Monday 30 April 2012

Savarni to be the next Manu

मन्वन्तरकीर्तने वैवस्वतवर्णनं नाम पञ्चत्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Description of Sun (and his events) in Manvantara narration - Chapter 35

सूत उवाच |

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

मनुः प्रजापतिस्त्वासीत्सावर्णिः स तपोधनः
|
भाव्यः स कर्मणा तेन मनोः सावर्णिकेन्तरे || 39 ||
मेरुपृष्ठे तपो घोरमद्यापि चरते प्रभुः |
यवीयसी तयोर्या तु यमी कन्या यशस्विनी || 40 ||
अभवत्सा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा यमुना लोकपावनी |

That Manu, the ancestor of people is Savarni, who has done a lot of penance. Because of his karma, he is to be the Manu in the next Manvantara.
On the side of (the mountain) Meru, the Lord is practising severe/horrible penance now also. His younger sister, (is) indeed the girl Yami (Yamuna) of great fame.
She became a great river Yamuna who makes the world holier.

Savarni Manu, Shani (Saturn) and Tapti (Tapi, now a river) were born of Chhaya, who was left by Samgnya unable to face the brilliance of the Vivasvaan (Sun).

Sunday 29 April 2012

The first seven Manus including the present one

सर्वमन्वन्तरानुकीर्तनं नाम चतुर्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Narration of all Manvantaras – Chapter 34

सूत उवाच |

Suta Goswami said (to sage Shaunaka)

स्वायंभुवो मनुश्चैव ततः स्वारोचिषस्तथा |
उत्तमस्तामसश्चैव रैवतश्चाक्षुषस्तथा || 2 ||
एते च मनवः षट् ते संप्रोक्ता मुनिपुङ्गव |
वैवस्वतो मुनिश्रेष्ठ सांप्रतं मनुरुच्यते || 3 ||

Svayambhuva Manu, and then Svarochisha, and Uttama, and Tamasa, and Raivata and Chakshusha -
And the best sage, these are said to be those six Manus. Best sage, the present Manu is said to be Vaivaswata (born of the Sun - Vivasvaan).

Seven more are to come, of which the next one is Savarni Manu.

Saturday 28 April 2012

How material elements are born

आकाशाज्जायते वायुर्वायोस्तेजश्च जायते |
तेजसोऽम्बु विनिर्दिष्टं तस्माद्धि पृथिवी भवेत् || 15 ||

From sky/ether air is born, from air is fire/brilliance born, from fire manifests water, from that only is earth created.

Friday 27 April 2012

Yogis can what Devas and demons cannot

कालवञ्चनवर्णनं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः

Averting time/death description Chapter 26

शंकर उवाच |

Lord Shiva said (to supreme Goddess Parvati)

न हन्यते देववरैस्तु दैत्यैः सयक्षरक्षोरगमानुषैश्च |
ये योगिनो ध्यानपराः सदेहा भवन्ति ते घ्नन्ति सुखेन कालम् || 12 ||
 
Time/death cannot be killed (controlled) by the best of the Devas, demons, also Yakshas, Serpents (Nagas), and humans. Those Yogis with (gross human) bodies who become meditation-intensive (manage to) kill/control death easily.

Thursday 26 April 2012

Nothing is above Shivaloka

तत ऊर्ध्वं न लोकाश्च गोलोकस्तत्समीपतः |
गोमातरः सुशीलाख्यास्तत्र सन्ति शिवप्रियाः || 40 ||
तत्पालः कृष्णनामा हि राजते शङ्कराज्ञया |
प्रतिष्ठितः शिवेनैव शक्त्या स्वच्छन्दचारिणा || 41 ||

There are no worlds above that, (but) Goloka is nearby. Favourite of Lord Shiva, mothers of cows called Sushilaa are there.
Their cowherd by the name of Krishna really resides (there) by the instruction of Lord Shiva, placed by Lord Shiva and (supreme Goddess) Shakti, who are independent (who go where they please).

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Above Umaloka is Shivaloka

तस्योपरिष्टाद्विज्ञेयः शिवलोकः सनातनः |
अविनाशी महादिव्यो महाशोभान्वितः सदा || 38 ||
विराजते परं ब्रह्म यत्र शम्भुर्महेश्वरः |
त्रिदेवजनकः स्वामी सर्वेषां त्रिगुणात्परः || 39 ||

The eternal Shivaloka should be known to be above that (Umaloka), which is indestructible, highly divine, always with a great appearance.
Where the supreme element, the great God Shiva resides, father of the three Devas, everybody's Lord, above the three characteristics (of nature, sattva, rajas, tamas).

