TheSaundaryalahari

The Saundaryalahari (Flood of Beauty), traditionally ascribed to Shankaracarya, is one oftheprincipaltextsofShaktaTantrism,knownalloverIndia.Thetext,translation,and notesarefrom: The Saundaryalahari or, Flood of Beauty traditionally ascribed to Sankaracarya, edited and translated by W. Norman Brown (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press,1958). TransliterationofDevanagari: aAiiiuURRRLeaioauMH kkhgghn cchjjh TThDDhN tthddhn pphbbhm yrlv ShshshkSh 1 shivaHshaktyAyuktoyadibhavatishaktaHprabhavituM nacedevaMdevonakhalukhushalaHspanditumapi| atastvAmArAdhyAMhariharaviracyAdibhirapi praNantuMstotuMvAkathamakRtapuNyaHprabhavati|| IfShivaisunitedwithShakti,heisabletoexerthispowersaslord ifnot,thegodisnotabletostir. Hencetoyou,whomustbepropitiatedbyHari,Hara,Viraci,andtheothergods, howcanonewhohasnotacquiredmeritbefittoofferreverenceandpraise? 2 taniyAMsaMpAnsuMtavacaraNapankeruhabhavaM viraciHsaMcinvanviracayatilokAnavikalam| vahatyenaMshauriHkathamapisahasreNashirasAM haraHsaMkShubhyainaMbhajatibhasinoddhUlanavidhim || Thetiniestspeckofdustfromyourlotusfeet Viraci(Brahma)collectsandfashionsintotheworldsintheirentirety Sauri(Vishnu'sserpent)barelysupportsitwithhisthousandheads Harashattersitandusesittodusthimselfwithasashes.

3 avidyAnAmantastimiramihiraddiipanagarii jaDAnAMcaitanyastabakamakarandasrutijharii| daridrANAMcintAmaNiguNanikAjanmajaladhau nimagnAnAMdaMShTrAmuraripuvarAhasyabhavatii|| Fortheignorantyouaretheislandcityofthesun, forthementallystagnantyouareawaterfallofstreamsofnectarflowingfrombouquets ofintelligence, forthepooryouarearosaryofwishingjewelsforthosewhointheoceanofbirth aresubmergedyouarethetuskofthatboar(Vishnu)whowastheenemyofMura,your ladyship. 4 tvadanyaHpANibhyAm abhayavaradodaivatagaNam tvamekAnaivAsiprakaTitavarAbhiityabhinayA| bhayAttrAtuMdAtuMphalamapicavAcAsamadhikaM sharaNyelokAnAMtavahicaraNAvevanipuNau|| Otherthanyouthehostofgodsgrantfreedomfromdangerandgiftswiththeirhands youalonemakenoovertgestureofgiftandimmunity fortosavefromdangerandtograntarewardevenbeyonddesire, Oyouwhoaretherefugeoftheworlds,yourtwofeetaloneareadequate. 5 haristvAmArAdhyapraNatajanasaubhAgyajananiiM purAnAriibhUtvApuraripumapikShobhamanayat| smaro'pitvAMnatvAratinayanalehyenavapuShA muniinAmapyantaHprabhavatihimohAyamahatAm|| Hari,afterpropitiatingyou,whoarethemotherofwelfareforfolkbowedinworship, oncebecameafemaleandagitatedhim(Shiva)whoistheenemyofthecities Smara(Kama)himself,afterbowingtoyouwithhisbodythatisworthyofbeing caressedbytheeyesofRati, hasthepowertoproduceillusionwithinevenmightysages. 6 dhanuHpauSHpaMsaurviimadhukaramayiipacavishikhA vasantaHsAmantomalayamarudAyodhanarathaH| tathApyekaHsarvahimagirisutekAmapikRpAM apAngAttelabdhyAjagadidamanangovijayate|| Hisbowismadeofflowers,thebowstringofbees,fivearehisarrows, Vasanta(Spring)ishisadjutant,theMalayabreezehiswarchariot, andyet,byhimself,Odaughterofthesnowmountain,whenbutabitofcompassion hehasgotfromasideglanceofyours,theBodilessOne(Kama)conquersthisworld

entire. 7 kvaNatkAciidAmAkarikalabhakumbhastanabharA parikShiinAmadhyepariNatashraccandravadanA| dhanuurbhANAnpAshaMsRNimapidadhAnAkaratalaiH parastAdAstAMnaHpuramathiturAhopuruShikA|| Bandedwithatinklinggirdle,heavywithbreastslikethefrontallobesofyoung 1 elephants, slenderofwaist,withfacelikethefullmoonofautumn, bearingonthepalmsofherhandsbow,arrows,noose,andgoad, lettherebeseatedbeforeustheprideofhimwhoshookthecities.

8 sudhAsiMdhormadhyesuraviTapavATiiparivRte maNiddiipeniipopavanavaticintAmaNigRhe| shivAkAremaceparamashivaparyankanilayAM bhalantitvAMdhanyAHkaticanacidAnandalahariim|| InthemidstoftheOceanofNectar,wherecoveredwithgrovesofheavenlywishingtrees istheIsleofGems,inthemansionofwishingjewelswithitsgroveofnipatrees, onacouchcomposedofthefourgodsShiva[andtheothers],yourseatamattresswhich isParamashiva somefewluckyonesworshipyou,afloodofconsciousness(cit)andbliss(ananda). 9 mahiiMmUlAdhArekamapimaNipUrehutavahaM sthitaMsvAdhiShThAnehRdimarutamAkAshamupari| mano'pibhrUmadhyesakalamapibhittvAkulapathaM sahasrArepadmesaharahasipatyAviharasi||

Remark:ThepoeticmetaphorinthisstotramthatcomparesHerbreastswiththefrontallobesonthe foreheadofanelephantthatswellinrutislikethatintheTamil classictirukkuRaL,verse1087: kaTakkaLirrinmrkaTpaTmmtar paTamulaimltukil Thecloththatcoversthefirmbosomofthismaidenislikethatwhichcoverstheeyesofaruttingelephant. Asveilo'erangryeyes Ofragingelephantthatlies, Thesilkencincture'sfoldsinvest Thismaiden'spantingbreast.

Theearthinthemuladhara,thewaterinthemanipura,thefiresituatedinthe svadhishthana,theairintheheart,andtheetheraboveit,themindbetweenthe eyebrowsinshort,havingpiercedtheentirekulapath,inthethousandpetaledlotusyou sportinsecretwithyourlord. 10 sudhAdhArAsaraushcaraNayugalAntarvigalitaiH prapacaMsicantiipunarapirasAmnAyamahasA| avApyasvAMbhUmiMbhujaganibhamadhyuShTavalayaM svamAtmAnaMkRtvAsvapiShikulakuNDekuhariNi|| Withstreamsofnectarflowingfrombetweenyourfeet sprinklingtheuniverse,recreatingthroughthepowerofrecitingthesacredtextsthat producethesix(cakraswhichhadbeendissolvedwhenDeviregressedtothe 2 sahasrarabythekulapath), again youreachyourownabodeandintotheformofaserpentinthreeandahalfcoils youconvertyourselfandsleepinthekulakundahollow. 11 caturbhiHshriikaNTaiHshivayuvatibhiHpacabhirapi prabhinnAbhiHshaMbhornavabhiritimUlaprakRtibhiH| trayashcatvAriMshaddasudalakalAshratrivalaya trirekhAbhiHsArdhaMtavacaraNakonAHpariNatAH||

Byreasonofthefourtrianglescalledsrikanthasandthefivetrianglescalledshivayuvatis, whicharepiercedbythebinduandconstitutetheninebasictrianglesoftheshricakra calledmulaprakrtis,

2

Note:Thetranslationofrasamnayamahasaisconjectural.Lakshmiidharareadssah(abl.)andunderstands theexpressiontomean'fromtheregionofthemoon'(candrasakashat)andaddsinexplanation: rasamnayamahahshabdoyamaleshukalanidhauprasiddhah,rasasyasudhayaamnayogunanamadhikyamiti yavattadatmakammahahksntiryasyasarasamnayamahaitivyutpatteh.Kaivalyashramacallsthe rasamnayahsixdirectionsorstations(sthanani)of theuniverse:east,south,west,north,zenith,nadir. BhaskararayaMakhinintheVarivasyarahasyainapassagegenerallyechoingthispartofthe Saundaryalahari,indescribingtheascenttothesahasraraandthereturn,says(2.105106)thatDevicauses thestreamofamRtatofloodtheregionsofthevyoman[sky]andtheshashimandalaandthen,intoxicated byadraughtofthatamrta,returnstoherownplacetoenterintosleep:svayamapitatpanavashanmatta bhutvapunashcatenaiva/margenaparavrtyasvasminsthanesukhamsvapiti.(FortextandEnglish translationseeVarivasyarahasyaofSriBhaskararayaMakhinwithhisowncommentary,'Prakasa,'edited withEnglishtranslationetc.byPanditS.SubrahmanyaSastri,Adyar,1948,TheAdyarLibrarySeries,No. 28).

fortythreealongwiththelotusesofeightandsixteenpetals(outsidethetriangles)and thethreecircles(outsidethelotuses) andthethreelines(outsidethecircles)anglesofyourdwellingplaceareevolved. 12 tvadiiyaMsaundaryatuhinagirikanyetulayituM kaviindrAHkalpantekathamapiviriciprabhRtayaH| yadAlokyautsukyAdamaralalanAyAntimanasA tapobhirdupprApAmapigirishasAyujyapadaviim|| Toequalyourbeauty,Odaughterofthesnowymountain, masterpoets,Viriciandtherest,canscarcelysucceed theheavenlycourtesans,whentheyhaveglimpsedit,throughtheirlongingtoenjoyit passinimagination toidentitywiththeMountaindweller(Shiva),whoishardtoattainevenbyascetic 3 practices. 13 naraMvarShiiyAMsaMnayanavirasaMnarmasujaDaM tavApAngAlokepatitamanudhAvantishatashaH| galaddeNiibandhAHkucakalashavisrastasicayA haThAttruTyaktAcyovigalitadukUlAyuvatayaH|| Awornoutoldman,distastefultothesight,sluggishinlove'sart, ifhebutfallwithinasideglancefromyou,thererunafterhimbythehundreds, withhairribbonsflyinglooseandclothesslippedfromtheirjarlikebreasts, youngwomen,theirgirdlesviolentlyburstingandtheirgarmentsdroppeddown.

