भास्करकण्ठः उपक्रम-श्लोकाः

[Lokesh Sharma]

नमोनमः सर्वेभ्यः

Could someone translate these introductory verses of Bhaskarakantha Tika of Yoga Vasistha?

ॐ

स्वातन्त्र्याख्यगुणेरितेन सततं सङ्क्षोभ्यमाणान् निजाद् इच्छामन्दरकेण सारभरिताद् रूपाद् अलोलात् सदा /
स्वान्तःस्थं स्वमयं स्वभिन्नसदृशं तत्त्वालिरत्नोच्चयम् बोधाह्वः प्रतिभासयन् परसरिन्नाथो जयत्य् अद्भुतः //

शुद्धं स्फाटिकदर्पणेन सदृशं नित्यं स्वशक्त्युत्थितैर् अच्छत्वात् स्वमयीकृतम् बहुविधैर् बाह्यान्तरैः स्वैर् मलैः /
शक्त्यैतान् अपि सर्वदात्मनि लयीकुर्वाणम् आद्यं शिवम् बोधाह्वम् प्रणतो ऽस्मि देवम् अनघं षट्कोशदावानलम् //

बोधाबोधविभेदभासनपरम् बोधान्वितैर् बोधितम् बोधाबोधविहीनमूर्तिम् अमलम् बोधैकसारं विभुम् /
बोधाबोधविभेदगोपनकरं स्वस्मिंस् तु तस्याप्य् अनु बोधं तं शरणं श्रयामि सततं सद्बोधसम्प्राप्तये //

स्वच्छत्वाश्रयमातृभावभजनाद् वैडूर्यनामार्हताम् आसाद्यान्व् अवतारनामकलनाम् एत्याच्छमेयास्पदाम् /
तत्त्वं स्वम् प्रकटं विधाय च ततः स्वम् भावम् एवागतो यस् तस्मै सततं स्वभावगुरवे नैर्गुण्यधाम्ने नमः //

अच्छाच्छस्वविमर्शने ऽपि कुशलो वैडूर्यनाम्नाश्रितो यातो ऽतो ऽन्व् अवतारभावम् अमलं तत्त्वोपदेशेच्छया /
शिष्याणाम् उपदिश्य तत्त्वम् अथ यः स्वं रूपम् एवागतस् तस्मै श्रीनिधये प्रकाशगुरवे सद्बोधदात्रे नमः //

देहाद्रिस्थमनोद्रुमोत्थकलनाशाखालिसन्ध्यन्तराद् द्रष्टुं जाड्यहरं विमर्शविभवाद् उन्मेषरूपं रविम् /
लग्ना ये सततं तदेकमयताम् पश्यन्त आत्मन्य् अथो संसारे ऽपि च तत्प्रकाशवशतो भाते ऽस्तु तेभ्यो नमः //

अपूर्वं सामर्थ्यं किम् अपि हृदयागोचर इदम् परिच्छेदातीतं जयति लघुमुख्यम् भगवतः /
विवृत्त्याख्ये कर्मण्य् अतिमहति वाक्पत्यविषये यदाविष्टो ऽमुष्मिन्न् अपि भजति मूको ऽप्य् अधिकृतिम् //

स्वतःसिद्धाल् लब्धम् परमगहनं यत् स्वजनकाद् रहस्यं सङ्क्षेपान् निरतिशयम् आभ्यन्तरम् अलम् /
तद् एतत् सर्वेषु प्रकटयितुम् एवात्र विहितो मयासाव् उद्योगो न निजधिषणाख्यापनधिया //

स्वभावेनैवान्धाः कतिचिद् अपरे रोषतमसा परेषां नापेक्षा भवति च निजालोकविभवात् /
अतो व्याख्यादीपे ऽप्रकट इव नात्रास्त्य् अधिकृतो भवेद् वा को ऽपीति भ्रमत इह यत्नस् तु रचितः //

