Vamadeva and the Teaching of Brahman

Verse 1 (shiva.kailasa.11.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ सूत सूत महाभागः त्वमस्मद्गुरुरुत्तमः । अतस्त्वां परिपृच्छामो भवतोऽनुग्रहो यदि

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || sūta sūta mahābhāgaḥ tvamasmadgururuttamaḥ | atastvāṁ paripṛcchāmo bhavato'nugraho yadi

The sages said: "O Suta, Suta, most fortunate one! You are our foremost Guru; therefore we ask you again, if you would grant us your grace."

Verse 2 (shiva.kailasa.11.2)

श्रद्धालुषु च शिष्येषु त्वादृशा गुरवः सदा । स्निग्धभावा इतीदं नो दर्शितं भवताधुना

śraddhāluṣu ca śiṣyeṣu tvādṛśā guravaḥ sadā | snigdhabhāvā itīdaṁ no darśitaṁ bhavatādhunā

"Toward faithful disciples, Gurus such as you are ever affectionate — this you have now shown us."

Verse 3 (shiva.kailasa.11.3)

विरजाहोमसमये वामदेवमतं पुरा । सूचितं भवतास्माभिर्न श्रुतं विस्तरान्मुने

virajāhomasamaye vāmadevamataṁ purā | sūcitaṁ bhavatāsmābhirna śrutaṁ vistarānmune

"At the time of the Viraja-homa, you formerly indicated Vamadeva's teaching, but we have not heard it in full detail, O sage."

Verse 4 (shiva.kailasa.11.4)

तदिदानीं श्रोतुकामाः श्रद्धया परमादरात् । वयं सर्वे कृपासिन्धो प्रीत्या तद्वक्तुमर्हसि

tadidānīṁ śrotukāmāḥ śraddhayā paramādarāt | vayaṁ sarve kṛpāsindho prītyā tadvaktumarhasi

"We now all wish to hear it, with faith and utmost reverence; O ocean of compassion, out of love you should tell it to us."

Verse 5 (shiva.kailasa.11.5)

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा सूतो हृष्टतनूरुहः । नमस्कृत्य महादेवं गुरोः परतरं गुरुम्

iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā sūto hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ | namaskṛtya mahādevaṁ guroḥ parataraṁ gurum

Hearing these words of theirs, Suta, his body bristling with joy, bowed to the Great God, the Guru greater than any guru,

Verse 6 (shiva.kailasa.11.6)

महादेवीं त्रिजननीं गुरुं व्यासं च भक्तितः । प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा मुनीनाह्लादयन्निदम्

mahādevīṁ trijananīṁ guruṁ vyāsaṁ ca bhaktitaḥ | prāha gambhīrayā vācā munīnāhlādayannidam

and to the Great Goddess, mother of the three worlds, and to Guru Vyasa, with devotion; then, in a deep voice, delighting the sages, he spoke as follows.

Verse 7 (shiva.kailasa.11.7)

सूत उवाच । स्वस्त्यस्तु मुनयः सर्वे सुखिनः सन्तु सर्वदा । शिवभक्ताः स्थिरात्मानः शिवभक्तिप्रवर्तकाः

sūta uvāca | svastyastu munayaḥ sarve sukhinaḥ santu sarvadā | śivabhaktāḥ sthirātmānaḥ śivabhaktipravartakāḥ

Suta said: "May all be well with you sages; may you always be happy, devoted to Shiva, steadfast of soul, promoters of devotion to Shiva."

Verse 8 (shiva.kailasa.11.8)

तदतीव विचित्रं हि श्रुतं गुरुमुखाम्बुजात् । इतः पूर्वं मया नोक्तं गुह्यप्राकट्यशङ्कया

tadatīva vicitraṁ hi śrutaṁ gurumukhāmbujāt | itaḥ pūrvaṁ mayā noktaṁ guhyaprākaṭyaśaṅkayā

"That most wondrous thing, heard from the lotus mouth of my Guru, I did not speak of until now, fearing to reveal a secret."

