Continued from Previous Page

The Guru and Sanaatanadharma go together. The aspirant, saadhaka, seeks the unification with the Divine with the aid and blessings of his Guru, who makes the ascent both possible and easy. The Guru, preceptor, is one, who out of love and compassion for his sishya, disciple, guides and leads him forward to attain moksha, liberation or salvation.

Guru Gita Part - 4

151. Japecchaaktashcha saurascha,
ganaaapatyashca vaishnavaah;
Shaivascha siddhidam devi,
satyam satyam na samshayah.

Let all worshippers of Shakti, of the Sun, of Ganapati, Vaishnavas and Shaivas, recite the Guru Gita. There is not the least doubt that yields fulfillment and success.

152. Atha kaamyajape sthaanam,
kathayaami varaanane;
Saagare vaa saritteere,
athavaa hariharaalaye.

153. Shakti devaalaye goshte,
sarva devaalaye shubhe;
Vate cha dhaatrimoole vaa,
mathe vindaavane tathaa

154. Pavitre nirmale sthaane,
nityaanushthanato’pi vaa;
Nirvedanena maunena,
japemetam samaacharet.

O Beautiful One! Now I shall speak about the spots where those with desires should recite the Guru Gita. It may be recited on the seashore, on a riverbank, inside temples consecrated to Shiva or Vishnu or Shakti, in cowsheds, in all holy temples or ashrams, in the hollow of a banyan or thorn apple tree, or in Vrindavan. In any pure and clean spot, one should repeat it regularly in silence and with a serene and unagitated mind.

155. Smashaane bhayabhoomau tu,
vatamaalaantike tathaa;
Siddhyanti dhauttare moole,
chootavrikhasya sannidhau.

One obtains siddhis by repeating it on a cremation ground, in frightful places, inside the hollow of a banyan or thorn apple tree, or under a mango tree.

156. Guruputro varam moorkhas,
tasya siddyanti naanyathaa;
Shubhakarmaani sarvaani,
deekshaa vrate tapaamsi cha.

All good actions such as initiation, vows and penances, even of a fool who is devout and devoted to a Guru, bear fruit. Only a devotee would be successful.

157. Samsaara mala naashartham,
bhava paasha nivrittaye;
Guru geetambhasi snaanam,
tattvajnah kurute sadaa.

A knower of Truth always bathes in the waters of the Guru Gita to wash away his worldly impurities and become free from earthly temptations and snares.

158. Sa eva cha guru saakshaat,
sadaa sadbrahma vittamah;
Tasya sthaanaani sarvaani,
pavitraani na samsayah.

He who is foremost amongst the knowers of the Absolute is, indeed, the Guru. There is no doubt that wherever he may live, that place becomes holy.

159. Sarva shuddhah pavitro’sau,
svabhaavaadyatra tishati;
Tatra devaganaahù sarve,
kshetre peethe vasanti hi.

Wherever the supremely pure and taintless Guru stays, in natural course that whole region or abode comes to be inhabited by hosts of gods.

160. Aasanasthah shayaano vaa,
gacchamtisthan vadannapi;
Ashvaroodho gajaarooadhah,
shupto vaa jaagrito’pi vaa.

Whether sitting in a posture, lying, moving around or standing, riding a horse or an elephant, asleep or awake, the enlightened person is sanctified by his recitation of the Guru Gita. He would be free from the circle of rebirth and death.

161. Shuchshmaasch sadaa jnaanee,
guru geetaa japena tu;
Tasya darshana maatrena,
punarjanma na vidyate.

One who recites the Guru Gita is holy and wise, and merely by looking at him, you will be saved from from rebirth.

162. Samudre cha yathaa toyam,
ksheere ksheeram ghrite ghritam;
Bhinne kumbhe yathaakaashas,
tathaatmaa paramaatmani.

Just as water merges in the ocean, milk in milk, butter in butter, the space inside a broken pot in the space outside, the individual soul merges in the Universal Being.

163. Tathaiva jnaani jeevaatmaa,
paramaatmani leeyate;
Aikyena ramate jnaanee,
yatra tatra divaanisham.

In the same way, the enlightened person’s individuality is merged in God. He revels in the bliss of the Self, day and night, wherever he is.

164. Evam vidho mahaamuktah,
sarvadaa vartate budhaah;
Tasya sarva prayatnena,
bhava bhaktim karoti yah.

165. Sarva sandeha rahito,
mukto bhavati paarvati;
Bhukti mukti dvayam tasya,
jihvaagre cha sarasvatee.

Thus, a wise being always dwells in supreme freedom, serving God tirelessly and with deep devotion. O Parvati! He becomes emancipated, without a doubt. He enjoys material prosperity as well. Saraswati (the Goddess of Speech) dwells on the very tip of his tongue.

166. Anena praaninah sarve,
guru geetaa japena tu;
Sarva siddhim praapnuvanti,
bhuktim muktim na samshayah.

There is no doubt that all who recite in prayer the Guru Gita will obtain all the siddhis, accomplishments, pleasures, wealth and liberation.

167. Satyam satyam punah satyam,
dharmam saankhyam mayoditam;
Guru geetaasamam naasti,
satyam satya, varaanane.

O Beautiful One, whatever I have said is true religion, true knowledge. It is true, absolutely true that there is nothing like the Guru Gita.

