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Learning Sanskrit - Pronunciation 3
Aphorisms (Section I of the Śivasūtra-s)
Introduction
First of all, here you are 22 aphorisms, which form the first Section of the Śivasūtra-s (the primordial scripture in Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir). You will be able to listen to Sanskrit language directly. Try to repeat the aphorism along with me. Besides, you will find a complete translation of the aphorism. So, this relevant document will help you to write and pronounce Sanskrit properly. Additionally, if you wish, you will start learning a celebrated scripture belonging to Trika system. But remember that the meaning of these abstruse aphorisms is not given here. Only their translation is shown. If you are not interested in Trika or even in Indian philosophy, just use the aphorisms to practice Sanskrit.
There is a measure unit called 'mātrā' or "time gap needed to pronounce a short vowel (like 'a')". Short vowels (a, i, u, ṛ, ḷ) last 1 mātrā, while long vowels (ā, ī, ū, ṝ) and diphthongs (e, ai, o, au) last 2 mātrā-s. In turn, Anusvāra ('ṁ') and Visarga ('ḥ') last 1/2 mātrā.
Have three documents at hand (print them if you can): Transliterating (2) (English), Sanskrit Alphabet and Conjuncts. You will need them very often.
To download the sounds, click on the respective icon placed below each of the aphorisms and then select the adequate choice. If you have the Quick Time plugin installed, it is possible that you cannot download the sound directly. To work this problem around, right-click on the icon and select "Save link as..." or something like that (the statements vary according to the different browsers). That is it! Obviously, you can alternately uninstall the Quick Time plugin, but maybe you might need it for some other things. So, it is your choice, not mine.
The sound files are "properly" named, of course, so that you can create, say, three folders (one for every section of this scripture), and quickly find the right sound you need to hear.
Important: All that is in brackets and italicized within the translation has been added by me in order to complete the sense of a particular phrase or sentence. In turn, all that is between double hyphen (--...--) constitutes clarifying further information also added by me.
First Section: Śāmbhavopāya
(the means using the Śiva's viewpoint)
चैतन्यमात्मा॥१॥
Caitanyamātmā||1||
Consciousness which is omniscient and omnipotent (caitanyam) (is) the Self or true nature of Reality (ātmā)||1||
ज्ञानं बन्धः॥२॥
Jñānaṁ bandhaḥ||2||
The (limited or contracted) knowledge (jñānam) (is) bondage (bandhaḥ)||2||
योनिवर्गः कलाशरीरम्॥३॥
Yonivargaḥ kalāśarīram||3||
The source (yoni) and her progeny (vargaḥ), (along with) that whose form (śarīram) is activity (kalā) (are also bondage)||3||
ज्ञानाधिष्ठानं मातृका॥४॥
Jñānādhiṣṭhānaṁ mātṛkā||4||
The basis (adhiṣṭhānam) of the (limited and contracted) knowledge (jñāna) (is) the un-understood Mother (mātṛkā)||4||
उद्यमो भैरवः॥५॥
Udyamo bhairavaḥ||5||
Bhairava --Supreme Being-- (bhairavaḥ) (is) a sudden flash or elevation of divine Consciousness (udyamaḥ)||5||
शक्तिचक्रसन्धाने विश्वसंहारः॥६॥
Śakticakrasandhāne viśvasaṁhāraḥ||6||
Through union (sandhāne) with the collective group (cakra) of powers (śakti), (there is) the disappearance (saṁhāraḥ) of the universe (viśva)||6||
जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तभेदे तुर्याभोगसम्भवः॥७॥
Jāgratsvapnasuṣuptabhede turyābhogasambhavaḥ||7||
(Even) during such different (states of consciousness) (bhede) as waking (jāgrat), dreaming (svapna) and profound sleep (suṣupta), there is (sambhavaḥ) the delight and enjoyment (ābhoga) of the Fourth State (turya)||7||
ज्ञानं जाग्रत्॥८॥
Jñānaṁ jāgrat||8||
Knowledge (jñānam) (is) the waking state of consciousness (jāgrat)||8||
स्वप्नो विकल्पाः॥९॥
Svapno vikalpāḥ||9||
The dream state of consciousness (svapnaḥ) (is) thoughts and ideations (vikalpāḥ)||9||
अविवेको मायासौषुप्तम्॥१०॥
Aviveko māyāsauṣuptam||10||
Non-discernment or lack of awareness (avivekaḥ) (is) the profound sleep (sauṣuptam) of Māyā --delusion-- (māyā)||10||
त्रितयभोक्ता वीरेशः॥११॥
Tritayabhoktā vīreśaḥ||11||
He is a master (īśaḥ) of (his) senses (vīra)1 who is an enjoyer (of the aforesaid "ābhoga"2 or divine delight) (bhoktā) in the triad (of waking, dreaming and deep sleep) (tritaya)||11||
1 Even though "vīra" literally means "hero", it is to be understood here as "sense". I will explain this to you later on, within the "Śivasūtra-s" page.