Verse 9 (shiva.kailasa.11.9)

यूयं खलु महाभागाः शिवभक्ता दृढव्रताः । इति निश्चित्य युष्माकं वक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां मुदा

yūyaṁ khalu mahābhāgāḥ śivabhaktā dṛḍhavratāḥ | iti niścitya yuṣmākaṁ vakṣyāmi śrūyatāṁ mudā

"But knowing for certain that you are indeed most fortunate, devotees of Shiva of firm vows, I shall now tell it to you — hear it with joy."

Verse 10 (shiva.kailasa.11.10)

पुरा रथन्तरे कल्पे वामदेवो महामुनिः । गर्भमुक्तः शिवज्ञानविदां गुरुतमः स्वयम्

purā rathantare kalpe vāmadevo mahāmuniḥ | garbhamuktaḥ śivajñānavidāṁ gurutamaḥ svayam

"Formerly, in the Rathantara kalpa, the great sage Vamadeva, liberated even from the womb, was himself the greatest Guru among the knowers of the knowledge of Shiva —"

Verse 11 (shiva.kailasa.11.11)

वेदागमपुराणादिसर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् । देवासुरमनुष्यादिजीवानां जन्मकर्मवित्

vedāgamapurāṇādisarvaśāstrārthatattvavit | devāsuramanuṣyādijīvānāṁ janmakarmavit

knower of the truth and meaning of the Vedas, Agamas, Puranas and all other scriptures, and knower of the birth and karma of gods, demons, humans, and all other beings —

Verse 12 (shiva.kailasa.11.12)

भस्मावदातसर्वाङ्गो जटामण्डलमण्डितः । निराश्रयो निःस्पृहश्च निर्द्वन्द्वो निरहङ्कृतिः

bhasmāvadātasarvāṅgo jaṭāmaṇḍalamaṇḍitaḥ | nirāśrayo niḥspṛhaśca nirdvandvo nirahaṅkṛtiḥ

his whole body radiant with sacred ash, adorned with a mass of matted locks, without shelter, free of desire, beyond the pairs of opposites, free of ego —

Verse 13 (shiva.kailasa.11.13)

दिगम्बरो महाज्ञानी महेश्वर इवापरः । शिष्यभूतैर्मुनीन्द्रैश्च तादृशैः परिवारितः

digambaro mahājñānī maheśvara ivāparaḥ | śiṣyabhūtairmunīndraiśca tādṛśaiḥ parivāritaḥ

sky-clad, a great knower, as if a second Maheshvara, surrounded by such great sages who had become his disciples —

Verse 14 (shiva.kailasa.11.14)

पर्यटन्पृथिवीमेतां स्वपादस्पर्शपुण्यतः । पवित्रयन्परे धाम्नि निमग्नहृदयोऽन्वहम्

paryaṭanpṛthivīmetāṁ svapādasparśapuṇyataḥ | pavitrayanpare dhāmni nimagnahṛdayo'nvaham

wandering over this earth, purifying it by the merit of the touch of his own feet, his heart immersed day after day in the Supreme Abode —

Verse 15 (shiva.kailasa.11.15)

कुमारशिखरं मेरोर्दक्षिणं प्राविशन्मुदा । यत्रास्ते भगवानीशतनयः शिखिवाहनः

kumāraśikharaṁ merordakṣiṇaṁ prāviśanmudā | yatrāste bhagavānīśatanayaḥ śikhivāhanaḥ

he joyfully entered Kumara-shikhara, south of Meru, where the Lord, son of Isha, whose mount is the peacock, resides —

Verse 16 (shiva.kailasa.11.16)

ज्ञानशक्तिधरो वीरः सर्वासुरविमर्दनः । गजावल्लीसमायुक्तः सर्वैर्देवैर्नमस्कृतः

jñānaśaktidharo vīraḥ sarvāsuravimardanaḥ | gajāvallīsamāyuktaḥ sarvairdevairnamaskṛtaḥ

who bears the weapon of knowledge, the hero, destroyer of all demons, united with Ganga and Valli, and bowed to by all the gods.

