Beholding the Shadow-Being

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.28.1)

देव्युवाच । देवदेव महादेव कथितं कालवञ्चनम् । शब्दब्रह्मस्वरूपं च योगलक्षणमुत्तमम्

devyuvāca devadeva mahādeva kathitaṁ kālavañcanam śabdabrahmasvarūpaṁ ca yogalakṣaṇamuttamam

The Goddess said: O God of gods, Mahadeva, you have declared the deceiving of time, the nature of Śabda-brahman, and the excellent characteristics of yoga.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.28.2)

कथितं ते समासेन छायिकं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । विस्तरेण समाख्याहि योगिनां हितकाम्यया

kathitaṁ te samāsena chāyikaṁ jñānamuttamam vistareṇa samākhyāhi yogināṁ hitakāmyayā

You have also briefly told me the excellent knowledge pertaining to the shadow; now, for the benefit of yogis, declare it fully in detail.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.28.3)

शङ्कर उवाच । शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि छायापुरुषलक्षणम् । यज्ज्ञात्वा पुरुषः सम्यक्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

śaṅkara uvāca śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi chāyāpuruṣalakṣaṇam yajjñātvā puruṣaḥ samyaksarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Shankara said: Listen, O goddess, I shall declare the characteristics of the Shadow-Being, knowing which a person is fully freed from all sins.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.28.4)

सूर्यं हि पृष्ठतः कृत्वा सोमं वा वरवर्णिनि । शुक्लाम्बरधरः स्त्रग्वी गन्धधूपादिवासितः

sūryaṁ hi pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā somaṁ vā varavarṇini śuklāmbaradharaḥ stragvī gandhadhūpādivāsitaḥ

Having placed the sun, or the moon, O fair one, behind oneself, clad in white garments, garlanded, perfumed with fragrance and incense —

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.28.5)

संस्मरेन्मे महामन्त्रं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । नवात्मकं पिण्डभूतं स्वां छायां सन्निरीक्षयेत्

saṁsmarenme mahāmantraṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam navātmakaṁ piṇḍabhūtaṁ svāṁ chāyāṁ sannirīkṣayet

— one should recollect my great nine-syllabled mantra, concentrated in form, which bestows the fruit of every desire; then one should carefully observe one's own shadow.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.28.6)

दृष्ट्वा तां पुनराकाशे श्वेतवर्णस्वरूपिणीम् । स पश्यत्येकभावस्तु शिवं परमकारणम्

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ punarākāśe śvetavarṇasvarūpiṇīm sa paśyatyekabhāvastu śivaṁ paramakāraṇam

Having seen it, and then its white-colored form in the sky, he beholds, with a single undivided mind, Shiva, the supreme cause.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.28.7)

ब्रह्मप्राप्तिर्भवेत्तस्य कालविद्भिरितीरितम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

brahmaprāptirbhavettasya kālavidbhiritīritam brahmahatyādikaiḥ pāpairmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

The attainment of Brahman occurs for him — so it is declared by those versed in time; he is freed from sins beginning with the killing of a brahmin — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.28.8)

शिरोहीनं यदा पश्येत्षड्भिर्मासैर्भवेत्क्षयः । समस्तं वाङ्मयं तस्य योगिनस्तु यथा तथा

śirohīnaṁ yadā paśyetṣaḍbhirmāsairbhavetkṣayaḥ samastaṁ vāṅmayaṁ tasya yoginastu yathā tathā

When one sees the shadow without a head, death occurs within six months; and likewise all the scriptural learning of that yogi fades away.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.28.9)

शुक्ले धर्मं विजानीयात्कृष्णे पापं विनिर्दिशेत् । रक्ते बन्धं विजानीयात्पीते विद्विषमादिशेत्

śukle dharmaṁ vijānīyātkṛṣṇe pāpaṁ vinirdiśet rakte bandhaṁ vijānīyātpīte vidviṣamādiśet

In the white shadow one should recognize dharma; in the black, one should read sin; in the red, one should recognize bondage; in the yellow, one should read enmity.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.28.10)

विवाहो बन्धुनाशः स्याद्द्वितुण्डे चैव क्षुद्भयम् । विकटौ नश्यते भार्या विजङ्घे धनमेव हि

vivāho bandhunāśaḥ syāddvituṇḍe caiva kṣudbhayam vikaṭau naśyate bhāryā vijaṅghe dhanameva hi

Two mouths appearing indicate marriage or the destruction of kinsmen, and the fear of hunger; a misshapen form means the wife perishes; the absence of shins means the loss of wealth.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.28.11)

पादाभावे विदेशः स्यादित्येतत्कथितं मया । तद्विचार्यं प्रयत्त्नेन पुरुषेण महेश्वरि

pādābhāve videśaḥ syādityetatkathitaṁ mayā tadvicāryaṁ prayattnena puruṣeṇa maheśvari

