THE WORKS OF SANKARA

THE SOUNDARYA LAHARI

STANZAS 21 TO 30

t¢zÚlEKa tÓv£|

slender as a streak of lightning (Kundalini or coiled up energy or aspect of Sakthi within the individual, having evolved the twenty five categories within, corresponding to the macrocasm without)

tpn

sun

S¢S

moon

vWáanrmy£|

of the nature of fire

¢nxÎNa|

seated

xÎNa|

the six

A¢p

and (the three granthis or knots Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra separating the chakras)

up¢r

above

kmlana|

the lotuses (yogic cakras)

tv kla|

your aspect (as Sadakhya, from the union of the Kundalini with the Sadasiva tattva and which the source of twenty five categories of the universe)

mha pîazÛya|

in the great lotus forest (the Sahasrara)

m¦¢dt ml mayEn

free from sin and illusion

mnsa

by a mind

mhaÓt:

greatmen

pÜyÓt:

those who perceive

dD¢t

pocess

pr| Aaad lhr£|

the wave of supreme joy

Great   men   who   perceive   by   a   mind   free   from   sin   and   illusion, your   aspect (as   the   Sadakhya   kala),   seated   in   the   great   lotus forest   (the   Sahasrara), above   the   six   lotuses   (yogic   cakras) and   (the   granthis   or   knots),   slender as   a   streak   of   lightning, of   the   nature   of   the   sun,   moon   and   fire,   possess   the   wave   of supreme   joy.
(The   mind   of   the   devotee,   free   from   sin   and   illusion,
perceives   Siva   -   Sakti   in   the   great   lotus   forest.
Cf   SVL,   Verse   21   :   Siva   -   Sakti   reach   the   pure,   lotus
like   heart   of   the   devotee).
Bva¢n    Ïv|    dasE    m¢y    ¢vtr    ¢¾|    skâNa|
i¢t    ÞtaEt¤|    vaÉCn¯    kTy¢t    Bva¢n    Ïv¢m¢t    y:    ,
tdWv    Ïv|    tÞmW    ¢dS¢s    ¢njsay¤Çy    pdv£|
m¤kÓd    b#'EÓd#    ÞPz    mkz    n£ra¢jtpdam¯    .   22   .

Bva¢n

Oh Bhavani! (Sakti)

Ïv| dasE m¢y

on me your slave

¢vtr

you bestow

¢¾|

look

skâNa|

endowed with compassion

i¢t

thus

ÞtaEt¤| vaÉCn¯

desiring to praise

kTy¢t

says

Bva¢n Ïv| i¢t

may I become you, thus (by treating the word "Bhavani" as a verbal declension, one elevates the meaning to that of the aphorisitic declaration)

(Ah| b#'a¢Þm )

(I am Brahma).

tda ev

at that moment itself

Ïv|

you

tÞmW ¢dS¢s

you grant to him

¢nj say¤Çy pdv£|

the state of perpetual absorption of the

m¤kÓd

Mukunda (Hari)

b#'

Brahma

iÓd#

Indra

ÞPz mkz

bright diadems

n£ra¢jt pda|

feet which receive the oblation of lights

"Oh   Bhavani!   bestow   on   me   your   slave,   (your)   look endowed   with compassion".   He   who   desiring   to   praise you   thus,   (and)   says   thus   : "May   I   become   you".   At that   moment   itself,   you,   whose   feet   receive the oblation of   lights   from   the   bright   diadems   of   Mukunda,   Brahma, and   Indra, grant   to   him   the   state   of   perpetual   absorption into   the   deity.
(The   devotee   entreats   Sakti   to   bestow   compassion.
Cf   SVL   Verse   22   :   The   devotee   entreats   Siva   to
bestow   compassion).
Ïvya    ¶Ïva    vam|    vp¤rp¢rt¦çOEn    mnsa
Sr£raDI|    S|BaErprm¢p    S|kE    ¶tmB¥t¯    ,
ydEtt¯    Ïvd#p|    sklmâNaB|    ¢æOnyn|
kca×yamanm#|    k¢zl    S¢S    c¥fal    mkzm¯    .   23   .