Verse 17 (shiva.kailasa.11.17)

तत्र स्कन्दसरो नाम सरः सागरसन्निभम् । शिशिरस्वादुपानीयं स्वच्छागाधबहूदकम्

tatra skandasaro nāma saraḥ sāgarasannibham | śiśirasvādupānīyaṁ svacchāgādhabahūdakam

There is, at that place, a lake called Skanda-sara, resembling the ocean, its water cool and sweet, clear, unfathomable, and abundant —

Verse 18 (shiva.kailasa.11.18)

सर्वाश्चर्यगुणोपेतं विद्यते स्वामिसन्निधौ । तत्र स्नात्वा वामदेवः सहशिष्यैर्महामुनिः

sarvāścaryaguṇopetaṁ vidyate svāmisannidhau | tatra snātvā vāmadevaḥ sahaśiṣyairmahāmuniḥ

endowed with every wondrous quality, situated near the Lord. There, having bathed, the great sage Vamadeva, together with his disciples —

Verse 19 (shiva.kailasa.11.19)

कुमारं शिखरासीनं मुनिवृन्दनिषेवितम् । उद्यदादित्यसङ्काशं मयूरवरवाहनम्

kumāraṁ śikharāsīnaṁ munivṛndaniṣevitam | udyadādityasaṅkāśaṁ mayūravaravāhanam

beheld Kumara, seated upon the peak, attended by hosts of sages, radiant like the rising sun, mounted on the finest peacock,

Verse 20 (shiva.kailasa.11.20)

चतुर्भुजमुदाराङ्गं मुकुटादिविभूषितम् । शक्तिरत्नद्वयोपास्यं शक्तिकुक्कुटधारिणम्

caturbhujamudārāṅgaṁ mukuṭādivibhūṣitam | śaktiratnadvayopāsyaṁ śaktikukkuṭadhāriṇam

four-armed, of noble form, adorned with a crown and other ornaments, attended by his two jewel-consorts, holding the spear and the cock —

Verse 21 (shiva.kailasa.11.21)

वरदाभयहस्तं च दृष्ट्वा स्कन्दं मुनीश्वरः । सम्पूज्य परया भक्त्या स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे

varadābhayahastaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā skandaṁ munīśvaraḥ | sampūjya parayā bhaktyā stotuṁ samupacakrame

his hands showing the boon-granting and fear-dispelling gestures. Seeing Skanda thus, the lord of sages worshipped him with utmost devotion and began to praise him.

Verse 22 (shiva.kailasa.11.22)

वामदेव उवाच । ॐ नमः प्रणवार्थाय प्रणवार्थविधायिने । प्रणवाक्षरबीजाय प्रण वाय नमो नमः

vāmadeva uvāca | oṁ namaḥ praṇavārthāya praṇavārthavidhāyine | praṇavākṣarabījāya praṇa vāya namo namaḥ

Vamadeva said: "Om, homage to him who is the meaning of the Pranava, who bestows the meaning of the Pranava; homage, homage to him who is the seed-syllable of the Pranava, to the Pranava itself.

Verse 23 (shiva.kailasa.11.23)

वेदान्तार्थस्वरूपाय वेदान्तार्थविधायिने । वेदान्तार्थविदे नित्यं विदिताय नमो नमः

vedāntārthasvarūpāya vedāntārthavidhāyine | vedāntārthavide nityaṁ viditāya namo namaḥ

Homage, homage to him whose very form is the meaning of the Vedanta, who bestows the meaning of the Vedanta, who eternally knows the meaning of the Vedanta and is himself the known.

Verse 24 (shiva.kailasa.11.24)

नमो गुहाय भूतानां गुहासु निहिताय च । गुह्याय गुह्यरूपाय गुह्यागमविदे नमः

namo guhāya bhūtānāṁ guhāsu nihitāya ca | guhyāya guhyarūpāya guhyāgamavide namaḥ

Homage to Guha, hidden within the hearts of all beings; homage to the secret one, whose form is secret, who knows the secret scriptures.

