"Upamanyu said, 'There was in the Krita age, O sire, a Rishi celebrated

under the name of Tandi. With great devotion of heart he adored, with the

aid of Yoga-meditation, the great God for ten thousand years. Listen to

me as I tell thee fruit or reward he reaped of such extraordinary

devotion. He succeeded in beholding Mahadeva and praised him by uttering

some hymns. Thinking, with the aid of his penances, of Him who is the

supreme Soul and who is immutable and undeteriorating, Tandi became

filled with wonder, and said these words,--I seek the protection of Him

whom the Sankhyas describe and the Yogins think of as the Supreme, the

Foremost, the Purusha, the pervader of all things, and the Master of all

existent objects, of him who, the learned say, is the cause of both the

creation and the destruction of the universe; of him who is superior to

all the celestials, the Asuras, and the Munis, of him who has nothing

higher, who is unborn, who is the Lord of all things, who has neither

beginning nor end, and who is endued with supreme puissance, who is

possessed of the highest felicity, and who is effulgent and

sinless.--After he had said these words, Tandi beheld before him that

ocean of penances, that great Deity who is immutable and undeteriorating,

who is without compare, who is inconceivable, who is eternal, and who is

without any change, who is indivisible, who is whole, who is Brahma, who

transcends all attributes, and who is endued with attributes, who is the

highest delight of Yogins, who is without deterioration, who is called

Emancipation, who is the refuge of the Mind, of Indra, of Agni, of the

god of wind, of the entire universe, and of the Grandsire Brahma; who is

incapable of being conceived by the Mind, who is without mutation of any

kind, who is pure, who is capable of being apprehended by understanding

only and who is immaterial as the Mind; who is difficult of

comprehension, who is incapable of being measured, who is difficult of

being attained by persons of uncleansed souls, who is the origin of the

universe, and who transcends both the universe and the attribute of

darkness; who is ancient, who is Purusha, who is possessed of effulgence,

and who is higher than the highest. The Rishi Tandin, desirous of

beholding Him who making himself endued with life-breaths, resides in

what results from it viz., Jiva, in the form of that effulgence which is

called the Mind, passed many years in the practice of the severest

austerities, and having succeeded in beholding Him as the reward of those

penances, he praised the great God in the following terms.'

"Tandi said, 'Thou art the holiest of holies[77] and the refuge of all, O

foremost of all beings endued with intelligence. Thou art the fiercest

energy of all kinds of energy. Thou art the austerest penance of all

penances. Thou, O puissant one, art the liberal giver of blessings. Thou

art the supreme Truth. Salutations to thee, O thou of a thousand rays,

and, O refuge of all felicity. Thou art the giver of that Nirvana which,

O puissant one, Yatis, standing in fear of birth and death, strive for so

hard. The Grandsire Brahma, he of a hundred sacrifices, (viz., Indra)

Vishnu, the Viswadevas, the great Rishis, are incapable of comprehending

thee and thy real nature. How then can persons like ourselves hope to

comprehend thee? From thee flows everything. Upon thee rests everything.

Thou art called Kala, thou art called Purusha, thou art called Brahma.

Celestial Rishis conversant with the Puranas, say that thou hast three

bodies viz., those pertaining to Kalas, those pertaining to Purusha and

those pertaining to Brahma or the three forms namely Brahma, Vishnu and

Rudra. Thou art Adhi-Purusha, (occupying the physical flame from head to

foot) thou art Adhyatma, thou art Adhibhuta, and Adhi-Daivata, thou art

Adhi-loka, Adhi-Vijnanam and Adhi-Yajna.[78] Men of wisdom, when they

succeed in knowing thee that residest in themselves and that art

incapable of being known by the very gods, become freed from all bonds

and pass into a state of existence that transcends all sorrow.[79] They

that do not wish to know thee, O thou of great puissance, have to undergo

innumerable births and deaths. Thou art the door of heaven and of

Emancipation. Thou art he that projectest all beings into existence and

withdrawest them again into thyself. Thou art the great giver. Thou art

heaven, thou art Emancipation, thou art desire (the seed of action). Thou

art wrath that inspires creatures. Thou art Sattwa, thou art Rajas, thou

art Tamas, thou art the nether regions, and thou art the upper regions.

Thou art the Grandsire Brahma, thou art Bhava, thou art Vishnu, thou art

Skanda, thou art Indra, thou art Savitri, thou art Yama, thou art Varuna,

Soma, thou art Dhatri, thou art Manu, thou art Vidhatri and thou art

Kuvera, the Lord of treasures. Thou art Earth, thou art Wind, thou art

Water, thou art Agni, thou art Space, thou art Speech, thou art the

Understanding, thou art Steadiness, thou art Intelligence, thou art the

acts that creatures do, thou art Truth, thou art Falsehood, thou art

existent and thou art non-existent. Thou art the senses, thou art that

which transcends Prakriti, thou art immutable. Thou art superior to the

universe of existent objects, thou art superior to the universe of

non-existent objects, thou art capable of being conceived, thou art

incapable of being conceived. That which is supreme Brahman, that which

is the highest entity, that which is the end of both the Sankhyas and the

Yogins, is, without doubt, identical with thee. Verily, rewarded have I

been today by thee in consequence of thy granting me a sight of thy form.

I have attained the end which the righteous alone attain to. I have been

rewarded with that end which is solicited by persons whose understandings

have been cleansed by Knowledge. Alas, so long I was steeped in

Ignorance; for this long period I was a senseless fool, since I had no

knowledge of thee that art the Supreme Deity, thee that art the only

eternal Entity as can be only known by all persons endued with wisdom. In

course of innumerable lives have I at last succeeded in acquiring that

Devotion towards thee in consequence of which thou hast shown thyself to

me. O thou that art ever inclined to extend thy grace to those that are

devoted to thee. He that succeeds in knowing thee is enable to enjoy

immortality. Thou art that which is ever a mystery with the gods, the

Asuras, and the ascetics. Brahman is concealed in the cave of the heart.

The very ascetics are unable to behold or know Him.[80] Thou art that

puissant deity who is the doer of everything and whose face is turned

towards every direction. Thou art the Soul of all things, thou seest all

things, thou pervadest all things, and thou knowest all things. Thou

makest a body for thyself, and bearest that body. Thou art an embodied

Being. Thou enjoyest a body, and thou art the refuge of all embodied

creatures. Thou art the creator of the life-breaths, thou possessest the

life-breaths, thou art one that is endued with life-breaths, thou art the

giver of the life-breaths, and thou art the refuge of all beings endued

with life-breaths. Thou art that Adhyatma which is the refuge of all

righteous persons that are devoted to Yoga-meditation and conversant with

the Soul and that are solicitous of avoiding rebirth. Verily, thou art

that Supreme Lord who is identical with that refuge. Thou art the giver

unto all creatures of whatever ends become theirs, fraught with happiness

or misery. Thou art he that ordains all created beings to birth and

death. Thou art the puissant Lord who grants success to Rishis crowned

with success in respect of the fruition of their wishes. Having created

all the worlds beginning with Bhu, together with all the denizens of

heaven, that upholdest and cherishest them all, distributing thyself into

thy well-known forms numbering Eight.[81] From thee flows everything.

Upon thee rests all things. All things, again, disappear in thee. Thou

art the sole object that is Eternal. Thou art that region of Truth which

is sought by the righteous and regarded by them as the highest. Thou art

that cessation of individual existence which Yogins seek. Thou art that

Oneness which is sought by persons conversant with the soul. Brahma and

the Siddhas expounding the mantras have concealed thee in a cave for

preventing the deities and Asuras and human beings from beholding

thee.[82] Although thou residest in the heart, yet thou are concealed.

Hence, stupefied by thee, deities and Asuras and human beings are all

unable to understand thee, O Bhava, truly and in all thy details. Unto

those persons that succeed in attaining to thee after having cleansed

themselves by devotion, thou showest thyself of thy own accord, O thou

that residest in all hearts.[83] By knowing thee one can avoid both death

and rebirth. Thou art the highest object of knowledge. By knowing thee no

higher object remains for one to know. Thou art the greatest object of

acquisition. The person that is truly wise, by acquiring thee, thinks

that there is no higher object to acquire. By attaining to thee that art

exceedingly subtile and that art the highest object of acquisition, the

man of wisdom becomes immortal and immutable. The followers of the

Sankhya system, well conversant with their own philosophy and possessing

a knowledge of the attributes (of Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas) and of those

called the topics of enquiry,--those learned men who transcend the

destructible by attaining to a knowledge of the subtile or

indestructible--succeed, by knowing thee, in freeing themselves from all

bonds. Persons conversant with the Vedas regard thee as the one object of

knowledge, which has been expounded in the Vedantas. These men, devoted

to the regulation of the breaths, always meditate on thee and at last

enter into thee as their highest end. Riding on the car made of Om, those

men enter into Maheswara. Of that which is called the Devayana (the path

of the deities) thou art the door called Aditya. Thou art again, the

door, called Chandramas, of that which is called the Pitriyana (the path

of the Pitris).[84] Thou art Kashtha, thou art the points of the horizon,

thou art the year, and thou art the Yugas. Thine is the sovereignty of

the heavens, thine is the sovereignty of the Earth, thou art the Northern

and the Southern declensions. The Grandsire Brahma in days of yore

uttered thy praises, O thou that art called Nilarohita (blue and red), by

reciting diverse hymns and urged thee to create living creatures.