2 See Aphorism 7.
विस्मयो योगभूमिकाः॥१२॥
Vismayo yogabhūmikāḥ||12||
The stages (bhūmikāḥ) of Yoga (yoga) (are) a fascinating wonder (vismayaḥ)||12||
इच्छाशक्तिरुमा कुमारी॥१३॥
Icchāśaktirumā kumārī||13||
The Will (icchā) power (śaktiḥ) (of the enlightened Yogī is) the "Splendor of Śiva" (umā) (that is) Kumārī (kumārī)||13||
दृश्यं शरीरम्॥१४॥
Dṛśyaṁ śarīram||14||
All phenomena (outer or inner) (dṛśyam) (are) the body (śarīram) (of the enlightened Yogī)||14||
हृदये चित्तसङ्घट्टाद्दृश्यस्वापदर्शनम्॥१५॥
Hṛdaye cittasaṅghaṭṭāddṛśyasvāpadarśanam||15||
Through the union (saṅghaṭṭāt) of the mind (citta) on the core of Consciousness (hṛdaye), there is appearance (darśanam) of (all) phenomena (outer or inner) (dṛśya) (and even) the void (svāpa) (as they are in their essential reality)||15||
शुद्धतत्त्वसन्धानाद्वापशुशक्तिः॥१६॥
Śuddhatattvasandhānādvāpaśuśaktiḥ||16||
Or (vā) by union (sandhānāt) with the Pure (śuddha) Principle (tattva), (the Yogī becomes like one in whom) the (binding) power (śaktiḥ) (existing in) a limited and conditioned being (paśu) is absent (a)||16||
वितर्क आत्मज्ञानम्॥१७॥
Vitarka ātmajñānam||17||
Firm and unwavering awareness (vitarkaḥ) (that I am Śiva is) knowledge (jñānam) of the Self (ātma)||17||
लोकानन्दः समाधिसुखम्॥१८॥
Lokānandaḥ samādhisukham||18||
The Bliss (that the Yogī feels in abiding as the Knower or Perceiver) (ānandaḥ) of the world (—consisting of subjects and objects—) (loka) (is his) delight (sukham) of Samādhi (samādhi)||18||
शक्तिसन्धाने शरीरोत्पत्तिः॥१९॥
Śaktisandhāne śarīrotpattiḥ||19||
On being united (sandhāne) with the Power (of Will) (śakti) (there is) production or creation (utpattiḥ) of bodies (śarīra) (according to the Yogī's desire)||19||
भूतसन्धानभूतपृथक्त्वविश्वसङ्घट्टाः॥२०॥
Bhūtasandhānabhūtapṛthaktvaviśvasaṅghaṭṭāḥ||20||
(The other supernormal powers of the enlightened Yogī are: the power of) putting together (sandhāna) existent entities (bhūta); (the power of) separating (pṛthaktva) them all --i.e. the existent entities-- (bhūta) (and the power of) assembling --saṅghaṭṭa-- (saṅghaṭṭāḥ) everything (viśva) (what ||20||
शुद्धविद्योदयाच्चक्रेशत्वसिद्धिः॥२१॥
Śuddhavidyodayāccakreśatvasiddhiḥ||21||
Full acquisition (siddhiḥ) of mastery (īśatva) over the collective group of powers (cakra) (is achieved by the Yogī) through the emergence (udayāt) of Śuddhavidyā (śuddhavidyā)||21||
महाह्रदानुसन्धानान्मन्त्रवीर्यानुभवः॥२२॥
Mahāhradānusandhānānmantravīryānubhavaḥ||22||
By uniting (anusandhānāt) with the Great (mahā) Lake (hrada), (the Yogī has) the experience (anubhavaḥ) of the generative source --virility or potency-- (vīrya) of (all) mantra-s (mantra)||22||
Concluding remarks
A first document full of Śaiva aphorisms in Sanskrit. Use it to keep learning Sanskrit language. Listen to the aphorisms over and over again, and then repeat them along with me. This practice will make sure that you are pronouncing Sanskrit in a proper way.
This is the first document of the series dedicated to the Śivasūtra-s. Next document will deal with the Section II known as "Śāktopāya". Best wishes to you and be happy.
Further Information
This document was conceived by Gabriel Pradīpaka, one of the two founders of this site, and spiritual guru conversant with Sanskrit language and Trika philosophy.
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