14 kShitauShatpacAshadvisamadhikapacAshadudake hutAshedvAShaShtishcaturadhikapacAshadanile| dividviHShattriMshanmanasicacatuHShaShTiritiye mayUkhAsteShAmapyuparitavapAdAmbujayugam|| Inearth(muladhara)fiftysix,fiftytwoinwater(manipura), infire(svadhishthana)sixtytwo,fiftyfourinair(anahata), inether(vishuddhi)seventytwo,andinmind(ajasixtyfour these(360)are theraysabovethem(inthesahasrara)isthepairofyourlotusfeet. 15 sharajjyotsnAshubhrAMshashiyutajaTAjUTamukuTAM varatrAsatrANasphaTikaguTikApustakakarAm| sakRnnatvAnatvAkathamivasatAMsaMnidadhate
3

Theheavenlycourtesans,desirousofenjoyingDevi'sbeauty,canatbestonlyimaginethemselves identicalwithShivasoastoenjoyitwhileheisenjoyingit.

madhukShiiradrAkShAmadhuriiNAbhaNitayaH|| Brightastheautumnmoonlight,wearingacrestofplaitedandcoiledhairwiththemoon onit, withyourfourhandsrespectivelybestowinggifts,grantingfreedomfromfear,holdinga crystalrosaryandabook, iftoyouassuchthegoodshouldbowonlyonce,howwouldtheyfailtohave utterancesladenwiththesweetnessofhoney,milk,andgrapes? 16 kaviindrANAMcetaHkamalavanabAlAtaparuciM bhajanteyesantaHkaticidaruNAmevabhavatiim| viracipreyasyAstaruNatarashRngAralaharii gabhiirAbhirvAgbhirvidadhatisatAMrajanamamii|| Asthelovelinessofthemorningsuntoopenthelotusclustersofthemindsofthemaster poets ourladyAruna(theglowingred) thoserarewiseoneswhoworshipyouassuch, withutterancesprofoundwithafloodoftheeverfreshpassionofViraci'sbeloved (Sarasvati), givedelighttothewise. 17 savitriibhirvAcAMshashimaNishilAbhangarucibhir vashinyAdyAbhistvAMsahajananisaMcintayatiyaH| sakartAkAvyAnAMbhavatimahatAMbhangisubhagair vacobhirvAgdeviivadanakamalAmodamadhuraiH|| Theinspirersofutterances,whoarebrightassliversofmoonstone, Vasiniandtheotherswhoevercontemplatesyouwiththem,Omother, becomesafashionerofnoblepoems,withaptlyphrased expressions,sweetwithfragrancefromthelotusmouthoftheQueenofSpeech (Sarasvati). 18 tanucchAyAbhistetaruNataraNishriisaraNibhir divaMsarvAmurviimaruNimanimagnAMsmaratiyaH| bhavantyasyatrasyadvanahariNashAliinanayanAH sahorvashyAvashyAHkatikatinagiirvANagaNikAH|| Thebeautiesofyourbodyarelikepathsofsplendorfromthefreshsun whoeverbringstomindtheskyandthewholewideearth immersedinaredglowfrom them therewouldbeamongtheheavenlycourtesans,whoseeyesareasshyasthetimidforest deer, scarcelyoneunsubjectedtohisspell,Urvashiincluded.

19 mukhaMbinduMkRtvAkucayugamadhastasyatadadho harArdhaMdhyAyedyoharamahiShitemanmathakalAm| sasadyaHsaMkShobhaMnayativanitAityatilaghum trilokiimapyAshubhramayatiraviindustanayugAm|| Conceivingthedot(inthesyllablehriiM)asyourface,thepartbelowthatasyourpairof breasts,andthepartbelowthelatter 4 asthe(female)halfofHara, whoever,OqueenofHara,shouldsomeditateuponyour elementofManmatha(Kama,Love), inamomentdriveswomentodistraction thisisbutaslightthing. ButhealsosuddenlyflustersthecosmicWoman,whoconsistsofthethreeworldsand bearsthesunandmoonasherbreasts. 20 kirantiimangebhyaMkiraNanikurambAmRtarasaM hRditvAmAdhattehimakarashilAmUrtimivayaH| sasarpANAMdarpaMshamayatishakuntAdhipaiva jvarapluShTAndRShTyAsukhayatisudhAdhArasirayA|| Diffusingfromyourlimbsnectarininnumerablerays, animageofmoonstonewhoeverfixesyousoinhisheart, justasthekingofbirds(Garuda)tamestheprideofserpents, withaglancestreamingwithshowersofnectar,heassuagesthoseinflamedwithfever. 21 taDillekhAtanviiMtapanashashivaishcAnaramayiiM niShaNNAMShaNNAmappyuparikamalAnAMtavakalAM| mahApadmATvyAMmRditamalamAyenamanasA mahAntaHpashyantodadhatiparamAhlAdalahariim|| Slenderasastreakoflightning,composedoftheessenceofsun,moon,andfire, situatedabovethesixlotuses(cakras),themanifestationofyou intheforestofgreatlotuses,thosewithmindfreeofstainandillusion whoviewit,mightyones,experienceafloodofsupremejoy. 22 bhavAnitvaMdAsevitaradRShTiMsakaruNAM itistotuMvAcchankathayatibhavAnitvamitiyaH| tadaivatvaMtasmaidishasinijasAyujyapadaviiM mukundabrahmendrasphuTamukuTaniirAjitapadAm|| "Doyou,Olady(bhavani),extendtome,yourslave,acompassionateglance!" 5 whenonedesiringtopraiseyouuttersthewords"you,Olady",
4

Punningly,ashalfoftheconjunctformsofhaandra.

atthatmomentyougranthimastateofidentitywithyou, withyourfeetilluminated(asintheeveningwavingoflightsbeforeagod'simage)by thecrestsofMukunda(Vishnu),Brahma,andIndra. 23 tvayAhRtvAvAmaMvapuraparitRptenamanasA shariirArdhaMshaMbhoraparamapishankehRtamabhUt| tathAhitvadrUpaMmakalamaruNAbhaMtrinayanaM kucAbhyAmAnamraMkuTilashashicUDAlamukuTam|| Afteryouhadstolenthelefthalf(ofthehermaphroditeformofShiva)butyourmindwas stillunsatisfied, theotherhalf,too,ofShambhu'sbodywastakenbyyou,Ithink andsoyourformisallredandhasthreeeyes, isslightlybentwithapairofbreastsandisincrestedwiththesickleofthemoon. 24 jagatsUtedhAtAhariravatirudraHkShapayate tiraskurvannetatsvamapivapuriishastirayati| sadApUrvaHsarvaMtadidamanugRhNAticashivas tavAjAmAlabyakShaNacalitayorbhrUlatikayoH|| Dhatr(Brahma)createstheworld,Haripreservesit,Rudradestroysit. Nullifyingthistriad,Isha(intowhomthetriadhasmerged)concealsevenhisownform (inSadashiva), andShivaasSadapurva(theprimeval)approvesthisentireprocess, havingcaughtthecommandofyourcreeperlikeeyebrowsastheyflickeredfora moment. 25 trayANAMdevAnAMtriguNajanitAnAMtavashive bhavetpUjApUjAtavacaraNayoryAviracitA| tathAhitvatpAdodvahanamaNipiiThasyanikaTe sthitAhyeteshashvanmukulitakarottaMsamukuTAH|| Thethreegodsbornofyourthreegunas,OmateofShiva worshipofferedatyourfeetwouldbeworshipofthem forbeforethejeweledfootstoolwhichsupportsyourfeet theyeverstandwith crestsformedoftheirhandsjoinedlikebuds. 26 viraciHpacatvaMvrajatiharirApnotiviratiM vinAshaMkiinAshobhajatidhanadoyAtinidhanam|
5

Thereisapuninthisstatement,forthewords"you,Olady"(bhavanitvam)alsomean'mayIbecome you'.AworshiperwinsDevi'sgraceandachievesidentitywithherwhenheuttersthesewords.

vitandriimAhendriivitatirapisammiilitaddashA mahAMsahAre'sminviharatisatitvatpatirasau|| Viracidissolvesintothefiveelements,Hariceasestoexist, Kinasha(Yama)suffersdissolution(vinasha),Dhanada(Kubera)goestodestruction (nidhana) eventhetotalofmightyIndra's(thousand)eyesgrowswearyandcloses inthatgreatdissolution,Odevotedwife,thathusbandofyours(alone)isvisible. 27 japojalpaHshilpaMsakalamapimudraviracanA gatiHprAdakShiNyakramaNamashanAdyAhutividhiH| praNAmaHsaMveshaHsukhamakhilamAtmArpaNadRshA saparyAparyAyastavabhavatuyanmevilasitam|| Letmyidlechatterbethemutteringofprayer,myeverymanualmovementtheexecution ofritualgesture, mywalkingaceremonialcircumambulation,myeatingandotheractstheriteofsacrifice, mylyingdownprostrationinworship,myeverypleasureenjoyedwithdedicationof myself, letwhateveractivityisminebesomeformofworshipofyou. 28 dadAnediinebhyaHshriyamanishamAshAnusadRshiiM amandaMsaundaryaprakaramakarandaMvikirati| tavAsminmandArastabakasubhageyAtucaraNe nimajjanmajjiivaHkaraNacaraNaiHShaTcaraNatAm|| Evergrantingtotheneedywealthequaltotheirhopes, untiringlyscatteringanabundanceofbeautylikethehoneyofflowers, bestowingblessingslikeaclusterofcoraltreeblossomsinthatfootofyourslet mybeing,immersingitself,reachastatelikethatofthesixfooted(beeplungedintoa flower)bymeansofthesixsensesasthoughtheywerefeet. 29 sudhAmapyAsvAdyapratibhayajarAmRtyuhariniiM vipadyantevishvovidhishatamakhAdyAdiviShadaH| karAlaMyatkShveDaMkavalivataHkAlakalanA nashaMbhostanmUlaMtavajananitATankamahimA|| Thoughtheyhavedrunkthenectarwhichwardsoffdanger,oldage,death, allthegodswhodwellinheavenperish,Vidhi(Brahma),theHundredSacrificer(Indra) andtherest 6 thefactthat,afterswallowingthefearfulpoison,extinctionbyTime
6

ForkalakalanaexttinctionbyTime,cf.BhgavadGita10:30andIsvaraGita 7:16andseethenotesby P.E.Dumont, LIsvaragita(BaltimoreandParis,1933),p.101,andF.Edgerton, BhagavadGita,PartI

7 doesnotbefallShambhu,Omother,hasitscauseinthepowerofyourearornaments.