Brahmanas conversant with Richs praise thee by uttering Richs, regarding

thee as unattached to all things and as divested of all forms. Adhyaryus,

in sacrifices, pour libations, uttering Yajushes the while, in honour of

thee that art the sole object of knowledge, according to the three

well-known ways.[85] Persons of cleansed understandings, that are

conversant with Samans, sing thee with the aid of Samans. Those

regenerate persons, again, that are conversant with the Atharvans, hymn

thee as Rita, as Truth, as the Highest, and as Brahma. Thou art the

highest cause, whence Sacrifice has flowed. Thou art the Lord, and thou

art Supreme. The night and day are thy sense of hearing and sense of

sight. The fortnights and months are thy head and arms. The seasons are

thy energy, penances are thy patience, and the year is thy anus, thighs

and feet. Thou art Mrityu. thou art Yama, thou art Hutasana, thou art

Kala, thou art endued with speed in respect of destruction, thou art the

original cause of Time, and thou art eternal Time. Thou art Chandramas

and Aditya. with all the stars and planets and the atmosphere that fills

space. Thou art the pole-star, thou art constellation called the seven

Rishis, thou art the seven regions beginning with Bhu. Thou art Pradhana

and Mahat, thou art Unmanifest, and thou art this world. Thou art the

universe beginning with Brahman and ending with the lowest forms of

vegetation. Thou art the beginning or original cause of all creatures.

Thou art the eight Prakritis.[86] Thou art, again, above the eight

Prakritis. Everything that exists, represents a portion of thy divine

Self. Thou art that supreme Felicity which is also Eternal. Thou art the

end which is attained to by all things. Thou art that highest existence

which is sought for by the Righteous. Thou art that state which is freed

from every anxiety. Thou art eternal Brahman! Thou art that highest state

which constitutes the meditation of persons learned in the scriptures and

the Vedangas. Thou art the highest Kashtha, thou art the highest Kala.

Thou art the highest Success, and thou art the highest Refuge. Thou art

the highest Tranquillity. Thou art the highest cessation of Existence. By

attaining to thee, Yogins think that they attain to the highest success

that is open to them. Thou art Contentment, thou art Success, thou art

the Sruti, and thou art the Smriti. Thou art that Refuge of the Soul

after which Yogins strive, and thou art that indestructible Prapti which

men of Knowledge pursue. Thou art, without doubt, that End which those

persons have in view that are habituated to sacrifices and that pour

sacrificial libations, impelled by specific desires, and that make large

presents on such occasions. Thou art that high End which is sought for by

persons that waste and scorch their bodies with severe penances with

ceaseless recitations, with those rigid vows and fasts that appertain to

their tranquil lives, and with other means of self-affliction. O Eternal

one, thou art that End which is theirs that are unattached to all things

and that have relinquished all acts. Thou, O Eternal one, art that End

which is theirs that are desirous of achieving Emancipation from rebirth,

that live in dissociation from all enjoyments, and that desire the

annihilation of the Prakriti elements. Thou art that high End, O

illustrious one, which is indescribable, which is stainless, which is the

immutable one, and which is theirs that are devoted to knowledge and

science. These are the live Ends that have been declared in the Vedas and

the Scriptures and the Puranas. It is through thy grace that persons

attain to those Ends, or, if they fail to attain to them, it is through

thy grace being denied to them.--It was thus Tandi, who was a vast heap

of penances, praised Isana. And he sang also that high Brahman which in

ancient days was sung by the Creator himself (in honour of Mahadeva).

"Upamanyu continued, 'Thus praised by that utterer of Brahma, Viz.,

Tandi, Mahadeva that illustrious and puissant Deity, who was accompanied

by his spouse lima, said these words. Tandi had further said,--Neither

Brahma, nor Indra nor Vishnu, nor the Viswedevas, nor the great Rishis,

know thee. Gratified at this, Siva said the following words.'

"The holy one said, 'Thou shalt be indestructible and eternal. Thou shalt

be freed from all sorrow. Great fame shall be thine. Thou shalt be endued

with energy. Spiritual knowledge shall be thine. All the Rishis shall

seek thee, and thy son, through my grace, shall become the author of

Sutras, O foremost of regenerate persons. What wishes of thine shall I

grant today? Tell me, O son, what those objects are which thou

desirest.--At this, Tandi joined his hands and said--O Lord, let my

devotion to thee be steady.'

"Upamanyu continued, 'Having given unto Tandi these boons and having

received the adorations of both the deities and the Rishis, the great

Deity disappeared there and then. When the illustrious deity, O lord of

the Yadavas, thus, disappeared with all his followers, the Rishi came to

my asylum and said unto me all that had happened to him. Do thou hear, O

foremost of men, all those celebrated names (of Mahadeva) that Tandi said

unto me for thy spiritual success. The Grandsire had at one time recited

ten thousand names that apply to Mahadeva. In the scriptures, a thousand

names occur of that illustrious deity. These names are not known to all.

O thou that transcendest destruction, in days of yore, the Grandsire

Brahma uttered these names for adoring the high-souled Deity. Having

acquired them through the grace of the Grandsire, Tandi communicated them

to me!'"[87]

SECTION XVII

"Vasudeva said, 'Concentrating his mind, O Yudhishthira. the regenerate

Rishi Upamanyu, with hands joined together in reverence uttered this

abstract of names (applying to Mahadeva), commencing from the beginning.'

"Upamanyu said, 'I shall adore that great Deity who deserves the

adorations of all creatures, by uttering those names that are celebrated

over all the worlds,--names some of which were uttered by the Grandsire

Brahma, some by the Rishis, and some of which occur in the Vedas and the

Vedangas. Those names have been applied (unto the great Deity) by persons

that are eminent. Those names of him that are, again, true and fraught

with success and are capable of accomplishing all the purposes which the

utterer may have in view, have been applied unto Mahadeva by Tandi after

calling them from the Vedic lore with the aid of his devotion. Indeed,

with those names that have been uttered by many well-known persons of

righteousness and by ascetics conversant with all the spiritual

principles. I shall adore him who is the foremost, who is the first, who

leads to heaven, who is ready to confer benefits upon all creatures, and

who is auspicious. Those names have been heard everywhere in the

universe, having spread from the region of Brahma (where they were

originally invented). All of them are fraught with the element of Truth.

With those names I shall adore him who is Supreme Brahman, who has been

declared (unto the universe) by the Vedas, and who is Eternal. I shall

now tell thee, O chief of Yacht's race those names. Do thou hear them

with rapt attention. Thou art a devoted worshipper of the Supreme Deity.

Do thou worship the illustrious Bhava, distinguishing him above all the

deities. And because thou art devoted to him, I shall therefore, recite

those names in thy hearing. Mahadeva is Eternal Brahman. Persons endued

with Yoga; Yoga's achievements are unable to know in even a hundred

years, the glory and puissance of the great Deity in their entirety.

Verily, the beginning, middle or end of Mahadeva cannot be apprehended by

the very deities. Indeed, when the case is such, who is there O Madhava,

that can recite the attributes of Mahadeva in their entirety? For all

that, I shall through the grace of that illustrious and supreme Deity of

perfect wisdom, extended to me for my devotion to him, recite his

attributes as embodied in an abstract of few words and letters. The

Supreme Lord is incapable of being adored by any one if he does not grant

his permission to the adorer. As regards myself, it is only when I become

fortunate enough to receive his permission that I succeed in adoring him.

I shall indicate only a few names of that great Deity who is without

birth and without destruction, who is the original cause of the universe,

who is endued with the highest Soul, and whose origin is unmanifest.

Hear, O Krishna, a few names, that were uttered by Brahma himself, of

that giver of boons, that adorable deity, that puissant one who has the

universe for his form, and who is possessed of supreme wisdom. These

names that I shall recite are extracted from the ten thousand names that

the great Grandsire had uttered in days of yore, as ghee is extracted

from curds. As gold represents the essence of rocky mountains, as honey

represents the essence of flowers, as Manda represents the extract from

ghee, even so have these names been extracted from and represent the

essence of those ten thousand names that were uttered by Grandsire

Brahma. This abstract of names is capable of cleansing every sin, however

heinous. It possesses the same merit that is attached to the four Vedas.

It should be comprehended with attention by spiritual aspirants and

engraved on the memory. These names fraught with auspiciousness, leading

to advancement, destructive of Rakshasas,[88] and great cleansers should

be imparted to only him that is devoted to the great Lord, to him that

has faith, to him that believes. Unto him that has no faith, him that is

an unbeliever, him that has not subjugated his soul, it should never be

communicated. That creature, O Krishna, who cherishes malice towards the

illustrious Mahadeva who is the original cause of everything, who is the

Supreme Soul, and who is the great Lord, has certainly to go to hell with

all his ancestors before and all his children after him. This abstract of

names that I shall recite to thee is looked upon as Yoga.[89] This is

looked upon as the highest object of meditation. This is that which one

should constantly recite as Japya. This is equivalent to Knowledge. This

is the highest Mystery. If one, even during his last moments, recites it

or hears it recited unto him, one succeeds in attaining to the highest

end. This is holy. This is auspicious, this is fraught with every kind of

benefit. This is the best of all things. Brahma, the Grandsire of all the

universe, having in days of old composed it, assigned to it the foremost

place among all excellent hymns. From that time, this hymn to the

greatness and glory of the high-souled Mahadeva, which is held in the

highest esteem by all the deities, has come to be regarded as the king of

all hymns. This king of all hymns was first conveyed from the region of

Brahman to heaven, the region of the celestials. Tandi then obtained it

from heaven. Hence is it known as the hymn composed by Tandi. From heaven

Tandi brought it down on Earth. It is the most auspicious of all

auspicious things, and is capable of cleansing the heart from all sins

however heinous. O thou of mighty arms, I shall recite to thee that best

of all hymns. This hymn relates to him who is the Veda of the Vedas, and

the most ancient of all ancient objects, to him who is the energy of all

energies, and the penance of all penances; to him who is the most

tranquil of all creatures endued with tranquillity, and who is the

splendour of all splendours; to him who is looked upon as the most

restrained of all creatures that are restrained, and him who is the

intelligence of all creatures endued with intelligence; to him who is

looked upon as the deity of all deities, and the Rishi of all Rishis; to

him who is regarded as the sacrifice of all sacrifices and the most

auspicious of all things fraught with auspiciousness; to him who is the

Rudra of all Rudras and the effulgence of all things endued with

effulgence; to him who is the Yogin of all Yogins, and the cause of all

causes; to him from whom all the worlds start into existence, and unto

whom all the worlds return when they cease to exist; to him who is the

Soul of all existent creatures, and who is called Hara of immeasurable

energy. Hear me recite those thousand and eight names of the great Sarva.

