Spanda Karikas: Section IV - Conclusion
स्पन्दकारिकाः - चतुर्थो निःष्यन्दः
The short, final section of the Spanda Karikas - 2 verses, separated out by Kshemaraja from Kallata's longer third section specifically because, unlike the other verses on supernormal powers, these are purely a closing homage. The text ends exactly as a classical Sanskrit treatise should: paying respect to the teacher through whom the knowledge came, and declaring the book's benefit open to any sincere seeker, not just its original author.
Sanskrit
अगाधसंशयाम्भोधिसमुत्तरणतारिणीम् । वन्दे विचित्रार्थपदां चित्रां तां गुरुभारतीम् ॥१॥
Transliteration
agādhasaṃśayāmbhodhisamuttaraṇatāriṇīm / vande vicitrārthapadāṃ citrāṃ tāṃ gurubhāratīm ||1||
Translation
I pay my homage to that wonderful speech of my guru which is like a boat for crossing the fathomless ocean of doubt and is full of words which yield wonderful meaning (in the case of the guru). I offer my reverential prayer to Spanda in the form of para vak, the Supreme divine I-consciousness which is full of wonderful transcendental bliss, and which acts like a boat in crossing the fathomless ocean of doubt regarding my essential nature (in the case of Spanda in the form of paravak).
Deep Meaning
The book's closing double entendre, read two ways at once: as homage to the author's own human guru, whose wonderful teaching serves as a boat across the fathomless ocean of doubt, and simultaneously as homage to Spanda itself in the form of para vak, the Supreme Word and divine I-consciousness, which performs exactly the same crossing regarding one's own essential nature. Kshemaraja notes sakti herself is "the door of entrance into Siva" - so the two readings are not really two different things being praised.
Sanskrit
लब्ध्वाप्यलभ्यमेतज्ज्ञानधनं हृद्गुहान्तकृतनिहितेः । वसुगुप्तवच्छिवाय हि भवति सदा सर्वलोकस्य ॥२॥
Transliteration
labdhvāpyalabhyametajjñānadhanaṃ hṛdguhāntakṛtanihiteḥ / vasuguptavacchivāya hi bhavati sadā sarvalokasya ||2||
Translation
As on the attainment of this treasure of knowledge which is difficult of attainment, and on its being well preserved in the cave of the heart, it has been for the good of Vasugupta, so also on the attainment of this treasure of knowledge difficult of attainment and on its being well preserved in the cave of the heart, it would always be for the good of all.
Deep Meaning
The text's final verse: Vasugupta himself received this difficult-to-attain treasure of knowledge - according to tradition, inscribed on a rock surface, as the essence of Siva's own instruction given to him in a dream - and it brought him good because he preserved it carefully "in the cave of the heart." The same will hold, the verse says, for anyone who attains and guards it the same way, with no restriction on who may receive it. Kshemaraja closes his own commentary immediately after, dedicating it to his teacher's lineage (Abhinavagupta, grand-pupil of Utpaladeva) and praying for the welfare of all.