30 kiriiTaMvairicaMpariharapuraHkaiTabhabhidaH kaThorekoTiireskhalasijahijambhArimukuTam| praNamreShveteShuprasabhambhiyAtasyabhavanaM bhavasyAbhyutthAnetavaparijanoktirvijayate|| "KeepoffVirici'scrowninfrontofyou!TheKaitabhacrusher's(Vishnu's) hardcrestyouwilltripover!LookoutforthediademofJambha'senemy(Indra)!" whilethesegodslayprostrate,youimpetuouslyarose,astherecametoyourmansion Bhava(Shiva)whereuponthiswarningrangoutfromyourretinue. 31 catuHShaShTyAtantraiHsakalamabhisaMdhAyabhuvanaM sthitastattatsiddhiprasavaparatantraiHpashupatiH| punastvannirbandhAdakhilapuruShArthaikaghaTanA svatantraMtetantraMkShititalamavAtiitaradidam|| Afterhehadbeencontrollingtheentireuniversewiththesixtyfourtantras, whicharesubordinate,eachproducingitsseparateaccomplishment,Pashupati further,atyourinsistence,thetantrawhichaloneeffectsallhumanpurposes, this,yourtantra,whichisabsolute,broughtdowntoearth'ssurface. 32 shivaHshaktiHkAmaHkShitiratharaviHshiitakiraNaH smarohaMsaHshakrastadanucaparAmAraharayaH| amiihRllekhAbhistimRbhiravasAneShughaTitA bhajantevarNAstetavajananinAmAvayavatAm|| Shiva,Shakti,Kama,KshitithenRavi,Shitakirana, Smara,Hamsa,ShakraandafterthemPara,Mara,Hari [thesequencesofsyllables representedby] these[threegroups],whencompletedattheirrespectiveterminationswiththethree syllableshrng, 8 aslettersbecomethecomponentsofyourname,Omother.
(Cambridge,Mass.,1944,HarvardOrientalSeries,vol.38),p.185.Thesescholarsunderstandthe expressionkalahkalayatam tomeanParmilsforcesquipoussent(quipressent,quicontraignent)jesuisle TempsandIamTimeoftheimpellentforces.LakshmidharaontheSaundaryalaharipassageindealing withkalakalanasays:kalenaavasanakalenakalanaavacchedah,maranam itiyavat. 7 Powerofyourearornaments:AHinduwidowwearsnoornamentstheimplicationhereisthatsolong asDevidoesnotdiscardherearornamentsshecannotbecomeawidowhenceShivasexistenceis perpetuated. 8 Themantradesignatedinshlokas32and33isconsideredtobetheheartofSrividyaandisthatindicated intheshloka31.Eachofthenamesreferstoasyllable.Thetwelvesyllablesofthemantraasindicatedin shloka32aredividedintothreegroups,thefirstoffoursyllables,thesecondoffivesyllables,andthethird ofthree.Attheendofeachgroupthesyllablehrng(orhrim)istobeappended.Theresultisaseriesof

33 smaraMyoniMlakShmiiMtritayamidamAdautavamanor nidhAyaikenityeniravadhimahAbhogarasikAH| japantitvAMcintAmaNiguNanibaddhAkShavalayAH shivAgnaujuhvantaHsurabhighRtadhArAhutishatau ||

9 Smara,Yoni,Lakshmi,someplacethistriadatthebeginningofyourmantra, Oeternalone,tastingboundlessintensebliss, andmutterthemantratoyou,usingrosariesofwishingjewelsasbeads, whilemakingofferingsinSiva'sfirewithhundredsofoblationsconsistingofstreamsof gheefromSurabhi(theheavenlywishcow).

35 manastvaMvyomatvaMmarudasimarutsArathirasi tvamApastvaMbhUmistvayipariNatAyAMnahiparam|
fifteensyllables.Itisunderstoodthatasixteenthsyllableistobeaddedtothesefifteen,butthisistobe communicatedbythegurutoanadeptonlyinsecret.OneschoolsaysthatShivarepresentsha,Shaktisa, Kamaka,Kshitilahencethefirstgroupwouldbehasakala,towhichmustbeappendedhrng,givingus hasakalahrng.Thesecondpartof themantra,insimilarfashion,ishasakahalahrng,andthethirdpartis sakalahrng.Thesixteenth,secret,syllablewascommunicatedtome,withsomeslightreluctance,asshrim. Thewholemantrathenbecame:hasakalahrnghasakahalahrngsakalahrngshrim. 9 Thevariantformofthemantramentionedinshloka33attachesthevaluesofkaeiitothenamesSmara, Yoni,Laksmi,andthefirstgroupofsyllableswouldbekaeiihRng.Otherwisethemantraisthesame.But otherschoolshavestillotherinterpretationsofthesymbolismofthenames.Foranexpositionofthemantra inthevariantformofshloka33andusinghriminsteadofhrngseeC.SankaraRamaSastri,Srividya Khadgamala(Madras,SriBalamanoramaPress,1954).Thesameformofthemantraisdiscussedby BhaskararayaMakhinintheVarivasyarahasya,pp.1.9ff. [ThereisamoreuptodatestudyoftheSrividyamantrainAuspiciousWisdom:TheTextsandTraditions ofSrividyaSaktaTantrisminSouthIndia,byDouglasRenfrewBrooks(Albany:StateUniversityofNew YorkPress,1992),p.81113.Forexample,theSrividyamantraiscorrelatedwiththeRgveda'sGayatri mantraasfollows: ka=tat=KAmeshvara=Brahman e=saviturvarenyam=KAmeshvarii=(Shakti) ii=bhargodevasyadhii =Shiva la=mahii=Earth hriiM=dhiyoyonaHpracodayAt=MAyA ha=tat sa=savitur(Threesyllables=ThreewordsoftheMantra) ka=varenyam ha=bhargodevasyadhii(Onesyllable=Sixsyllables) la=mahii hriiM=dhiyoyonaH pracodayAt sa=tatsaviturvarenyam ka=bhargodevasyadhii la=mahii hriiM=dhiyoyonaHpracodayAt]

tvamevasvAtmAnaMpariNamayituMvishvavapuShA cidAnandAkArAMshivayuvatibhAvenabibhRShe|| Youaremind,youarespace,youarewind,youarethe(fire)forwhomthewindis charioteer, youarethecosmicwaters,youaretheearthwhenyouareevolvedintotheseformsthere isnothingmore. Youonly,toeffectevolutionofyourselfintheformoftheuniverse, OyoungbrideofShiva,throughyourverynaturebeartheformofconsciousnessand 10 bliss. 36 tavAjAcakrasthaMtapanashashikoTidyutidharam paraMshaMbhuMvandeparimililatapArshvaMparacitA| yamArAdhyanbhaktyAravishashishuciinAmaviShaye narAlokelokonivasatihibhAlokabhavane|| LocatedinyourAjacakra,sheddingalightequaltothatoftenmillionsunsandmoons, thesupremeShambhuIworship,embracedonhisleftsidebysupremeconsciousness (paracit,thatisDeviastheCitShakti) whenworshipinghimwithdevotion,inaregionbeyondtherangeofsun,moon,andfire, theworlddwellsinarealmwhichreceivesnolightyetisfloodedwithradiance. 37 vishuddhauteshuddhasphaTikavishadaMvyomajanakaM shivaMsevedeviimapishivasamAnavyasaniniim| yayoHkAntyAshashikiraNasArUpyasaraNiM vidhUtAntardhvAntAcakoriivajagatii|| InyourVishuddhi,whereheisclearasflawlesscrystal,parentoftheether, ShivaIworship,andDevitoo,equallyactivewithShiva inthelovelysplendorofthosetwo,whichtravelsacourselikethatofthemoon'sbeams, theworld,withherinnerdarknessdispelled,seemslikeafemalecakorabird(which drinksmoonlight). 38 samunmiilatsaMvitkamalamakarandaikarasikaM bhajehaMsadvaMdvaMkimapimahatAMmAnasacaram yadAlApAdaShTAdashaguNitavidyApariNatir yadAdattedoShAdguNamakhilamadbhyaHpayaiva|| Subsistingonlyonhoneyfromwisdomasthoughitwereanopeninglotus(theAnahata), thatpairofhamsas(ShivaandDevi)Iworship,astheyglideoverthemindsofthegreat
10

Deviisdescribedasconsistingofboththeexternalmaterialuniverse(sat)andtheinnerpropertiesof consciousness(cit)andbliss(ananda).Sheis,therefore,saccidanana.Inasomewhatsimilarcontext BhaskararayaMakhinintheVarivasyarahasya2.108describesDeviasvishva,cit,andAnanda.

ones(asthoughoverLakeManasa) fromtheirululationsevolvetheeighteensciences theyseparateallthevaluablefromtheworthlessashamsasdrinkapartmilkandwater. 39 tavasvAdhiShThAnehutavahamadhiShThAyanirataM tamiiDesaMvartajananimahatiiMtAMcasamayAm| yadAlokelokAndahatimahatikrodhakalile dayArdrAdRShTishishiramupacAraMracayati||

11 ThefireresidingpermanentlyinyourSvadhishthana, theSamvarta(fire)thatIpraise,Omother,anditsmightyShakticalledComplementary whenhisfiercegazefilledwithangerisburninguptheworlds, yourglance,moistwithpity,providesacoolingantidote.