Hearing those names, O foremost of all men, thou shalt be crowned with

fruition in respect of all thy wishes,--Om! thou art Immobile, thou art

Fixed, thou art Puissant, thou art Terrible, thou art Foremost, thou art

boon-giving, and thou art Superior.[90] Thou art the Soul of all

creatures, thou art celebrated over all creatures, thou art all things,

thou art the Creator of all, and thou art Bhava."[91] Thou art the bearer

of matted locks on thy head. Thou wearest animal skins for thy vestments.

Thou wearest a crest of matted hair on thy head like the peacock. Thou

art he who has the whole universe for thy limbs.[92] Thou art the Creator

of all things. Thou art Hara in consequence of thy being the destroyer of

all things. Thou art he that has eyes resembling those of the gazelle.

Thou art the destroyer of all creatures. Thou art the supreme enjoyer of

all things. Thou art that Pravritti whence all actions flow. Thou art

that Nivritti or abstention from acts. Thou art observant of fasts and

vows, thou art Eternal, thou art Unchangeable. Thou art he that residest

in crematoria, thou art the possessor of the six well-known attributes of

Lordship and the rest, thou residest in the heart of every creature, thou

art he that enjoys all things with the senses, thou art the grinder of

all sinful creatures.[93] Thou art he that deserves the salutations of

all, thou art of great feats, thou art he that has penances for his

wealth, thou createst all the elements at thy will, thou concealest thy

real nature by putting on the guise of a lunatic. Thou art the Master of

all the worlds and of all living creatures. Thou art of immeasurable

form, thou art of vast body, thou art of the form of Righteousness, thou

art of great fame, thou art of high Soul, thou art the Soul of all

creatures, thou hast the universe for thy form.[94] Thou art of vast jaws

(for thou swallowest the universe when the time comes for the dissolution

of all things). Thou art the protector of all the lokas (the worlds).

Thou art the soul residing in the inner heart and as such devoid of

ahamkara originating from ignorance[95] and is one and undivided; Thou

art anandam (gladness). Thou art he whose car is borne by mules. Thou art

he that protects Jiva from the thunderbolt of rebirth. Thou art adorable.

Thou art obtained by purity and self-restraint and vows. Thou art again

the refuge of all kinds of vows and observances including purity and

self-restraint.[96] Thou art the celestial artificer that is conversant

with every art. Thou art Self-create (for no one has created thee). Thou

art the beginning of all creatures and things. Thou art Hiranyagarbha,

the Creator of all things. Thou art inexhaustible puissance and

felicity.[97] Thou hast a hundred eyes, thou hast eyes of vast power.

Thou art Soma.[98] Thou art he that causest all righteous creatures

assume shapes of glory for shining in the firmament. Thou art Chandramas,

thou art Surya, thou art the planet Saturn, thou art the descending node

(of the moon), thou art the ascending node, thou art Mangala (Mars), and

thou art Vrihaspati (Jupiter) and Sukra (Venus), thou art Vudha (Mercury)

thou art the worshipper of Atri's wife, thou art he who shot his shaft in

wrath at Sacrifice when Sacrifice fled away from him in the form of a

deer. Thou art sinless.[99] Thou art possessed of penances that have

conferred upon thee the power of creating the universe. Thou art

possessed of penances that have rendered thee capable of destroying the

universe. Thou art high minded (in consequence of thy great liberality

towards thy devotees). Thou fulfillest the wishes of all who resign

themselves to thee. Thou art the maker of the year (for it is thou who

settest the wheel of Time revolving, by assuming the form of the sun and

the planets). Thou art Mantra (in the form of Pranava and other sacred

words and syllables). Thou art the authority for all acts (in the form of

the Vedas and the scriptures). Thou art the highest Penance. Thou art

devoted to Yoga. Thou art he who merges himself in Brahman (by

Yoga-abstraction). Thou art the great seed (being the cause of causes).

Thou art the displayer of what is unmanifest in the manifest form in

which the universe exists. Thou art possessed of infinite might. Thou art

he whose seed is gold.[100] Thou art omniscient, (being as thou art all

things and the great knower). Thou art the cause of all things. Thou art

he that has the seed of action (viz., ignorance and desire) for the means

of sojourning from this world to the other and the other to this.[101]

Thou hast ten arms. Thou hast winkless eyes (for thou seest at all

times). Thou hast a blue throat (in consequence of thy bearing in thy

throat the poison that arose upon churning the ocean and which, if not so

borne, was capable of destroying the universe). Thou art the Lord of Uma.

Thou art the origin of all the infinite forms that occur in the universe.

Thou art he whose superiority is due to thyself. Thou art a hero in might

(in consequence of thy having achieved such grand feats as the quick

destruction of the triple city of the Asuras). Thou art inert matter

(which cannot move unless co-existing with the Soul). Thou art all the

tattwas (subjects of enquiry as counted by the Sankhyas). Thou art the

ordainer and ruler of the tattwas. Thou art the chief of those beings

that wait upon thee and are called Ganas.[102] Thou coverest infinite

space.[103] Thou art Kama, the God of Desire. Thou art conversant with

Mantras (in the sense of knowledge being thy penance).[104] Thou art the

highest Mantra for thou art that philosophy which consists in the

ascertainment of the nature and attributes of the soul (and its

differences from the Non-soul). Thou art the cause of the universe (since

all that exists has sprung from thy Soul). Thou art universal destroyer

(for all that ceases to exist becomes merged unto thee who art as the

unmanifest Brahman). Thou bearest in one of thy hands the calabash, and

in another thou holdest the bow; in another hand thou bearest shafts and

in another thou bearest a skull. Thou bearest the thunder-bolt. Thou art

armed with the hundred-killer.[105] Thou art armed with the sword. Thou

wieldest the battle-axe. Thou art armed with the Sula (trident). Thou art

adorable. Thou host the sacrificial ladle in one of thy hands. Thou art

of beautiful form. Thou art endued with abundant energy. Thou givest in

the most liberal measure all that tends to adorn those that are devoted

to thee. Thou wearest a turban on thy head. Thou art of beautiful face.

Thou art he who swells with splendour and puissance. Thou art he that is

humble and modest. Thou art exceedingly tall. Thou art he who has the

senses for thy rays.[106] Thou art the greatest of preceptors. Thou art

Supreme Brahman (being a state of pure felicitous existence).[107] Thou

art he that took the shape of a jackal (for consoling the Brahmana who,

when insulted by a wealthy Vaisya, had resolved to commit suicide). Thou

art he whose object are all crowned with fruition, of themselves and

without waiting for the puissance (derivable from penances). Thou art one

who bears a bald head (as the sign of the mendicant order). Thou art one

who does good to all creatures. Thou art unborn. Thou hast innumerable

forms. Thou bearest all kinds of fragrance on thy person. The matted

locks on thy head had sucked up the river Ganga when it first fell from

heaven (although they again gave out the waters at the earnest

solicitations of king Bhagiratha). Thou art the giver of sovereignty and

lordship.[108] Thou art a Brahmacharin without having ever fallen away

from the rigid vow of continence. Thou art distinguished for thy sexual

continence. Thou always liest on thy back. Thou hast thy abode in

Puissance.[109] Thou hast three matted locks on thy head. Thou art he

that is clad in rags. Thou art Rudra (in consequence of thy fierceness).

Thou art the celestial generalissimo, and thou art all pervading. Thou

art he that moves about during the day. Thou art he that moves about in

the night.[110] Thou art of fierce wrath. Thou art possessed of dazzling

effulgence (born of Vedic study and penances). Thou art the slayer of the

mighty Asura who had come in the form of an infuriate elephant for

destroying thy sacred city of Varanasi. Thou art the slayer of such

Daityas as become the oppressors of the universe. Thou art Kala or Time

which is the universal destroyer. Thou art the supreme ordainer of the

universe. Thou art a mine of excellent accomplishments. Thou art of the

form of the lion and the tiger. Thou art he that is clad in the skin of

an elephant. Thou art the Yogin who deceives Time by transcending its

irresistible influence. Thou art the original sound.[111] Thou art the

fruition of all desires. Thou art he that is adored in four ways.[112]

Thou art a night-wanderer (like Vetala and others). Thou art he that

wanders in the company of spirits. Thou art he that wanders in the

company of ghostly beings. Thou art the Supreme Lord of even Indra and

the other celestials. Thou art he that hast multiplied himself infinitely

in the form of all existent and non-existent things. Thou art the

upholder of both Mahat and all the innumerable combinations of the five

primal elements. Thou art the primeval Ignorance or Tamas that is known

by the name of Rahu. Thou art without measure and hence infinite. Thou

art the supreme End that is attained by the Emancipate. Thou art fond of

dancing. Thou art he that is always engaged in dancing. Thou art he that

causes others to dance. Thou art the friend of the universe. Thou art he

whose aspect is calm and mild. Thou art endued with penances puissant

enough to create and destroy the universe. Thou art he who binds all

creatures with the bonds of thy illusion. Thou art he that transcends

destruction. Thou art he who dwells on the mount Kailasa. Thou

transcendest all bonds and art unattached in respect of all things, like

Space. Thou art possessed of a thousand arms. Thou art victory. Thou art

that perseverance which is the cause of success or victory. Thou art

without idleness or procrastination that interferes with persevering

activity. Thou art dauntless. Thou art fear, Thou art he who put a stop

to Vali's sacrifice.[113] Thou fulfillest the desires of all thy

devotees. Thou art the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice. Thou art amiable.