अवतारकण्ठपुत्रः पौत्रो वैडूर्यकण्ठपादानाम् /
भास्करकण्ठो रचयति विद्वत्कण्ठे विभूषणं व्याख्याम् //

शक्त्यादीनाम् अभावे मे प्रवृत्तस्य पदे पदे /
स्खलितानि भविष्यन्ति सन्तु सन्तो ऽवलम्बनम् //

नुत्वा गणेशं विबुधेशवन्द्यं वाग्देवतां च प्रतिभास्वरूपाम् /
गुरूंस् तथा कौलनरोत्तमादीन् करोमि टीकां श्रुतिपात्रपेयाम् //

गुरूणां चरणौ स्मृत्वा कृत्वा स्वात्मार्चनं स्वतः /
मोक्षोपायाभिधे ग्रन्थे व्याख्यां कुर्वे समासतः //

इह खलु कश्चिन् महापुरुषः श्रीवाल्मीकिनिबद्धश्रीमहारामायणाख्यसागरादिकाण्डस्थश्रीरामज्ञानोत्पादकश्रीवसिष्ठोपदेशरत्नैः स्वयम् आसादितसम्यग्ज्ञानाख्यप्रकाशः अथान्यान् प्रति दयया प्रकटीकरणार्थम् प्रोक्तसागरात् तान्य् उद्धर्तुकामस् तदुद्धृतिनिर्विघ्नसमाप्तिगमनाय परदेवतास्वरूपम् परमात्मानं स्तौति।

[लोकेश]

स्वातन्त्र्याख्यगुणेरितेन सततं सङ्क्षोभ्यमाणान्निजाद्

इच्छामन्दरकेण सारभरिताद्रूपादलोलात्सदा ।

स्वान्तःस्थं स्वमयं स्वभिन्नसदृशं तत्त्वालिरत्नोच्चयं

बोधाह्वः प्रतिभासयन् परसरिन्नाथो जयत्यद्भुतः ॥

Victorious (जयति) is the wondrous (अद्भुतः) Supreme Ocean (परसरिन्नाथः) called Consciousness (बोध), which shines (प्रतिभासयन्) the heap of gems (रत्नोच्चयं)—that is, the multitude of Principles (तत्त्वालि)—which reside within it (स्वान्तस्थं), consist of it (स्वमयं), yet appear as if different from it (स्वभिन्नसदृशं).

[It does this] by continuously (सततं) churning its own essential form (संक्षोभ्यमाणान्निजात्)—which, though eternally (सदा) unmoving (अलोलात्), is filled with essence (सारभूताद्रूपाद्)—using the Mandara Mountain of Will (इच्छामन्दरकेण), impelled by the rope (गुणेरितेन) known as Absolute Freedom (स्वातन्त्र्यम्).

[लोकेश]

शुद्धं स्फाटिकदर्पणेन सदृशं नित्यं स्वशक्त्युत्थितैर्

अच्छत्वात् स्वमयीकृतं बहुविधैर् बाह्यान्तरैः स्वैर् मलैः /

शक्त्यैतान् अपि सर्वदात्मनि लयीकुर्वाणम् आद्यं शिवम्

बोधाह्वम् प्रणतो ऽस्मि देवम् अनघं षट्कोशदावानलम् //

I bow to the Primordial (आद्यं) Lord Shiva (शिवं), who is known as Bodha (Pure Consciousness) (बोध). He is spotless (शुद्धं) and eternal (नित्यं), resembling a crystal mirror (स्फटिकदर्पणेन सदृशं).

Due to its perfect clarity (अच्छत्वात्), it has made one with itself (स्वमयीकृतं) the manifold external and internal impurities (manifestations) (बहुविधैर्बाह्यान्तरैः स्वैः मलैः) that have arisen through its own Shakti (स्वशक्त्या). By that same power (शक्त्यापि), It is constantly (सर्वदा) dissolving these back into its own Self (आत्मनि लयीकुर्वाणं). It is the forest fire (दावानलं) that burns away the six sheaths (limitations) (षट्कोशं).

