Muni's Play1. Kali
The Nature of Time and Kali
Sutra 1
Devanagari
कालीं व्याख्यास्यामः ।। 1।।
Transliteration
- Kālim vyākhyāsyāmaḥ.
Translation
Now, we shall expound upon Time (Kāli).
Sutra 2
Devanagari
आद्या सा दशसु महाविद्यासु ।। 2।।
Transliteration
- Ādyā sā daśasu mahāvidyāsu.
Translation
She (Kali) is the first among the ten Mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms).
Sutra 3
Devanagari
क्रियाशक्तिः काली ।। 3।।
Transliteration
- Kriyāśaktiḥ kālī.
Translation
Kali is the power of action (Kriya-shakti).
Sutra 4
Devanagari
मध्यमा त्वधिदैवतम् ।। 4।।
Transliteration
- Madhyamā tvadhidaivatam.
Translation
She is the presiding deity of the middle (or the intermediate celestial realm).
Sutra 5
Devanagari
सर्वव्यापिनी ।। 5।।
Transliteration
- Sarvavyāpinī.
Translation
She is all-pervading.
Sutra 6
Devanagari
व्यापकनिगूढतेजःशक्तेर्नातिरिच्यते ।। 6।।
Transliteration
- Vyāpakanigūḍhatejaḥśakternātiricyate.
Translation
She is not different from the power of the all-pervading, hidden radiant energy.
Sutra 7
Devanagari
सर्वाणि भूतानि पचत्यजस्रम् ।। 7।।
Transliteration
- Sarvāṇi bhūtāni pacatyajasram.
Translation
She continuously “cooks” (matures/transforms) all living beings.
Sutra 8
Devanagari
पाक एव शास्त्रेषु व्यवह्रियमाणः परिणामः ।। 8।।
Transliteration
- Pāka eva śāstreṣu vyavahriyamāṇaḥ pariṇāmaḥ.
Translation
In the scriptures, this “cooking” is referred to as “Pariṇāma” (transformation or evolution).
Sutra 9
Devanagari
काल एव स्त्रीलिङ्गाख्यया काल्युच्यते ।। 9।।
Transliteration
- Kāla eva strīlingākhyayā kālyucyate.
Translation
Time itself is called “Kali,” in the feminine gender.
Sutra 10
Devanagari
पाचकत्वमेव हि कालस्य स्वरूपम् ।। 10।।
Transliteration
- Pācakatvameva hi kālasya svarūpam.
Translation
The very nature of Time is its capacity to “cook” (transform/digest) everything.
Iconography and Cosmic Function
Sutra 11
Devanagari
अभूदस्याः पाके बहूनामण्डानां संहारः ।। 11।।
Transliteration
- Abhūdasyāḥ pāke bahūnāmaṇḍānāṃ saṃhāraḥ.
Translation
At Her “cooking”, the destruction of many cosmic eggs (universes) occurs.
Sutra 12
Devanagari
तस्याः कण्ठेऽस्माभिर्ध्रियमाणा मुण्डमाला तदेतदण्डसंहारवैभवं स्मारयितुम् ।। 12।।
Transliteration
- Tasyāḥ kaṇṭhe’smābhir-dhriyamāṇā muṇḍamālā tadetadaṇḍasaṃhāravaibhavaṃ smārayitum.
Translation
The garland of severed heads worn around Her neck is to remind us of Her glory in destroying these universes.
Sutra 13
Devanagari
नित्यसंग्रामकारिणीति पिशाचिकेव भीमरूपेयं परिणमयित्री शक्तिर्वर्ण्यते ।। 13।।
Transliteration
- Nityasaṅgrāmakāriṇīti piśācikeva bhīmarūpeyaṃ pariṇamayitrī śaktir-varṇyate.
Translation
She is described as a terrifying, demoness-like transforming power because She is perpetually engaged in the “great battle” (of cosmic change).
Sutra 14
Devanagari
अत एव वामैव विभुतेत्याह पुष्पदन्तः ।। 14।।
Transliteration
- Ata eva vāmaiva vibhutetyāha puṣpadantaḥ.
