Shiva Pada Mani Mala

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The following three shlokas are from Shiva Pada Mani Mala stotra.

The text and transliteration both may have errors.

A rough translation in english which is based on a telugu translation

is provided and hence the translation may not be entirely faithful to

the original.

 

shiveti dvau varNau parapada nayaddhaMsa garutau

taTau samsArAbhdernija viShaya bodhAnkura dale.

shruterantargopAyita para rahasyau hR^idi carau

gharaTTagrAvANau bhava viTapi bIjaugha dalane..1..

 

There are two letters shi and va in the name Shiva. These two

letters are the wings of the swan which can carry a sadhaka to

paramapada i.e Maha Kailasa. These two letters are also like the two

opposite banks(shores) of the great ocean of samsara. They are the

first two leaves of the sprout of AtmaJnana(Self-Knowledge). Shi and

va are like the grinding stones which crush the seeds of samsara

which is in the form of births(and rebirths). These two letters are

two secrets concealed in the vedas.

 

[shiva nama leads to kaivalya. Grants bhoga and moksha. It gives

atmajnana and is the essence of vedas.]

 

shiveti dvau varNau janana vijaya stambakalashau

durantAntardhvAnta pramathana shubhAdhAna caturau.

mahAyAtrAdhvanya pramukha janatA kaMcuki varau

marujjhampA yautau kR^ita phala navAmbhoda mathane..2..

 

The two letters shi-va are like two surya-bimbas(suns/solar discs)

which dispel the deep darkness of ignorance. They are like two

ka.nchukas(?) which help sadhakas who traverse the path of moksha.

They are like the strong winds which prevent the raining of clouds

made of papa-punya phala.(The clouds here are the fruit of papa and

punya).Meaning, they thwart the effects of karma like prarabhda etc.

 

[Even though the effects of spiritual merit and sin need to be

experienced by beings, one who recites shiva nama will taste moksha

without having to experience those fruits of papa and punya].Unable

to understand first line of poem here.

 

shiveti dvau varNau bhuvana bhavajAtAnDaghaTanA

paTiShThe cordhvAtha sphuTa paTutare kharparayuge.

shivolingam sarvam tadudaragataMsyAddhi, nigamaH

tathAvAdI satyaM vadati khalu tatkena bhavati..17..

 

shi-va are like the top and bottom covers of brahmanda i.e universe.

Meaning, the universe is held in place(or supported ) by the two

letters shi-va. The universe is protected(covered) at the top and

bottom by these two letters in the same way as a kapala(skull)

protects the parts of brain. All the worlds are said to be contained

within these two letters. Which other letters have this capacity to

hold the universe in such a way? Meaning, only shi-va has that

capacity to do so.

 

shiva padAdadhiko na paro manuH

shiva padAdadhikA na para gatiH.

shiva padAdadhikaM na paraM padaM

shiva padAdadhikam nahi shAsanam..37..

 

There is no greater mantra than the two letters shi-va,no greater

gati(the course of the soul through numerous forms of life ) other

than shiva, no higher abode than shiva and no greater command than

shiva.

 

shivastrAtA shivodAtA shivo mAtA shivaH pitA

shiva evahi me sarvaM shivAdanyaM na vedmyahaM..38..

 

Shiva is the protector, Shiva is the one who can give, Shiva is

mother and father. Author says: Shiva is everything for him and that

he does not know anything which is different from Shiva.

 

As you can see, it is a very crude translation and I left out parts

which are unclear to me. The telugu translation was almost like

sanskrit. Please feel free to correct and refine.

 

Narayana.