[antiX Linux]

1

By the power called Freedom,
my own inner essence is ceaselessly stirred
by the gentle breeze of my own will.
From the ever-steady, full, and unmoving form of Reality,
there arises within the heart
a wonder that reveals
the mass of jewels called “essence-principles,”
self-made, self-present,
shining within the Self.
Salutations to that marvelous Lord
who causes this radiance to appear.

2

Pure—like a flawless crystal mirror,
and ever awakening through its own power—
such is the Self, untouched by any impurity.
The outer and inner stains that seem to envelop it
are merely formations of its own energy.
I bow to that Primordial Śiva,
that stainless Deity called “Awareness,”
the Fire that burns the six sheaths away,
who dissolves all these energies
back into the Self.

3

Beyond the appearance of knowing and not-knowing,
yet illuminating both;
the pure Formless One,
free from the division of knowledge and ignorance,
the One whose essence is Awareness alone—
to Him I take refuge,
so that true awakening
may arise in me.
He makes even the distinction between knowledge and ignorance
disappear in the Self.

4

By attaining the state called “vaidūrya”
(the condition of flawless luminosity),
through transparency,
through the reverence of the Mother-principle,
and through establishing one’s own Reality as manifest—
that one arrives at his own true Nature.
To that Guru of the Natural State,
the Abode of Attribute-lessness,
I bow forever.

5

Skilled in the reflection of the pure and the pure,
established in the state called vaidūrya,
he descended into the form of an incarnation
out of a desire to give instruction in the Truth.
To that radiant Guru, treasure-house of splendor,
who regained his own true Form
after teaching the supreme Reality to his disciples,
bestower of right understanding—
to Him I bow.

6

To those whose gaze is ever fixed
upon the inner Sun—
the radiant Awareness arising
from the dissolution of dullness,
standing as the light between
the mountain-body,
the tree-mind,
and the spaces between the branches—
to those who perceive that One Reality
within themselves
and even within the world
through Its illumination—
to them I offer salutation.

7

This astonishing power—
beyond grasp,
beyond limitation,
inconceivable even to the heart—
victoriously reveals the unimaginable greatness
of the Blessed Lord.
Even in the vast sphere of activities
described as unfolding,
one who is touched by this power
may become eloquent—
even a mute, uplifted.

8

What I obtained directly
from my own illumined inner source—
a deep, supreme, incomparable secret—
I reveal here
for the sake of all beings,
not to display my own intellect,
but solely
to make this truth available
to everyone.

9

Some are blind by nature,
others veiled by anger,
and others depend on nothing
because their own inner light is complete.
Therefore, in this commentary,
there is truly no fixed audience.
Who knows for whom it is meant?
Yet the effort is made here
out of compassion.

10

The son of Avatāra-Kaṇṭha,
the grandson of Vaidūrya-Kaṇṭha—
Bhāskara-Kaṇṭha—
now composes this commentary
as an ornament for the necks of the wise.

11

Because I lack powers such as śakti and others,
there will be missteps at every stage.
May the good and the noble
support me.

12

Having saluted Gaṇeśa,
revered by the gods,
and the Goddess of Speech,
whose nature is luminous clarity,
and having bowed to the Gurus,
those highest among Kaula men,
I now compose this drinkable commentary
fit for the vessel of sacred hearing.

13

Remembering the feet of the Gurus,
and worshipping the Self within,
I prepare this concise commentary
on the scripture called
“The Means to Liberation.”

14

Here, indeed, a certain great person—
having personally attained
the illumination called “Right Knowledge”
through the jewels of instruction
given by Śrī Vasiṣṭha
in the vast ocean-like scripture
known as The Great Rāmāyaṇa—
now, out of compassion for others,
wishes to lift them up
from that ocean of instruction.
For the unobstructed completion
of that noble undertaking,
he offers praise
to the Supreme Deity,
the Paramātman.

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[Suchitra Ramkumar]

Namaste,

I received this mail from you.