Thou art slightly amiable. Thou art exceedingly fierce and robbest all

creatures of their energy. Thou art the slayer of the Asura Vala. Thou

art always cheerful. Thou art of the form of wealth which is coveted by

all. Thou hast never been vanquished.[114] There is none more adorable

than thou. Thou art he who utters deep roars (in the form of Ocean). Thou

art that which is so deep that no one can measure it (because thou art of

the form of space). Thou art he whose puissance and the might of whose

companions and of the bull have never been measured by anybody. Thou art

the tree of the world (whose roots extend upwards and branches hang

downwards). Thou art the banian.[115] Thou art he that sleeps on a human

leaf when the universe, after dissolution, becomes one infinite expanse

of water. Thou art he that shows compassion to all worshippers assuming

as thou listest, the form of Hari or Hara or Ganesa or Arka or Agni or

Wind, etc. Thou art possessed of teeth that are exceedingly sharp (since

thou art competent to chew innumerable worlds even as one munches nuts

and swallows them speedily). Thou art of vast dimensions in respect of

thy forms. Thou art possessed of a mouth that is hast enough to swallow

the universe at once. Thou art he whose troops are adored

everywhere.[116] Thou art he who dispelled all the fears of the deities

when the prince of elephants had to be captured. Thou art the seed of the

universe. Thou art he who has for his vehicle the same bull that forms

again the device on his banner in battle. Thou hast Agni for thy soul.

Thou art Surya who has green steeds yoked unto his car. Thou art the

friend of Jiva. Thou art he that is conversant with the proper time for

the accomplishment of all religious acts. Thou art he unto whom Vishnu

paid his adorations (for obtaining his celebrated discus). Thou art the

sacrifice being in the form of Vishnu. Thou art the ocean. Thou art the

Barabanala Mare's head that ranges within the ocean, ceaselessly

vomitting fire and drinking the saline waters as if they were sacrificial

butter. Thou art Wind, the friend of Agni. Thou art of tranquil soul like

the ocean when at rest and unstirred by the mildest breeze. Thou art Agni

that drinks the libations of clarified butter poured in sacrifices with

the aid of Mantras. Thou art he whom it is difficult to approach. Thou

art he whose effulgence spreads over the infinite universe. Thou art ever

skilful in battle. Thou art well conversant with the time when one should

engage in battle so that victory may be achieved. Thou art that science

which treats of the motions of heavenly bodies.[117] Thou art of the form

of success or victory. Thou art he whose body is Time (for thy body is

never subject to destruction). Thou art a householder for thou wearest a

tuft of hair on thy head Thou art a Sanyasin for thy head is bald. Thou

wearest matted locks on thy head (being, as thou art, a

Vanaprastha).[118] Thou art distinguished for thy fiery rays (for the

effulgent path by which the righteous proceed is identical with thee).

Thou art he that appears in the firmament in the heart encased in the

body of every creature.[119] Thou art he who enters into the cranium

(brain) of every creature. Thou bearest the wrinkles of age. Thou bearest

the bamboo flute. Thou hast also the tabour. Thou bearest the musical

instrument called Tali. Thou hast the wooden vessel used for husking

grain. Thou art he who covers that illusion which covers Yama.[120] Thou

art an astrologer inasmuch as thy understanding is always directed

towards the motion of the wheel of time which is made up of the

luminaries in the firmament. Thou art Jiva whose understanding is

directed to things that are the result of the attributes of Sattwa,

Rajas, and Tamas. Thou art that in which all things merge when

dissolution overtakes them. Thou art stable and fixed, there being

nothing in thee that is subject to change or mutation of any kind. Thou

art the Lord of all creatures. Thy arms extend all over the vast

universe. Thou art displayed in innumerable forms that are but fractions

of thyself. Thou pervadest all things.[121] Thou art he that has no mouth

(for thou enjoyest not the objects of thy own creation). Thou art he who

frees thy creatures from the bonds of the world. Thou art easily

attainable.[122] Thou art he that manifested himself with a golden

mail.[123] Thou art he that appears in the phallic emblem. 'Thou art he

that wanders in the forests in quest of fowls and animals. Thou art he

that wanders over the Earth. Thou art, he that is omnipresent. Thou art

the blare that is produced by all the trumpets blown in the three worlds.

Thou art he that has all creatures for his relatives.[124] Thou art of

the form of a snake (for thou art identical with the mighty Naga named

Sesha). Thou art he that lives in mountain caves (like Jaigishavya), or

any other Yogin. Thou art identical with Guha (the celestial

generalissimo). Thou wearest garlands of flowers. Thou art he who enjoys

the happiness that springs from the possession of worldly objects.[125]

Thou art he from whom all creatures have derived their three states of

birth, existence, and destruction. Thou art he that upholds all things

that exist or occur in the three stages of time viz., the Past, the

Present, and the Future. Thou art he that frees creatures from the

effects of all acts belonging to previous lives as well as those

accomplished in the present life and from all the bonds due to Ignorance

and Desire. Thou art he who is the binder or Asura chiefs. Thou art he

who is the slayer of foes in battle.[126] Thou art that which is

attainable by knowledge alone. Thou art Durvasas. Thou art he who is

waited upon and adored by all the righteous. Thou art he who causes the

fall of even Brahma and the others. Thou art he that gives unto all

creatures the just share of joy and grief that each deserves according to

his own acts. Thou art he that is incomparable. Thou art well conversant

with the shares that are given and appropriated in sacrifices.[127] Thou

residest in every place. Thou wanderest everywhere. Thou art he that has

mean vestments.[128] Thou art Vasava. Thou art immortal. Thou art

identical with the Himavat mountains. Thou art the maker of pure gold.

Thou art without acts. Thou upholdest in thyself the fruits of all acts.

Thou art the foremost of all creatures that are regarded as

upholders.[129] Thou art he that has bloody eyes. Thou art he that has

eyes whose vision extends over the infinite universe. Thou art he that

has a car whose wheels are ever victorious. Thou art he that is possessed

of vast learning. Thou art he that accepts thy devotees for thy servants.

Thou art he that restrains and subjugates thy senses. Thou art he that

acts. Thou wearest clothes whose warp and woof are made of snakes. Thou

art Supreme. Thou art he who is the lowest of the celestials.[130] Thou

art he that is well-grown. Thou ownest the musical instrument called

Kahala. Thou art the giver of every wish. Thou art the embodiment of

grace in all the three stages of Time, viz., the Past, the Present, and

the Future. Thou art possessed of might that is always well spent. Thou

art he who had assumed the form of Valarama (the elder brother of

Krishna). Thou art the foremost of all colleted things, being

Emancipation or the highest of all ends to which creatures attain. Thou

art the giver of all things. Thy face is turned towards all directions,

Thou art he from whom diverse creatures have sprung even as all forms

have sprung from space or are modifications or that primal element. Thou

art he who falls into the pit called body.[131] Thou art he that is

helpless (for, falling into the pit constituted by the body, thou canst

not transcend the sorrow that is thy portion). Thou residest in the

firmament of the heart. Thou art exceedingly fierce in form. Thou art the

Deity called Ansu. Thou art the companion of Ansu and art called Aditya.

Thou art possessed of innumerable rays. Thou art endued with dazzling

effulgence. Thou hast the speed of the Wind.[132] Thou art possessed of

speed that is greater than that of the Wind. Thou art possessed of the

speed of the mind. Thou art Nishachara as thou enjoyest all things, being

invested with Ignorance.[133] Thou dwellest in every body. Thou dwellest

with Prosperity as thy companion. Thou art he that imparts knowledge and

instruction. Thou art he who imparts instruction in utter silence. Thou

art he that observes the vow of taciturnity (for thou instructest in

silence). Thou art he who passes out of the body, looking at the

soul.[134] Thou art he that is well adored. Thou art the giver of

thousands (since the lord of all the treasures derived those treasures of

his from thee). Thou art the prince of birds, (being Garuda the son of

Vinata and Kasyapa). Thou art the friend that renders aid. Thou art

possessed of exceeding effulgence (for thy splendour is like that of a

million suns risen together). Thou art the Master of all created beings.

Thou art he who provokes the appetites. Thou art the deity of Desire.

Thou art of the form of lovely women that are coveted by all. Thou art

the tree of the world. Thou art the Lord of Treasures. Thou art the giver

of fame. Thou art the Deity that distributes unto all creatures the

fruits (in the form of joys and griefs) of their acts. Thou art thyself

those fruits which thou distributest. Thou art the most ancient (having

existed from a time when there was no other existent thing). Thou art

competent to cover with a single footstep of thine all the three worlds.

Thou art Vamana (the dwarf) who deceived the Asura chief Vali (and

depriving him of his sovereignty restored it unto Indra). Thou art the

Yogin crowned with success (like Sanatkumara and others). Thou art a

great Rishi (like Vasishtha and others). Thou art one whose objects are

always crowned with success (like Rishava or Dattatreya). Thou art a

Sanyasin (like Yajnavalkya and others). Thou art he that is adorned with

the marks of the mendicant order. Thou art he that is without such

marks.[135] Thou art he that transcends the usages of the mendicant

order. Thou art he that assures all creatures from every sort of fear.

Thou art without any passions thyself (so that glory and humiliation are

alike to thee). Thou art he that is called the celestial generalissimo.

Thou art that Visakha who took his rise from the body of the celestial

generalissimo when Indra hurled his thunder-bolt at him. Thou art

conversant with the sixty tattwas or heads of enquiry in the universe.

Thou art the Lord of the senses (for these achieve their respective

functions guided by thee). Thou art he that is armed with the

thunder-bolt (and that rives the mountains). Thou art infinite. Thou art

the stupefier of Daitya ranks in the field of battle. Thou art he that

moves his car in circles among his own ranks and that makes similar

circles among the ranks of his foes and who conies back safe and sound

after devastating then. Thou art he that is conversant with the lowest

depth of the world's ocean (in consequence of thy knowledge of Brahman).