40 taDitvantaMshaktyAtimiraparipanthisphuraNayA sphurannAnAratnAbharaNapariNaddhendradhanuSham| tavashyAmaMmeghaMkamapimaNipUraikasharaNaM niShevevarShantaMharamihirataptaMtribhuvanam|| FlashingwithlightningfromhisShakti,whoisaradiancetocheckthegloom, andbearingarainbowofsparklingornamentscomposedofmanykindsofjewels, he(Pashupati)seemstobeadarkcloudabidingonlyinyourManipura itIworshipasitshedsitsshowersuponthethreeworldssunscorchedbyHara. 41 tavAdhAremUlemahasamayayAlAsyaparasyA navAtmAnaMvandenavarasamahAtANDavanaTam| ubhAbhyAmetAbhyAmubhayavidhimuddishyadayayA sanAthAbhyAMjajejanakajananiimajjagadidam|| InyourMuladhara,accompaniedbyhisShakticalledComplementary,whoconcentrates onthefemininelasyadance, 12 Navatman(Soulofthenineaestheticsentiments) Iworship,whodancesthegreat masculinetandavadanceinformedwiththeninerasas(aestheticsentiments) fromthesetwo,astheyengagedintheircommonriteandwithcompassion werefilled,wasbornthisworld,havingthemasfatherandmother.
11

Shlokas39and40,intheorderhereused,reversetheusualorderoftheSvadhishthanaandManipura cakrasastheyarefoundincurrentTantricteaching.Manymanuscriptshavetheusualorder.Buttheorder oftheSaundaryalahariisunmistakableseetheorderofthecakrasinshloka9andtheorderoftheelements generatedinthecakras aspresentedinshlokas14and35. 12 Thecommentatorsvarywidelyininterpretingthewordnavatman.Besidestheinterpretationadoptedin thistranslationtheygive"soulofShiva'sninevyuhas"(kala,kula,naman,jana,citta,nada,bindu,kala, jiiva),"soulofShakti'sninevyuhas"(vama,jyeshtha,raudri,ambika,iccha,jana,kriya,shanti,para)"soul ofthenineelementsoftheshriicakra"(thefourshriikanthasandthefiveshivayuvatiscf.shloka11).See alsoinSastri&Ayyangar'sAdyaredition,p.139.

42 gatairmANikyatvaMgaganamaNibhiHsAndraghaTitaM kariiTaMtehaisaMhimagirisutekiirtayatiyaH| saniiDeyacchAyAcchuraNashabalaMcandrashakalaM dhanuHshaunAsiiraMkimitinanibadhrAtidhiShaNAm|| Studdedwiththegemsofthesky(theconstellations)asthoughtheywerejewels, whoeverpraisesyourgoldencrown,Odaughterofthesnowymountain, wouldhenot,onseeingitshapedlikethecrescentmoon andvaricoloredfromtheinsets ofnestlingbeauties, conceiveittobetherainbow? 43 dhunotudhvAntaMnastulitadalitendiivaravanaM ghanasnigdhaMshlakShNaMcikuranikurambaMtavashive| yadiiyaMsaurabhyaMsahajamupalabdhuMsumanaso vasantyasminmanyevalamathanavATiiviTapinAm|| Lettheredispelourinnerdarknesstheclusteroffullblownbluelotuses, whichisthemassofyourhair,thick,sleek,smooth,OwifeofShiva togainitsintimatefragrance,blossoms fromthetreesin thegardenofIndrathecrusherofValaseemtoabideinit. 44 vahantiisindUraMprabalakariibhAratimira tviShAMvRndairbandiikRtamivanaviinArkakiraNam| tanotukSheMnastavavadanasaundaryalaharii pariivAhasrotaHsaraNirivasiimantasaraNiH|| Bearingamarkofvermilionsothattheimpenetrabledarknessofyourthicklocks withthehostsoftheirbeautiesmakesitseemlikeanimprisonedrayofthenewrisen sun, maytherebringwelfaretous,asthoughthefloodofbeautyofyourface hadachanneltoflowin,thestreakwhichisthepartinyourhair. 45 arAlaiHsvAbhAvyAdalikalabhasashriibhiralakaiH pariitaMtevaktraMparihasatipankeruharucim| darasmereyasmindashanarucikijalkarucire sugandhaumAdyantismaramathanacakShurmadhulihaH|| Withnaturallycurlylocksasbeautifulasyoungbees encirclingit,yourlotuslikefaceshamesthebeautyofthelotus init,whenitsmilesslightly,showsinitswhiteteeththebrightnessoflotusstamens, andbreathesasweetperfume,theeyesofSmara'svanquisherrevellikebees.

46 lalATaMlAvaNyadyutivimalamAbhAtitavayad dvitiiyaMtanmanyemukuTashashikhaNDasyashakalam| viparyAsanyAsAdubhayamapisaMbhUyacamithaH sudhAlepasyUtiHpariNamatirAkAhimakataH|| Yourforehead,whichshinesbeautifulandpureinitsbrilliance, Itaketobeasecondhalfmoontothehalfmooninyourcrest ifthetwoweretransposed,puttogether,andjoined, thencementedwithnectarasthoughwithanunguent,they wouldbecomeasomafilled fullmoon. 47 bhruvaubhugnekiMcidbhuvanabhayabhangavyasanini tvadiiyenetrAbhyAMmadhukararucibhyAMdhRtaguNe| dhanurmanyesavyetarakagRhiitaMratipateH prakoShThemuShTaucasthagayatinigUDhAntaramume|| Whenyoureyebrowsareslightlyarched,Oyouwhoaredevotedtobanishingthefearof theworlds, andstrungwithyourtwoeyes,whicharelikebees, IthinkIseetheLordofPassion'sbowgrippedinhislefthand, hiswristandfistconcealingthehiddenmiddle(ofthebowwithitsstring),OUma. 48 ahaHsUtesavyaMtavanayanamarkAtmakatayA triyAmAMvAmaMtesRjatirajaniinAyakamayam| tRtiiyAtedRShTirdaradalitahemAmbujaruciH samAdhattesaMdhyAMdivasanishayorantaracariim|| Yourrighteye,becauseithasthesunasitsessence,givesbirthtotheday yourlefteye,whichhasthemoonasitssubstance,producesthenight yourthirdeye,whichresemblesagoldenlotusslightlyopened, createsthetwilightinterveningbetweendayandnight. 49 vishAlAkalyANiisphuTarucirayodhyAkuvalayaiH kRpAdhArAdhArAkimapimadhurAbhogavatikA| avantiidRShTistebahunagaravistAravijayA dhruvaMtattannAmavyAvaharaNayogyAvijayate|| Farextending(vishala),Auspicious(kalyani),itssuddenbeautyUncontested(ayodhya) bybluelotuses, aShower(dhara)ofstreamsofcompassion,Honeyed(madhura), asitwere,Fortunate(bhogavatika),

Helpful(avanti),Victorious(vijaya)overanarrayofmanycitiesisyourglance 13 foreverdoesitprevail,conformingtothecharacteristicofeachseparate(city)name. 50 kaviinAMsaMdharbastakamakarandaikarasikaM kaTAkShavyAkShepabhramarakalabhaukarNayugalam| amucantaudRShTvAtavanavarasAsvAdataralAv asUyAsaMsargAdalikanayanaMkiMcidaruNam|| Intentuponrelishingthenectarofpoets'flowerlikecompositionsis yourpairofearsyourtwoeyesdivertedtowardthemwithsidelongglancesliketwo youngbees donotforegothem,eagerlyhoveringtosavorthenineflavors(sentiments). Whenitsees(thetwoeyes),thethirdeye,fromarushofjealousy,becomesabitred. 51 shiveshRngARArdrAtaditaramuravekustanaparA saroShAgangAyAMgirishacaritevismayavatii| harAhibhyobhiitAsarasiruhasaubhAgyajayinii sakhiiShusmerAtemayijananidRShTiHsakaruNA|| TenderwithpassiontowardShiva,disdainfulofothers, wrathfultowardGanga,amazedattheexploitsofGirisha, fearstrickenbyHara'sserpents,victoriousoverthelovelinessofthelotus, smilingtowardyourcompanionsisyourglance,Omother,andtomeitisfullof compassion. 52 gatekarNAbhyarNaMgarutaivapakShmANidadhatii purAMbhettushcittaprashamarasavidrAvaNaphale| imenetregotrAdharapatikulottaMsakalike tavAkarNAkRShTasmarasharavilAsaMkalayataH|| Extendingasfarasyourears,withtheeyelashesasfeathering, havingtips(phala)whoseeffect(phala)istodissipatethesentimentoftranquilityinthe breastofhimwhodestroyedthecities, thesetwoeyesofyours,Ocrowningbudofthemountainking'sfamily, havetheappearanceofSmara'sshaftsfulldrawntoyourears. 53 vibhaktatraivarNyavyatikaritaniilAjanatayA vibhAtitvannetratritayamidamiishAnadayite| punaHsraShTuMdevAndruhiNaharirudrAnuparatAn rajaHsatvaMbibhrattamaitiguNAnAMtrayamiva||
13

Lakshmidhararemarksthattheseeightadjectives,besidesindicatingnamesofcities,alsodesignatekinds ofglanceswhichwomenemploy.