May I know a little more about your work with Yoga Vasishtha, the google group and the translation( antiXlinux).Is it a translation tool? I would also like to know who introduced me to you.

I am Dr. Suchitra Ramkumar and have been studying the Vasishta. My teacher, a Samskrit scholar, however unfortunately is no more. I am a beginner learner in Samskrit.

Regards 

Suchitra

[Vasishtha-fan]

Namaste, Dr. Ramkumar,

The google group for Yoga Vasishtha was founded by Jiva Das who also is not among us any more. It is not very active but occasionally somebody posts here. Posts have to be approved by one of the administrators (to avoid irrelevant matter).

Best wishes

[Krishnanand Mankikar]

Hope the following may help. If any errors, kindly revert.

1. स्वातन्त्र्याख्यगुणेरितेन…

Word meanings (Padārtha)

• svātantrya-guṇa — the quality of absolute freedom

• icchā-mandara — the churning rod of divine will

• svarūpa—one’s essential nature

• alola — unmoving, steady

• svānta-stha — abiding in one’s own heart

• tattva-āli-ratna-ucchaya — the cluster of jewels called supreme truth

• bodha-āhva — called “Awareness”

Simple meaning

The wondrous Lord Awareness, who ever churns all beings by His freedom, who is steady in His own essence and shines in the heart as the treasure-cluster of Truth, may that Awareness be ever victorious.

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2. शुद्धं स्फाटिकदर्पणेन सदृशं…

Word meanings

• śuddham — pure

• sphaṭika-darpaṇa — crystal mirror

• svamayi-kṛtam — made into His own form

• bāhya–āntara-mala — external and internal impurities

• śakti — powers

• laya-kurvāṇa — dissolving

• ādyam śivam — the primal Śiva

• bodha-āhvam — called Awareness

• anagham — stainless

• ṣaṭ-kośa-dāvānala — the fire consuming the six sheaths

Simple meaning

I bow to the primal, stainless Śiva—Awareness—which is pure like a crystal, which absorbs all impurities into itself, and which burns away the six sheaths.

---

3. बोधाबोधविभेदभासनपरम्…

Word meanings

• bodha–abodha–vibheda — distinction between knowledge and ignorance

• bhāsana — illumination

• bodhita — made known

• vihīna-mūrti — devoid of both knowledge and ignorance

• bodha-eka-sāra — essence of pure awareness

• vibhu — all-pervading

• gopana-kara — making all distinctions disappear

Simple meaning

I take refuge in that Awareness which first illumines knowledge and ignorance, then stands beyond both, being pure and all-pervading, destroying all distinctions, so that true knowledge may arise.

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4. स्वच्छत्वाश्रयमातृभावभजनात्…

Word meanings

• svacchatva — purity

• mātṛ-bhāva — motherly compassion

• vaidūrya-nāma — the name “blue-gem-like one”

• avatāra-nāma-kalanā — semblance of divine descent

• āchchha-meya-āspada — seat of complete purity

• tattvaṃ prakaṭaṃ — revealing the Truth

• svarūpa — one’s true nature

• svabhāva-guru — the guru by natural radiance

• nairguṇya-dhāman — abode of the attributeless

Simple meaning

I bow to the natural guru, the abode of purity, who by his compassion becomes worthy of the name “blue-gem-like,” who appears as a divine descent, reveals the Truth, and abides in his own pure nature.

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5. अच्छाच्छस्वविमर्शनेऽपि कुशलो…

Word meanings

• accha–accha–svavimarśana — very pure self-inquiry

• vaidūrya-nāma — blue-gem title

• anu-avatāra-bhāva — slight divine descent

• tattuopadeśa-icchā — desire to teach truth

• svam rūpam āgataḥ — returning to one’s true form

• prakāśa-guru — teacher by sheer radiance

• sat-bodha-dātṛ — giver of true knowledge

Simple meaning

I salute the radiant guru who, skilled in pure self-inquiry and worthy of the blue-gem name, assumes a gentle divine power to teach truth to disciples, and then rests again in his real nature.