Thou art he called Madhu (who has founded the race in which Krishna has

taken his birth). Thou hast eyes whose colour resembles that of honey.

Thou art he that has taken birth after Vrihaspati.[136] Thou art he that

does the acts which Adhyaryus have to do in sacrifices. Thou art he who

is always adored by persons whatever their modes of life. Thou art

devoted to Brahman. Thou wanderest amongst the habitations of men in the

world (in consequence of thy being a mendicant). Thou art he that

pervadest all beings. Thou art he that is conversant with truth. Thou

knowest and guidest every heart. Thou art he that overspreads the whole

universe. Thou art he that collects or stores the good and bad acts of

all creatures in order to award them the fruits thereof Thou art he that

lives during even the night that follows the universal dissolution. Thou

art the protector wielding the bow called Pinaka. Thou residest in even

the Daityas that are the marks at which shootest thy arrows. Thou art the

author of prosperity. Thou art the mighty ape Hanuman that aided Vishnu

in the incarnation of Rama in his expedition against Ravana. Thou art the

lord of those Ganas that are thy associates, Thou art each member of

those diverse Ganas. Thou art he that gladdens all creatures. Thou art

the enhancer of the joys of all.[137] Thou takest away the sovereignty

and prosperity of even such high beings as Indra and others. Thou art the

universal slayer in the form of Death. Thou art he that resides in the

four and sixty Kalas. Thou art very great. Thou art the Grandsire (being

the sire of the great sire of all). Thou art the supreme phallic emblem

that is adored by both deities and Asuras. Thou art of agreeable and

beautiful features. Thou art he who presides over the variety of

evidences and tendencies for action and non-action. Thou art the lord of

vision. Thou art the Lord of Yoga (in consequence of thy withdrawing all

the senses into the heart and combining them together in that place).

Thou art he that upholds the Krita and the other ages (by causing them to

run ceaselessly). Thou art the Lord of seeds (in consequence of thy being

the giver of the fruits of all acts good and bad). Thou art the original

cause of such seeds. Thou actest in the ways that have been pointed out

in the scriptures beginning with those that treat of the Soul. Thou art

he in whom reside might and the other attributes. Thou art the

Mahabharata and other histories of the kind. Thou art the treatises

called Mimansa. Thou art Gautama (the founder of the science of

dialectics). Thou art the author of the great treatise on Grammar that

has been named after the Moon. Thou art he who chastises his foes. Thou

art he whom none can chastise. Thou art he who is sincere in respect of

all his religious acts and observances. Thou art he that becomes obedient

to those that are devoted to thee. Thou art he that is capable of

reducing others to subjection. Thou art he who foments quarrels among the

deities and the Asuras. Thou art he who has created the four and ten

worlds (beginning with Bhu). Thou art the protector and cherisher of all

Beings commencing from Brahma and ending with the lowest forms of

vegetable life (like grass and straw). Thou art the Creator of even the

five original elements. Thou art he that never enjoys anything (for thou

art always unattached). Thou art free from deterioration. Thou art the

highest form of felicity. Thou art a deity proud of his might. Thou art

Sakra. Thou art the chastisement that is spoken of in treatises on

morality and is inflicted on offenders. Thou art of the form of that

tyranny which prevails over the world. Thou art of pure Soul. Thou art

stainless (being above faults of every kind). Thou art worthy of

adoration. Thou art the world that appears and disappears ceaselessly.

Thou art he whose grace is of the largest measure. Thou art he that has

good dreams. Thou art a mirror in which the universe is reflected. Thou

art he that has subjugated all internal and external foes. Thou art the

maker of the Vedas. Thou art the maker of those declarations that are

contained in the Tantras and the Puranas and that are embodied in

language that is human.[138] Thou art possessed of great learning. Thou

art the grinder of foes in battle. Thou art he that resides in the awful

clouds that appear at the time of the universal dissolution. Thou art

most terrible (in consequence of the dissolution of the universe that

thou bringest about). Thou art he who succeeds in bringing all persons

and all things into thy subjection. Thou art the great Destroyer. Thou

art he that has fire for his energy. Thou art he whose energy is mightier

than fire. Thou art the Yuga-fire that consumes all things. Thou art he

that is capable of being gratified by means of sacrificial libations.

Thou art water and other liquids that are poured in sacrifices with the

aid of Mantras. Thou art in the form of the Deity of Righteousness, the

distributor of the fruits that attach to acts good and bad. Thou art the

giver of felicity. Thou art always endued with effulgence. Thou art of

the form of fire. Thou art of the complexion of the emerald. Thou art

always present in the phallic emblem. Thou art the source of blessedness.

Thou art incapable of being baffled by anything in the prosecution of

your objects. Thou art the giver of blessings. Thou art of the form of

blessedness. Thou art he unto whom is given a share of sacrificial

offerings. Thou art he who distributes unto each his share of that is

offered in sacrifices. Thou art endued with great speed. Thou art he that

is dissociated from all things. Thou art he that is possessed of the

mightiest limb. Thou art he that is employed in the act of generation.

Thou art of a dark complexion, (being of the form of Vishnu). Thou art of

a white complexion (being of the form of Samva, the son of Krishna). Thou

art the senses of all embodied creatures. Thou art possessed of vast

feet. Thou hast vast hands. Thou art of vast body. Thou art endued with

wide extending fame. Thou hast a vast head.[139] Thou art of vast

measurements. Thou art of vast vision. Thou art the home of the darkness

of ignorance. Thou art the Destroyer of the Destroyer. Thou art possessed

of vast years. Thou hast vast lips. Thou art he that has vast cheeks.

Thou hast a vast nose. Thou art of a vast throat. Thou hast a vast neck.

Thou art he that tears the bond of body.[140] Thou hast a vast chest.

Thou hast a vast bosom. Thou art the inner soul which resides in all

creatures. Thou hast a deer on thy lap. Thou art he from whom innumerable

worlds hang down like fruits hanging down from a tree. Thou art he who

stretches his lips at the time of the universal dissolution for

swallowing the universe. Thou art the ocean of milk. Thou hast vast

teeth. Thou hast vast jaws. Thou hast a vast bristle.[141] Thou hast hair

of infinite length. Thou hast a vast stomach. Thou hast matted locks of

vast length. Thou art ever cheerful. Thou art of the form of grace. Thou

art of the form of belief. Thou art he that has mountains for his bow (or

weapons in battle). Thou art he that is full of affection to all

creatures like a parent towards his offspring. Thou art he that has no

affection. Thou art unvanquished. Thou art exceedingly devoted to (Yoga)

contemplation.[142] Thou art of the form of the tree of the world.[143]

Thou art he that is indicated by the tree of the world.[144] Thou art

never satiated when eating (because of thy being of the form of fire, for

of all elements, fire is never satiated with the quantity offered it for

consumption). Thou art he that has the Wind for thy vehicle for going

from place to place (in consequence of thy identity with fire). Thou art

he that rangest over hills and little eminences. Thou art he that has his

residence on the mountains of Meru. Thou art the chief of the celestials.

Thou hast the Atharvans for thy head. Thou hast the Samans for thy mouth.

Thou hast the thousand Richs for thy immeasurable eyes. Thou hast the

Yajushes for thy feet and hands.[145] Thou art the Upanishads. Thou art

the entire body of rituals (occurring in the scriptures). Thou art all

that is mobile. Thou art he whose solicitations are never unfulfilled.

Thou art he who is always inclined to grace. Thou art he that is of

beautiful form. Thou art of the form of the good that one does to

another. Thou art that which is dear. Thou art he that always advances

towards thy devotees (in proportion as these advance for meeting thee).

Thou art gold and other precious metals that are held dear by all. Thy

effulgence is like that of burnished gold. Thou art the navel (of the

universe). Thou art he that makes the fruits of sacrifices grow (for the

benefit of those that perform sacrifices to thy glory). Thou art of the

form of that faith and devotion which the righteous have in respect of

sacrifices. Thou art the artificer of the universe. Thou art all that is

immobile (in the form of mountains and other inert objects). Thou art the

two and ten stages of life through which a person passes.[146] Thou art

he that causes fright (by assuming the intermediate states between the

ten enumerated). Thou art the beginning of all things. Thou art he that

unites Jiva with Supreme Brahman through Yoga. Thou art identifiable with

that Yoga which causes such a union between Jiva and Supreme Brahman.

Thou art unmanifest (being the deepest stupefaction). Thou art the

presiding deity of the fourth age (in consequence of thy identity with

lust and wrath and cupidity and other evil passions that flow from that

deity).[147] Thou art eternal Time (because of thy being of the form of

that ceaseless succession of birth and death that goes on in the

universe). Thou art of the form of the Tortoise.[148] Thou art worshipped

by the Destroyer himself. Thou livest in the midst of associates. Thou

admittest thy devotees as members of thy Gana. Thou hast Brahma himself

for the driver of thy car. Thou sleepest on ashes.[149] Thou protectest

the universe with ashes.[150] Thou art he whose body is made of

ashes.[151] Thou art the tree that grants the fruition of all wishes.

Thou art of the form of those that constitute thy Gana. Thou art the

protector of the four and ten regions. Thou transcendent all the regions.

Thou art full, (there being no deficiency). Thou art adored by all

creatures. Thou art white (being pure and stainless). Thou art he that

has his body, speech and mind perfectly stainless. Thou art he who has

attained to that purity of existence which is called Emancipation. Thou

art he who is incapable of being stained by impurity of any kind. Thou

art he who has been attained to by the great preceptors of old. Thou

residest in the form of Righteousness or duly in the four modes of life.

Thou art that Righteousness which is of the form of rites and sacrifices.

Thou art of the form of that skill which is possessed by the celestial

artificer of the universe. Thou art he who is adored as the primeval form

of the universe. Thou art of vast arms. Thy lips are of a coppery hue.

Thou art of the form of the vast waters that are contained in the Ocean.

