Prose-section 3
In plain words
For living beings a human birth is very hard to come by. Within that, to be born a man; then to be a brahmin; then to walk in the Vedic way where the Veda is recited; then to become learned; then for the enquiry into Self and non-Self to arise in one; and then to reach knowledge that is one’s own experience: each is rarer than the last. Liberation, which is to be Brahman itself through that knowledge, is not had without the good deeds of countless births before this one. Yet even without attaining all these in their order, if three rare things come through the Lord’s grace, a human birth, the longing for liberation and the company of great souls, these alone are enough for reaching liberation.
Word for word
For living beings, obtaining human birth is very rare. Within that, being born male, becoming a brahmin, following the Vedic discipline in which the Veda is studied, becoming learned, developing discrimination between Self and non-Self, and attaining knowledge through direct experience of oneself are progressively rarer. Liberation, abiding as Brahman through that knowledge, is not obtained apart from good deeds performed through innumerable former births. Even if all these have not been attained in sequence, if through the Lord's grace the three rare attainments—human birth, desire for liberation and association with great souls—are obtained, these themselves suffice for attaining liberation.