Font

Chapter 8 of 11

The Means of Crossing the Ocean of Worldly Existence

18 verse blocksTagare ed. pp. 367-369

A short chapter on the esoteric origin of the universe through Maya (here called Mulamaya, the Original Maya) sown into Isvara's own womb-like Brahman, the birth of Brahma from the resulting golden Egg, and the six divine 'limbs' (omniscience, satiety, eternal knowledge, independence, inexhaustible power and infinite strength) and seven subtle principles whose realization lets the intelligent person transcend Buddhi and reach the highest Brahman.

Verse 1Isvara said

O leading Brahmanas I shall tell you another esoteric knowledge whereby the creature (the Jiva) can cross the terrible ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 2

This Brahma is quiescent thanks to penance (v.l. I am the same as the Brahman, eternal etc.). He is eternal unchanging and blemishless. He is one without a second and is the absolute supreme Lord.

Verse 3

My womb is the great Brahman (Prakrti). I sow my seed therein and that is named Mulamaya (Original Maya). This universe is born thereof.

Verse 4

All these were born viz. Pradhana, Purusa, Atman, Mahat, Bhutadi (ahamkara) the Tanmatras (subtle elements), the mind, the (gross) elements and the sense organs - all these were born from it viz. (Mulamaya).

Verse 5

Thence a golden Egg having the luster of a crore of suns was born; the great Brahma was born of it. He was invigorated through my Sakti.

Verse 6

Innumerable other Jivas are all identical with him. Deluded by my Maya they do not perceive me their father.

Verse 7

The sages know that (Maya) is the supreme source (Mother) and I alone am the father of the various species in which all those forms (creatures) are born in this world.

Verse 8

He who thus knows me as the sower of the seed, the lordly father, is a hero in all the worlds and he does not get deluded.

Verse 9

I am the lord of all lores, the supreme controller of all creatures, the veritable Pranava (the sacred syllable OM) incarnate, the master endowed with six divine powers, god Brahma, the lord protector of all beings.

Verse 10

He who perceives Paramesvara present equally in all living beings, but as imperishable when they perish, perceives factually.

The translator cites this as corresponding to Bhagavad Gita 13.27.

Verse 11

Inasmuch as he perceives the lord equally present everywhere, does not injure his real self (Atman) by his (lower) self, he therefore attains the greatest goal.

The translator cites this as corresponding to Bhagavad Gita 13.28.

Verse 12

He who, having realized the seven subtle principles and the great God with his six limbs (potencies), knows the role assigned to Pradhana (understands the distinction between the material principles and the self) reaches the highest Brahman.

Verse 13

Omniscience, joy of satiety, eternal knowledge, independence, ever-inexhaustible power and infinite strength - these are the six 'limbs' of the great God for realization.

Verse 14

They (the knowers) call the following as seven subtle principles viz. the five subtle elements, mind and the soul. That which is the cause (of this creation) is the Primordial Matter (Prakrti). It is also called Pradhana, the bondage by moral discipline (a better v.l. viniyoga - application).

Verse 15

There is a Sakti (power) latent in form in the Prakrti. It is mentioned in the Vedas as the cause (of the world) and the source of origin of Brahma. In front of her is her Purusa, Paramesthi, the great God, the very embodiment of the Reality.

Verse 16

He alone is Brahma, the great Yogin, the supreme Atman, the huge one pervading the sky, the ancient one comprehensible only through the Vedas. He alone is the only Rudra, the cause of annihilation, the unmanifest, the sole seed, the universe itself.

Verse 17

Some say he is one: Others say that he is many. Some say that you are the self. Some say that he is another. The great God (Mahadeva) is proclaimed as minuter than an atom and greater than the greatest and omniformed (with the universe as his form).

Verse 18

The intelligent person who realizes that supreme Master, immanent in the cavity of the heart, that ancient Purusa, whose form is the manifested universe and is the highest goal of the wise and the intelligent, transcends the sphere of Buddhi (intelligence).