[Advaita-l] Selections from the Shiva-mahimna-stotram - 4 (Concluded)

[V Subrahmanian]

असित <http://www.ms.uky.edu/%7Esohum/sanskrit/mahimna/asita.wma>-गिरि-समं
स्यात्‌ कज्जलं सिन्धु-पात्रे सुर-तरुवर-शाखा लेखनी पत्रमुर्वी।

लिखति यदि गृहीत्वा शारदा सर्वकालं तदपि तव गुणानामीश पारं न याति॥ ३२॥
O, great master! Even, if one were to assume that the blue mountain, the
ocean, the heavenly tree (Paarijaata) and the earth are the ink,the ink-pot,
the pen and the paper respectively and the goddess of learning (Saraswati)
herself is the writer, she will not be able to reach the frontiers of your
greatness,however long she were to write!  (32)

[For the word 'paatre' in the first line, I have another reading:
'paatram'.]

What great imagination!!

असुर <http://www.ms.uky.edu/%7Esohum/sanskrit/mahimna/asura.wma>-सुर-
मुनीन्द्रैरर्चितस्येन्दु-मौलेः ग्रथित-गुणमहिम्नो निर्गुणस्येश्वरस्य।

सकल-गण-वरिष्ठः पुष्पदन्ताभिधानः रुचिरमलघुवृत्तैः स्तोत्रमेतच्चकार॥ ३३॥

The best one among all groups(Gandharva?), Pushhpadanta by name, composed
this charming hymn in none too short metres, in praise of the great lord who
wears the moon in his head(Shiva), who is worshiped and glorified  by all
demons, gods and sages and who is beyond all attributes and forms . (33)

अहरहरनवद्यं <http://www.ms.uky.edu/%7Esohum/sanskrit/mahimna/ahara.wma>
धूर्जटेः स्तोत्रमेतत्‌ पठति परमभक्त्या शुद्ध-चित्तः पुमान्‌ यः।

स भवति शिवलोके रुद्रतुल्यस्तथाऽत्र प्रचुरतर-धनायुः पुत्रवान्‌ कीर्तिमांश्च॥
३४॥

Whoever reads this faultless hymn of Shiva daily, with pure mind and great
devotion, ultimately reaches Shiva's domain and becomes equal to him; in
this world, he is endowed with children, great wealth, long life and fame .
(34)

महेशान्नापरो <http://www.ms.uky.edu/%7Esohum/sanskrit/mahimna/maheshaa.wma>
देवो महिम्नो नापरा स्तुतिः। अघोरान्नापरो मन्त्रो नास्ति तत्त्वं गुरोः परम्‌॥
३५॥
There is no God higher than Mahesha; there is no hymn better than this one.
There is no `mantra' greater than `OM' and there is no truth or principle
beyond one's teacher/spiritual guide .    (35)

नास्ति तत्त्वं गुरोः परम्‌  This is a great teaching:  The Guru, the
Tattvavit, is verily the Tattvam. Tattvam is our goal.  Brahma veda
Brahmaiva. Shankaracharya says in the opening verse of the Shatashloki:
स्वीयं साम्यं विधत्ते : The Guru bestows upon the surrendered disciple, His
very svarUpa.  तत्त्वं तत्त्वविदेकात्मा. Someone recently said that this is
a mahAvAkya in the ShrIViShNusahasranaama.

तव <http://www.ms.uky.edu/%7Esohum/sanskrit/mahimna/tavatatt.wma> तत्त्वं न
जानामि कीदृशोऽसि महेश्वर।

यादृशोऽसि महादेव तादृशाय नमो नमः॥ ४१॥
I do not know the truth of your nature and how you are . O, great God! My
Salutations are to that nature of yours of which you really are . (41)

This is another marvel.  The very construction of the verse is thrilling.

शिवमहिम्नस्तोत्रैकदेशप्रदर्शनं सम्पूर्णम्

Concluded
शिवार्पणमस्तु