Thou art exceedingly stable and fixed (being of the form of mountains and

hills). Thou art Kapila. Thou art brown. Thou art all the hues whose

mixture produces white. Thou art the period of life. Thou art ancient.

Thou art recent. Thou art a Gandharva. Thou art the mother of the

celestials in the form of Aditi (or the mother of all things, in the form

of Earth). Thou art Garuda, the prince of birds, born of Vinata by

Kasyapa, otherwise called Tarkshya. Thou art capable of being

comprehended with ease. Thou art of excellent and agreeable speech. Thou

art he that is armed with the battle-axe. Thou art he that is desirous of

victory. Thou art he that assists others in the accomplishment of their

designs.[152] Thou art an excellent friend.[153] Thou art he that bears a

Vina made of two hollow gourds. Thou art of terrible wrath (which thou

displayest at the time of the universal dissolution). Thou ownest for thy

offspring, beings higher than men and deities (viz., Brahma and Vishnu).

Thou art of the form of that Vishnu who floats on the waters after the

universal dissolution. Thou devourest all things with great ferocity.

Thou art he that procreates offspring. Thou art family and race,

continuing from generation to generation. Thou art the blare that a

bamboo flute gives out. Thou art faultless. Thou art he every limb of

whose body is beautiful. Thou art full of illusion. Thou dost good to

others without expecting any return. Thou art Wind. Thou art Fire. Thou

art the bonds of the worlds which bind Jiva. Thou art the creator of

those bonds. Thou art the tearer of such bonds. Thou art he that dwells

with even the Daityas (who are the foes of all sacrifices). Thou dwellest

with those that are the foes of all acts (and that have abandoned all

acts). Thou art of large teeth, and thou art of mighty weapons. Thou art

he that has been greatly censured. Thou art he that stupefied the Rishis

dwelling in the Daruka forest. Thou art he that did good unto even thy

detractors, viz., those Rishis residing in the Daruka forest. Thou art he

who dispels all fears and who dispelling all the fears of those Rishis

gave them Emancipation. Thou art he that has no wealth (in consequence of

his inability to procure even his necessary wearing apparel). Thou art

the lord of the celestials. Thou art the greatest of the gods (in

consequence of thy being adored by even Indra and others that are

regarded as the highest of the celestials). Thou art an object of

adoration with even Vishnu. Thou art the slayer of those that are the

foes of the deities. Thou art he that resides (in the form of the snake

Sesha) in the nethermost region.[154] Thou art invisible but capable of

being comprehended, even as the wind which though invisible is perceived

by every body. Thou art he whose knowledge extends to the roots of

everything and unto whom all things, even in their inner nature, are

known. Thou art the object that is enjoyed by him that enjoys it. Thou

art he among the eleven Rudras who is called Ajaikapat. Thou art the

sovereign of the entire universe. Thou art of the form of all Jivas in

the universe (in consequence of thy being covered by the three well-known

attributes of Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas). Thou art he that is not subject

to those three attributes. Thou art he that transcends all attributes and

is a state of pure existence which is incapable of being described with

the aid of any adjective that language can yield. Thou art the prince of

physicians called Dhanwantari. Thou art a comet (in consequence of the

calamities that flow from thee unto the sinful). Thou art the celestial

generalissimo called Skanda. Thou art the king of the Yakshas, called

Kuvera, who is thy inseparable associate and who is the Lord of all

treasures in the world. Thou art Dhatri. Thou art Sakra. Thou art Vishnu.

Thou art Mitra. Thou art Tashtri (the celestial artificer). Thou art the

Pole Star. Thou art he that upholds all things. Thou art he called

Prabhava amongst the Vasus. Thou art the wind which is capable of going

everywhere (being the Sutra-atma that connects all things in the universe

with a thread). Thou art Aryaman. Thou art Savitri. Thou art Ravi. Thou

art that ancient king of great celebrity known by the name of Ushangu.

Thou art he who protects all creatures in diverse ways. Thou art

Mandhatri (because of thy competence to gratify all creatures). Thou art

he from whom all creatures start into life. Thou art he who exists in

diverse form. Thou art he who causes the diverse hues to exist in the

universe. Thou art he who upholds all desires and all attributes (because

of these flowing from thee). Thou art he who has the lotus on thy

navel.[155] Thou art he within whose womb are innumerable mighty

creatures. Thou art of face as beautiful as the moon. Thou art wind. Thou

art fire. Thou art possessed of exceeding might. Thou art endued with

tranquillity of soul. Thou art old. Thou art he that is known with the

aid of Righteousness.[156] Thou art Lakshmi. Thou art the maker of the

field of those actions (by which persons adore the supreme Deity). Thou

art he who lives in the field of action. Thou art the soul of the field

of action. Thou art the medicine or provoker of the attributes of

sovereignty and the others.[157] All things lie in thee (for, as the

Srutis declare, all things becomes one in thee, thyself being of the

nature of that unconsciousness which exhibits itself in dreamless

slumber). Thou art the lord of all creatures endued with life-breaths.

Thou art the god of the gods. Thou art he who is attached to felicity.

Thou art Sat (in the form of cause). Thou art Asat (in the form of

effect). Thou art he who possesses the best of all things. Thou art he

who resides on the mountains of Kailasa. Thou art he who repairs to the

mountains of Himavat. Thou washest away all things besides thee like a

mighty current washing away trees and other objects standing on its

banks. Thou art the maker of Pushkara and other large lakes and pieces of

natural water. Thou art possessed of knowledge of infinite kinds. Thou

art the giver of infinite blessings. Thou art a merchant (who conveys the

goods of this country to that country and brings the goods of that

country to this for the convenience of human beings). Thou art a

carpenter. Thou art the tree (of the world that supplies the timber for

thy axe). Thou art the tree called Vakula (Mimusops Elengi, Linn.) Thou

art the sandal-wood tree (Santalum album, Linn.). Thou art the tree

called Chcchada (Alstonia Scholaris, syn Echitis, Scholaris, Roxb.). Thou

art he whose neck is very strong. Thou art he whose shoulder joint is

vast. Thou art not restless (but endued with steadiness in all thy acts

and in respect of all thy faculties). Thou art the principal herbs and

plants with their produce (in the form of rice and wheat and the other

varieties of grain). Thou art he that grants success upon others in

respect of the objects upon which they bestow their heart. Thou art all

the correct conclusions in respect of both the Vedas and Grammar.[158]

Thou art he who utters leonine roars. Thou art endued with leonine fangs.

Thou ridest on the back of a lion for performing thy journeys. Thou

ownest a car that is drawn by a lion. Thou art he called the truth of

truth.[159] Thou art he whose dish or plate is constituted by the

Destroyer of the universe.[160] Thou art always engaged in seeking the

good of the worlds. Thou art he who rescues all creatures from distress

(and leads them to the felicity of Emancipation). Thou art the bird

called Saranga. Thou art a new (Young) swan. Thou art he who is displayed

in beauty in consequence of the crest thou bearest on thy head (like the

cock or the peacock). Thou art he who protects the place where assemblies

of the wise sit for dispensing justice. Thou art the abode of all

creatures. Thou art the cherisher of all creatures. Thou art Day and

Night (which are the constituent elements of Eternity). Thou art he that

is without fault and therefore, never censured. Thou art the upholder of

all creatures. Thou art the refuge of all creatures. Thou art without

birth. Thou art existent. Thou art ever fruitful. Thou art endued with

Dharana and Dhyana and Samadhi. Thou art the steed Uchchaisravas. Thou

art the giver of food. Thou art he who upholds the life-breaths of living

creatures. Thou art endued with patience. Thou art possessed of

intelligence. Thou art endued with exertion and cleverness. Thou art

honoured by all. Thou art the giver of the fruits of Righteousness and

sin. Thou art the cherisher of the senses (for the senses succeed in

performing their respective functions in consequence of thee that

presidest over them). Thou art the lord of all the luminaries. Thou art

all collections of objects. Thou art he whose vestments are made of

cowhides. Thou art he who dispels the grief of his devotees. Thou hast a

golden arm. Thou art he who protects the bodies of Yogins who seek to

enter their own selves. Thou art he who has reduced to nothingness all

his foes.[161] Thou art he the measure of whose gladness is very great.

Thou art he who achieved victory over the deity of desire that is

irresistible. Thou art he who has subjugated his senses. Thou art the

note called Gandhara in the musical octave. Thou art he who has an

excellent and beautiful home (in consequence of its being placed upon the

delightful mountains of Kailasa). Thou art he who is ever attached to

penances. Thou art of the form of cheerfulness and contentment. Thou art

he called vast or infinite.[162] Thou art he in whose honour the foremost

of hymns has been composed. Thou art he whose dancing is characterised by

vast strides and large leaps. Thou art he who is adored with reverence by

the diverse tribes of Apsaras. Thou art he who owns a vast standard

(bearing the device of the bull). Thou art the mountains of Meru. Thou

art he who roves among all the summits of that great mountain. Thou art

so mobile that it is very difficult to seize thee. Thou art capable of

being explained by preceptors to disciples, although thou art incapable

of being described in words. Thou art of the form of that instruction

which preceptors impart to disciples. Thou art he that can perceive all

agreeable scents simultaneously or at the same instant of time. Thou art

of the form of the porched gates of cities and palaces. Thou art of the

form of the moats and ditches that surround fortified towns and give the

victory to the besieged garrison. Thou art the Wind. Thou art of the form

of fortified cities and towns encompassed by walls and moats. Thou art

the prince of all winged creatures, (being, as thou art, of the form of

Garuda). Thou art he who multiplies the creation by union with the

opposite sexes. Thou art the first of all in respect of virtues and

knowledge. Thou art superior to even him who is the first of all in

virtues and knowledge. Thou transcendest all the virtue and knowledge.

