From 'sankaracarya. Maikarika
*
"Hymns to the Goddess", by John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon), [1913],
p. 201
Maikarik
(maikarikstotra)
1
It was on Thy bank, O Maikarik! 1
That Hari and Hara, givers of "syujya mukti", 2
Disputed together at the departure festival 3 of a certain one.
Hari 4 said, "Let Him be like unto me;"
Whereon forthwith from within the body
Came forth iva mounted on Garuda, 5
p. 202
In yellow garment, 1 with the mark of Bhrigu's foot on His breast. 2
2
Indra and the Thirty, 3 at the close of their period of enjoyment, 4'
Descend to earth again, 5
And are reborn as men, or even as beast, bird, or worm;
But those, O Mother Maikarik! who plunge into thy waters,
Are freed from sins, and indeed in "Syujya" 6 man becomes
Nryaa 7 himself, with crown and "Kaustubha gem". 8
p. 203
3
Ki 1 is of all cities the most praiseworthy,
For it is the city of "vimukti" 2 adorned with Gang.
There Maikarik is the giver of happiness,
And "Mukti" itself is Her servant. 3
When Brahm weighed Heaven with its Devas against Ki,
Ki, as the heavier, remained on earth,
But Heaven, the lighter, rose to the skies.
4
Nought is better than any part of the banks of Gang,
But there, where Ki is, is the best,
And Maikarik, where vara gives "mukti", is the best of all.
This place, inaccessible even to Devas,
Destroys a mass of sins.
Through many virtues acquired in previous births
Alone may it be attained, and by the pure only.
5
The multitude of being is immersed in the ocean of pain,
How may they gain release?
It was with this knowledge that Brahm constructed the city of Vrna, 4 which gives all bliss.
p. 204
Men seek the happiness of Heaven.
But in so doing they but show small desire,
Since from Heaven they must fall again to earth
At the close of their appointed time of happiness. 1
But K is the city of liberation, 2
Ever beneficent, giving "dharma", "artha", "kma", and "moka". 3
6
He who holds the bamboo flute, 4 upholder of the mountain, 5
Who bears on his breast the "rvatsa" 6 mark,
And iva, with venom in His throat, 7
Who bears Gang upon his head, 8
And the husband of Lakm, 9
Are one and the same. 10
Many of such, O Mother Maikarik!
As bathe in Thy waters become Rudras and Haris. 11
p. 205
How, then, can there be any difference between them? 1
7
Death upon Thy Banks, which is the giver of happiness,
Is praised even by the Devas.
On him who thus dies akra 2 ever looks with His thousand eyes.
Svitri 3 of a thousand rays welcomes Him as He ascends (to the heavens).
Such a pure one, mounted on a Bull or on Garuda, 4
May go to whatsoever abode he will.
8
Even the four-headed Deva, 5
The "Guru" who initiates into the meaning of the Veda,
Is unable even in an hundred of his 6 years
To describe the purity which arises upon bathing at midday in Maikarik.
But the Deva who bears the moon upon his forehead, 7
By the power of his "yoga" knows Thy purity.
iva makes that man who dies on Thy Bank
Either Himself or Nryaa.
p. 206
All such sin-destroying fruit as is earned by millions of troublesome horse-sacrifices 1
Exists in the purity which comes from bathing in Maikarik.
He, who having bathed therein,
Reads this hymn, goes to the abode of the light of Brahman,
Having crossed the great ocean of this world
As if it were but some little pool.
Footnotes
201:1 Is the name of a celebrated "ghat" at Benares, where the bodies of the dead are burnt, and at which the gem of the ear ornament of the Dev fell. The Kipanchakastotra of ankara says that where there is "nivtti" of "manas", there is the great peace. That peace is the foremost of "trthas" (here rivers) and Maikarik ("Manonivtti paramopantih s trthavary maikarikca").
201:2 One of the forms of qualified "mukti" (liberation); the four muktis are "Slokya" (remaining in the same region with the Deva), "Smpya" (remaining near the Deva), "Srupya" (receiving the same form as the Deva), and "Sayujya" (becoming one with the Deva).
201:3 \"Prayotsava"--that is, death.
201:4 Viu
201:5 The Bird King, who is the vehicle ("vhana") of Viu, son of Kayapa by his wife Vinet, elder brother of Arua.
202:1 The colour of Viu's robes. The verse is intended to show the unity of both Viu and iva.
202:2 The is once disputed amongst themselves as to the relative merits of Brahm, Viu, and iva, and the " Bhrigu was sent to test them. The first and last on being purposely slighted by Bhrigu showed the weakness of resentment. Finding Viu lying down with Lakm in the daytime he upbraided him for this and planted with force his foot on his chest. Viu not only took all this in good part, but rubbing the foot of Bhrigu expressed the hope that the latter had not hurt it by his action. On this exhibition of divine quality the palm was adjudged to Viu, who thereafter bore the mark of Bhrigu's foot on his breast.