168. Eko deva ekadharma,
eka nishthaaä paramtapah;
Guroh parataram naanyan,
naasti tattvam guroh param.

One God, one religion and one faith are the highest austerity. There is nothing higher than the Guru. There is no tatwa more significant than the Guru.

169. Maataa dhanyaa pita dhanyo,
dhanyo vamshah kulam tathaa;
Dhanyaa cha vasudhaa devi,
gurubhaktih sudurlabhaa.

Fortunate is the mother of the one devoted to the Guru, fortunate is his father. Blessed is his family; blessed, indeed, are his ancestors. Fulfilled is the earth, O Goddess, on which he walks, as devotion to the Guru is so rare.

170. Shareeram indriyam praanas,
chaarthah svajanabaandhavaah;
Maataa pita kulam devi,
gurureva na samshayah.

There is no doubt, O Goddess, that the Guru is the body, the senses, the prana, the most precious wealth, all the near and dear ones. He is the father, the mother, the entire family, in fact.

171. Aakalpa janmanaa kotyaa,
japavrata tapah kriyaah;
Tat sarvam saphalam devi,
guru santosha maatratah.

O Goddess! All merit acquired by the repetitions of mantras, fasts, austerities and other scriptural disciplines practised for aeons, or for millions of births, is obtained just by pleasing the Guru.

172. Vidyaa tapo balenaiva,
manda bhaagyaascha ye narah;
Gurusevaam na kurvanti,
satyam satyam varaanane.

173. Brahmaa vishnu maheshashcha,
devarshee pita kinnaraah,
Siddha chaarana yakshascha,
anye’pi munayo janaah.

O Beautiful One! It is true, undoubtedly true, that those who do not serve the Guru are unfortunate, even with their learning, power gained through austerities and their strength. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, divine seers, ancestors, Kinnaras, Siddhas, Yakshas, Charanas and other sages could attain their respective states only through devotion to the Guru.

174. Guru bhaavah param tirtham,
anyateertham nirarthakam;
Sarva teerthaashrayam devi,
paadaangushtam cha vartate.

Devotion to the Guru is the most sacred abode. All other holy places are of no consequence. O Goddess, all centres of pilgrimage, in fact, lie in the Guru’s feet, nay, just in one of his toes.

175. Japena jayamaapnoti,
cha ananta phalamaapunyaat;
Hinakarma tyajan sarvam,
sthaanaani cha adhamaani ca.

Repetition of the Guru Gita brings infinite rewards including victory. But one who recites it should discard all unworthy actions and detestable places.

176. Japam heenaasanam kurvan,
heenakarma phala pradam;
Guru geetaam prayaane vaa,
sangraame ripusankate.

177. Japan jaya mavaapnoti,
marane muktidaayakam;
Sarva karma cha sarvatra,
guruputrasya siddhyati.

Japa on an improper seat, asana, and trivial actions bear poor fruit. Repeating Guru Gita while undertaking a journey, or facing danger from the enemy on the battlefield would give victory. He attains salvation if he recites it at the time of death. All his effort, wherever he may be, would be successful.

178. Idam rahasyam no vaacyam,
tavaagre kathitam mayaa;
Sugopyam cha prayatnena,
mama tvam cha priyaatviti.

O, the one so near to me! Do not disclose the mystery that I have revealed to you. Make every effort to keep it as a secret.

179. Swaami mukhya ganeshaadi,
vishnvaadeenaam cha paarvati;
Manasaapi na vaktavyam,
satyam satyam vadaamyaham.

Do not even think of imparting it even to Swami Kartikeya, Ganesha, Vishnu or any of my chief attendants. What I told you is the truth, the pure truth.

180. Ateeva pakvachittaaya,
shraddhaa bhakti yutaaya cha;
Pravaktavyamidam devi,
mamaatma’si sadaa priye.

O Beloved, you are my very Self. Reveal it only to one whose mind is ripe and full of reverence and devotion to Me

181. Abhakte vanchake dhoorte,
paakhando naastike nare;
Manasaapi na vaktavyaa,
guru geeta kadaachana.

Do not ever think in your heart of hearts of imparting the Guru Gita to one who is an unbeliever, a cheat, a degraded wretch, a hypocrite or an atheist.

samsaara saagara samuddharanaika mantram
brahmaadi deva muni poojita siddha mantram
daaridrya duhkha bhava roga vinaasha mantram
vande mahaabhayaharau guru raja mantram.

My salutations to the mantra, incantation, which is the only one that is capable of rescuing me from the sea of samsaara, family and the world; the mantra worshipped by Brhama, the deities and great seers; the mantra which is a remedy for all worldly maladies, poverty and grief; and the mantra which is the sovereign of all mantras and the dispeller of all dire and mighty fears.

Iti Sri Sriskaandapuraane
uttarakhande eeshvarapaarvatee samvaade,
gurugeetaa samaaptaah.
Shree gurudeva dattaatreyaarpanamastu.

Thus ends the Guru Gita, which occurs in the dialogue between Shiva and Parvati in the latter portion of the Skanda Purana. This is offered to the Supreme Guru, Lord Dattatreya.