Ïvya

by you

¶Ïva

having taken over

vam| vp¤:

the left half of the body

Ap¢rt¦çOEn mnsa

with a dissatisfied mind

Sr£raDI|

half of the body

S|BaE:

of Sambhu (Siva)

Apr| A¢p

the other (half) also

S|kE

I think

¶t| AB¥t¯

was taken

yt¯

because

ett¯ Ïvt¯ ãp|

this your form

skl| AâNaB|

entirely red

¢æO nyn|

has three eyes

kca×ya| Aanm#|

curved by the bosom

k¢zl S¢S

the crescent moon

c¥fal mkzm¯

crown crested

I   think   having   taken   over   the   left   half   of   the   body   of   Sambhu, with   a   (still)   dissatisfied   mind,   the   other   (half)   of   the   body was   also   taken   over   by   you.   Because,   this   form   of   your's   is entirely   red,   has   three   eyes,   is   curved   by   the   bosom   (and)   has a   crown   crested   by   the   crescent   moon.

(Sakti   is   dissatisfied   by   anything   less   than   total   identity
with   Siva. Cf   SVL,   Verse   23   :   The   devotee   is   dissatisfied   by   anything less   than   seeing   Siva).
jgÏs¥tE    Data    h¢rrv¢t    âd#:    XpytE
¢trÞkvIn¯    ett¯    Þvym¢p    vp¤r£S¢Þtry¢t    ,
sda    p¥vI:    svI||    t¢ddmn¤g¦a¢t    c    ¢Sv
ÞtvaåOamalØÖy    XNc¢ltyaE:    B#¥l¢tkyaE:    .   24   .

jgt¯ s¥tE

begets the world

Data

Dhata (Brahma)

h¢r: Av¢t

Hari (Vishnu) protects

âd#: XpytE

Rudra destroys

¢trÞkvIn¯

withdrawing

ett¯

this (Dhata, Hari and Rudra)

Þvy| A¢p vp¤:

even his own body

iIS:

Isa

¢try¢t

obscures (Isa withdraws into Sadasiva. ie universal dissollution)

sda p¥vI:

preceeded by the word "Sada" (perpetual)

svI| tt¯ id|

in all this

An¤g¦a¢t

obliges

indeed

¢Sv:

Siva (Sadasiva, who is passive and in eternal union with Sakti)

tv AaåOa| AalØÖy

stayed by your order

XNc¢ltyaE:

exhibiting momentary movement

B#¥l¢tkyaE:

of the eyebrows

Dhata   begets   the   world.   Hari   protects   (it).   Rudra   destroys (it).   Isa   withdrawing this   (Dhata,   Hari   and   Rudra),   obscures even   his   own   body   (by   withdrawing into   Sadasiva).   Indeed   Siva (whose   name)   is   preceded   by   (the   word)   Sada, obliges   in   all this,   stayed   by   your   order,   exhibited   by   the   momentary   movement of   (your)   eyebrows.
(The   cycles   of   creation   are   at   the   behest   of   Sakti.
Cf   SVL,   Verse   24   :   The   devotee   wishes   to   spend   the   cycles
of   creation   worshipping   Siva).
æOyaNa|    dEvana|    ¢æOg¤N    j¢ntana|    tv    ¢SvE
BvEt¯    p¥ja    p¥ja    tv    crNyaEyaI    ¢vr¢cta    ,
tTa    ¢h    ÏvÏpadaE¹hn    m¢Np£ZÞy    ¢nkzE
¢ÞTta    /EtE    SáÓm¤k¢lt    kraEäO|s    mkza:    .   25   .

æOyaNa| dEvana|

of the three gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra)

¢æO g¤N j¢ntana|

born of the three properties (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas)

your

¢SvE

Oh Sivaa ! (Sakti)

BvEt¯ p¥ja

becomes homage

p¥ja

homage

tv crNyaE:

to your feet

ya ¢vr¢cta

that made

tTa ¢h

this is appropriate

Ïvt¯ pad

your feet

u¹hn

supporting

m¢N p£ZÞy

of the gem (studded) pedestal

¢nkzE

in proximity

¢ÞTta:

(they) stand

¢h etE

indeed these (gods)

Sát¯

eternally

m¤k¢lt kr:

hands held together in the shape of a bud

uäO|s mkza:

cresting (their) crowns

Oh   Sivaa   !   that   homage   made   to   your   feet   becomes   homage to   the   three   gods   born   of   your   three   properties.   This   is appropriate   (for)   indeed   these   stand   in   proximity   to   the gem   (studded)   pedestal,   supporting   your   feet,   with   hands held   together   in   the   form   of   a   bud,   cresting   (their)   crowns eternally.
(Sakti   is   worshipped   by   Brahma   and   others.
Cf   SVL   Verse   25   :   Siva   is   worshipped   by   Brahma   and   others).
¢v¢r¢·:    p·Ïv|    v#j¢t    h¢rrap"aE¢t    ¢vr¢t|
¢vnaS|    k£naSaE    Bj¢t    DndaE    ya¢t    ¢nDnm¯    ,
¢vtÓd#£    mahEÓd#£    ¢vt¢tr¢p    s|m£¢lt    Sa
mhas|harE{¢Þmn¯    ¢vhr¢t    s¢t    ÏvÏp¢trsaW    .   26   .