Translation
Therefore, the sage Pushpadanta says that Her “left-handed” (unconventional) power is indeed all-pervasive.
Sutra 15
Devanagari
महाकालस्य नित्यताण्डवस्य विभुतातः काली हि नातिरिच्यते।। 15।।
Transliteration
- Mahākālasya nityatāṇḍavasya vibhutātaḥ kālī hi nātiricyate.
Translation
Kali is not different from the all-pervasiveness of Mahakala’s (Great Time/Shiva’s) eternal dance.
Sutra 16
Devanagari
क्रियैव ताण्डवमुच्यते ।। 16।।
Transliteration
- Kriyaiva tāṇḍavamucyate.
Translation
Action itself is called the “Tandava” (dance).
Sutra 17
Devanagari
परिणमयित्री शक्तिर्न केवलं संहरति ।। 17।।
Transliteration
- Pariṇamayitrī śaktir-na kevalaṃ saṃharati.
Translation
The transforming power does not only destroy.
Sutra 18
Devanagari
सृजत्यपि ।। 18।।
Transliteration
- Sṛjatyapi.
Translation
She creates as well.
Sutra 19
Devanagari
पूर्वपूर्वावस्थासंहार एवोत्तरोत्तरावस्था सर्गो भूतानाम् ।। 19।।
Transliteration
- Pūrvapūrvāvasthā-saṃhāra evottarottarāvasthā sargo bhūtānām.
Translation
The destruction of a previous state is itself the creation of the succeeding state for all beings.
Sutra 20
Devanagari
एकैव क्रिया द्व्यर्थकरीत्युक्तं भवति ।। 20।।
Transliteration
- Ekaiva kriyā dvyarthakarītyuktaṃ bhavati.
Translation
Thus, it is said that a single action serves two purposes (creation and destruction).
Time as the Primal Cause and Life Force
Sutra 21
Devanagari
एतेन कालस्य कारणत्वं व्याख्यातम् ।। 21।।
Transliteration
- Etena kālasya kāraṇatvaṃ vyākhyātam.
Translation
By this, the causality of Time is explained.
Sutra 22
Devanagari
अहमेव वात इव प्रवाम्यारभमाणा भुवनानि विश्वेति मन्त्रवर्णोऽत्र भवति ।। 22।।
Transliteration
- Ahameva vāta iva pravāmyārabhamāṇā bhuvanāni viśveti mantravarṇo’tra bhavati.
Translation
The Vedic mantra “I blow like the wind, initiating all worlds” applies here.
Sutra 23
Devanagari
ईशस्य परमकारणत्वं तद्वत्त्वात् ।। 23।।
Transliteration
- Īśasya paramakāraṇatvaṃ tadvattvāt.
Translation
The Supreme Lord’s status as the ultimate cause is due to His possession of this power.
Sutra 24
Devanagari
एषा समष्टिशक्तिर्भूतान्याविश्य व्यष्टिशक्तिश्च भवति ।। 24।।
Transliteration
- Eṣā samaṣṭiśaktir-bhūtānyāviśya vyaṣṭiśaktiṣcha-bhavati.
Translation
This collective power (Samashti), entering into beings, becomes individual power (Vyashti).
Sutra 25
Devanagari
तत्र तारतम्यमुपाधिभेदात्तेजस इव सूर्यादौ ।। 25।।
Transliteration
- Tatra tāratamyam-upādhibhedāt-tejasa iva sūryādau.
Translation
The difference in intensity there is due to the limitation of the medium (upadhi), just as the sun’s light varies in different objects.
Sutra 26
Devanagari
भूतान्तरापेक्षया चेतनानां तच्छशक्तिवाही स्वभावो भूयान् ।। 26।।
Transliteration
- Bhūtāntarapekṣayā cetanānāṃ tacchaktivāhī svabhāvo bhūyān.
Translation
Compared to other elements, the nature of conscious beings to carry this power is greater.