If the feet are absent, it indicates going abroad — thus has this been declared by me. This, O great goddess, should be carefully examined by a person.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.28.12)

सम्यक्तं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा सन्निवेश्यात्मनात्मनि । जपेन्नवात्मकं मन्त्रं हृदयं मे महेश्वरि

samyaktaṁ puruṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā sanniveśyātmanātmani japennavātmakaṁ mantraṁ hṛdayaṁ me maheśvari

Having properly seen that Being, and having established it within one's own self, one should recite the nine-syllabled mantra — my very heart, O great goddess.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.28.13)

वत्सरे विगते मन्त्री तन्नास्ति यन्न साधयेत् । अणिमादिगुणानष्टौ खेचरत्वं प्रपद्यते

vatsare vigate mantrī tannāsti yanna sādhayet aṇimādiguṇānaṣṭau khecaratvaṁ prapadyate

When a year has passed, there is nothing the mantra-practitioner cannot accomplish; he attains the eight powers beginning with minuteness, and the state of the sky-goer.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.28.14)

पुनरन्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि शक्तिं ज्ञातुं दुरासदाम् । प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते लोके ज्ञानिनामग्रतः स्थितम्

punaranyatpravakṣyāmi śaktiṁ jñātuṁ durāsadām pratyakṣaṁ dṛśyate loke jñānināmagrataḥ sthitam

Again I shall declare another teaching — the Shakti, difficult to attain and to know; she is directly visible in this world, standing before the eyes of the wise.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.28.15)

अज्ञेया लिख्यते लोके या सर्पीकृतकुण्डली । सा मात्रा यानसंस्थापि दृश्यते न च पठ्यते

ajñeyā likhyate loke yā sarpīkṛtakuṇḍalī sā mātrā yānasaṁsthāpi dṛśyate na ca paṭhyate

She, though unknowable, is depicted in the world as a coiled serpent; present as the sacred measure even within the vehicle of the body, she is seen but cannot be expressed in words.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.28.16)

ब्रह्माण्डमूर्ध्निगा या च स्तुता वेदैस्तु नित्यशः । जननी सर्वविद्यानां गुप्तविद्येति गीयते

brahmāṇḍamūrdhnigā yā ca stutā vedaistu nityaśaḥ jananī sarvavidyānāṁ guptavidyeti gīyate

She who abides at the crown of the cosmic egg, and who is ever praised by the Vedas — the mother of all knowledge — is celebrated as the Secret Knowledge.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.28.17)

खेचरा सा विनिर्दिष्टा सर्वप्राणिषु संस्थिता । दृश्यादृश्याचला नित्या व्यक्ताव्यक्ता सनातनी

khecarā sā vinirdiṣṭā sarvaprāṇiṣu saṁsthitā dṛśyādṛśyācalā nityā vyaktāvyaktā sanātanī

She is declared to be Khecharā, moving in the inner ether, abiding in all beings; visible yet invisible, immovable, eternal, manifest yet unmanifest, ever-abiding.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.28.18)

अवर्णा वर्णसंयुक्ता प्रोच्यते बिन्दुमालिनी । तां पश्यन्सर्वदा योगी कृतकृत्योऽभिजायते

avarṇā varṇasaṁyuktā procyate bindumālinī tāṁ paśyansarvadā yogī kṛtakṛtyo'bhijāyate

Colorless, yet joined with letters, she is called Bindumālinī, garlanded with the drop; the yogi who always beholds her becomes one whose purpose is fulfilled.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.28.19)

सर्वतीर्थकृतस्नानाद्भवेद्दानस्य यत्फलम् । सर्वयज्ञफलं यच्च मालिन्या दर्शनात्तदा

sarvatīrthakṛtasnānādbhaveddānasya yatphalam sarvayajñaphalaṁ yacca mālinyā darśanāttadā

Whatever fruit arises from bathing at all the sacred fords, from giving gifts, and from all sacrifices — all of it is attained merely by the vision of Mālinī.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.28.20)

प्राप्नोत्यत्र न सन्देहः सत्यं वै कथितं मया । सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्स्नात्वा दत्त्वा दानानि सर्वशः

prāpnotyatra na sandehaḥ satyaṁ vai kathitaṁ mayā sarvatīrtheṣu yatsnātvā dattvā dānāni sarvaśaḥ

One attains it here without doubt — this is truly declared by me; whatever fruit one gains by bathing at all the sacred fords, and by giving every kind of gift —

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.28.21)

सर्वेषां देवि यज्ञानां यत्फलं तल्लभेत्पुमान् । किं बहूक्त्या महेशानि सर्वान्कामान्समश्नुते

sarveṣāṁ devi yajñānāṁ yatphalaṁ tallabhetpumān kiṁ bahūktyā maheśāni sarvānkāmānsamaśnute

— and whatever fruit belongs to all sacrifices, O goddess, a man obtains all of it. What need is there of many words, O great goddess — he attains all his desires.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.28.22)