Thou art eternal and immutable as also dependent on thyself. Thou art the

master and protector of the deities and Asuras. Thou art the master and

protector of all creatures. Thou art he who wears a coat of mail. Thou

art he whose arms are competent to grind all foes. Thou art an object of

adoration with even him who is called Suparvan in heaven.[163] Thou art

he who grants the power of bearing or upholding all things.[164] Thou art

thyself capable of bearing all things. Thou art fixed and steady (without

being at all unstable). Thou art white or pure (being, as thou art,

without any stain or blot). Thou bearest the trident that is competent to

destroy (all things).[165] Thou art the grantor of bodies or physical

forms unto those that constantly revolve in the universe of birth and

death. Thou art more valuable than wealth. Thou art the conduct or way of

the righteous (in the form of goodness and courtesy). Thou art he who had

torn the head of Brahma after due deliberation (and not impelled by mere

wrath). Thou art he who is marked with all those auspicious marks that

are spoken of in the sciences of palmistry and phrenology and other

branches of knowledge treating of the physical frame as the indicator of

mental peculiarities. Thou art that wooden bar which is called the Aksha

of a car and, therefore, art thou he who is attached to the car

represented by the body. Thou art attached to all things (in consequence

of thy pervading all things as their soul). Thou art endued with very

great might, being as thou art a hero of heroes. Thou art the Veda. Thou

art the Smritis, the Itihasas, the Puranas, and other scriptures. Thou

art the illustrious deity of every sacred shrine. Thou art he who has the

Earth for his car. Thou art the inert elements that enter into the

composition of every creature. Thou art he who imparts life into every

combination of those inert element. Thou art the Pranava and other sacred

Mantras that instil life into dead matter. Thou art he that casts

tranquil glances. Thou art exceedingly harsh (in consequence of thy being

the destroyer of all things). Thou art he in whom are innumerable

precious attributes and possessions. Thou hast a body that is red. Thou

art he who has all the vast oceans as so many ponds filled for thy

drinking.[166] Thou art the root of the tree of the world. Thou art

exceedingly beautiful and shinest with surpassing grandeur. Thou art of

the form of ambrosia or nectar. Thou art both cause and effect. Thou art

an ocean of penances (being as thou art a great Yogin). Thou art he that

desirous of ascending to the highest state of existence. Thou art he that

has already attained to that state. Thou art he who is distinguished for

the purity of his conduct and acts and observances. Thou art he who

possessed of great fame (in consequence of the Righteousness of his

behaviour). Thou art the ornament of armies (being as thou art of the

form of prowess and courage), Thou art he who is adorned with celestial

ornaments. Thou art Yoga. Thou art he from whom flow eternal time

measured by Yugas and Kalpas. Thou art he who conveys all creatures from

place.[167] Thou art of the form of Righteousness and sin and their

intermixture (such as are displayed in the successive Yugas). Thou art

great and formless. Thou art he who slew the mighty Asura that had

approached against the sacred city of Varanasi in the form of an

infuriate elephant of vast proportions. Thou art of the form of death.

Thou givest to all creatures such fruition of their wishes as accords

with their merits. Thou art approachable. Thou art conversant with all

things that are beyond the ken of the senses. Thou art conversant with

the Tattwas (and therefore, thoroughly fixed). Thou art he who

incessantly shines in beauty. Thou wearest garlands that stretch down

from thy neck to the feet. Thou art that Hara who has the Moon for his

beautiful eye. Thou art the salt ocean of vast expanse. Thou art the

first three Yugas (viz., Krita, Treta, and Dwapara). Thou art he whose

appearance is always fraught with advantage to others. Thou art he who

has three eyes (in the form of the scriptures, the preceptor, and

meditation). Thou art he whose forms are exceedingly subtile (being as

thou art the subtile forms of the primal elements). Thou art he whose

ears are bored for wearing jewelled Kundalas. Thou art the bearer of

matted locks. Thou art the point (in the alphabet) which indicates the

nasal sound. Thou art the two dots i.e., Visarga (in the Sanskrit

alphabet which indicate the sound of the aspirated H). Thou art possessed

of an excellent face. Thou art the shaft that is shot by the warrior for

encompassing the destruction of his foe. Thou art all the weapons that

are used by warriors. Thou art endued with patience capable of bearing

all things. Thou art he whose knowledge has arisen from the cessation of

all physical and mental functions.[168] Thou art he who has become

displayed as Truth in consequence of the cessation of all other

faculties. Thou art that note which, arising from the region called

Gandhara, is exceedingly sweet to the ear. Thou art he who is armed with

the mighty bow (called Pinaka). Thou art he who is the understanding and

the desires that exist in all creatures, besides being the supreme

upholder of all beings. Thou art he from whom all acts flow. Thou art

that wind which rises at the time of the universal dissolution and which

is capable of churning the entire universe even as the staff in the hands

of the dairy-maid churns the milk in the milkpot. Thou art he that is

full. Thou art he that sees all things. Thou art the sound that arises

from slapping one palm against another. Thou art he the palm of whose

hand serves as the dish or plate whence to take his food. Thou art he who

is possessed of an adamantine body. Thou art exceedingly great. Thou art

of the form of an umbrella. Thou art he who has an excellent umbrella.

Thou art well-known to be identical with all creatures. Thou art he who

having put forth three feet covered all the universe with two and wanted

space for the remaining one. Thou art he whose head is bald. Thou art he

whose form is exceedingly ugly and fierce. Thou art he who has undergone

infinite modifications and become all things in the universe. Thou art he

who bears the well-known badge of Sanyasa, viz., the stick. Thou art he

who has a Kunda. Thou art he who is incapable of being attained to by

means of acts. Thou art he who is identical with the green-eyed king of

beasts (viz., the lion). Thou art of the form of all the points of the

compass. Thou art he who is armed with the thunder. Thou art he who has a

hundred tongues. Thou art he who has a thousand feet and thousand

heads.[169] Thou art the lord and chief of the celestials. Thou art he

that is made up of all the gods. Thou art the great Master or preceptor.

Thou art he who has a thousand arms. Thou art he who is competent to

obtain the fruition of every wish. Thou art he whose protection is sought

by every one. Thou art he who is the creator of all the worlds. Thou art

he who is the great cleanser of all from every kind of sin, in the form

of shrines and sacred waters. Thou art he who has three high

Mantras.[170] Thou art the youngest son of Aditi and Kasyapa, (being in

the form of the dwarf who is otherwise known by the name of Upendra and

who beguiled the Asura Vali of his lordship of the three worlds and

restored it to the chief of the celestials). Thou art both black and

tawny (being of the form which is known as Hari-Hara). Thou art the maker

of the Brahmana's rod.[171] Thou art armed with the hundred-killer, the

noose, and the dart. Thou art he that took his birth within the primeval

lotus.

Thou art he who is endued with a vast womb. Thou art he who has the Vedas

in his womb. Thou art he who takes his rise from that infinite waste of

waters which succeeds the dissolution of the universe. Thou art he who is

endued with rays of effulgent light. Thou art the creator of the Vedas.

Thou art he who studies the Vedas. Thou art he who is conversant with the

meaning of the Vedas. Thou art devoted to Brahman. Thou art the refuge of

all persons devoted to Brahman. Thou art of infinite forms. Thou art the

bearer of innumerable bodies. Thou art endued with irresistible

prowess.[172] Thou art the soul or nature that transcends the three

universal attributes (of Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas). Thou art the lord of

all Jivas. Thou art endued with the speed of the wind. Thou art possessed

of the fleetness of the mind. Thou art always smeared with sandal-paste.

Thou art the end of the stalk of the primeval lotus.[173] Thou art he who

brought the celestial cow Surabhi down from a superior station to an

inferior one by denouncing a curse upon her.[174] Thou art that Brahma

who was unable to see thy end. Thou art adorned with a large wreath of

Karnikara flowers. Thou art adorned with a diadem of blue gems. Thou art

the wielder of the bow called Pinaka. Thou art the master of that

knowledge which treats of Brahman.[175] Thou art he who has subjugated

his senses by the aid of thy knowledge of Brahman. Thou art he who

bearest Ganga on thy head.[176] Thou art the husband of Uma, the daughter

of Himavat. Thou art mighty (in consequence of thy having assumed the

form of the vast Boar for raising the submerged Earth). Thou art he who

protects the universe by assuming diverse incarnations. Thou art worthy

of adoration. Thou art that primeval Being with the equine head who

recited the Vedas with a thundering voice. Thou art he whose grace is

very great. Thou art the great subjugator. Thou art he who has slain all

his foes (in the form of passions). Thou art both white and tawny (being

as thou art half male and half female).[177] Thou art possessed of a body

whose complexion is like that of gold.[178] Thou art he that is of the

form of pure joy, (being, as thou art, above the five sheathes which the

Jiva consists of, viz., the Anna-maya, the Prana-maya, the Mano-maya, the

Vijnana-maya, and the Ananda-maya ones). Thou art of a restrained soul.

Thou art the foundation upon which rests that Ignorance which is called

Pradhana and which, consisting of the three attributes of Sattwa, Rajas,

and Tamas is the cause whence the universe has sprung. Thou art he whose

faces are turned to every direction.[179] Thou art he who has three eyes

(in the forms of the Sun, the Moon, and Fire). Thou art he who is

superior to all creatures (in consequence of thy righteousness whose

measure is the greatest). Thou art the soul of all mobile beings. Thou

art of the form of the subtile soul (which is incapable of being

perceived). Thou art the giver of immortality in the form of Emancipation

as the fruit of all acts of righteousness achieved by creatures without

the desire of fruits.[180] Thou art the preceptor of even those that are

the gods of the gods. Thou art Vasu, the son of Aditi. Thou art he who is

endued with innumerable rays of light, who brings forth the universe, and

who is of the form of that Soma which is drunk in sacrifices. Thou art

Vyasa, the author of the Puranas and other sacred histories. Thou art the

creations of Vyasa's brain (because of thy being identical with the

Puranas and other sacred histories) both abridged and unabridged. Thou

art the sum total of Jivas. Thou art the Season. Thou art the Year. Thou

art the Month. Thou art the Fortnight. Thou art those sacred Days that

end or conclude these periods. Thou art the Kalas. Thou art the Kashthas.