Sutra 27
Devanagari
अस्मासु प्रवहन्ती सा शक्तिः श्रेष्ठः प्राण उच्यते ।। 27।।
Transliteration
- Asmāsu pravahantī sā śaktiḥ śreṣṭhaḥ prāṇa ucyate.
Translation
That power flowing within us is called the “Chief Prana” (Life Force).
Sutra 28
Devanagari
शक्तौ वातेत्याभ्यन्तरे प्राणव्यवहार उपनिषत्सु दृश्यते ।। 28।।
Transliteration
- Śaktau vātetyābhyantare prāṇavyavahāra upaniṣatsu dṛśyate.
Translation
In the Upanishads, the function of Prana is seen as the internal movement of the “Wind-Power.”
Sutra 29
Devanagari
शक्तितरङ्गत्वात्वायूनामेषोऽभेदेन व्यवहारः ।। 29।।
Transliteration
- Śaktitarangatvād-vāyūnāmeṣo’bhedena vyavahāraḥ.
Translation
Because they are waves of power, the “winds” (Pranas) are treated as non-different from Her.
Sutra 30
Devanagari
प्राणतरङ्ग एवोच्छ्वासादयो न प्राणस्वरूपमित्युक्तं भवति ।। 30।।
Transliteration
- Prāṇataranga evocchvāsādayo na prāṇasvarūpamityuktaṃ bhavati.
Translation
It is said that the waves of Prana, like breathing, are not the essential nature of Prana itself (but its manifestations).
Sutra 31
Devanagari
आप्यः प्राण इति चेत् ।। 31।।
Transliteration
- Āpyaḥ prāṇa iti cet.
Translation
One might argue that Prana is of the nature of water (Apya).
Sutra 32
Devanagari
आप्यनूपाधिकत्वाच्छक्तेः प्राणस्याप्यत्वनिर्देशो न स्वरूपदृष्ट्या।। 32।।
Transliteration
- Āpyanūpādhikatvāc-chakteḥ prāṇasyāpyatvanirdeśo na svarūpadṛṣṭyā.
Translation
The description of Prana as “watery” is due to its association with certain limiting conditions, not from the perspective of its essential nature.
Spiritual Practice (Upasana)
Sutra 33
Devanagari
संसारिणां प्राणशक्तिः प्रतिक्षणं विनियोगवैषम्येण क्षीयते।। 33।।
Transliteration
- Saṃsāriṇāṃ prāṇaśaktiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ viniyogavaiṣamyeṇa kṣīyate.
Translation
The life-force of worldly people diminishes every moment due to the imbalance of its use.
Sutra 34
Devanagari
मुहुर्मुहुः श्वासविसर्गाद्यव्यवस्थितात् ।। 34।।
Transliteration
- Muhur-muhuḥ śvāsavisargādyavyavasthitāt.
Translation
This is because of the unregulated release of breath and other factors.
Sutra 35
Devanagari
आत्मशक्तेर्वृद्धये कालीमुपासीत ।। 35।।
Transliteration
- Ātmaśakter-vṛddhaye kālīmupāsīta.
Translation
For the increase of one’s own power (Atma-shakti), one should worship Kali.
Sutra 36
Devanagari
रसज्ञया ।। 36।।
Transliteration
- Rasajñayā.
Translation
With the Rasajñā (the seed syllable Krīm).
Sutra 37
Devanagari
द्वाविंशत्यक्षर्या वा ।। 37।।
Transliteration
- Dvāviṃśatyakṣaryā vā.
Translation
Or with the twenty-two-syllabled mantra.
Sutra 38
Devanagari
तिस्रो रसज्ञाः क्रोधौ लज्जे सम्बोधनान्ते स्त्रीलिङ्गमपसव्यवाचिक-प्रत्ययान्तं नाम च पुनः प्रागुक्तानि सप्तबीजानि शिरश्चेति द्वाविंशत्यक्षरी ।। 38।।
Transliteration
- Tisro rasajñāḥ krodhau lajje sambodhanānte strīlingamapasavyavācika-pratyayāntaṃ nāma ca punaḥ prāguktāni saptabījāni śiraśceti dvāviṃśatyakṣarī.
