in this moment one was to die saying "Everything is mine, mine!," it is as if they are separated from God.
51. You have undergone repeated births and deaths. How many parents, wives, daughters and sons have you had? Millions!
52. All have come together by the association of previous deeds (karmic connections), yet only those who come to be born in the same household are considered as one's own. This is the belief of a fool!
53. Even the body is not your own, what thought can be given to others as "yours"? Only God is one’s own. You should hold to him with strong devotion.
54. Just to fill the stomach one has to serve many lowly people, as well go out of one's way to praise and flatter them.
55. One puts the body into slavery for someone who provides food for the stomach, but how can you forget God who gave you life?
56. It is God who is concerned day and night for all beings, and by whose authority the clouds rain, and the ocean is kept within its limits.
57. Due to God's authority alone, the earth is supported, and the sun shines.
58. The benevolent "God of Gods" is such that we can’t understand his skills. It is He who takes care of all beings with affection.
59. This God, Lord Rama, is the Self in everyone. Those who put him aside and instead take to sensual desires are lowly-minded and degraded people who suffer from their own actions.
60. You should understand that everything that is desired, except for Lord Rama, only disappoints. Saying "mine, mine," only results in fatigue in the end.
61. Those who are only constantly thinking about sensual pleasures end up becoming fatigued, and when they do not get the object of enjoyment, they become agitated.
62. God is complete joy (ananda) itself. How can one who forgets him, and who is constantly running around thinking of sensual pleasures and indulging in passions ever be content?
63. One who feels that they need to be happy should adore God (Rama), and give up the attachment to other people, which is the root of grief.
64. When one has a burning passion for something it is like a wound that causes grief. Accordingly, when one gives up the desire to pursue sensual pleasure, one becomes happy.
65. All the happiness that one gets from sensual pleasures only gives rise to sorrow in the end. It is unavoidable that what pleases in the beginning brings sorrow in the end.
66. Like the fish that feels happy when swallowing the hook, but gets its throat torn when it is pulled out, or a deer that is taken down by a hunter after being enticed by some sweet grass.
67. In the same way, when chasing after sensual pleasures, one feels they are enjoying happiness, but in the end what was pleasurable causes misery. Therefore, one should only have desire for God.
68. After listening to this, one who is faithful asks, "How can one make life worthwhile? Swami,21 please tell how one can escape suffering in death.
69. Where does God reside? How can I meet him? How can the root of misery that is worldly life be broken?
70. You who are the living image of compassion, please tell me the sure way to realize God and avoid downfall. Please tell a poor person like me, what is the remedy?"
71. The speaker says, "You should adore God with single-minded devotion. With that, contentment will come naturally."
72. The listener asked, "How should God be adored, and where should this mind be concentrated? What are the attributes of devotion to God? Please, explain them to me."
73. Asking like this, he held tightly to the feet of the speaker. Full of emotion, he was choked-up and could not speak, as tears were falling down his face.
74. Seeing the unusual loyalty and deep feelings of the disciple, the generous Sadguru was moved. Now, in the next sub-chapter, overflowing "Self Joy" (Swa-ananda) will proliferate.