Ithasthreeseparatecolorsandbyreasonoftheblueantimonyeyesalve(representingthe primordialocean) thetriadofyoureyeshere,ObelovedofIshana,shinesforth asiftorecreatethegodsDruhina(Brahma),Hari,andRudra,whowereobliteratedinthe greatdissolution, andwears,inbearingrajas(red),sattva(white),andtamas(black),thetriadofthegunas. 54 pavitriikartuMnaHpashupatiparAdhiinahRdaye dayAmitrairnetrairaruNadhavalashyAmarucibhiH| nadaHshoNogangAtapanatanayetidhruvamamuM trayANAMtiirthAnAmupanayasisaMbhedamanaghe|| Topurifyus,OyouwhoseheartisdevotedtoPashupati, bymeansofyourcompassionateeyes,whicharered,white,anddark, oftheriversShona(thegolden),Ganga(thewhite),andthedaughterofthesun(Yamuna, thedark),unfailingly youprovideaconjunctionofthreegoalsofpilgrimage,Osinlessone. 55 aparNekarNejapanayanapaishunyacakitA niliiyantetoyeniyatamanimeShAHshapharikAH| iyaMcashriirbaddhacchadapuTakapATaMkuvalayam jahAtipratyUShecavighaTayyapravishati|| OAparna,alarmedlesttheybemaligned(forinferiorbeauty)byyoureyeswhich(areso longastoseemto)muttertalesinyourears, theshapharikafisheverhideunwinkinginthewater, andShrihere,whenthebluenightlotusfoldsupthecoverofitspetalslikeadoor atdawn,desertsit,andatnight,whenitreopens,entersit. 56 nimeShonmeShAbhyAMpralayamudayaMyAtijagatii tavetyAhuHsantodharaNidhararAjanyatanaye| tvadunmeShAjjAtaMjagadidamasheShaMpralayataH paritrAtuMshankeparihRtanimeShAstavadRshaH|| Fromtheclosingandopeningofyoureyestheearthisdissolvedandcreated, sosaythewise,Odaughterofthemountains'king thisworld,whichhaditscreationentirefromtheopeningofyoureyesfrom dissolution 14 asiftosaveit,youreyesrefrainfromclosing.
14

ForadiscussionoftheideathattheexistenceoftheuniversedependsupontheopeningofDevi's(or Brahma's)eyeswhiletheirclosingcausesitsextinction,seeW.N.BrowninJournaloftheAmerican OrientalSociety,vol.67(1947),p.209214(especiallyp.213214).

57 dRshAdrAghiiyasyAdaradalitaniilotpalarucA daviiyAMsaMdiinaMsnapayakRpayAmAmapishive| anenAyaMdhanyobhavatinacatehAniriyatA vanevAharmyevAsamakaranipAtohimakaraH|| Withyourlongextendedeye,whichislikeaslightlyopenedbluelotus, OwifeofShiva,incompassionbatheevenme,distantandwretched bythatbathingthispersonbecomesrich,andthroughsuchasmallthingthereisnoloss toyou thecoolingmoonshedsitsbeamsalikeongroveandpalace. 58 arAlaMtepAliiyugalamagarAjanyatanaye nakeShAmAdhattekusumasharakodaNDakutukam| tirashciinoyatrashravaNapathamullanghyavilasan apAngavyAsangodishatisharasaMdhAnadhiShaNAm || Odaughterofthemountains'chief,thecurvedpairofyourlines(eyebrows) whowouldnottaketobeawondrousshowoftheflowerarrowedgod'sbow, whileappearingtoleaptransversetoitalongthepathtotheears yourlongsideglanceoflovegivestheeffectofdrawinganarrow? 59 sphuradgaNDAbhogapratiphalitatATankayugalaM catushcakraMmanyetavamukhamidaMmanmatharatham| yamAruhyadruhyatyavanirathamarkenducaraNaM mahAviiromAraHpramathapatayetvaMjitavate|| Withthepairofyourcircularearringsreflectedintheshiningexpanseofyourcheeks, yourfacehereItaketobethefourwheeledchariotofManmatha, mountedonwhichheattackedhimwhohadmountedtheearthashischariotwiththesun andmoonaswheels Mara,thegreathero,attackedthelordofthePramathas,whohadconqueredhimself (throughasceticism). 60 sarasvatyAHsUktiiramRtalahariikaushalahariiH pibantyAHsharvANishravaNaculukAbhyAmaviratam| camatkArashlAghAcalitashirasaHkuNDalagaNo jhaNatkAraistAraiHprativacanamAcaShTaivate||

15 ThesweetsongsofSarasvati, whichbringwelfareinwavesofnectar, asyouconstantlydrinkthemwithyourearsasthoughtheywerehollowedhands,Owife ofSharva, andnodyourheadintimeinwonderanddelight,yourearornaments withtheirhighpitchedtinklingseemtogiveanequivalentresponse.

61 asaunAsAvaMshastuhinagirivaMshadhvajapaTi tvadiiyonediiyaHphalatuphalamasmAkamucitam| vahannantarmuktAHshishirataranishvAsaghaTitAH samRddhyAyastAsAMbahirapicamuktAmaNidharaH||

16 Obanneronthestaffofthemountain'slineage(vamsha),maythatnosetube(vamsha) ofyoursbearveryneartousthefruitwhichwedesire inside,itholdspearlscreatedbyyourcoolbreath, andbecausethesearesoabundantitalsosupportssomepearlsoutside.

62 prakRtyAraktAyAstavasudatidantacchadaruceH pravakShyesAdRshyaMjanayatuphalaMvidrumalatA| nabimbaMtadbimbapratiphalanalAbhAdaruNitaM tulAmadhyAroDhuMkathamivavilajjetakalayA|| Forthebeautyofyourlips,whichareredbynature,Oyouwithlovelyteeth, Ishalltrytoproclaimamatch.Letthecoralbearfruit! Wouldnottheredbimbafruit,whichisfurtherreddenedwhen(asyoubiteit)itreceives areflectionfromtheirdisk(bimba), besomewhatembarrassedatbeingcomparedwiththeminanydegree? 63 smitajyotsnAjAlaMtavavadanacandrasyapibatAM cakorANAmAsiidatirasatayAcacujaDimA| atasteshiitAMshoramRtalahariimamlarucayaH pibantisvacchandaMnishinishibhRshaMkAcikadhiyA|| Astheydrankthenetofraysfromthesmileofyourmoonlikeface thecakoras'beaksgrewsatedfromtheoversweetness
15

ThisshlokacanbetakentorefertoDevi'ssongsratherthanSarasvati's,andsomecommentatorstakeit so,includingLaksmidhara.Itwouldthenmean:"Thesweetsongs[ofyours],whichbringwelfareinwaves ofnectar,Sarasvaticonstantlydrinksthroughherearsasthoughtheywerehollowedhands,Owifeof Sharvaasshenodstimewithherheadinwonderanddelight,herearornamentswiththeirhighpitched tinklingseemtogivearesponsetoyou."Devi'smasteryofwordsandsongarecelebratedelsewhereinthe poem:shlokas16,17,64,66,69,75,100.TheinterpretationwhichmakesDevithelistener,whichis adoptedinourtranslation,showsasituationanalogoustothatinstanzas50and66(whichlatterseemsto supportbothinterpretations). 16 Thebamboobyapoeticconceitisconsideredtobearpearlsinsideitsstem(vamsha).

andso,becausetheywantsomethingtart,thestreamofnectarfromthecoolrayedmoon theydrinkeachnighttotheirfillattheirpleasure,asthoughitwerefermentedricewater. 64 avishrantaMpatpurguNagaNakathAmreDanajapA japApuShpacchAyAtavajananijihvAjayatisA| yadagrAsiinAyAHsphaTikadRShadacchacchavimayii sarasvatyAmUrtiHpariNamatimANikyavapuShA|| Unweariedlymuttering(japa)inrepetitiontalesofyourLord'smanyachievements, yourtongue,Omother,lovelyastheChinarose(japa),issupreme asSarasvatisitsatitstip,herbeauteouscrystalclear formchangesuntilitlookslikearuby. 65 raNejitvAdaityAnapahRtashirastraiHkavacibhir nivRttaishcaNDAMshutripuraharanirmAlyavimukhaiH| vishAkhendropendraiHshashivishadakarpUrashakalA viliiyantemAtastavavadanatAmbhUlakabalAH|| AfterconqueringtheDaityasinbattleandstillinarmorbutwithhelmetsdoffed, whentheyhadreturnedandhadavertedthemselvesfromtheremnantsofthedestruction 17 ofthethreecitieswhichwerelikethehotrayedsun, Vishakha(Skanda),Indra,andUpendra(Vishnu),(seeingascoolingantidotes)thebits ofbetel,withflakesofcamphorwhiteasthemoon, fallingfromyourmouth,Omother,snatchedthemup. 66 vipaccyAgAyantiivividhamavadAnaMpashupates tvayArabdhevaktuMcalitashirasAsAdhuvacane| tvadiiyairmAdhuryairapalapitatantriikalaravAM nijAMviiNAMvANiiniculayaticolenanibhRtam|| Whileshe(Sarasvati)wassingingtothevinathesacredheroismofPashupati andyou(Devi)withheadnoddingintimebegantogiveapplause, whentheclearnotesofitsstringswereoutdonebyyoursweettones, Vani(Sarasvati)softly slippedherlute(vina)intoitscase. 67 karAgreNaspRShTaMtuhinagiriNAvatsalatayA giriishenodastaMmuhuradharapAnAkulatayA| karagrAhyaMshaMbhormukuravRntaMgirisute kathaMkAraMbrUmastavacibukamaupamyarahitam|| Touchedwithhisfingerinfatherlyaffectionbythelordofthesnowymountain
17

andpunningly,fromtheremnantsofthesacrificeofferedtoTripurahara(Shiva),thescorcher.