Translation
Three ‘Rasajnas’ (the seed-syllable Krim), then Krodha (the seed-syllable Hum), then two Lajjas (the seed-syllable Hrim), followed by Her name in the feminine vocative case ending in the Apasavyavachika suffix, then the previously mentioned seven seed-syllables again, and finally the Shirsh (Swaha); this constitutes the twenty-two syllable mantra.
Sutra 39
Devanagari
एतौ तान्त्रिकौ मन्त्रौ ।। 39।।
Transliteration
- Etau tāntrikau mantrau.
Translation
These two are the Tantric mantras.
Sutra 40
Devanagari
एतयोर्भैरवमृषिमाहुः ।। 40।।
Transliteration
- Etayor-bhairavam-ṛṣimāhuḥ.
Translation
Bhairava is said to be the Rishi (Seer) for these.
Sutra 41
Devanagari
उष्णिहं छन्दः ।। 41।।
Transliteration
- Uṣṇihaṃ chandaḥ.
Translation
The meter is Ushnih.
Sutra 42
Devanagari
उभयत्रापि अविभाज्यात्वं नास्तीति चेत् ।। 42।।
Transliteration
- Ubhayatrāpi avibhājyātvāṃ nāstīti cet.
Translation
One might object that there is no “indivisibility” (or consistency) in the meter here.
Sutra 43
Devanagari
तन्त्रेषु प्रायोऽर्थयोगेन छन्दः कल्पनं नाक्षरसंख्ययेत्यविरोधः ।। 43।।
Transliteration
- Tantreṣu prāyo’rthayogena chandaḥ kalpanaṃ nākṣarasaṅkhyayetyavirodhaḥ.
Translation
There is no contradiction, as in the Tantras, the meter is often conceived based on the meaning/application (Artha-yoga) rather than the exact syllable count.
Symbolism and Meditation
Sutra 44
Devanagari
आद्यायामार्चिकप्रणवो बीजम् ।। 44।।
Transliteration
- Ādyāyām-ārchikapraṇavo bījam.
Translation
For the first (Mahavidya), the Archika-Pranava (the Vedic Om) is the seed (Bija).
Sutra 45
Devanagari
अग्निः शक्तिः ।। 45।।
Transliteration
- Agniḥ śaktiḥ.
Translation
Agni (Fire) is the power (Shakti).
Sutra 46
Devanagari
ब्रह्मा कीलकम् ।। 46।।
Transliteration
- Brahmā kīlakam.
Translation
Brahma is the pin (Kilakam).
Sutra 47
Devanagari
सबिन्दुः शान्तिरार्र्चिकप्रणव उच्यते ।। 47।।
Transliteration
- Sabinduḥ śāntir-ārchikapraṇava ucyate.
Translation
The Archika-Pranava with a dot (bindu) is called the syllable of peace.
Sutra 48
Devanagari
द्वितीयायां रसज्ञा बीजम् ।। 48।।
Transliteration
- Dvitiyāyāṃ rasajñā bījam.
Translation
In the second, Rasajñā (Krīm) is the seed.
Sutra 49
Devanagari
लज्जा शक्तिः ।। 49।।
Transliteration
- Lajjā śaktiḥ.
Translation
Lajjā (Hrīm) is the power.
Sutra 50
Devanagari
क्रोधः कीलकम् ।। 50।।
Transliteration
- Krodhaḥ kīlakam.
Translation
Krodha (Hūm) is the pin.
Sutra 51
Devanagari
उभयत्र षड्दीर्घयुक्तया रसज्ञया न्यासः ।। 51।।
Transliteration
- Ubhayatra ṣaḍdīrghayuktayā rasajñayā nyāsaḥ.
Translation
In both, the Nyasa (ritual placement) is done with the Rasajñā combined with the six long vowels.
Sutra 52
Devanagari
नीला मुण्डमालिनी शवासना शवालङ्कारा खड्गवराऽभयच्छिन्नमस्तभृच्चतुर्भुजा ध्येया ।। 52।।
Transliteration
- Nīlā muṇḍamālinī śavāsanā śavālaṅkārā khaḍgavarā’bhayacchinnamastabhṛc-caturbhujā dhyeyā.