Verse 25 (shiva.kailasa.11.25)

अणोरणीयसे तुभ्यं महतोऽपि महीयसे । नमः परावरज्ञाय परमात्मस्वरूपिणे

aṇoraṇīyase tubhyaṁ mahato'pi mahīyase | namaḥ parāvarajñāya paramātmasvarūpiṇe

Homage to you, smaller than the smallest, yet greater than the greatest; homage to the knower of the higher and the lower, whose very form is the Supreme Self.

Verse 26 (shiva.kailasa.11.26)

स्कन्दाय स्कन्दरूपाय मिहिरारुणतेजसे । नमो मन्दारमालोद्यन्मुकुटादिभृते सदा

skandāya skandarūpāya mihirāruṇatejase | namo mandāramālodyanmukuṭādibhṛte sadā

Homage to Skanda, whose form is Skanda, whose splendor is like the ruddy sun; homage to him who ever wears a crown adorned with a garland of coral-tree flowers.

Verse 27 (shiva.kailasa.11.27)

शिवशिष्याय पुत्राय शिवस्य शिवदायिने । शिवप्रियाय शिवयोरानन्दनिधये नमः

śivaśiṣyāya putrāya śivasya śivadāyine | śivapriyāya śivayorānandanidhaye namaḥ

Homage to the disciple of Shiva, the son who bestows auspiciousness upon Shiva, beloved of Shiva, the treasure of joy of both Shiva and Shivā.

Verse 28 (shiva.kailasa.11.28)

गाङ्गेयाय नमस्तुभ्यं कार्तिकेयाय धीमते । उमापुत्राय महते शरकाननशायिने

gāṅgeyāya namastubhyaṁ kārtikeyāya dhīmate | umāputrāya mahate śarakānanaśāyine

Homage to you, son of Ganga, wise Karttikeya; homage to the great son of Uma, who once lay in the reed-forest.

Verse 29 (shiva.kailasa.11.29)

षडक्षरशरीराय षड्विधार्थविधायिने । षडध्वातीतरूपाय षण्मुखाय नमो नमः

ṣaḍakṣaraśarīrāya ṣaḍvidhārthavidhāyine | ṣaḍadhvātītarūpāya ṣaṇmukhāya namo namaḥ

Homage, homage to him whose body is the six-syllabled mantra, who bestows the sixfold meaning, whose form transcends the six paths, who bears six faces.

Verse 30 (shiva.kailasa.11.30)

द्वादशायतनेत्राय द्वादशोद्यतबाहवे । द्वादशायुधधाराय द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते

dvādaśāyatanetrāya dvādaśodyatabāhave | dvādaśāyudhadhārāya dvādaśātmannamo'stu te

Homage to you, O twelve-selved one, of twelve wide eyes, twelve raised arms, bearing twelve weapons.

Verse 31 (shiva.kailasa.11.31)

चतुर्भुजाय शान्ताय शक्तिकुक्कुटधारिणे । वरदाभयहस्ताय नमोऽसुरविदारिणे

caturbhujāya śāntāya śaktikukkuṭadhāriṇe | varadābhayahastāya namo'suravidāriṇe

Homage to the four-armed, peaceful one, bearer of the spear and the cock, whose hands show the boon-granting and fear-dispelling gestures, render of demons.

Verse 32 (shiva.kailasa.11.32)

गजावल्लीकुचालिप्तकुङ्कुमाङ्कितवक्षसे । नमो गजाननानन्दमहिमानन्दितात्मने

gajāvallīkucāliptakuṅkumāṅkitavakṣase | namo gajānanānandamahimānanditātmane

Homage to him whose chest is marked with vermilion from the breasts of Ganga and Valli; homage to him whose self rejoices in the glory of Ganapati's joy.