Thou art the Lavas. Thou art the Matras. Thou art the Muhurtas and Days

and Nights. Thou art the Kshanas.[181] Thou art the soil upon which the

tree of the universe stands. Thou art the seed of all creatures [being of

the form of that Unmanifest Chaitanya (consciousness) endued with Maya or

illusion whence all creatures spring]. Thou art Mahattatwa. Thou art the

sprout of Jiva, (being of the form of Consciousness which springs up

after Mahattatwa). Thou art Sat or Effect. Thou art Asat or Cause. Thou

art Manifest (being seizable by the senses). Thou art the Father. Thou

art the Mother. Thou art the Grandfather. Thou art the door to Heaven

(because of thy identity with Penances). Thou art the door of the

generation of all creatures (because of thy identity with desire). Thou

art the door of Emancipation (because of thy identity with the absence of

Desire which alone can lead to the merging into Brahman). Thou art those

acts of righteousness which lead to the felicity of heaven. Thou art

Nirvana (or that cessation of individual or separate existence which is

Emancipation). Thou art the gladdener (who gives all kinds of joy to

every creature). Thou art that region of Truth (to which they that are

foremost in righteousness attain). Thou art superior to even that region

of Truth which is attainable by the righteous. Thou art he who is the

creator of both the deities and the Asuras. Thou art he who is the refuge

of both the deities and the Asuras. Thou art the preceptor of both the

deities and the Asuras (being as thou art of the form of both Vrihaspati

and Sukra). Thou art he who is ever victorious. Thou art he who is ever

worshipped by the deities and the Asuras. Thou art he who guides the

deities and the Asuras even as the Mahamatra guides the elephant. Thou

art the refuge of all the deities and the Asuras. Thou art he who is the

chief of both the deities and the Asuras (being as thou art of the form

of both India and Virochana). Thou art he who is the leader in battle of

both the deities and the Asuras (being as thou art of the form of

Karttikeya and Kesi, the leaders of the celestial and the Daitya armies).

Thou art he who transcends the senses and shines by himself. Thou art of

the form of the celestial Rishis like Narada and others. Thou art the

grantor of boons unto the deities and Asuras (in the form of Brahman and

Rudra). Thou art he who rules the hearts of the deities and the Asuras.

Thou art he into whom the universe enters (when it is dissolved). Thus

art the refuge of even him who is the ruler of the hearts of both the

deities and the Asuras. Thou art he whose body is made up of all the

deities.[182] Thou art he who has no Being superior to thee of whom to

think. Thou art he who is the inner soul of the deities. Thou art he who

has sprung from his own self. Thou art of the form of immobile things.

Thou art he who covers the three worlds with three steps of his. Thou art

possessed of great learning. Thou art stainless. Thou art he who is freed

from the quality of Rajas. Thou art he who transcends destruction. Thou

art he in whose honour hymns should be sung. Thou art the master of the

irresistible elephant represented by Time. Thou art of the form of that

lord of Tigers who is worshipped in the country of the Kalingas.[183]

Thou art he who is called the lion among the deities (in consequence of

the pre-eminence of thy prowess). Thou art he who is the foremost of men.

Thou art endued with great wisdom. Thou art he who first takes a share of

the offerings in sacrifice. Thou art imperceptible. Thou art the

sum-total of all the deities. Thou art he in whom penances predominate.

Thou art always in excellent Yoga. Thou art auspicious. Thou art armed

with the thunder-bolt. Thou art the source whence the weapons called

Prasas have taken their origin. Thou art he whom thy devotees attain to

in diverse ways. Thou art Guha (the celestial generalissimo). Thou art

the supreme limit of felicity.[184] Thou art identical with thy creation.

Thou art he who rescues thy creatures from death (by granting them

Emancipation). Thou art the cleanser of all including Brahma himself.

Thou art of the form of bulls and other horned animals. Thou art he who

is fond of mountain summits. Thou art the planet Saturn. Thou art Kuvera,

the chief of the Yakshas. Thou art complete faultlessness. Thou art he

who inspires gladness. Thou art all the celestials united together. Thou

art the cessation of all things. Thou art all the duties that appertain

to all the modes of life. Thou art he who has an eye on his forehead.

Thou art he who sports with the universe as his marble ball. Thou art of

the form of deer. Thou art endued with the energy that is of the form of

knowledge and penance. Thou art the lord of all immobile things (in the

form of Himavat and Meru). Thou art he who has subjugated his senses by

various regulations and vows. Thou art he whose objects have all been

fulfilled. Thou art identical with Emancipation. Thou art different from

him whom we worship. Thou hast truth for thy penances. Thou art of a pure

heart. Thou art he who presides over all vows and fasts (in consequence

of thy being the giver of their fruits). Thou art the highest (being of

the form of Turiya). Thou art Brahman. Thou art the highest refuge of the

devotees. Thou art he who transcends all bonds (being Emancipate). Thou

art freed from the linga body. Thou art endued with every kind of

prosperity. Thou art he who enhances the prosperity of thy devotees. Thou

art that which is incessantly undergoing changes.'

"I have thus, 'O Krishna, hymned the praises of the illustrious Deity by

reciting his names in the order of their importance. Who is there that

can hymn the praises of the lord of the universe, that great Lord of all

who deserves our adorations and worship and reverence, whom the very gods

with Brahma at their head are unable to praise and whom the Rishis also

fail to sing? Aided, however, by my devotion to him, and having received

his permission, I have praised that Lord of sacrifices, that Deity of

supreme puissance, that foremost of all creatures endued with

intelligence. By praising with these names that enhance one's

auspiciousness of the great lord of blessedness, a worshipper of devoted

soul and pure heart succeeds in attaining to his own self. These names

constitute a hymn that furnishes the best means of attaining to Brahman.

With the aid of this hymn one is sure to succeed in attaining to

Emancipation. Rishis and the deities all praise the highest deity by

uttering this hymn. Hymned by persons of restrained soul Mahadeva becomes

gratified with those that hymn his praises so. The illustrious deity is

always full of compassion towards his devotees. Endued with omnipotence,

he it is that gives Emancipation to those that worship him. So also, they

among men that are foremost, that are possessed of faith and devotion

hear and recite for others and utter with reverence the praises of that

highest and eternal Lord viz. Isana, in all their successive lives and

adore him in thought, word, and deed, and adoring him thus at all times,

viz. when they are lying or seated or walking or awake or opening the

eyelids or shutting them, and thinking of him repeatedly, become objects

of reverence with all their fellowmen and derive great gratification and

exceeding joy. When a creature becomes cleansed of all his sins in course

of millions of births in diverse orders of being, it is then that

devotion springs up in his heart for Mahadeva. It is through good luck

alone that undivided devotion to Bhava who is the original cause (of the

universe) fully springs up in the heart of one that is conversant with

every mode of worshipping that great Deity.[185] Such stainless and pure

devotion to Rudra, that has singleness of purpose and that is simply

irresistible in its course, is seldom to be found among even the deities,

and never among men. It is through the grace of Rudra that such devotion

arises in the hearts of human beings. In consequence of such devotion,

men, identifying themselves wholly with Mahadeva, succeed in attaining to

the highest success. The illustrious Deity who is always inclined to

extend his grace towards them that seek him with humility, and throw

themselves with their whole soul upon him rescues them from the world.

Except the great Deity who frees creatures from rebirth, all other gods

constantly nullify the penances of men, for men have no other source of

puissance that is as great as these.[186] It was even thus Tandi of

tranquil soul, resembling Indra himself in splendour, praised the

illustrious Lord of all existent and non-existent things,--that great

Deity clad in animal skins. Indeed, Brahma had sung this hymn in the

presence of Sankara. Thou art a Brahmana (being conversant with Brahman

and devoted to those that are conversant with Brahman). Thou shalt,

therefore, comprehend it well. This is cleansing, and washes away all

sins. This confers Yoga and Emancipation and heaven and contentment. He

who recites this hymn with undivided devotion to Sankara succeeds in

attaining to that high end which is theirs that are devoted to the

doctrines of the Sankhya philosophy. That worshipper who recites this

hymn daily for one year with singleness of devotion succeeds in obtaining

the end that he desires. This hymn is a great mystery. It formerly

resided in the breast of Brahma the Creator. Brahma imparted it unto

Sakra. Sakra imparted unto Mrityu. Mrityu imparted it unto the Rudras.

From the Rudras Tandi got it. Indeed Tandi acquired it in the region of

Brahman as the reward of his severe austerities. Tandi communicated it to

Sukra, and Sukra of Bhrigu's race communicated it to Gautama. Gautama in

his turn, O descendant of Madhu, communicated it to Vaivaswata-Manu. Manu

communicated it unto Narayana of great intelligence, numbered among the

Sadhyas and held exceedingly dear by him. The illustrious Narayana,

numbered among the Sadhyas and possessed of glory that knows no

diminution, communicated it to Yama. Vaivaswat Yama communicated it to

Nachiketa. Nachiketa, O thou of Vrishni's race, communicated to

Markandeya. From Markandeya, O Janarddana, I obtained it as the reward of

my vows and fasts. To thee, O slayer of foes, I communicate that hymn

unheard by others. This hymn leads to heaven. It dispels disease and

bestows long life. This is worthy of the highest praise, and is

consistent with the Vedas.'

"Krishna continued, 'That person, O Partha, who recites this hymn with a

pure heart observing the vow of Brahmacharyya, and with his senses under

control, regularly for one whole year, succeeds in obtaining the fruits

of a horse-sacrifice. Danavas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Pisachas and

Yatudhanas and Guhyakas and snakes can do no injury to him.'"