तस्माज्ज्ञानं यथायोगमभ्यसेत्सततं बुधः । अभ्यासाज्जायते सिद्धिर्योगोऽभ्यासात्प्रवर्धते

tasmājjñānaṁ yathāyogamabhyasetsatataṁ budhaḥ abhyāsājjāyate siddhiryogo'bhyāsātpravardhate

Therefore the wise should constantly practice this knowledge according to proper method; from practice, attainment is born; through practice, yoga grows.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.28.23)

संवित्तिर्लभ्यतेऽभ्यासादभ्यासान्मोक्षमश्नुते । अभ्यासः सततं कार्यो धीमता मोक्षकारणम्

saṁvittirlabhyate'bhyāsādabhyāsānmokṣamaśnute abhyāsaḥ satataṁ kāryo dhīmatā mokṣakāraṇam

Through practice, true awareness is gained; through practice, one attains liberation. Practice, the very cause of liberation, should always be undertaken by the wise.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.28.24)

इत्येतत्कथितं देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् । किमन्यत्पृच्छ्यते तत्त्वं वद सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते

ityetatkathitaṁ devi bhuktimuktiphalapradam kimanyatpṛcchyate tattvaṁ vada satyaṁ bravīmi te

Thus, O goddess, has this been declared, granting the fruits of both worldly enjoyment and liberation. What other truth do you wish to ask? Speak, and I shall tell you truly.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.28.25)

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मपुत्रवचनं परमार्थदम् । प्रसन्नोऽभूदति व्यासः पाराशर्यो मुनीश्वराः

sūta uvāca iti śrutvā brahmaputravacanaṁ paramārthadam prasanno'bhūdati vyāsaḥ pārāśaryo munīśvarāḥ

Suta said: Having heard these words of the son of Brahma, bestowing the highest truth, Vyasa, the son of Parashara, O lords of sages, became exceedingly pleased.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.28.26)

सनत्कुमारं सर्वज्ञं ब्रह्मपुत्रं कृपानिधिम् । व्यासः परमसन्तुष्टः प्रणनाम मुहुर्मुहुः

sanatkumāraṁ sarvajñaṁ brahmaputraṁ kṛpānidhim vyāsaḥ paramasantuṣṭaḥ praṇanāma muhurmuhuḥ

Supremely satisfied, Vyasa bowed again and again to the all-knowing Sanatkumara, the son of Brahma, the treasury of compassion.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.28.27)

ततस्तुष्टाव तं व्यासः कालेयः स मुनीश्वरः । सनत्कुमारं मुनयः सुरविज्ञानसागरम्

tatastuṣṭāva taṁ vyāsaḥ kāleyaḥ sa munīśvaraḥ sanatkumāraṁ munayaḥ suravijñānasāgaram

Then Vyasa, that lord of sages, and the sages there, praised Sanatkumara, the very ocean of divine knowledge.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.28.28)

व्यास उवाच । कृतार्थोऽहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मत्वं मे त्वया कृतम् । नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु धन्यस्त्वं ब्रह्मवित्तमः

vyāsa uvāca kṛtārtho'haṁ muniśreṣṭha brahmatvaṁ me tvayā kṛtam namaste'stu namaste'stu dhanyastvaṁ brahmavittamaḥ

Vyasa said: I am fulfilled, O best of sages; you have made me truly worthy of being called a knower of Brahman. Salutations to you, salutations to you — blessed are you, the foremost knower of Brahman.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.28.29)

सूत उवाच । इति स्तुत्वा स कालेयो ब्रह्मपुत्रं महामुनिम् । तूष्णीं बभूव सुप्रीतः परमानन्दनिर्भरः

sūta uvāca iti stutvā sa kāleyo brahmaputraṁ mahāmunim tūṣṇīṁ babhūva suprītaḥ paramānandanirbharaḥ

Suta said: Having thus praised the great sage, the son of Brahma, that Kāleya, Vyasa, fell silent, greatly pleased, filled with supreme bliss.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.28.30)

ब्रह्मपुत्रस्तमामन्त्र्य पूजितस्तेन शौनकः । ययौ स्वधाम सुप्रीतो व्यासोऽपि प्रीतमानसः

brahmaputrastamāmantrya pūjitastena śaunakaḥ yayau svadhāma suprīto vyāso'pi prītamānasaḥ

The son of Brahma, having taken his leave and been honored by him — O Shaunaka! — went to his own abode, well pleased; and Vyasa too was joyful at heart.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.28.31)

इति मे वर्णितो विप्राः सुखदः परमार्थयुक् । सनत्कुमारकालेयसंवादो ज्ञानवर्धनः

iti me varṇito viprāḥ sukhadaḥ paramārthayuk sanatkumārakāleyasaṁvādo jñānavardhanaḥ

Thus, O brahmins, has this dialogue between Sanatkumara and Kāleya been narrated by me — bestowing happiness, imbued with supreme truth, and increasing knowledge.