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Umaloka is above Kumaraloka

ततः परमुमालोको महादिव्यो विराजते |
यत्र शक्तिर्विभात्येका त्रिदेवजननी शिवा || 36 ||
परात्परा हि प्रकृति रजःसत्त्वतमोमयी |
निर्गुणा च स्वयं देवी निर्विकारा शिवात्मिका || 37 ||
 
Above that (Kumaraloka, which is above Vaikuntha) is situated the highly divine Umaloka, where Shakti (the energy of the universe, the supreme Goddess) Shivaa, the Mother of the three Gods shines (looks wonderful).
Higher than the highest Prakriti with sattva, rajas and tamas characteristics, and the formless Goddess herself, free from defects (is) Shivatmika (similar to Lord Shiva, or from the same element as Lord Shiva).

Monday 23 April 2012

There are worlds above the universe also

लोकवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः

Description of the worlds – Chapter 19

सनत्कुमार उवाच |

Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)

ब्रह्माण्डादुपरिष्टाच्च सन्ति लोका मुनीश्वर | 33

Great sage, there are worlds above the universe also.

The universe consists of the 14 worlds (7 below the mortal world, and 6 above) and the hells, but above the universe are Shivaloka, Umaloka, Vaikuntha, etc.

Sunday 22 April 2012

Such a man does not go to hell

नरकोद्धारवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः

Salvation from hell description Chapter 16

सनत्कुमार उवाच |

Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)

पुमान्न नरकं याति यः स्मरेद्भक्तितो मुने |
अहर्निशं शिवं तस्मात्स क्षिणाशेषपातकः || 35 ||

Sage, a man does not go to hell who remembers Lord Shiva by devotion day and night. Therefore his sins reduce to none.

Demons including Daityas (progeny of Diti) and Danavas (progeny of Danu) live in Rasatala. Below the Patala are the hells.

Saturday 21 April 2012

No sun nor moon, no concept of time

दिवार्करश्मयो यत्र न भवन्ति विधोर्निशि |
न शीतमातपो यत्र मणितेजोऽत्र केवलम् || 29 ||
भक्ष्यभोजान्नपानानि भुज्यन्ते मुदितैर्भृशम् |
यत्र न ज्ञायते कालो गतोऽपि मुनिसत्तम || 30 ||

Where there are no sun rays nor moon at night, where (there is) no heat nor cold, only (light is the) brilliance of jewels (is) here (in the nether worlds).
Eatable food and drinks are enjoyed gladly in plenty (large amounts). Best of the sages, (those places are) where time is unknown (there is no concept of time), (including) even the past.

Friday 20 April 2012

Wise people should know about the seven nether worlds

पाताललोकवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः

Description of the nether worlds – Chapter 15

सनत्कुमार उवाच |

Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)

अतलं वितलं चैव सुतलं च रसातलं || 22 ||
तलं तलातलं चाग्र्यं पातालं सप्तमं मतम् |
भूमेरधः सप्त लोका इमे ज्ञेया विचक्षणैः || 23 ||

Atala and Vitala, Sutala and Rasatala, Tala (Mahatala), Talatala, and the main Patala, considered the seventh of these seven (nether) worlds below this world, should be known by the wise.

Thursday 19 April 2012

Dharma increases by listening to Purana

पापं संक्षीयते नित्यं धर्मश्चैव विवर्धते |
पुराणश्रवणाज्ज्ञानी न संसारं प्रपद्यते || 37 ||
 
By listening to Purana, sins shrink continuously and Dharma increases, a knowledgeable person does not come to the material world (take rebirth).

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Listening to stories of God

ये शृण्वन्ति कथां शंभोः सदा भुवनपावनीम् |
ते मनुष्या न मन्तव्या रुद्रा एव न संशयः || 23 ||
 
Those who listen to Lord Shiva's stories, which always make the world holier, should not be considered human beings; undoubtedly they are like Rudras (the Shiva element).
 
