Original · Devanagari
अथ अवकाश १२ ॥ काव्य छन्द ॥ शब्द भेद सुनु वेद शब्द बहु भाँति कहत मुनि । अविनाशी सब शब्द चारि गहि रहे मुख्य पुनि ॥ जज्ञ शब्द अरु हंस शब्द अध्यात्म अनाहद । ब्रह्म महा शब्दातीत एक पुरुष संत बद ॥१॥ वेद कर्म बुध सुकृत जज्ञ शब्दहि नित ध्यावहिं । हंस शब्द जोगीश विविधि यतनन करि पावहिं ॥ शुद्ध ज्ञान विज्ञान शब्द अध्यात्म जानै । दास प्रेम तेहि जुत ब्रह्म शब्दापि बखानै ॥२॥ शब्दातीत स्वरूप शब्द मारग जो जानै । लहै परम सुख अली गली सतगुरु पहिचानै ॥ बिन सतगुरु नहिं मिलै कोटि जनमापि कर्म करु । बिना तोय सुख कहाँ सिंधु कसु सर सरितन्ह भरु ॥३॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ शब्द रूप अरु इष्ट थल अपर लखै पर केरि । श्रीरामचरण सब संत गुरु वे सतगुरु मन मेरि ॥१॥ शब्द परे रवि जगत निशि दीप शशिहु नहिं भोरै । मैं खद्योत उलूक खल भोर चहै कब चोर ॥२॥ इति श्री रसमालिकायां बोध शास्त्रे शब्दातीत गोप्य लक्षण संज्ञा वर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽवकाशः ॥१२॥
Fresh English translation
The twelfth avakāśa teaches distinctions of sound. Sages speak of sound in many ways, but four deathless sounds are principal: the sacrificial sound, the haṃsa sound, the inward unstruck sound, and the great Brahman beyond sound—the one Person proclaimed by saints. Those wise in Vedic action and merit constantly contemplate the sacrificial sound; masters of yoga attain the haṃsa sound through many disciplines. Pure knowledge and realized knowledge know the inward sound, while the servant joined to love proclaims Brahman even through sound. Whoever knows the form beyond sound and the path of sound gains supreme joy in the beloved lane and recognizes the true guru. Without the true guru it is not found, though one perform the deeds of ten million births; without water, how could ocean, lake, or river hold delight? The dohas say that sound's form, the chosen place, and what lies beyond are perceived through the Supreme; every saint and guru is the true guru in Rāmacaraṇa's mind. Beyond sound, the sun does not illumine the world's night, nor do lamp or moon bring dawn. He calls himself a firefly, owl, and fool: when can a thief desire the morning? The colophon closes the twelfth avakāśa, describing the secret marks and designation of what lies beyond sound.