¢v¢r¢·:

Virinchi (Brahma)

p·Ïv| v#j¢t

proceeds to death (dissolution into the five elements)

h¢r:

Hari (Vishnu)

Aap"aE¢t ¢vr¢t|

meets an end

¢vnaS|

destruction

k£naS:

Kinaasa (Yama, the lord of death)

Bj¢t

obtains

Dnd:

Dhanada (Kubera, the lord of wealth)

ya¢t ¢nDn|

proceeds to death

¢vtÓd#£

are in deep sleep (of death)

mahEÓd#£ ¢vt¢t: A¢p

the group of Mahendras (Indra the lord of gods) also

s|m£¢lt Sa

with eyes closed

mha s|harE A¢Þmn¯

in this the great universal destruction

¢vhr¢t

he sports

s¢t

Oh Sati! (chaste wife) (Sakti)

Ïvt¯ p¢t: AsaW

this your husband (Sadasiva)

Virinchi   proceeds   to   death.   Hari   meets   an   end.   Kinaasa   obtains destruction. Dhanada   proceeds   to   death.   The   group   of   Indras   are also   in   deep   sleep (death)   with   eyes   closed.   Oh   Sati!   in   this great   universal   destruction,   this (Sadasiva)   your   husband   sports.
(Brahma   and   others   perish   at   the   end   of   the   creative   cycle
Cf   SVL,   verse   26   :   The   devotee   seeks   the   joy   not   vouchsafed
to   Brahma   and   others).
jpaE    jÚp:    ¢SÚp|    sklm¢p    m¤d#a    ¢vrcna
g¢t:    p#ad¢XÎy    @mNmSnaïah^¢t    ¢v¢D:    ,
p#Nam:    s|vES:    s¤Km¢KlmaÏmapIN    Sa
spyaI    pyaIyÞtv    Bvt¤    yÓmE    ¢vl¢stm¯    .   27   .

jp:

muttered prayers

jÚp:

speech

¢SÚp|

manual tasks

skl| A¢p

and all

m¤d#a ¢vrcna

the symbolic arrangement of fingers in worship

g¢t:

the gait

p#ad¢XÎy @mN|

the steps of circambulation of the deity

ASna¢d

food etc.

Aah^¢t ¢v¢D:

the method of offering oblations

p#Nam:

salutation

s|vES:

sleep

s¤K| A¢Kl|

all that is facile

AaÏmapIN Sa

from the point of view of offering the self

spyaI pyaIy:

synonymous with worship

tv Bvt¤

let it be to you

yt¯ mE ¢vl¢stm¯

that which is manifested in me

Let   speech   be   muttered   prayers,   and   all   manual   tasks   the symbolic   arrangement of   fingers   in   worship,   let   gait be   the   steps   of   circambulation   of   the   deity, let   food etc.   be   the   method   of   offering   oblations,   let   sleep   be salutation,   let all   that   is   facilely   manifested   in   me be   synonymous   with   worship   to   you
from   the   point   of view   of   offering   the   self   (in   worship).
(The   devotee   offers   all   bodily   functions   to   Sakti.
Cf   SVL,   verse   27   :   The   devotee   offers   his   mind   to
Siva).
s¤DamÔyaÞvaï    p#¢tBy    jra    m¦Ïy¤    h¢rN£|
¢vpïÓtE    ¢váE    ¢v¢D    StmKaïa    ¢d¢vxd:    ,
kral|    yt¯    ßvEl|    kb¢ltvt:    kalklna
n    S|BaEÞtÓm¥l|    tv    jn¢n    tazÄð    m¢hma    .   28   .

s¤Da| A¢p

even ambrosia

AaÞvaï

having eaten

p#¢tBy

the fearful

jra m¦Ïy¤

old age (and) death

h¢rN£|

that which removes

¢vpïÓtE

they die

¢váE

all

¢v¢D

Vidhi (Brahma)

StmK: Aaïa:

Satamkha (Indra) and others

¢d¢vxd:

inhabitants of heaven

kral|

dreadful

yt¯

because

ßvEl|

poison

kb¢ltvt:

one who has swallowed a mouthful

kal klna

subject to time (does not succumb to death)

not

S|BaE:

for Sambhu (Siva)

tt¯ m¥l|

because of it

tv jn¢n

your Oh Mother! (Sakti)

tazÄð m¢hma

the greatness of the earring (the Sricakra)

