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||

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.