---

6. देहाद्रिस्थमनोद्रुमोत्थ…

Word meanings

• deha-adri — body as mountain

• mano-druma — mind as tree

• kalpanā-śākhā — branches of imagination

• ali — bees = desires

• jāḍya-hara-ravi — sun removing dullness

• vimarśa-vibhava — power of inner inquiry

• tad-eka-mayatā — oneness with that (Awareness)

Simple meaning

Salutations to those who, through inner inquiry, behold the inner sun of Awareness hidden behind body, mind, imaginations, and desires, and who perceive its oneness within themselves and even in the world.

---

7. अपूर्वं सामर्थ्यं किमपि…

Word meanings

• apūrva-sāmarthya — unprecedented power

• hṛdaya-agocara — beyond the heart’s normal grasp

• laghu-mukhyam bhagavataḥ — a small portion of divine power

• vivṛtti — exposition/commentary

• vāk-pati — eloquence, speech-power

• āviṣṭa — possessed, entered into

• adhikṛti — competence

Simple meaning

A mysterious divine power, beyond ordinary grasp, sometimes enters one; then even an unskilled person becomes capable of great eloquence in exposition. That power prevails here.

---

8. स्वतःसिद्धाल्लब्धम्…

Word meanings

• svataḥ-siddha — self-evident

• param-gahana — supremely deep

• rahasya — secret

• saṅkṣepa-niratishaya — concise yet unsurpassed

• ābhyantara — inward

• prakaṭayitum — to reveal

• na nijadhiṣaṇā-ākhyāpana — not for showing my intellect

Simple meaning

The profound secret self-evidently realized within, received concisely from my teacher, I reveal here— not to display my intellect, but to make it known for all.

---

9. स्वभावेनैवान्धाः कतिचिद्…

Word meanings

• andhāḥ — blind (by nature)

• roṣa-tamasa — blinded by anger/darkness

• nijāloka-vibhava — pride in one’s own little light

• vyākhyā-dīpa — the lamp of commentary

• adhikṛta — qualified person

• bhramataḥ — wondering, hoping

Simple meaning

Some are blind by nature, some by anger, and some think their little light is enough. Thus a truly qualified reader is rarely visible; yet hoping that someone may be there, I attempt this commentary.

---

10. अवतारकण्ठपुत्रः…

Word meanings

• avatāra-kaṇṭha — name of his father

• vaidūrya-kaṇṭha-pāda — name of his grandfather

• vidvat-kaṇṭha-vibhūṣaṇa — ornament for scholars

• vyākhyā — commentary

Simple meaning

I, Bhāskarakaṇṭha, son of Avatārakaṇṭha and grandson of Vaidūryakaṇṭha, compose this commentary as an ornament for the learned.

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11. शक्त्यादीनाम् अभावे…

Word meanings

• śakti-abhāva — lack of power

• pravṛtta — having begun the work

• skhalita — mistakes

• santo avalambanam — support of good people

Simple meaning

Lacking the required strength, I will surely make mistakes at every step; may noble persons support me.

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12. नुत्वा गणेशं…

Word meanings

• nuta — having praised

• gaṇeśa — remover of obstacles

• vāgdevatā — goddess of speech

• prativhā-svarūpā — embodiment of brilliance

• śruti-pātra-peyā — fit to be tasted by worthy students of scripture

Simple meaning

Having praised Gaṇeśa, Sarasvatī, and my teachers, I undertake this commentary, suitable for those who are worthy students of sacred knowledge.

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13. गुरूणां चरणौ स्मृत्वा…

Word meanings

• gurūṇām caraṇau — feet of the teachers

• svātma-arcana — worship of the Self

• mokṣopāya-grantha — the text that teaches the means to liberation

• samāsataḥ — briefly, concisely

Simple meaning

Remembering the feet of my teachers and worshipping the Self, I briefly compose this commentary on the scripture that teaches the means to liberation.