Verse 33 (shiva.kailasa.11.33)

ब्रह्मादिदेवमुनिकिन्नरगीयमान-गाथाविशेषशुचिचिन्तितकीर्त्तिधाम्ने । वृन्दारकामलकिरीटविभूषणस्रक्-पूज्याभिरामपदपङ्कज ते नमोऽस्तु

brahmādidevamunikinnaragīyamāna-gāthāviśeṣaśucicintitakīrttidhāmne | vṛndārakāmalakirīṭavibhūṣaṇasrak-pūjyābhirāmapadapaṅkaja te namo'stu

Homage to you, the abode of glory sung in special pure hymns by Brahma and the other gods, by sages, and by Kinnaras; whose lovely lotus feet are worshipped with the garlands adorning the crowns of the gods."

Verse 34 (shiva.kailasa.11.34)

इति स्कन्दस्तवं दिव्यं वामदेवेन भाषितम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स याति परमां गतिम्

iti skandastavaṁ divyaṁ vāmadevena bhāṣitam | yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

Thus this divine hymn to Skanda, spoken by Vamadeva — whoever recites or even hears it attains the supreme goal.

Verse 35 (shiva.kailasa.11.35)

महाप्रज्ञाकरं ह्येतच्छिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम् । आयुरारोग्यधनकृत्सर्व्वकामप्रदं सदा

mahāprajñākaraṁ hyetacchivabhaktivivarddhanam | āyurārogyadhanakṛtsarvvakāmapradaṁ sadā

It bestows great wisdom, increases devotion to Shiva, grants long life, health, and wealth, and ever fulfills every desire.

Verse 36 (shiva.kailasa.11.36)

इति स्तुत्वा वामदेवो देवं सेनापतिं प्रभुम् । प्रदक्षिणात्रयं कृत्वा प्रणम्य भुवि दण्डवत्

iti stutvā vāmadevo devaṁ senāpatiṁ prabhum | pradakṣiṇātrayaṁ kṛtvā praṇamya bhuvi daṇḍavat

Having thus praised the divine Lord, commander of the army of the gods, Vamadeva circumambulated him three times and prostrated flat upon the ground,

Verse 37 (shiva.kailasa.11.37)

साष्टाङ्गं च पुनः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणनमस्कृतम् । अभवत्पार्श्वतस्तस्य विनयावनतो द्विजाः

sāṣṭāṅgaṁ ca punaḥ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇanamaskṛtam | abhavatpārśvatastasya vinayāvanato dvijāḥ

and, having again made an eightfold prostration together with the circumambulatory bow, O brahmins, he stood at his side, bowed down in humility.

Verse 38 (shiva.kailasa.11.38)

वामदेवकृतं स्तोत्रं परमार्थविजृम्भितम् । श्रुत्वाभवत्प्रसन्नो हि महेश्वरसुतः प्रभुः

vāmadevakṛtaṁ stotraṁ paramārthavijṛmbhitam | śrutvābhavatprasanno hi maheśvarasutaḥ prabhuḥ

Having heard the hymn composed by Vamadeva, unfolding the supreme truth, the Lord, son of Maheshvara, became greatly pleased.

Verse 39 (shiva.kailasa.11.39)

तमुवाच महासेनः प्रीतोऽस्मि तव पूजया । भक्त्या स्तुत्या च भद्रं ते किमद्य करवाण्यहम्

tamuvāca mahāsenaḥ prīto'smi tava pūjayā | bhaktyā stutyā ca bhadraṁ te kimadya karavāṇyaham

Mahasena said to him: "I am pleased by your worship, your devotion, and your praise. May it be well with you — what shall I do for you today?"

Verse 40 (shiva.kailasa.11.40)

मुने त्वं योगिनां मुख्यः परिपूर्णश्च निःस्पृहः । भवादृशां हि लोकेस्मिप्रार्थनीयं न विद्यते

mune tvaṁ yogināṁ mukhyaḥ paripūrṇaśca niḥspṛhaḥ | bhavādṛśāṁ hi lokesmiprārthanīyaṁ na vidyate

"O sage, you are foremost among yogis, wholly complete and free of desire; for one such as you there is truly nothing in this world left to seek."