Having   eaten   even   ambrosia,   which   removes   the   fearful old   age   (and)   death, Vidhi,   Satamakha   and   all   other   inhabitants of   heaven   die.   (But   if)   Sambhu, who   has   swallowed   a   mouthful of   the   dreadful   poison   is   not   subject   to time   because   of   it, (it   is)   because   of   the   greatness   of   your   earring   Oh   Mother!
(Siva   is   freed   from   death   by   Sakti
Cf   SVL,   verse   28   :   The   devotee   is   freed   from   the   cycle
of   birth   and   death   by   worship   of   Siva).
¢k¢rz|    vW¢r·|    p¢rhr    p¤r:    kWzB¢Bd:
kZaErE    kaEz£rE    ÞKl¢s    j¢h    j|Ba¢r    mkzm¯    ,
p#Nm#EÝvEtEx¤    p#sBm¤pyatÞy    Bvn|
BvÞya×y¤ÏTanE    tv    p¢rjnaE¢³¢vIjytE    .   29   .

¢kr£z|

the crown

vW¢r·|

of Virinchi (Brahma)

p¢rhr

you avoid

p¤r:

in front

kWzB ¢Bd:

the destroyer of (the demon) Kaitabha (Vishnu)

kZaErE kaEz£rE

the hard crown

ÞKl¢s

you (will) trip

j¢h

avoid

j|Ba¢r mkzm¯

the crown of the enemy of Jambha (Indra)

p#Nm#Ex¤ etEx¤

when these (gods) are paying obeissance

p#sB|

impetuously

upyatÞy Bvn|

who approaches (your) abode

BvÞy

of Bhava (Siva)

A×y¤ÏTanE

when you rise in honour

your

p¢rjnaE¢³:

the words of the retinue

¢vjytE

may it triumph

"Avoid   the   crown   of   Virinchi   in   front!   You   (will)   trip   on the   hard   crown   of   Kaitabhabhida!   Avoid   the   crown   of   Jambhari!" May   (such)   words   of   your retinue   triumph,   when   you   impetuously rise   in   honour   of   Bhava,   who approaches   (your)   abode,   when these   (gods)   are   paying   obeissance.
(The   celestials   pray   to   Sakti.
Cf   SVL,   verse   29   :   The   celestials   pray   to   Siva).
ÞvdEhaEdB¥ta¢BG¯R¢N¢Br¢Nmaïa¢Br¢BtaE
¢nxEÛyE    ¢nÏyE    Ïvamh¢m¢t    sda    Bavy¢t    y:    ,
¢kmaàyI|    tÞy    ¢æOnyn    sm¦¢ÑG|    t¦NytaE
mhas|vtaI¢g"¢vIrcy¢t    n£rajn    ¢v¢Dm¯    .   30   .

ÞvdEhaEdB¥ta¢B:

generated from (your) own body

G¦¢N¢B:

by the light rays

A¢Nmaïa¢B:

Anima (capacity for atomic reduction) and others

A¢Bt:

surrounded by

¢nxEÛyE

Oh one worthy of adoration! (Sakti)

¢nÏyE

Oh eternal one! (Sakti)

Ïva| Ah| i¢t

you as the self (the aphorisitic declaration

(Ah| b#'a¢Þm )

(I am Brahma )

sda

always

Bavy¢t

meditates

he who

¢k| AaàyI|

Oh how wonderful!

tÞy

to him

¢æOnyn sm¦¢ÑG|

the wealth of absorption into the three eyedone (Siva)

t¦Nyt:

as equivalent to (but a piece of) straw

mha s|vtaI¢g":

the great fire of dissolution

¢vrcy¢t

performs

n£rajn ¢v¢D|

the ceremony of waving lights (as an act of

Oh   one   worthy   of   adoration!   Oh   eternal   one!   he   who constantly   meditates
on   you,   who   is   surrounded   by   the light   rays   of   Anima   and   others generated   from   your   own body,   as   the   self,   to   him   (the   devotee)   who considers   the wealth   of   absorption   into   Siva   as   equivalent   to   (but)   a   piece of   straw,   the   great   fire   of   dissolution   performs   the ceremony   of   waving   lights. Oh   how   wonderful!
(The   devotee   of   Sakti   considers   himself   superior   to   Siva.
Cf   SVL,   verse   30   :   The   devotee   of   Siva   considers   himself
inferior   to   the   celestial   devotees).
PROCEED TO STANZAS 31 TO 40 RETURN TO STANZAS 11 TO 20 RETURN TO THE WORKS OF SANKARA