Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres)

by Arthur Avalon | 1919 | 46,735 words | ISBN-10: 8178223783 | ISBN-13: 9788178223780

This is the English translation of the Shat-cakra-nirupana, or “description of the six centres”, representing an ancient book on yoga written in the 16th century by Purnananda from Bengal. This book investigates the six bodily centres famously known as Chakras. The text however actually forms the sixth chapter of the Shri-tattva-cintamani, compiled...

Verse 54

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Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 54:

ज्ञात्वैतत्क्रममुत्तमं यतमना योगी यमाद्यैर्-युतः
श्रीदीक्षागुरुपादपद्मयुग्लामोदप्रवाहोदयात् ।
संसारे न हि जन्यते न हि कदा संक्षीयते संक्षये
नित्यानन्दपरंपराप्रमुदितः शान्तः सतामग्रणीः ॥ ५४ ॥

jñātvaitatkramamuttamaṃ yatamanā yogī yamādyair-yutaḥ
śrīdīkṣāgurupādapadmayuglāmodapravāhodayāt |
saṃsāre na hi janyate na hi kadā saṃkṣīyate saṃkṣaye
nityānandaparaṃparāpramuditaḥ śāntaḥ satāmagraṇīḥ || 54 ||

The Yogī who has after practice of Yama, Niyama, and the like,^[1] learnt this excellent method from the two Lotus Feet of the auspicious Dīkṣā-guru,^[2] which are the source of uninterrupted joy, and whose mind (Manas) is controlled, is never born again in this world (Saṃsāra). For him there is no dissolution even at the time of Final Dissolution.^[3] Gladdened by constant realization of that which is the source of Eternal Bliss,^[4] he becomes full of peace and foremost among all Yogīs.^[5]

Commentary by Śrī-Kālīcaraṇa:

He here speaks of the good to be gained by knowing the method of Yoga practice.

“From the lotus feet of his auspicious Dīkṣā-guru, which are the source of uninterrupted joy” (Śri-dīkṣā-guru-pāda-padma-yugalā-moda-pravāhodayāt).—Amoda means joy or bliss; and by Pravāha is meant uninterrupted and continuous connection. Āmoda pravāha therefore means Nityānanda, or “Eternal Bliss”. Bliss such as this comes from the Lotus feet of the Guru, which also lead to knowledge of Yoga practice.

The Dīkṣā-guru is here spoken of as he is the first to initiate, and also by reason of his pre-eminence. But in his absence refuge may be sought with other Gurus. It has therefore been said: “As a bee desirous of honey goes from one flower to another, so does the disciple desirous of knowledge (Jñāna) go from one Guru to another.”^[6]

“Gladdened by constant realization of that which is the source of Eternal Bliss” (Nityānanda-paraṃparā-pramudita)—i.e., who is united with the Stream of Eternal Bliss.

“Foremost among the good” (Satām agraṇiḥ)—he is counted to be foremost among the good who are the Yogīs.