Ramana Puranam - 6

244-47

In my forgetfulness, I became a bird in that tree,

my mind confused by good and evil actions.

Looking around on all sides, in my perplexity,

I repetitively devoured its sweet and bitter fruits in vain,

experiencing again and again

unceasing suffering and enjoyment.

248-54

In this state of disgust, wherein there was not a trace

of clarity within my mind,

the king, who is my very life,

through his grace that is the truth,

free of the feelings of rejoicing and aversion,

appeared as a unique sage

in the city of Arunai

to save me from death,

worthless cur that I was,

and through his compassionate gaze

he revealed to me his holy lotus feet,

infusing me with an abundant, unending flood

of the ambrosia of being-consciousness

so that my mind became still.

255-56

On account of the forgetfulness

arising out of the illusion of maha maya,

they think that they are the body,

their mental faculties subverted.

257-61

Taking the seven forms of birth,

according to their mental pre-dispositions,

they do not conceive an aversion for this body

which reeks of the foul odour

of the three impurities,

but deem it a thing of great worth,

desiring it intensely,

and, propounding fallacious arguments,

commit the error [of taking the body to be ‘I’].

The seven forms of birth were listed in the note to lines 71-4. The three impurities, according to Saiva philosophy, are anava (the ego), maya and karma.