(Himalaya), tilteduprepeatedlyinthepassionofthekissbythelordofthemountains(Shiva), ahandletothemirrorofyourfacefitforShambhutograsp,Odaughterofthemountain howshall wedescribeyourmatchlesschin? 68 bhujAshleShAnnityaMpuradamayituHkaNTakavatii tavagriivAdhattemukhakamalanAlashriyamiyam| svataHshvetAkAlAgarubahalajambAlamalinA mRNAliilAlityaMvahatiyadadhohAralatikA|| Constantlyhorripilated(injoy)fromtheembraceofhimwhovanquishedthecities, yourneckherehasthebeautyofastalkforyourlotusface. Thoughnaturallywhite,yetnowdarkfromthethickmudlikepasteofblackaloes, thepearlnecklacebelowyourneckhasthegraceofthetenderfilamentsonalotusstalk. 69 galerekhAstisrogatigamakagiitaikanipuNe vivAhavyAnaddhatriguNaguNasaMravyApratibhuvaH| virAjantenAnAvidhamadhurarAgAkarabhuvAM trayANAMgrAmANAMsthitiniyamasiimAnaivate|| Thethreecreasesinyourneck,Oyouwhoareskilledwithoutcompareinthetripleartof 18 singingtheme,ornament,andsong,
18

M.AlainDanilou,DirectoroftheAdyarLibraryanddistinguishedauthorityonIndianmusic,hasgiven methefollowingnoteonthisshloka: ForgatigamakagitaikanipunaIsuggest"expertinsingingthetheme,theornaments,thesongs"forraga "musicalmodes"forgrama"basicscales."Themeaningofthetermgatiisgivenbymostcommentatorsas alapa,i.e.thepreludeorexpositionofthethemeof araga:gatihalahaH(Gaurikanta)gatiralapena ragasamdarbhah(Dindima)gatikahiyealapa(Gaurishamkar,Hindicommentary).Ananonymous commentator(AdyarLibraryMS11,D7)givestenaka,whichalsomeans"thefirstexpositionofthetheme sungonthe syllables'tena,tena'."ThemeaninggivenbyLaksmidhara,whotakesgatiasreferringtothe twokindsofmusicmargaanddeshi(traditionalandpopular),doesnotappearjustifiable.Inanycasethe authorityofBharatacannotbeinvokedsinceBharatadoesnotdividemusicinmargaanddeshi.Isuggest thattheauthorityofBharataisbroughtin(byLaksmidhara)onlyinregardtothenumberofgamakasas fifteen.Thetermdeshiis,however,knowninthatsensetoNandikeshvarainhisBharatarnavaaswell asto Matanga(Brhaddeshi).Sharngadeva,whomLaksmidharaotherwisequotes,takesgatiasanequivalentof laya"tempo"(sloworfast):evammishrairlayaistuparamtrayamdrutamadhyadikamgatitrayambhavatu (Kalinathacomm.on4.185199).Ontheother handPundarikaVitthalatakesgatitomeanthe"altered" formofnotesinoppositiontosthiti,whichistheirnaturalposition.Heusesgatiasasynonymofshrutior microtonal"interval"thusgandhara,whichhastwoshrutis,risingbyoneshrutibecomestrigatika.Being associated(inourshloka)withgamaka"ornament"andgita"song"gatiseemsmostlikelytomeanalapa (thevocalpresentationofthemusicalthemewithoutwords).Thetextwouldthenmean"expertinsinging thetheme,theornaments,the songs.""Intervals(shruti),"however,wouldbeanotheracceptabletranslation ofgati.Laksmidhara'smeaningseemsunlikelyinassociationwiththeothertwoterms. Bygamakaismeanttheornamentationofthenotes,anyvariationofpitchusedtomakethesoundmore expressive.Thenumberofgamakasvariesaccordingtoauthorsbutfifteenisacommonlygivennumber: svarasyakampogamakahshrotrcittasukhavahah...pacadashaiteparikirtitah(Sharngadeva,Sangita

whichcorrespondtothenumberofstrandsinthetriplethreadknottedonyourneckatthe timeofmarriage, shineforthsothatforthoseminesofmanifoldsweetmusicalmodes, thethreekindsofbasicscales,theyseemtobelinesfordefiningtherespectivelimits. 70 mRNAliimRdviinAMtavabhujalatAnAMcatasRNAM caturbhiHsaundaryaMsarasijabhavaMstautivadanaiH| nakhebhyaHsaMtrasyanprathamamathanAdandhakariposh caturNAMshiirShANAMsamamabhayahastArpaNadhiyA|| Ofyourfourcreeperlikearmssoftasthefilamentsonalotusstalk hewhowasborninalotus(Brahma)praisesthebeautywithhisfourheads terrifiedbecausehisfirst(orfifth)headwasdestroyedbythenailsofhim(Sadashiva) whoisAndhaka'sfoe, hehopestowinfromthem(yourfourhands)simultaneouslygesturesofimmunityforhis fourremainingheads.

Ratnakara2.3.8789)incommentariesontheSaundaryalahari:gamakamsthayisvarasyaparitahsamcarah (Gaurikanta)gamakomukhyanadasyaparibhavorasatmakah(ibid.)"expressivefluctuationsofthemain sound"gamakahsthayisvarasyapunahpunahposhanam(Dindima)"comingbackagainandagain tothe mainnote"gamakkahiyesthayiraskosarvatahsamcar(Gaurisamkar,Hindi)"aconstantvariationfrom themainexpression."Gitameansasong,amusicalcompositionorpiece.LaksmisharaquotestheSangita Ratnakara3.2sayingthatthesong(gita) hastwocomponents,thewords(matu)andthemelody(dhatu). Othercommentariestakegitatomean"musicalcomposition"(prabandha):gitamprabandharudhartham rajanaraktirishyate(Gaurikanta)gitamsamucitarthaprabandhasamdarbhah(Dindima)gitkahiye prabandh(Gaurisamkar). Allcommentariesagreethatthetermragarefersto"musicalmodes."Gramawasthenamegiventothe threedifferenttuningsoftheharp,probablyoriginallyreferringtothethreegeneraofGreekmusic: diatonic,chromatic,and enharmonic.Thethreegramasareknownasshadja,madhyama,gandhara.Inthe availableliteraturethismeaningisalreadyobsolete.Bharataappearstotakethesagramaandmagramaas thetwomainformsofthediatonic,thatis,thePythagoreandiatonic (arrivedatbyconsonanceoffifths) andtheHarmonicdiatonic.Thethreebasicscalescannotbethescalesobtainedbytakingasstartingpoint thenotebywhichtheyarenamed,sinceineachgramaeachnotecanbetakenastonictoformplagal scalesormurchanas.Mostwritersdeclarethatthethirdscale,thegandharagrama,hasgonetotheabode ofthegods,sinceitisnolongerfoundonearth.Presentdaytraditionalmusicknowsonlytheshadja grama.ThecommentaryofKaivalyashramimentionsthethreegramasasshadja,madhyama,andpacama grama.Thelastnameismostunusual.Gaurishamkarinhiscommentaryquotesasa"sangitashastra"the GitalamkaraattributedtoBharata,aworkwithaveryspecialterminologyrarelymentionedinotherworks onmusic(thereadingisalmostexactlythatgivenintheNatyacudamani188):nanyavarto'thajimutah shubhakogramakastrayah|shadjamadhyamagandharastrayanamjanmahetavah||. Gaurisamkarsays:madhurmanoharnishadrshabhadisaptasvarommemsambaddhajoragvasantgaud gurjariadiktinkiankurutpattikibhuyanekhanihaim.Laksmidhara:gramashabdahsamuhavacakah svarastredhasamhatahshadjagramomadhyagramogandharagramaiti.(Regardingthethreescales[grama], shadjaisnowcurrentinourworld,madhyamausedtobecurrentinit,gandharahadexistedonlyinheaven orassomesayhasceasedtobeinvogueonearthandhasgonetoheaven). Forthetriplethreadinmarriage,seeMargaretStevenson,RitesoftheTwiceBorn(London:Oxford UniversityPress,1920),p.82Laksmidharaalsoreportsuseofthetriplethread.

71 nakhAnAmuddyotairnavanalinarAgaMvihasatAM karANAMtekAntiMkathayakathayAmaHkathamume| kayAcidvAsAmyaMbhajatukalayAhantakamalaM yadikriiDallakShmiicaraNatalalAkshAruNadalam|| Surpassingtheglowofthenewlyopenedlotuswiththelustreoftheirnails, tellushowwe,OUma,candescribethelovelinessofyourhands orlettheredlotusclaimsimilarityinsomesmalldegree, provideditspetalshavegainedadditionalrednessfromthelaconthesolesofLakshmi's feetasshesportsuponit. 72 samaMdeviskandadvipavadanapiitaMstanayugaM tavedaMnaHkhedaMharatusatataMprasnutamukham| yadAlokyAshankAkulitahRdayohAsajanakaH svakumbhauherambaHparimRshatihastenajhaTiti|| ODevi,thepairofyourbreastssimultaneouslysuckedbySkandaandtheelephantfaced one(Ganesha), mayitremoveourdistress,itsnippleseverflowing onseeingit,withheartconfusedbydoubt,incitinglaughter, Heramba(Ganesha)suddenlytouchedthetwobossesonhisforeheadwithhistrunk. 73 amUtevakShojAvamRtarasamANikyakutupau nasaMdehaspandonagapatipatAkemanasinaH| pibantautauyasmAdaviditavadhUsaMgamarasau kumArAvadyApidviradavadanakraucadalanau|| Thosebreastsofyoursarerubyjarsofnectar(amrta) thereisnotaflickerofdoubtofthisin ourmind,Obannerofthemountainking whereforethetwo(sonsofyours),drinkingfromthemandneverhavingtastedthesweet drinkofintercoursewithwomen, theelephantheadedoneandthecrusherofMountKrauca,arestillchildren. 74 vahatyambastamberamadanujakumbhaprakRtibhiH samArabdhAMmuktAmaNibhiramalAMhAralatikAM| kucAbhogobimbAdhararucibhirantaHshabalitAM pratApavyAmishrAMpuravijayinaHkiirtimivate|| Omother,originatingintheforeheadbossesoftheelephantdemonStamberana(who wasslainbyShiva) arethepearlsstrungastheflawlessnecklace whichthecurveofyourbreastsmakesappearspeckledwithinbyreflectionsfromyour

