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 Learning Sanskrit - Pronunciation 4

Aphorisms (Section II of the Śivasūtra-s)


 Introduction

First of all, here you are 10 aphorisms, which form the second Section of the Śivasūtra-s (the primordial scripture in Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir). You will be able to listen to Sanskrit language directly. Try to repeat the aphorism along with me. Besides, you will find a complete translation of the aphorism. So, this relevant document will help you to write and pronounce Sanskrit properly. Additionally, if you wish, you will start learning a celebrated scripture belonging to Trika system. But remember that the meaning of these abstruse aphorisms is not given here. Only their translation is shown. If you are not interested in Trika or even in Indian philosophy, just use the aphorisms to practice Sanskrit.

There is a measure unit called 'mātrā' or "time gap needed to pronounce a short vowel (like 'a')". Short vowels (a, i, u, ṛ, ḷ) last 1 mātrā, while long vowels (ā, ī, ū, ṝ) and diphthongs (e, ai, o, au) last 2 mātrā-s. In turn, Anusvāra ('ṁ') and Visarga ('ḥ') last 1/2 mātrā.

Have three documents at hand (print them if you can): Transliterating (2) (English), Sanskrit Alphabet and Conjuncts. You will need them very often.

To download the sounds, click on the respective icon placed below each of the aphorisms and then select the adequate choice. If you have the Quick Time plugin installed, it is possible that you cannot download the sound directly. To work this problem around, right-click on the icon and select "Save link as..." or something like that (the statements vary according to the different browsers). That is it! Obviously, you can alternately uninstall the Quick Time plugin, but maybe you might need it for some other things. So, it is your choice, not mine.

The sound files are "properly" named, of course, so that you can create, say, three folders (one for every section of this scripture), and quickly find the right sound you need to hear.

Important: All that is in brackets and italicized within the translation has been added by me in order to complete the sense of a particular phrase or sentence. In turn, all that is between double hyphen (--...--) constitutes clarifying further information also added by me.

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 Second Section: Śāktopāya

(the means using the Śakti's viewpoint)

चित्तं मन्त्रः॥१॥
Cittaṁ mantraḥ||1||

The mind (of someone who constantly ponders over the Highest Reality) (cittam) (is) the Mantra (mantraḥ)||1||


प्रयत्नः साधकः॥२॥
Prayatnaḥ sādhakaḥ||2||

(Zealous and spontaneous) effort (prayatnaḥ) (is) effective in fulfillment (sādhakaḥ)||2||


विद्याशरीरसत्ता मन्त्ररहस्यम्॥३॥
Vidyāśarīrasattā mantrarahasyam||3||

The (luminous) Existence or Being (of the Perfect I-consciousness) (sattā), (which consists of multitude of words) whose essence (śarīra) (is) knowledge (of the highest non-dualism) (vidyā), (is) the secret (rahasyam) of the Mantra (mantra)||3||


गर्भे चित्तविकासोऽविशिष्टविद्यास्वप्नः॥४॥
Garbhe cittavikāso'viśiṣṭavidyāsvapnaḥ||4||

Mental (citta) satisfaction (vikāsaḥ) in (limited) mayic powers (garbhe) (is) a (mere) dream (svapnaḥ) (based upon) inferior (aviśiṣṭa) knowledge (vidyā)||4||


विद्यासमुत्थाने स्वाभाविके खेचरी शिवावस्था॥५॥
Vidyāsamutthāne svābhāvike khecarī śivāvasthā||5||

On the spontaneous (svābhāvike) emergence (samutthāne) of the (Highest) Knowledge (vidyā), (occurs) a movement in the unlimited space of Consciousness (khecarī), (which is known as) the state (avasthā) of Śiva (śiva)||5||


गुरुरुपायः॥६॥
Gururupāyaḥ||6||

The Guru (guruḥ) (is) the means (upāyaḥ)||6||


मातृकाचक्रसम्बोधः॥७॥
Mātṛkācakrasambodhaḥ||7||

(From a pleased Guru accrues) enlightenment (sambodhaḥ) regarding the group (cakra) of letters (mātṛkā)||7||


शरीरं हविः॥८॥
Śarīraṁ haviḥ||8||

The body (of a person into whom the aforesaid enlightenment was poured) (śarīram) (becomes) an oblation (haviḥ)||8||


ज्ञानमन्नम्॥९॥
Jñānamannam||9||

The (limited) knowledge (jñānam) (is) the food (annam)||9||


विद्यासंहारे तदुत्थस्वप्नदर्शनम्॥१०॥
Vidyāsaṁhāre tadutthasvapnadarśanam||10||

On the submergence (saṁhāre) of the (Pure) Knowledge (vidyā), there is appearance (darśanam) of mental modifications (like in a dream) (svapna) arising (uttha) because of it (tad), (that is, "arising because of the previous submergence of the Pure Knowledge")||10||

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 Concluding remarks

A second document full of Śaiva aphorisms in Sanskrit. Use it to keep learning Sanskrit language. Listen to the aphorisms over and over again, and then repeat them along with me. This practice will make sure that you are pronouncing Sanskrit in a proper way.

This is the second document of the series dedicated to the Śivasūtra-s. Next document will deal with the Section III known as "Āṇavopāya". Best wishes to you and be happy.

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 Further Information

Gabriel Pradīpaka

This document was conceived by Gabriel Pradīpaka, one of the two founders of this site, and spiritual guru conversant with Sanskrit language and Trika philosophy.

For further information about Sanskrit, Yoga and Indian Philosophy; or if you simply want to comment, ask a question or correct a mistake, feel free to contact us: This is our e-mail address.