Shree Guru Gita Commentary

Swami Nirmalananda is using 8 source books, all English translations from the Sanskrit text, to offer her rendering of the verses as well as commentary. The English verses may be chanted using the basic 8-beat melody of Shree Guru Gita, which is similar to the traditional melody for the Bhagavadgita.

The Sanskrit transliteration is in the Velthuis system, which "has been noted as one of the most sophisticated digital typographical systems in the world". Swamiji selected it for its ease and accuracy for chanting as well as its ease in presenting online or in written documents. In addition, it violates no copyrights as the text itself, coming from the Skanda Purana, is ancient and the Velthuis transliteration has not been printed under copyright until now.

 

Verse 1:

Sanskrit:  suuta uvaaca:  kailaasa-“sikhare ramye bhakti-sandhaana-naayakam, pra.namya paarvatii bhaktyaa “sa”nkara.m paryap.rcchata

English:  Suuta describes:  On the peak of Mount Kailasa Parvati saw Lord “Siva bow. “Siva who grants union through love, who does he show devotion to?


Verse 2:

Sanskrit:  “srii devyuvaaca:  om namo deva deve”sa paraatpara jagadguro, sadaa”siva mahaadeva gurudiik.saa.m pradehi me

English:  Parvati bowed and asked her Lord, the One beyond all names and forms, teacher of the whole universe, grant me knowing of the Guru.


Verse 3:

Sanskrit:  kena maarge.na bho svaamin dehii brahmamayo bhavet, tva.m k.rpaa.m kuru me svaamin namaani cara.nau tava.

English:  What path makes an embodied one live in the knowing of their Self? Lord, bestow your grace upon me here I am, bowing at your feet.


Verse 4:

Sanskrit:  ii”svara uvaaca:  mamaruupaasi devi tva.m tvat-priityartha.m vadaamyaham, lokopakaaraka.h pra”sno na kenaapi k.rta.h puraa

English:  Shiva replied to her great love, O my Beloved, You are me. No one has asked this until now your question is a gift to all.


Verse 5:

Sanskrit:  durlabha.m tri.su loke.su tacch.r.nu.sva vadaamyaham, guru.m vinaa brahma naanyat satya.m satya.m varaanane

English:  Listen as I reveal the truth, difficult to find in this world, the Guru is the Absolute, the One, the All. This is the truth.


Verse 6:

Sanskrit:  veda-“sastra-puraa.naani itihaasaa-dikaani ca, mantra-yantraadi-vidyaa”sca sm.rtir-uccaa.tanaadikam

English:  Yogic texts, sacred books and myths, histories, laws and sciences mantra, yantra, magical and mystical tantric treatises.


Verse 7:

Sanskrit:  “saiva-“saaktaa-gamaadiini anyaani vividhaani ca, apabhra.m”sa karaa.niiha jiivaanaa.m bhraanta-cetasaam

English:  All of these, without a Guru, even “Siva and “Sakti texts, merely bring about the downfall of one with a deluded mind.


Verse 8:

Sanskrit:  yaj~no vrata.m tapo daana.m japastiirtha.m tathaiva ca, gurutattvam avij~naaya muu.dhaaste carate janaa.h.

English:  Without knowing of the Guru, they are fools with their rituals, sacred sites, donations, mantras holy vows and austerities.


Verse 9:

Sanskrit:  gurur buddhyaatmano naanyat satya.m satya.m na sa.m”saya.h, tallaabhaartha.m prayatnastu kartavyo hi manii.sibhi.h.

English:  Guru and Self are not distinct; beyond doubt, I repeat this truth. Thus the wise make effort to find their Guru and attain that state.


Verse 10:

Sanskrit:  guu.dha-vidyaa jaganmaayaa dehe caaj~naana-sambhavaa, udayo yatprakaa”sena guru”sabdena kathyate.

English:  Birth is into not-knowingness, spellbound by Maayaa’s worldly dance. Giver of the upwelling light of your own Self is called Guru.


Verse 11:

Sanskrit:  sarva-paapa-vi”suddhaatmaa “sriiguro.h paadasevanaat, dehii brahma bhavedyasmaat tvatk.rpaartha.m vadaami te.

English:  All vices are cleansed from the soul through service to “Srii Guru’s feet, which is how you become the One while embodied, I tell you this.


Verse 12:

Sanskrit:  guru-paadaambuja.m sm.rtvaa jala.m “sirasi dhaarayet, sarva-tiirthaavagaahasya sa.mpraapnoti phala.m nara.h.

English:  Sprinkle water on your head and recall your Guru’s lotus feet to obtain blessings from all the pilgrimages to holy sites.


Verse 13:

Sanskrit:  “so.sa.na.m paapa-pa.nkasya diipana.m j~naana-tejasaam, gurupaadodaka.m samyak sa.msaaraar.nava-taarakam.

English:  The water of your Guru’s feet dries up the muck of your karmas, lights the lamp of inner knowing, rescues you from the worldly snares.


Verse 14:

Sanskrit:  aj~naana-muula-hara.na.m janma-karma-nivaara.nam, j~naana-vairaagya-siddhyartha.m gurupaadodaka.m pibet

English:  To zap the root of not-knowing, put an end to karmic cycles, gain independence and knowing, sip the water from Guru’s feet.