धन्याष्टकम्तज्ज्ञानं प्रशमकरं यदिन्द्रियाणांतज्ज्ञेयं यदुपनिषत्सु निश्चितार्थम् ।ते धन्या भुवि परमार्थनिश्चितेहाःशेषास्तु भ्रमनिलये परिभ्रमन्तः ॥ १ ॥आदौ विजित्य विषयान्मदमोहरागद्वेषादिशत्रुगणमाहृतयोगराज्याः ।ज्ञात्वा मतं समनुभूयपरात्मविद्याकान्तासुखं वनगृहे विचरन्ति धन्याः ॥ २ ॥
In plain words
Dhanyāṣṭakam. True knowledge is whatever brings the senses to rest; and what is truly worth knowing is only what the Upaniṣads settle beyond doubt. Blessed indeed, here on earth, are those whose whole striving is fixed on ultimate reality — everyone else simply wanders through the house of delusion. Such people first conquer every sense-object and the whole host of enemies within — pride, delusion, attachment, aversion, and the rest — and so win the kingdom of Yoga for themselves. Once they know the teaching and have fully tasted the joy of that bride who is knowledge of the Supreme Self, they wander on, at home in the forest.
Close to the Sanskrit
Dhanyāṣṭakam. That is knowledge which brings tranquility to the senses; that is what must be known whose meaning is decisively established in the Upaniṣads. Blessed on earth are those whose striving is firmly fixed on ultimate reality; the rest wander in the abode of delusion. First, having conquered the sense-objects and the host of enemies—pride, delusion, attachment, aversion, and the rest—and having won the kingdom of Yoga, the blessed, having known the teaching and fully experienced the joy of the bride who is knowledge of the Supreme Self, wander in their forest dwelling.