Verse 41 (shiva.kailasa.11.41)

तथापि धर्मरक्षायै लोकानुग्रहकाङ्क्षया । त्वादृशाः साधवः सन्तो विचरन्ति महीतले

tathāpi dharmarakṣāyai lokānugrahakāṅkṣayā | tvādṛśāḥ sādhavaḥ santo vicaranti mahītale

"Yet even so, for the protection of dharma and out of a wish for the world's welfare, saints such as you wander upon this earth."

Verse 42 (shiva.kailasa.11.42)

श्रोतव्यमस्ति चेद् ब्रह्मन् वक्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम् । तदिदानीमहं वक्ष्ये लोकानुग्रहहेतवे

śrotavyamasti ced brahman vaktumarhasi sāmpratam | tadidānīmahaṁ vakṣye lokānugrahahetave

"If there is something you wish to hear, O brahmin, you should tell me now; I shall speak of it at once, for the world's benefit."

Verse 43 (shiva.kailasa.11.43)

इति स्कन्दवचः श्रुत्वा वामदेवो महामुनिः । प्रश्रयावनतः प्राह मेघगम्भीरया गिरा

iti skandavacaḥ śrutvā vāmadevo mahāmuniḥ | praśrayāvanataḥ prāha meghagambhīrayā girā

Hearing these words of Skanda, the great sage Vamadeva, bowed down in humility, spoke in a voice deep as thunder.

Verse 44 (shiva.kailasa.11.44)

वामदेव उवाच । भगवन्परमेशस्त्वं परापरविभूतिदः । सर्वज्ञः सर्वकर्त्ता च सर्वशक्तिधरः प्रभुः

vāmadeva uvāca | bhagavanparameśastvaṁ parāparavibhūtidaḥ | sarvajñaḥ sarvakarttā ca sarvaśaktidharaḥ prabhuḥ

Vamadeva said: "O Lord, you are the Supreme Ruler, bestower of both higher and lower glory, all-knowing, doer of all things, the Lord who bears all powers."

Verse 45 (shiva.kailasa.11.45)

जीवा वयं तु ते वक्तुं सन्निधौ परमेशितुः । तथाप्यनुग्रहोऽयं ते यत्त्वं वदसि मां प्रति

jīvā vayaṁ tu te vaktuṁ sannidhau parameśituḥ | tathāpyanugraho'yaṁ te yattvaṁ vadasi māṁ prati

"We are but embodied souls, hardly fit to speak in the presence of the Supreme Lord; yet this is your very grace, that you speak thus to me."

Verse 46 (shiva.kailasa.11.46)

कृतार्थोऽहं महाप्राज्ञ विज्ञानकणमात्रतः । प्रेरितः परिपृच्छामि क्षन्तव्योऽतिक्रमो मम

kṛtārtho'haṁ mahāprājña vijñānakaṇamātrataḥ | preritaḥ paripṛcchāmi kṣantavyo'tikramo mama

"I am fulfilled, O greatly wise one, even by a mere particle of knowledge; impelled by it, I question you further — may my transgression be forgiven."

Verse 47 (shiva.kailasa.11.47)

प्रणवो हि परः साक्षात्परमेश्वरवाचकः । वाच्यः पशुपतिर्देवः पशूनां पाशमोचकः

praṇavo hi paraḥ sākṣātparameśvaravācakaḥ | vācyaḥ paśupatirdevaḥ paśūnāṁ pāśamocakaḥ

"The Pranava is indeed, directly, the supreme expresser of the Supreme Lord; the one expressed is the god Pashupati, the releaser of bound souls from their fetters."

Verse 48 (shiva.kailasa.11.48)

वाचकेन समाहूतः पशून्मोचयते क्षणात् । तस्माद्वाचकतासिद्धिः प्रणवेन शिवम्प्रति

vācakena samāhūtaḥ paśūnmocayate kṣaṇāt | tasmādvācakatāsiddhiḥ praṇavena śivamprati

"Summoned by the expresser, he releases bound souls in an instant; therefore the accomplishment of expression, through the Pranava, applies to Shiva."