202:3 \"Tridaah", a collective name for the other Devas. The thirty-three (three being understood) "gaas" of Devas, of which the Dev is Tridaevar.
202:4 In heaven ("Svarga").
202:5 For the enjoyment in "Svarga", which is part of the worlds of birth and rebirth, is not eternal, but on fruition the "jivtm" again descends to earth to work out its unexhausted "karma".
202:6 \"Syujyepi". As to "syujya", see "ante", p. 201, note 2.
202:7 Viu.
202:8 A great and brilliant gem worn by Viu.
203:1 Benares.
203:2 \"Nirvmoka", the highest form of "Mukti" (liberation). As the saying goes: "Ayodhy, Mathur, Gay, Ki, Knci, Avantik, Pur, these seven "trthas" (places of pilgrimage) give "mukti", but K (Benares) gives "nirva mukti"."
203:3 As the servant awaits the orders of his mistress, so "mukti" (liberation) awaits the command of Maikarik.
203:4 Benares.
204:1 See p. 202, note 5.
204:2 \"Mukti" (see p. 203, note 2).
204:3 Piety, wealth, fulfilment of desire, and liberation.
204:4 Ka, who is often so figured.
204:5 Mount Govardhana, which Ka, by his might, upheld.
204:6 Curls of hair on the breast of Viu.
204:7 At the churning of the ocean, poison issued which, to save the world, iva swallowed. It coloured His throat blue; hence he is called Nlakantha.
204:8 The River Ganges (see p. 188, note 7).
204:9 Viu.
204:10 They with Brahm; for as the Rudraymala says "Though three they are one" ("Ekam murtistrayo deva"). All the Devas and Devs are but manifestations, with the apparent limitations incident thereto, of the Supreme Unity--the Brahman.
204:11 iva and Viu.
205:1 That is, they cease to differ from one another, having become Hari and Hara, who are themselves one.
205:2 Indra, king of the celestials.
205:3 The sun (Srya).
205:4 The first is the vehicle ("Vhana") of iva. The second, the carrier of Viu.
205:5 Brahm.
205:6 Not human years.
205:7 iva.
206:1 The Vaidika Avamedha.
"Hymns to the Goddess", by John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon), [1913],
p. 201
Maikarik
(maikarikstotra)
1
It was on Thy bank, O Maikarik! 1
That Hari and Hara, givers of "syujya mukti", 2
Disputed together at the departure festival 3 of a certain one.
Hari 4 said, "Let Him be like unto me;"
Whereon forthwith from within the body
Came forth iva mounted on Garuda, 5
p. 202
In yellow garment, 1 with the mark of Bhrigu's foot on His breast. 2
2
Indra and the Thirty, 3 at the close of their period of enjoyment, 4'
Descend to earth again, 5
And are reborn as men, or even as beast, bird, or worm;
But those, O Mother Maikarik! who plunge into thy waters,
Are freed from sins, and indeed in "Syujya" 6 man becomes
Nryaa 7 himself, with crown and "Kaustubha gem". 8
p. 203
3
Ki 1 is of all cities the most praiseworthy,
For it is the city of "vimukti" 2 adorned with Gang.
There Maikarik is the giver of happiness,
And "Mukti" itself is Her servant. 3
When Brahm weighed Heaven with its Devas against Ki,
Ki, as the heavier, remained on earth,
But Heaven, the lighter, rose to the skies.
4
Nought is better than any part of the banks of Gang,
But there, where Ki is, is the best,
And Maikarik, where vara gives "mukti", is the best of all.
This place, inaccessible even to Devas,
Destroys a mass of sins.
Through many virtues acquired in previous births
Alone may it be attained, and by the pure only.
5
The multitude of being is immersed in the ocean of pain,
How may they gain release?
It was with this knowledge that Brahm constructed the city of Vrna, 4 which gives all bliss.
p. 204
Men seek the happiness of Heaven.
But in so doing they but show small desire,
Since from Heaven they must fall again to earth
At the close of their appointed time of happiness. 1
But K is the city of liberation, 2
Ever beneficent, giving "dharma", "artha", "kma", and "moka". 3
6
He who holds the bamboo flute, 4 upholder of the mountain, 5
Who bears on his breast the "rvatsa" 6 mark,
And iva, with venom in His throat, 7
Who bears Gang upon his head, 8
And the husband of Lakm, 9
Are one and the same. 10
Many of such, O Mother Maikarik!