Compare with
 
ये शृण्वन्ति मुने शैवं पुराणं शास्त्रमुत्तमम् |
ते मनुष्या न मन्तव्या रुद्रा एव न संशयः || 15 ||
 
from Chapter 1 of the importance section (taken from Skanda Purana) before Vidyeshwara Samhita.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Importance of listening to Shiva MahaPurana

पुराणमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः

Purana importance/greatness description Chapter 13

सनत्कुमार उवाच |
 
Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)
 
पुराणश्रवणाच्छंभोर्निष्पापो जायते नरः |
भुक्त्वा भोगान्सुविपुलाञ्छिवलोकमवाप्नुयात् || 20 ||
 
By listening to Shiva Purana, a man becomes free from sin. After enjoying a lot of pleasures, (he) attains Shivaloka.

Monday 16 April 2012

Penance is the means to achieve everything

तपोमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः
 
Penance importance description Chapter 12
 
सनत्कुमार उवाच |

Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)
 
तपसा प्राप्यते स्वर्गस्तपसा प्राप्यते यशः |
तपसा प्राप्यते कामस्तपः सर्वार्थसाधनम् || 40 ||
 
By penance one gets heaven, by penance one gets fame, by penance one's desires are fulfilled. Penance is the means to achieve everything.

Ramayana has several instances mentioning the greatness of penance. Narada tells Himalaya that Parvati should practise penance and Lord Shiva can even change her future.

जौं तपु करै कुमारि तुम्हारी | भाविउ मेटि सकहिं त्रिपुरारी ||
 
Penance is said to be the basis for everything, the universe including creation, maintenance and destruction. The message in the first two of the following three lines also repeats in Ramayana.
 
तपबल रचई प्रपंचु विधाता | तपबल बिष्नु सकल जग त्राता ||
तपबल संभु करहिं संघारा | तपबल सेषु धरइ महिभारा ||
तप आधार सब सृष्टि भवानी | करहि जाई तपु अस जियँ जानी ||
 

Sunday 15 April 2012

Food donation also liberates from great sins

अन्नं प्रजापतिः साक्षादन्नं विष्णुः स्वयं हरः |
तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातव्यं मानवैर्ध्रुवम् || 48 ||
कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं यः पश्चादन्नदो भवेत् |
विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यः स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति || 49 ||
 
Food is Lord Brahma in visible form, food is Lord Vishnu, food is Lord Shiva himself. Therefore, food in particular should be given certainly to humans.
If one becomes a donor of food even after commiting a grave sin, one gets liberated from all sins and goes to heaven.

Saturday 14 April 2012

A donor of food is a donor of life

अन्नदः प्राणदः प्रोक्तः प्राणदश्चापि सर्वदः |
तस्मादन्नप्रदानेन सर्वदानफलं लभेत् || 25 ||
 
A donor of food is said to be a donor of life and a donor of life is (said to be) a donor of everything. Therefore, one who gives food gets the fruits of donating everything.

Friday 13 April 2012

Donation of food is considered to be the highest

अन्नदानमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः
 
Importance of food donation Chapter 11
 
सनत्कुमार उवाच |
 
Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)
 
सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं परं स्मृतम् |
सद्यः प्रीतिकरं हृद्यं बलबुद्धिविवर्धनम् || 17 ||
 
Of all kinds of donations, donation of food is considered to be the highest. (It is) immediately affection causing, pleasant, increases strength and intelligence.

Thursday 12 April 2012

Lord Brahma also came under the influence of Maya many times

ब्रह्मा च बहुवारं हि मोहितः शिवमायया |
अभवद्भोक्तुकामश्च स्वसुतायां परासु च || 27 ||

And Lord Brahma really many times (came) under the influence of Lord Shiva's illusory power and became desirous of his own daughter (Sandhya) as well as others' (daughters).

Only God himself has managed to scrape by with minimal influence of the illusory power.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Lord Vishnu also came under the influence of Maya several times

शिवमायाप्रभावेणाभूद्धरि काममोहितः |
परस्त्रीधर्षणं चक्रे बहुवारं मुनीश्वर || 17 ||
 
By the might of Lord Shiva's illusory power, Lord Vishnu became confused/infatuated by desire. Great sage, (He) attacked/violated others' women many times.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

The universe is dependent on Maya, the illusory power of God

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः

Description of the might of the illusory power of Lord Shiva – Chapter 4
 
सनत्कुमार उवाच |
 
Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)
 
तन्माया परमा दिव्या सर्वत्र व्यापिनी मुने |
तदधीनं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् || 15 ||
 
Sage, His divine, highest, illusory power (Maya) is all pervading. The whole universe is dependent on (subject to) it, including Devas, demons and humans.