Translation
She should be meditated upon as blue, wearing a garland of heads, seated on a corpse, adorned with corpses, holding a sword, giving boons and fearlessness, and holding a severed head, with four arms.
Sutra 53
Devanagari
नीलत्वं तामसशक्तित्वात् ।। 53।।
Transliteration
- Nīlatvaṃ tāmasaśaktitvāt.
Translation
The blueness is due to Her being the power of Tamas (the quality of darkness/inertia).
Sutra 54
Devanagari
क्रियाशक्तिस्तामसी प्रज्ञाराहित्यात् ।। 54।।
Transliteration
- Kriyāśaktistāmasī prajñārāhityāt.
Translation
The power of action is Tamasic because it lacks (discursive) intellect.
Sutra 55
Devanagari
उक्तं मुण्डमालिनीत्वस्य रहस्यम् ।। 55।।
Transliteration
- Uktaṃ muṇḍamālinītvasya rahasyam.
Translation
The secret of the garland of heads has already been stated.
Sutra 56
Devanagari
प्राणस्य निष्प्राणोपाध्याश्रयत्वाच्छवासनत्वम् ।। 56।।
Transliteration
- Prāṇasya niṣprāṇopādhyāśrayatvāc-chavāsanatvam.
Translation
She sits on a corpse because Prana (Life) rests upon the “lifeless” medium (matter).
Sutra 57
Devanagari
निष्प्राणोपाधिभूषितत्वाच्छवभूषणत्वम् ।। 57।।
Transliteration
- Niṣprāṇopādhibhūṣitatvāc-chavabhūṣaṇatvam.
Translation
She is adorned with corpses because she is decorated by the lifeless elements.
Sutra 58
Devanagari
संहारशक्तित्वद्योतनाय खड्गभृत्त्वम् ।। 58।।
Transliteration
- Saṃhāraśaktitvadyotanāya khaḍgabhṛttvam.
Translation
She holds a sword to indicate Her power of destruction.
Sutra 59
Devanagari
स्वाभाविकानुग्रहवत्त्वद्योतनाय वराऽभयभृत्त्वम् ।। 59।।
Transliteration
- Svābhāvikānugrahavattvadyotanāya varā’bhayabhṛttvam.
Translation
She holds the gestures of boon-giving and fearlessness to indicate Her natural grace.
Sutra 60
Devanagari
शरीराभिमानित्ववर्जितं मन एव च्छिन्नं मस्तम् ।। 60।।
Transliteration
- Śarīrābhimānitvavarjitaṃ mana eva cchinaṃ mastam.
Translation
The “severed head” is the mind itself, stripped of identification with the body.
Sutra 61
Devanagari
तद्वशीकरणसूचकं तद्धारित्वम् ।। 61।।
Transliteration
- Tadvāśīkaraṇasūcakaṃ taddhāritvam.
Translation
Holding it indicates Her mastery over the mind.
Sutra 62
Devanagari
एवं सर्वत्र शक्तीनां ध्यानानि परोक्षार्थानि न शरीरपराणि ।। 62।।
Transliteration
- Evaṃ sarvatra śaktīnāṃ dhyānāni parokṣārthāni na śarīraparāṇi.
Translation
Thus, in all cases, the meditations on the Shaktis refer to esoteric meanings, not to physical bodies.
Sutra 63
Devanagari
अस्ति देवतायाः शरीरमिति चेत्तदन्यत्तन्त्रोक्तात् ।। 63।।
Transliteration
- Asti devatāyāḥ śarīram-iti cettadanyattantroktāt.
Translation
If a deity has a body, it is different from what is described in the Tantra (which uses symbolic forms).
