Derge Kangyur/Tengyur e-text, Esukhia/Barom edition — public domain (mechanical reproduction)
The fragment of the Vajragīti (The Vajra Song) presents a critique of conceptual thought, framing the cognitive process of conceptualization as a treacherous and venomous snake that seizes the mind. The text argues that the act of conceptualization is inherently restrictive, asserting that the specific manner in which an individual conceptualizes determines the nature of their bondage. By employing this metaphor, the text positions the conceptual mind as an obstacle to liberation. The reader is committed to a perspective where the cessation of conceptual proliferation is necessary to escape mental entrapment. The work begins with a traditional homage to Mañjuvajra, signaling its placement within a tantric or meditative framework, though the provided passage focuses primarily on the psychological mechanism of conceptual binding.
Provenance
About this text
A treatise addressing the nature of the mind, the Vajragīti (Tibetan: rdo rje'i glu) originates from the Indian tradition and is attributed to Nāropa. It is preserved within the classical Tibetan period in the Tengyur, specifically volume ཞི, where it comprises one page and is situated within the General Unexcelled Yoga Tantra Works. The work opens with an homage to Mañjuvajra and proceeds to critique the mechanism of conceptual thought, which it likens to a treacherous and venomous snake that seizes the mind. It argues that the specific manner in which an individual conceptualizes creates the very nature of their bondage, suggesting that following delusion leads to meaningless suffering. A scholar or serious reader consults this text today to examine its psychological framing of conceptual proliferation as an obstacle to liberation and to analyze the metaphor of the conceptual mind as a source of mental entrapment.
This text is significant for its use of the 'snake' metaphor to describe conceptual thought, a common trope in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy to illustrate the danger of dualistic thinking. It reflects the tradition's emphasis on non-conceptual awareness as the primary means of liberation.
Structure
Passages
Section
Description
1
Introduction and Opening Verse
Contains the title in Sanskrit and Tibetan, an homage to Mañjuvajra, and an analysis of the binding nature of conceptual thought.
Themes
Conceptual thought as bondage (1)
The nature of the mind (1)
Summary, significance and provenance note generated by gemma4:31b from the translation and the catalogue record.
In the language of India: Vajragīti. In the language of Tibet: Rdo rje’i glu (The Vajra Song). Homage to the Blessed One Mañjuvajra.
One’s own mind has been seized by the treacherous, venomous snake of conceptual thought. In whatever way one conceptualizes, in that very way one is bound. One experiences much meaningless suffering by following after delusion; delusion will not be abandoned by following after delusion. Therefore, O hero endowed with compassion, familiarize yourself with suchness.
In whatever way one analyzes, in that very way one is liberated. The many-headed venomous snake of insight devours the self. The many-headed venomous snake of insight is constantly nourished by the milk of meditative concentration (samādhi). It kills the mongoose of conceptual thought. The hundred-headed snake of insight constantly devours Nāropa. Who knows this? Nāropa himself knows it. Ask Nāropa himself.
This concludes the Vajra Song of Nāropa, the Mahāyoga.
Translation status: Not among 84000's published translations, and not in progress there. Translations published elsewhere have not been searched for, so one may exist. (source: 84000 catalogue + registry; checked 2026-11-10).
Set in Newsreader and EB Garamond; Tibetan in Noto Serif Tibetan; Chinese in Noto Serif SC.