Monday 9 April 2012

Supreme God and Goddess appear before Lord Krishna

सनत्कुमार उवाच |
 
Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)
 
संप्राप्ते षोडशे मासि संतुष्ट परमेश्वरः |
पार्वत्या सहितः शंभुर्ददौ कृष्णाय दर्शनम् || 12 ||
 
Having reached the sixteenth month, satisfied supreme God Shambhu with Goddess Parvati gave darshan to Lord Krishna.

Sunday 8 April 2012

Lord Krishna gets a mantra

कृष्णादिशिवभक्तोद्धारशिवमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः
 
Uplifting of Lord Krishna and other devotees of Lord Shiva in Lord Shiva greatness description Chapter 3
 
उपमन्युरुवाच |
 
Upamanyu said (to Lord Krishna)
 
जपो नमः शिवायेति मन्त्रराजमिमं हरे |
सर्वकामप्रदं दिव्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् || 8 ||
 
Lord Hari, this chant Namah Shivaya is the king of mantras. (It) fulfils all desires, is divine, and is capable of giving enjoyments and liberation.

Saturday 7 April 2012

Uma Samhita starts - Lord Krishna wants advice from Upamanyu

उमासंहितायां कृष्णोपमन्युसंवादे स्वगतिवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः
 
Uma Samhita, own experience in Lord Krishna – Upamanyu discussion Chapter 1
 
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच |
 
Lord Krishna said (to Upamanyu)
 
ब्रुहि शंकरमाहात्म्यं सदानन्दकरं मुने |
यच्छ्रुत्वा भक्तितः कुर्यां तप ऐश्वरमुत्तमम् || 10 ||

Sage, tell (me) the greatness of Lord Shiva which always causes joy, after hearing which, I will practice powerful excellent penance.

Upamanyu then addresses Lord Krishna as Mahashaiva (great Shaivite). Upamanyu says that in the 16
th month, the great God will give you boons.

Friday 6 April 2012

There is nothing other than God

शिवः शिवः शिवश्चैव नान्यदस्तीति किञ्चन |
भ्रान्त्या नानास्वरूपो हि भासते शङ्करः सदा || 15 ||
 
Shiva, Shiva, Shiva and there exists nothing else. Only by illusion does Lord Shiva appear in different forms.

Thursday 5 April 2012

Chapter 43 (Continued)

भक्त्यादिसाधनानीह यः करोति विचक्षणः |
स वै पश्यत्यवश्यं हि तं शिवं नात्र संशयः || 14 ||
 
The wise who does (Yogic) practices like devotion, really invariably sees that Lord Shiva; there is no doubt here.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Important knowledge

ज्ञाननिरुपणं नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

Knowledge description Chapter 43

सूत उवाच |
 
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)
 
इति ज्ञानं सदा ज्ञेयं सर्व शिवमयं जगत् |
शिव सर्वमयो ज्ञेयः सर्वज्ञेन विपश्चिता || 3 ||
 
This knowledge should always be known by the wise who knows everything, that the whole universe consists of Lord Shiva (and) Lord Shiva consists of everything.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Before the creation, only supreme soul called Shiva existed

सगुणनिर्गुणभेदवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
 
Description of the difference between (God) with form and without – Chapter 42
 
सूत उवाच |
 
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)
 
यच्चादौ हि समुत्पन्नं निर्गुणात्परमात्मनः |
तदेव शिवसंज्ञं हि वेदवेदान्तिनो विदुः || 2 ||
 
That only which got produced right in the beginning from the formless supreme soul is really called Shiva (and) Veda scholars know that.
 
Then Prakriti was produced.

Monday 2 April 2012

Knowledge comes via devotion

विज्ञानं न भवत्येव द्विजा भक्तिविरोधिनः |
शम्भुभक्तिकरस्यैव भवेज्ज्ञानोदयो द्रुतम् || 25 ||
तस्माद्भक्तिर्महेशस्य साधनीया मुनीश्वराः |
तयैव निखिलं सिद्धं भविष्यति न संशयः || 26 ||
 
Brahmins (sages), the specific knowledge (of the supreme element) does not come to those who are against devotion. Knowledge dawns quickly only on those who have devotion for Lord Shiva.
Therefore, great sages, devotion of the great God should be aimed for. Only with that does everything succeed (is achieved), no doubt.

Sunday 1 April 2012

Kaivalya is the fifth kind of liberation

कैवल्याख्या पञ्चमी च दुर्लभा सर्वथा नृणाम् | 7

And the fifth (liberation) by the name of Kaivalya is by all means difficult to get for humans.