Verse 49 (shiva.kailasa.11.49)

ओमितीदं सर्वमिति श्रुतिराह सनातनी । ओमिति ब्रह्म सर्वं हि ब्रह्मेति च समब्रवीत्

omitīdaṁ sarvamiti śrutirāha sanātanī | omiti brahma sarvaṁ hi brahmeti ca samabravīt

"'Om — this is all' — so declares the eternal Shruti; 'Om is Brahman, and all indeed is Brahman' — so it likewise declares."

Verse 50 (shiva.kailasa.11.50)

देवसेनापते तुभ्यं देवानाम्पतये नमः । नमो यतीनां पतये परिपूर्णाय ते नमः

devasenāpate tubhyaṁ devānāmpataye namaḥ | namo yatīnāṁ pataye paripūrṇāya te namaḥ

"Homage to you, commander of the army of the gods, lord of the gods; homage to the lord of ascetics; homage to you, the perfectly complete one."

Verse 51 (shiva.kailasa.11.51)

एवं स्थिते जगत्यस्मिन् शिवादन्यन्न विद्यते । सर्वरूपधरः स्वामी शिवो व्यापी महेश्वरः

evaṁ sthite jagatyasmin śivādanyanna vidyate | sarvarūpadharaḥ svāmī śivo vyāpī maheśvaraḥ

"This being so, in this universe there exists nothing other than Shiva; the Lord who bears every form, the all-pervading Shiva, is Maheshvara himself —"

Verse 52 (shiva.kailasa.11.52)

समष्टिव्यष्टिभावेन प्रणवार्थः श्रुतो मया । न जातुचिन्महासेन सम्प्राप्तस्त्वादृशो गुरुः

samaṣṭivyaṣṭibhāvena praṇavārthaḥ śruto mayā | na jātucinmahāsena samprāptastvādṛśo guruḥ

"— the meaning of the Pranava, in its collective and individual aspects, I have heard; yet, O Mahasena, never before have I found a Guru such as you."

Verse 53 (shiva.kailasa.11.53)

अतः कृत्वानुकम्पां वै तमर्थं वक्तुमर्हसि । उपदेशविधानेन सदाचारक्रमेण च

ataḥ kṛtvānukampāṁ vai tamarthaṁ vaktumarhasi | upadeśavidhānena sadācārakrameṇa ca

"Therefore, showing your compassion, you should tell me that meaning, by way of instruction and according to the order of proper conduct."

Verse 54 (shiva.kailasa.11.54)

स्वाम्येकः सर्वजन्तूनां पाशच्छेदकरो गुरुः । अतस्त्वत्कृपया सोऽर्थः श्रोतव्यो हि मया गुरो

svāmyekaḥ sarvajantūnāṁ pāśacchedakaro guruḥ | atastvatkṛpayā so'rthaḥ śrotavyo hi mayā guro

"The Guru alone is the lord of all creatures, the one who severs their fetters; therefore, O Guru, by your grace, that meaning must indeed be heard by me."

Verse 55 (shiva.kailasa.11.55)

इति स मुनिना पृष्टः स्कन्दः प्रणम्य सदाशिवं-प्रणववपुषं साष्टत्रिंशत्कलावरलक्षितम् । सहितमुमया शश्वत्पार्श्वे मुनिप्रवरान्वितं-गदितुमुपचक्राम श्रेयः श्रुतिष्वपि गोपितम्

iti sa muninā pṛṣṭaḥ skandaḥ praṇamya sadāśivaṁ-praṇavavapuṣaṁ sāṣṭatriṁśatkalāvaralakṣitam | sahitamumayā śaśvatpārśve munipravarānvitaṁ-gaditumupacakrāma śreyaḥ śrutiṣvapi gopitam

Thus questioned by the sage, Skanda, having bowed to Sadashiva, whose very body is the Pranava, marked by the thirty-eight excellent kalas, ever accompanied by Uma at his side, together with the foremost sages present, began to declare that supreme good which is kept secret even in the Shrutis.