lowerlip,redasabimba, likethecleargloryofthecityconquerormixedwithhisglowingvalor. 75 tavastanyaMmanyedharaNidharakanyehRdayataH payaHpArAvAraHparivahatisArasvataiva| dayAvatyAdattaMdraviDashishurAsvAdyatavayat kaviinAMprauDhAnAmajanikamaniiyaHkavayitA|| Themilkofyourbreasts,Odaughterofthemountains,Ithinkisasiffromyourheart thereflowedanoceanofthemilkofpoesy whentheDravidachildtastedthisasyougaveittohimincompassion, hebecamethepoetlaureateofthemasterpoets. 76 harakrodhajvAlAvalibhiravaliiDhenavapuShA gabhiiretenAbhiisarasikRtasangomanasijaH| samuttasthautasmAdacalatanayedhUmatikA janastAMjAniitejananitavaromAvaliriti|| WithhisbodylimnedwithalineofflamefromHara'swrath, themindbornone(Kama)enteredthedeeppoolofyournavel thence,Odaughterofthemountain,therearosesmokelikeacreeper this,Omother,folkknowasthelineofyourabdominalhair. 77 yadetatkAlindiitanutaratarangAkRtishive kRshemadhyekiMcijjananitava tadbhAtimudhiyAm| vimardAdanyonyaMkucakalashayorantaragataM tanUbhUtaMvyomapravishadivanAbhiikuhariNiim|| That(lineofabdominalhair),OspouseofShiva,whichlooksherelikeatinyrippleon theblueYamuna, aslightthingatyourslenderwaist,Omother,appearstothoseofpureinsight asif,caughtbetweenyourjarlikebreastsastheyrubagainsteachother, thewidesky,squeezedthin,wereenteringyourcavernousnavel. 78 sthirogangAvartaHstanamukularomAvalilatA kalAvAlaMkuNDaMkusumasharatejohutabhujaH| raterliilAgAraMkimapitavanArbhAtigirije biladvAraMsiddhergirishanayanAnAMvijayate|| AwhirlpooloftheGangabecomemotionlessforthecreeperwhichisyourlineof abdominalhairandterminatesinyourbudlikebreasts

19 acisternofyourelement(oflove) apitforthesacrificialfireofthesplendorofhim (Kama)whosearrowsareflowers abowerforpassion'ssportassomesuchyournavel,Omountainborn, appears,theentrancetoacavewhereGirisha'seyes(likeayogi)mayachievetheirgoal.

79 nisargakShiiNasyastanataTabhareNaklamajuSho namanmUrternAbhauvaliShushanakaistruTyataiva| ciraMtemadhyasyatruTitataTiniitiirataruNA samAvasthAsthemnobhavatukushalaMshailatanaye|| Slenderbynature,weariedfromtheburdenofyouroverhangingbreasts, withbentformthatseemstobecrackingslightlyatthenavelandtheabdominalcreases evertoyourwaist,whichnomorethanatreeonthetremblingrimofatorrent hasanystability,maytherebesafety,Odaughterofthemountain. 80 kucausadyaHsvidyattaTaghaTitakurpAsabhidurau kaShantaudormUlekanakakalashAbhaukalayatA| tavatrAtuMbhangAdalamitivilagraMtanubhuvA tridhAnaddhaMdevitrivalilavaliivallibhiriva|| Whenyourbreasts,whichhadsuddenlyburstyourbodiceasitmettheirsweatingcurves, twogoldenjars,wererubbingagainstyourarmpitsathis(Kama's)forcing, Kama,tryingtosaveyourwaistfrombreaking,ODevi, boundit, threefoldedasitis,triplyaswithwithesofthelavalicreeper. 81 gurutvaMvistAraMkShitidharapatiHpArvatinijAn nitambAdAcchidyatvayiharaNarUpeNanidadhe| atastevistiirNogururayamasheShAMvasumatiiM nitambaprAgbhAraHsthagayatilaghutvaMnayatica|| Thelordofthemountains,OParvati,weightandwidthfromhisown buttocks(punningly,mountainspurs)curoffandbestowedonyouasdowry hencetheentireearththiswideandweighty
19

Theconjecturalreadingandtranslation(kala"love'sorKama'selement")isbasedonanideatakenfrom BhaskararayaMakhin'sVarivasyarahasyaandhiscommentary(2.164textwithtranslationinAdyar Libraryedition,p.123).Thetextreads:bijanmulammulotkshetrasyantahstabahyavistarau|yadyapy anayohsamyampradhanyamathapicantarangasya||.Thecommentaryreads:bijatkamakalarupad dhanyadirupacca|mulamvrkshapadomantrashca|kshetrasyasharirasyakedarasyaca|yadyapyanayoh samyambijajanyatvavisheshattatha'pi"antarangasashebahyangasahitavrkshanashah, bahyangamatranashe'pinavrkshasyanava'ntarangasyanashah"ityasyaprasiddhatvaditibhavah.The translationis:"Outoftheseed(Kamakalabija)evolvestheroot(Mulamantra)outoftheroot(Mula mantra)evolvethepartsoftheplant(humanbody),aboveandbelowthesoil(externalandinternal). Thoughbothofthemareofequalimportance,more importancehastobeattachedtothesubsoil(internal) parts.

expanseofyourbuttocksconcealsandoutweighs. 82 kariindrANAMshuNDAHkanakakadaliikANDapaTaliim ubhAbhyAmUrubhyAmubhayamapinirjityabhavatii| suvRttAbhyAMpatyuHpraNatikaThinAbhyAMgirisute vijigyejAnubhyAMvibudhakarikumbhadvayamapi|| Thetrunksoflordlyelephantsandaclusterofgoldenplantainstalks, bothalikeyourladyshiphasexcelledwithyourpairofthighs withyourtwowellroundedknees,Odaughterofthemountain,callousedfrom prostrationsbeforeyourhusband, youhavealsosurpassedthepairoftemporalbosseson(Airavata)theelephantofthe gods. 83 parAjetuMrudraMdviguNasharagarbhaugirisute niShangaujangheteviShamavishikhobADhamakRtA| yadagredRshyantedashasharaphalAHpAdayugalii nakhAgracchadmAnaHsuramukuTashANaikanishitAH| ToconquerRudra,Odaughterofthemountain,apairofdoublyarrowfilled quiversthegodwhousesanunequalnumberofarrows(Kama)hassurelymadeofyour twoshanks attheirendsappeartenarrowtips,whichonyourpairoffeet masqueradeastoenailspreeminentlysharpenedbywhetstonescomposedofthecrowns ofprostrategods. 84 shrutiinAMmUrdhAnodadhatitavayaushekharatayA mamApyetaumAtaHshirasidayayAdhehicaraNau| yayoHpAdyaMpAthaHpashupatijaTAjUTataTinii yayorlAkShAlakShmiiraruNaharicUDAmaNiruciH|| Yourtwofeet,whichtheapexesoftheholyscripture(theVedanta)wearastheircrest, these,Omother,inyourmercysetuponmyheadaswell thewaterinwhichtheyarelavedisthestreaminPashupati'smattedhair, thelustrouslaconthemisthegloryoftheredjewelwhichisHari'screst. 85 namovAkaMbrUmonayanaramaNiiyAyapadayom tavAsmaidvandvAyasphuTarucirasAlaktakavate| asUyatyatyantaMyadabhihananAyaspRhayate pashUnAmiishAnaHpramadavanakankelitarave|| Reverencewevoicetothateyedelightingpairofyourfeet,

whosemanifestbeautyhasbeenenhancedwithliquidlac 20 whenit(thekankeli)yearsforakickfromthatpairoffeet, jealousbeyondmeasureis thelordofcreaturesatthekankeli(ashoka)treeinyourpleasuregrove. 86 mRShAkRtvAgotraskhalanamathavailakshyanamitaM lalATebharTAraMcaraNakamaletADayatite| cirAdantaHshalyaMdahanakRtamunmUlitavatA tulAkoTikvANaiHkilikilitamiishAnaripuNA|| Whenfeigninglyhecalledyoubyafalsenameandthenbowedinembarrassment, andyourlotusfootstruckyourlordonhisforehead, then,pullingoutthethornlongsufferedinhisheartfromthefire(ofShiva'sthirdeye), theenemyofIshana(Kama)pealedouthistriumphinthetinklingofyouranklets. 87 himAniihantavyaMhimagiritaTAkrAnticaturau nishAyAMnidrANAMnishicaparabhAgecavishadau| paraMlakShmiipAtraMshriyamatisRjantausamayinAM sarojaMtvatpAdaujananijayatashcitramihakim|| Inthesnowitperishes,buttheyarecapableoftreadingupontheslopesofsnowypeaks atnightitfoldsinsleep,buttheyarebrightbynightaswellasbyday itisonlyavesseltoreceiveLakshmi(shri,prosperity),buttheyshowerprosperity(shri) inprofusionuponyoursuppliants whatwonderistherehere,mother,thatyourtwofeetsurpassthelotus? 88 padaMtekAntiinAMprapadamapadaMdevivipadAM kathaMniitaMsadbhiHkaThinakamaThiikarparatulAm| kathaMvAbAhubhyAmupayamanakAlepurabhidA yadAdAyanyastaMdvaShadidayamAnenamanasA|| Yourforefoot,ODevi,whichistheabodeofbeautiesandnoplaceforharshnesses 21 howcouldthewisecompareitwiththehardshellofthefemaletortoise? Orhowcouldthecitywrecker,atthetimeofmarriage,withhistwohands takeitandinconsideratelysetitontheroughmillstone,hewhoseheartis compassionate? 89

20

Inspringtheashokatree,filledwithalongingduetoitspregnancy(dohada),bloomsonlywhenkicked byabeautifulyoungwomanseearticlesbyMauriceBloomfield(JournaloftheAmericanOriental Society,vol.40,1920,p.124)andK.R.Pisharoti(JournaloftheIndianSocietyofOrientalArt,vol.3no. 2,December1935,p.110124). 21 Itisapoeticclichtocompareawomansforefoottoatortoiseshell.