Vedic Integration and Benefits
Sutra 64
Devanagari
‘‘वर्षन्तु ते विभावरि दिवो अभ्रस्य विद्युतः । रोहन्तु सर्वबीजान्यवब्रह्म द्विषो जहि।।’’ इत्यात्रेयेण सप्तवध्रिणा दृष्ट्या वैदिक्याऽनुष्टुभा विद्यया वा ।। 64।।
Transliteration
- ‘‘Varṣantu te vibhāvari divo abhrasya vidyutaḥ। rohantu sarvabījānyavabrahma dviṣo jahi।।’’ ityātreyeṇa saptavardhrina dṛṣṭyā vaidikyā’nuṣṭubhā vidyayā vā.
Translation
By the Vedic Anushtubh verse of Atreya: “O Night, let the clouds of heaven rain… let all seeds grow… kill the haters of prayer.”
Sutra 65
Devanagari
‘‘ओर्वप्रा अमर्त्या निवतो देव्युद्वतः । ज्योतिषा बाधते तमः।। ’’ इति भारद्वाज्या रात्र्या दृष्ट्या गायत्र्या वा।। 65।।
Transliteration
- ‘‘Orvaprā amartyā nivato devyudvataḥ। jyotiṣā bādhate tamaḥ।।’’ iti bhāradvājyā rātryā dṛṣṭyā gāyatryā vā.
Translation
Or by the Gayatri verse of Bharadvaja regarding the Night: “The immortal Goddess has pervaded the wide space… She drives away darkness with light.”
Sutra 66
Devanagari
जानतः श्वसनं तस्याः शुद्धमुपासनम् ।। 66।।
Transliteration
- Jānataḥ śvasanaṃ tasyāḥ śuddhamupāsanam.
Translation
Knowing Her breathing is the pure form of worship.
Sutra 67
Devanagari
ज्ञायमाना क्रिया महामहिमा स्यात् ।। 67।।
Transliteration
- Jñāyamānā kriyā mahāmahimā syāt.
Translation
When action is known (understood/conscious), it becomes a “Great Majesty” (Maha-mahima).
Sutra 68
Devanagari
मनसे शक्तिं दद्यात् ।। 68।।
Transliteration
- Manase śaktiṃ dadyāt.
Translation
She bestows power to the mind.
Sutra 69
Devanagari
वाचे ।। 69।।
Transliteration
- Vāce.
Translation
To the speech.
Sutra 70
Devanagari
चक्षुषे च ।। 70।।
Transliteration
- Cakṣuṣe ca.
Translation
And to the eyes.
Sutra 71
Devanagari
दीर्घजीवितं च दद्यात् ।। 71।।
Transliteration
- Dīrghajīvitaṃ ca dadyāt.
Translation
She bestows longevity.
Sutra 72
Devanagari
मोक्षाय च भवति ।। 72।।
Transliteration
- Mokṣāya ca bhavati.
Translation
And She leads to liberation (Moksha).
Sutra 73
Devanagari
इयं संवर्गविद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 73।।
Transliteration
- Iyaṃ saṃvargavidyopaniṣatsu gīyate.
Translation
This is sung in the Upanishads as the “Samvarga Vidya” (The Science of Absorption).
Sutra 74
Devanagari
कैश्चिद्प्राणविद्या ।। 74।।
Transliteration
- Kaischidprāṇavidyā.
Translation
It is considered The “Prana Vidya” (The Science of the Life-Force) by some.
Sutra 75
Devanagari
परैर्मुख्यप्राणोद्गीथविद्या ।। 75।।
Transliteration
- Parairmukhya-prāṇodgīthavidyā.
Translation
And by others as the “Mukhya-Prana-Udgiitha Vidya” (The Science of the Principal Breath and Chant).
Sutra 76
Devanagari
संसारिणः प्रहरत्खड्गं काली ।। 76।।
Transliteration
- Saṃsāriṇaḥ praharat-khaḍgaṃ kālī.
Translation
For the worldly person, Kali is a striking sword.
Sutra 77
Devanagari
योगिनां हस्तगतं खड्गं हस्तगतं खड्गम् ।। 77।।
Transliteration
- Yogināṃ hastagataṃ khaḍgaṃ hastagataṃ khaḍgam.
Translation
For the Yogis, the sword is in their own hand. (The sword is in their own hand.)
Index: index