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
elephants,1
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||

1
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
sahasrarabythekulapath),2 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
practices.3

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
asthe(female)halfofHara,4 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!"
whenonedesiringtopraiseyouuttersthewords"you,Olady",5
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
thefactthat,afterswallowingthefearfulpoison,extinctionbyTime6

6
ForkalakalanaexttinctionbyTime,cf.BhgavadGita10:30andIsvaraGita 7:16andseethenotesby
P.E.Dumont, LIsvaragita(BaltimoreandParis,1933),p.101,andF.Edgerton, BhagavadGita,PartI
doesnotbefallShambhu,Omother,hasitscauseinthepowerofyourearornaments.7

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,
aslettersbecomethecomponentsofyourname,Omother.8

(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 ||

Smara,Yoni,Lakshmi,someplacethistriadatthebeginningofyourmantra,9
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
bliss.10

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||

ThefireresidingpermanentlyinyourSvadhishthana,11
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,
Navatman(Soulofthenineaestheticsentiments)12 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
foreverdoesitprevail,conformingtothecharacteristicofeachseparate(city)name.13

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
asiftosaveit,youreyesrefrainfromclosing.14

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

61
asaunAsAvaMshastuhinagirivaMshadhvajapaTi
tvadiiyonediiyaHphalatuphalamasmAkamucitam|
vahannantarmuktAHshishirataranishvAsaghaTitAH
samRddhyAyastAsAMbahirapicamuktAmaNidharaH||

Obanneronthestaffofthemountain'slineage(vamsha),maythatnosetube(vamsha)16
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
ofthethreecitieswhichwerelikethehotrayedsun,17
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
singingtheme,ornament,andsong,18
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
acisternofyourelement(oflove)19 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
whenit(thekankeli)yearsforakickfromthatpairoffeet,20 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
howcouldthewisecompareitwiththehardshellofthefemaletortoise?21
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
alongwithAnimaandtherest,whoseplaceisoutsideyourdoor.22

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
Vidhi(Fate,Brahma)againandagainpromptlyfillsitforyoursake.23

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),
anembracefromyourbreastsisunattainableevenforthekuravakatree.24

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.