nakhairnAkastriiNAMkarakamalasaMkocashashibhis tarUNAMdivyAnAMhasataivatecaNDicaraNau| phalAnisvasthebhyaMkisalayakarAgreNadadatAM daridrebhyobhadrAMshriyamanishamahnAyadadatau|| Withtoenailsthatarelikemoonstomaketheheavenlywomenfoldtheirhandsin homageasthoughtheywerelotuses(whichfoldinthemoonlight), yourfeetOCandi,seemtomocktheheavenlywishingtrees, whichgivefruitswiththeirfingerlikebranchesonlytothewelltodo, whiletheformer(yourfeet)continuouslyandpromptlygrantblessingandwealthtothe poor. 90 kadAkAlemAtaHkathayakalitAlaktakarasaM pibeyaMvidyArthiitavacaraNanirnejanajalam| prakRtyAmUkAnAmapicakavitAkAraNatayA yadAdhattevANiimukhakamalatAmbUlarasatAm|| Tellme,mother,wheninproperseasonthelacmixed waterinwhichyourfeethavebeenlavedImaydrink,eagerforknowledge, whichwater,fromitsqualityofturningevenbornmutesintopoets, hasthecharacterofbeteljuicefromVani'slotusmouth. 91 padanyAsakriiDAparicayamivArabdhumanasash carantastekhelaMbhavanakalahaMsAnajahati| suvishepeshikShAMsubhagamaNimajiiraraNitac chalAdAcakShANAMcaraNakamalaMcArucarite|| Asthoughwithmindsintentuponcultivatingtheartofgracefulstep, thekalahamsasofyourhouseholdgoswingingalonganddonotstrayfrom yourlotusfoot,whichinitsfinecarelessness,withapretenseofjinglingitscharming jeweledanklets, deliversinstructiontothem,Oyouwithelegantgait. 92 arAlAkesheShuprakRtisaralAmandahasite shiriiShAbhAcittedRShadivakaThorAkucataTe| bhRshaMtanviimadhyepRthururasijArohaviShaye jagattrAtuMshaMbhorjayatikaruNAkAcidaruNA|| Curlyofhair,naturallystraightforwardinhergentlesmile, delicateliketheshirishainhermind,firmasarockinthecurvesofherbreasts, inexpressiblyslenderinherwaist,wideintheregionsofherbreastsandhips, lether,thecompassionofShambhu,theineffable(shakti)Aruna,bevictorioustosave

theworld. 93 purArAterantaHpuramasitatastvaccaraNayoH saparyAmaryAdAtaralakaraNAnAmasulabhA| tathAhyeteniitAHshatamakhamukhAHsiddhimatulAM tavadvAropAntasthitibhiraNimAdyAbhiramarAH|| Youarethepurdahqueenofthecities'enemy(Shiva)henceatyourfeet itisimpossibleforthoseofunsteadysensestogainthegoalofdoingworship thusitisthatthesegods,withhimwhoperformedthehundredsacrifices(Indra)attheir head,attaintheirincomparablemagicpower 22 alongwithAnimaandtherest,whoseplaceisoutsideyourdoor. 94 gatAstemacatvaMdruhiNaharirudreshvarabhRtaH shivaHsvacchacchAyAghaTitakapaTapracchadapaTaH| tvadiiyAnAMbhAsAMpratiphalanalAbhAruNatayA shariiriishRngArorasaivadRshAMdogdhikutukam|| Druhina,Hari,Rudra,andIshvara,asservants,formyourcouch Shiva,asacounterfeitbedspread,normallyofclearwhitesheen, becomesredfromreceivingthereflectionofyourglow andasthoughheweretheeroticsentimentincarnatedrawswonderfromyoureyes. 95 kalankaHkastUriirajanikarabimbaMjalamayaM kalAbhiHkarpUrairmarakatakaraNDaMnibiDitam| atastvadbhogenapratidinamidaMriktakuharaM vidirbhUyobhUyonibiDayatinUnaMtavakRte|| Themoon'sspotismuskthenightmaker'sdisk,composedofwater, isanemeraldcasketpackedwithcamphorslivers,whicharethemoon'ssixteendigits hencewhenthiseachdaybecomesanemptycavityfromyouruse 23 Vidhi(Fate,Brahma)againandagainpromptlyfillsitforyoursake. 96 svadehodbhUtAbhirghRNibhiraNimAdyAbhirabhito niShevyenityetvAmahamitisadAbhAvaytiyaH| kimAshcaryaMtasyatrinayanasamRddhiMtRNayato mahAsaMvartAgnirviracayatiniirAjanavidhim||

22

Theshlokaseemstomeanthatneitherthesiddhasnorthegods,Indraandtherest,haveaccesstoDevi, yetallgaintheirexceptionalmagicpower(siddhi)merelybystandingatDevi'sdoor. 23 AdayofDeviseemstobeequivalenttoamonthofhumantime.ThecamphoratedwaterisforDevi's feet(Lakshmidharacallsitpannira'footwater').

WiththeraysAnimaandtheothersthatspringfromyourownbodysurroundingyouon allsides, Oyouwhoareeternallytobeworshipped,whoeverthusconstantlymeditatesuponyou withthethought"ItisI" whatwonderisitthatbeforehim,whocountsasgrasstherichesofthethreeeyedone (Shiva), thefireoftheuniversaldissolutionperformstheeveninglightwavingceremony? 97 kalatraMvaidhAtraMkatikatibhajantenakavayaH shriyodevyAHkovAnabhavatipatiHkairapidhanaiH| mahAdevaMhitvAtavasatisatiinAmacarame kucAbhyAmAsangaHkuravakatarorapyasulabhaH|| HowmanypoetshavenotpossessedVidhatr'swife(Sarasvati)? OrwhowithanyrichesatalldoesnotbecomelordofthegoddessShri? ExceptforMahadeva,Otruewife(sati),firstamongtruewives(satinam), 24 anembracefromyourbreastsisunattainableevenforthekuravakatree. 98 girAmAhurdeviiMdruhiNagRhiNiimAgamavido hareHpatniiMpadmAMharasahacariimadritanayAm| turiiyAkApitvaMduradhigamaniHsiimamahimA mahAmAyevishvaMbhramayasiparabrahmamahiShi|| TheknowersoftheScripture(agama)speakofDruhina'swife(Sarasvati),thegoddess ofspeech,asyou, Padma(Lakshmi),thewifeofHari,asyou,themountain'sdaughter (Parvati),Hara'smate,asyou, youareanineffablefourthbeyondthesethree,hardtoreach,withpowerunbounded(by space,time,causeandeffect,substance), Ogreatpowerofcreation(mahamaya),Owifeofthesupremebrahman(Sadashiva),you puttheuniversethroughitsrevolutionofappearances. 99 sarasvatyAlakShmyAvidhiharisapatnoviharate rateHpAtivratyaMshithilayatiramyeNavapuShA| ciraMjiivanneShakShapitapashupAshavyatikaraH parabrahmAbhiravyaMrasayatirasaMtvadbhajanavAn|| AsarivalofVidhiandHari,hesportswiththeirwivesSarasvatiandLakshmi, withhischarmingformheloosensRati'sdevotiontoherhusband, longliving,hedissolvestheunionofsoulandbond andsavorsthesweetnesscalledsupremebrahmanhe,yourdevotee.
24

Thesameconceitexistsofthekuravakaasoftheashokatreeseenotetoshloka85.

100 pradiipajvAlAbhirdivasakaraniirAjanavidhiH sudhAsUteshvandropalajalalavairarghyaghaTanA| svakiiyairambhobhiHsalilanidhisauhityakataNaM tvadiiyAbhirvAgbhistavajananivAcAMstutiriyam|| Nomorethanaceremonyoflightwavingbeforethesunwithlampflames(whichhave thesunastheirsource), onlyanofferingofwaterwithliquiddropsfromthemoonstonetothemoonwhichisthe verysourceofnectar, noughtbutariteofgratificationwithhisownwaterstotheoceanwhichisthedepository offloods, isthismyhymnofpraise,Omotherofspeech,composedwithwordsthatcomefrom you. Appendix1 samAniitaHpadbhyAMmaNimukuratAmambaramaNir bhayAdantarbaddhastimitakiraNashreNimasRNaH| dadhAtitvadvaktraMpratiphalitamashrAntivikacaM nirAtankaMcandrAnnijahRdayapankeruhamiva||

Thejewelofthesky(thesun)hasbeenconvertedtoajeweledmirrorbyyourfeet andfromfear(ofthebrillianceofyourface)hasretractedandstilledthemultitudeofits rayssothatitstaysmild itholdsyourlotusfacereflectedasthoughitwerethefreshlyopened lotusofitsownheartuntroubledbythemoon(beforewhichthelotuscloses).

Appendix2 samudbhUtasthUlastanabharamurashvAruhasitaM kaTAkShekandarpaHkusumitakadambadyutivapuH| harasyatvadbhrAntimanasijanayAmAsamadano bhavatyAyebhaktAHpariNatiramiiShAmiyamume|| Abosomheavywiththemassivebreaststhathavedevelopedonit,asweetsmile, loveinasidelongglance,afigurewiththebeautyofablossomingkadamba MadanahascreatedacounterfeitofyouinHara'smind thisisthefinalevolutionofthosewhoareyourladyship'sdevotees,OUma. Appendix3 nidhenityasmereniravadhiguNeniitinipuNe nirAghAtajAneniyamaparacittaikanilaye| niyatyAnirmuktenikhilanigamAntastutipade nirAtankenityenigamayamamApistutimimAm||

Otreasure,eversmiling,withqualitiesthathavenolimitations,skilledinpoliticconduct, ofunimpairedwisdom,constantlyabidinginthosewhosemindsneverdeviatefromthe rules, independentofnecessity,theobjectofpraisein alltheUphanishads, notsubjecttofear,eternal,approvethismyhymnofpraise.