Shata-shlokI of Shankara - 25,26 of 101

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Namaste

25.

prAg-AsId-bhAva-rUpaM tama iti tamasA gUDham-asmAd-atarkyaM

 

kshhirAntar-yadvad-ambho janir-iha jagato nAma-rUpAtmakasya

/

kAmAd-dhAtuH sisRkshhoH anugata-jagataH

karmabhis-sampravRttAt

reto-rUpair-manobhiH prathamam-anugataiH santataiH

kAryamANaiH //

 

prAk : In the beginning

tamaH AsIt : there was darkness

bhAva-rupaM : as an entity.

iti tamasA gUDhaM : Thus veiled by darkness

asmAt atarkyaM : nothing could be inferred,

yadvat kshhIrAntaH ambhaH : like the water in milk.

iha jagataH janiH : The birth of this universe

nAma-rUpAtmakasya : consisting of name and form

kAmAt : (was) by the will

dhAtuH : of the Creator

sisRkshhoH : desiring to create –

sampravRttAt : (this itself) being induced

karmabhiH : by the actions

anugata-jagataH : of a continuing universe

santataiH kAryamANaiH : ever caused or inspired by

manobhiH : minds

prathamam anugataiH : (that are) also continuous

retorUpaiH : in a germinal form.

 

Note 1: The original printed text that I have with me has

the word “tantataiH” instead of “santataiH” in the fourth

line. I think it must be a print mistake. If some one can

find a relevant meaning for “tantataiH kAryamANaiH” I would

appreciate it.

Note 2: In shlokas 23, 24 and 25 The Acharya rolls back in

his own mind the lines of Nasadiya sukta from the Rg Veda

and paraphrases them. The following lines are relevant to

this shloka #25: (RV: X.129. 2,3,4)

aániid avaatáM svadháyaa tád ékaM tásmaad dhaanyán ná

paráH kíM canaása

That One Thing, breathless, breathed by its own nature:

apart from it was nothing whatsoever.

táma aasiit támasaa guuLhám ágre .apraketáM saliláM sárvam

aa idám tuchyénaabhv ápihitaM yád aásiit tápasas tán

mahinaájaayataíkam

Darkness there was: at first concealed in darkness. All

this was indiscriminated chaos.

All that existed then was void and formless: by the great

power of Warmth was born that Unit.

kaámas tád ágre sám avartataádhi mánaso rétaH prathamáM yád

aásiit

Thereafter rose Desire in the beginning, Desire, the primal

seed and germ of Spirit.

Note 3: Also recall from Taittiriya Upanishad: 2-6:

“so’kAmayata, bahusyAM prajAyeyeti” – He desired, Let me

become many.

 

26.catvAro’syAH kapardA yuvatir-atha bhaven-nUtanA

nityam-eshhA

mAyA vA peshalA syAd-aghaTita-ghaTanA-pATavaM yAti tasmAt /

syAd-Arambhe ghRtAsyA

shruti-bhava-yuvanAny-evam-AcchAdayantI

tasyAm-etau suparNA-viva para-purushhau

tishhTato’rtha-pratItyA //

 

eshA mAyA : This mAyA --

asyAH kapardAH : Her topmost characteristics

catvAraH : are four.

nityaM nUtanA : (She is) ever fresh

atha yuvatiH bhavet : and is therefore always young;

peshalA syAt vA : Further (she is) skilful

yasmAt : because,

yAti : (she) possesses

aghaTita-ghaTanA-pATavaM :

(impossible-accomplishment-expertise) expertise in

accomplishing the impossible;

Arambhe ghRtAsyA syAt : in the beginning (she is)

ghee-mouthed – meaning, she tempts you at first but later

causes ruin;

evaM : accordingly

AcchAdayantI : She veils

Shruti-bhava-yuvanAni : knowledge emanating from the Vedas.

tasyAM tishhTataH : In Her dwell,

etau suparNau iva : like two birds,

para-purushhau : the supreme Self and the individual soul,

artha-pratItyA : making the universe meaningful.

 

praNAms to all students of Adi Shankaracharya

profvk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

=====

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

My website on Science and Spirituality is http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

You can access my book on Gems from the Ocean of Hindu Thought Vision and

Practice, and my father R. Visvanatha Sastri's manuscripts from the site.

Also see my webpages on Live Happily, the Gita Way at

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/contentsbeach11.html

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk> wrote:

 

santataiH

> kAryamANaiH //

>

> santataiH kAryamANaiH : ever caused or inspired by

>

> Note 1: The original printed text that I have with me has

> the word "tantataiH" instead of "santataiH" in the fourth

> line. I think it must be a print mistake. If some one can

> find a relevant meaning for "tantataiH kAryamANaiH" I would

> appreciate it.

 

Namaste,

 

The online copy and the printed Complete Works have

'santataiH'.

 

http://www.sankara.iitk.ac.in/createpdf.htm

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder