Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary)
by Gyurme Dorje | 1987 | 304,894 words
The English translation of the Guhyagarbha Tantra, including Longchenpa's commentary from the 14th century. The whole work is presented as a critical investigation into the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, of which the Guhyagarbhatantra is it's principle text. It contains twenty-two chapters teaching the essence and practice of Mahayoga, which s...
Text 20.15 (Commentary)
[Guhyagarbha-Tantra, Text section 20.15]
Swiftly actualise without impediment
The oaths which you pledged and upheld
When in the past the Great Glorious Heruka,
Most malignant, fierce and fearful.
Had most amazing power and blessing
Which disciplined you all, without exception.
He overpowered Mahādeva and so forth.
Making you, their retinues, into his Īśvarīs and retainers,
And he assigned you your different rites.
If you do not act as you have pledged.
Like those who have sworn and then transgressed
Their oaths of allegiance.
If you transgress this commitment
May the Wrathful Yakṣa sever your very heads.
Bodies and hearts into seven pieces.
Rather, may you perform the tasks
With which you are charged
By this Yogin who holds the mantras.
If you do not actualise these activities,
Which you yourselves have sworn and pledged,
May you decompose, be burned and then proceed to hell.
May we Yogins who keep the commitments
Entirely accomplish our activities.
And may our retinues be protected as an only son.
May you Piśācīs also obtain accomplishments.
And actualise the rites as you have been charged.
—Such an injunction is to be given. [15][Tibetan]
sngon-tshe dpal-chen he-ru-ka /
shin-tu gdug-cing gtum-bag-can /
thams-cad ma-lus 'dul-mdzad-pa'i /
dbang-dang byin-brlabs rmad-po-che /
lha-chen la-sogs dbang-bsdus-nas /
'khor-rnams dbang-phyug slas-su byas /
so-so'i las-rnams bskos-pa-de /
ji-ltar dam-bcas khas-blangs-pa'i /
ma-thogs myur-du mngon-par phyung /
dam-bcas bzhin-du ma-byas-na /
ji-ltar dam-bcas mna'-bor-ba'i /
sdom-bcas de-las 'da'-bar 'gyur /
dam-tshig de-las 'das-'gyur-na /
mgo-lus-snying yang tshal-pa bdun /
ya-kṣa khro-bos gtubs-par 'gyur /
de-bas rnal-'byor sngags-'chang-gis /
ji-ltar bcol-ba bzhin-du byos /
las-de mngon-du ma-byas-na /
rang-gi mna'-bor khas-blangs-pa'i /
rul-myags 'tshig-nas dmyal-bar 'gro /
rnal-'byor dam-la gnas gyur-pa'i /
las-rnams yongs-su bya-ba-dang /
'khor-rnams bu-gcig bzhin-du skyongs /
phra-men-ma-yang dngos-grub thob /
bcol-ba'i las-rnams mngon-du byos /
—zhes bsgo'o / [15]
Commentary:
[The second aspect concerns the actual Injunctions which are given. (It comments on Ch. 20.15):]
Swiftly actualise (myur-du mngon-par-phyung), instantly and without impediment (ma-thogs), the results of your rites, in accordance with the oaths which you pledged and upheld (ji-ltar dam-bcas khas-blangs-pa'i) previously when (tshe) in the past (sngon) the Great Glorious Heruka (dpal-chen he-ru-ka) grew most malignant, fierce, and fearful (shin-tu gdug-cing gtum bag-can) to tame the proud Īśvarī spirits. He had most amazing power and blessing which disciplined ('dul-mdzad-pa'i dbang-dang byin-rlabs rmad-po-che) you proud spirits of all (thams-cad) world-systems without exception (ma-lus). He overpowered (dbang-bsdus-nas) all spirits, Mahādeva and so forth (lha-chen la-sogs), making (byas) and consecrating you, their retinues ('khor-rnams), wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters without exception Into his Īśvarīs and retainers (dbang-phyug slas-su) for the sake of enjoyment. And then the Great Glorious One assigned you (bkos-pa-de) respectively your different rites (so-so'i las-rnams) such as attraction, emprisoning [imprisoning?], and slaying. If you do not act as you have respectively pledged (dam-bcas bzhin-du ma-byas-na), like those who (ji-ltar) in the past have sworn and then transgressed their commitments and oaths of allegiance (dam-bcas mna' bor-ba'i sdom-bcas de-las 'da'-bar-'gyur), if you transgress this commitment (dam-tshig de-las 'das-'gyur-na) may ('gyur) the Wrathful (khro-bos) Yakṣa (ya-kṣa),[1] blazing forth fire, sever (gtub-par) your very heads, bodies and hearts into seven pieces (mgo-lus-snying yang tshal-pa bdun). Rather (de-bas) therefore, may you perform the tasks with which you are charged (ji-ltar bcol-bzhin-du byos) by (-gis) this Yogin, myself, who holds the mantras (rnal-'byor sngags-' chang). If you do not actualise these activities (las-de mngon-du ma-byas-na), in accordance with the oath which you yourselves have sworn and pledged (rang-gi mna'-bor khas-blangs-pa'i), may you decompose, be burned and then proceed to hell (rul-myags 'tshig-nas dmyal-bar 'gro). May we Yogins who keep the supreme commitments (rnal-'byor dam-la gnas-gyur-pa'i) entirely accomplish (yongs-su bya-ba) our desired activities (las-rnams) and (dane) may the retinues ('khor-rnams) of us Yogins be protected (skyongs) as an only son (bu-gcig bzhin-du). By the power of this, may you Piśācīs also (phra-men-ma yang) obtain (thob) supreme and common accomplishments (dngos-grub), and actualise the rites as you have been charged (bcol-ba'i las-rnams mngon-du byos) by us Yogins.
—Such an injunction is to be given (—zhes bsgo'o).
[The second part concerns the benefits of the dance-steps and gesticulations. It comprises both the recognition of their significance and a detailed exegesis.]
[The former (comments on Ch. 20.16):][2]
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Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The Wrathful Yakṣa (yakṣa khro-bo) is a form of Gu-ru Drag-po, here performing the function of a "messenger or intermediary of the rite" (las-kyi pho-nya). On this term, see Nebesky-Wojkowitz, Oracles and Demons of Tibet. pp. 303-304.