As bathe in Thy waters become Rudras and Haris. 11
p. 205
How, then, can there be any difference between them? 1
7
Death upon Thy Banks, which is the giver of happiness,
Is praised even by the Devas.
On him who thus dies akra 2 ever looks with His thousand eyes.
Svitri 3 of a thousand rays welcomes Him as He ascends (to the heavens).
Such a pure one, mounted on a Bull or on Garuda, 4
May go to whatsoever abode he will.
8
Even the four-headed Deva, 5
The "Guru" who initiates into the meaning of the Veda,
Is unable even in an hundred of his 6 years
To describe the purity which arises upon bathing at midday in Maikarik.
But the Deva who bears the moon upon his forehead, 7
By the power of his "yoga" knows Thy purity.
iva makes that man who dies on Thy Bank
Either Himself or Nryaa.
p. 206
All such sin-destroying fruit as is earned by millions of troublesome horse-sacrifices 1
Exists in the purity which comes from bathing in Maikarik.
He, who having bathed therein,
Reads this hymn, goes to the abode of the light of Brahman,
Having crossed the great ocean of this world
As if it were but some little pool.
Footnotes
201:1 Is the name of a celebrated "ghat" at Benares, where the bodies of the dead are burnt, and at which the gem of the ear ornament of the Dev fell. The Kipanchakastotra of ankara says that where there is "nivtti" of "manas", there is the great peace. That peace is the foremost of "trthas" (here rivers) and Maikarik ("Manonivtti paramopantih s trthavary maikarikca").
201:2 One of the forms of qualified "mukti" (liberation); the four muktis are "Slokya" (remaining in the same region with the Deva), "Smpya" (remaining near the Deva), "Srupya" (receiving the same form as the Deva), and "Sayujya" (becoming one with the Deva).
201:3 \"Prayotsava"--that is, death.
201:4 Viu
201:5 The Bird King, who is the vehicle ("vhana") of Viu, son of Kayapa by his wife Vinet, elder brother of Arua.
202:1 The colour of Viu's robes. The verse is intended to show the unity of both Viu and iva.
202:2 The is once disputed amongst themselves as to the relative merits of Brahm, Viu, and iva, and the " Bhrigu was sent to test them. The first and last on being purposely slighted by Bhrigu showed the weakness of resentment. Finding Viu lying down with Lakm in the daytime he upbraided him for this and planted with force his foot on his chest. Viu not only took all this in good part, but rubbing the foot of Bhrigu expressed the hope that the latter had not hurt it by his action. On this exhibition of divine quality the palm was adjudged to Viu, who thereafter bore the mark of Bhrigu's foot on his breast.
202:3 \"Tridaah", a collective name for the other Devas. The thirty-three (three being understood) "gaas" of Devas, of which the Dev is Tridaevar.
202:4 In heaven ("Svarga").
202:5 For the enjoyment in "Svarga", which is part of the worlds of birth and rebirth, is not eternal, but on fruition the "jivtm" again descends to earth to work out its unexhausted "karma".
202:6 \"Syujyepi". As to "syujya", see "ante", p. 201, note 2.
202:7 Viu.
202:8 A great and brilliant gem worn by Viu.
203:1 Benares.
203:2 \"Nirvmoka", the highest form of "Mukti" (liberation). As the saying goes: "Ayodhy, Mathur, Gay, Ki, Knci, Avantik, Pur, these seven "trthas" (places of pilgrimage) give "mukti", but K (Benares) gives "nirva mukti"."
203:3 As the servant awaits the orders of his mistress, so "mukti" (liberation) awaits the command of Maikarik.
203:4 Benares.
204:1 See p. 202, note 5.
204:2 \"Mukti" (see p. 203, note 2).
204:3 Piety, wealth, fulfilment of desire, and liberation.
204:4 Ka, who is often so figured.
204:5 Mount Govardhana, which Ka, by his might, upheld.
204:6 Curls of hair on the breast of Viu.
204:7 At the churning of the ocean, poison issued which, to save the world, iva swallowed. It coloured His throat blue; hence he is called Nlakantha.
204:8 The River Ganges (see p. 188, note 7).
204:9 Viu.
204:10 They with Brahm; for as the Rudraymala says "Though three they are one" ("Ekam murtistrayo deva"). All the Devas and Devs are but manifestations, with the apparent limitations incident thereto, of the Supreme Unity--the Brahman.
204:11 iva and Viu.
205:1 That is, they cease to differ from one another, having become Hari and Hara, who are themselves one.
205:2 Indra, king of the celestials.
205:3 The sun (Srya).
205:4 The first is the vehicle ("Vhana") of iva. The second, the carrier of Viu.
205:5 Brahm.
205:6 Not human years.
205:7 iva.
206:1 The Vaidika Avamedha.
