2. Tara

Sutra 1

Devanagari

तारां व्याख्यास्यामः ।। 1।।

Transliteration

1. Tārāṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ.

Translation

Now we shall explain Tara.

Sutra 2

Devanagari

द्वितीया सा दशसु महाविद्यासु ।। 2।।

Transliteration

2. Dvitīyā sā daśasu mahāvidyāsu.

Translation

She is the second among the ten Mahavidyas (Great Wisdom Goddesses).

Sutra 3

Devanagari

शब्दशक्तिस्तारा ।। 3।।

Transliteration

3. Śabdaśaktistārā.

Translation

Tara is the power of sound (shabda-shakti).

Sutra 4

Devanagari

गौर्यधिदैवतम् ।। 4।।

Transliteration

4. Gauryadhidaivatam.

Translation

Her presiding deity is Gauri.

Sutra 5

Devanagari

शब्दशक्तिः प्रणवात् नातिरिच्यते ।। 5।।

Transliteration

5. Śabdaśaktiḥ praṇavāt nātiricyate.

Translation

The power of sound is not different from the Pranava (Om).

Sutra 6

Devanagari

तार इति प्रणवस्य प्रसिद्धं नाम ।। 6।।

Transliteration

6. Tāra iti praṇavasya prasiddhaṃ nāma.

Translation

“Tara” (The Savior) is a well-known name for the Pranava.

Sutra 7

Devanagari

तार एव स्त्रीलिङ्गाख्यया तारोच्यते ।। 7।।

Transliteration

7. Tāra eva strīlingākhyayā tārocyate.

Translation

The same Tara is called “Tara” in the feminine form.

Sutra 8

Devanagari

इयं नाकाशस्य गुणः ।। 8।।

Transliteration

8. Iyaṃ nākāśasya guṇaḥ.

Translation

This (sound) is not a quality of space (Akasha).

Sutra 9

Devanagari

अपि त्वाकाशे ।। 9।।

Transliteration

9. Api tvākāśe.

Translation

Rather, it exists within space.

Sutra 10

Devanagari

ओङ्कारस्तदनुकरणमात्रम् ।। 10।।

Transliteration

10. Oṅkārastadanukaraṇamātram.

Translation

The sound “Om” is merely an imitation of that.

Sutra 11

Devanagari

न स्वरूपम् ।। 11।।

Transliteration

11. Na svarūpam.

Translation

It is not her true essential form (Svarupa).

Sutra 12

Devanagari

खण्डत्वात् ।। 12।।

Transliteration

12. Khaṇḍatvāt.

Translation

Because it (the spoken Om) is fragmentary (divided).

Sutra 13

Devanagari

प्रणवो ह्यखण्डः शब्दो व्यापकः ।। 13।।

Transliteration

13. Praṇavo hyakhaṇḍaḥ śabdo vyāpakaḥ.

Translation

For the Pranava is indivisible, all-pervading sound.

Sutra 14

Devanagari

तारैव नीलोच्यते तामसीति ।। 14।।

Transliteration

14. Tāraiva nīlocyate tāmasīti.

Translation

Tara alone is called Nila (the Blue One) and Tamasi (the Dark One).

Sutra 15

Devanagari

तामसत्वं चात्राव्यक्तत्वम् ।। 15।।

Transliteration

15. Tāmasatvaṃ cātrāvyaktatvam.

Translation

Here, “Tamasic nature” refers to being unmanifest (avyaktatvam).

Sutra 16

Devanagari

एतेन रुद्रस्य तामसत्वं व्याख्यातम् ।। 16।।

Transliteration

16. Etena rudrasya tāmasatvaṃ vyākhyātam.

Translation

By this, the Tamasic nature of Rudra is also explained.

Sutra 17

Devanagari

पावनेभ्यः पावनी भवत्येषा ।। 17।।

Transliteration

17. Pāvanebhyaḥ pāvanī bhavatyeṣā.

Translation

She is the purifier of all purifiers.

Sutra 18

Devanagari

यदीशस्यासाधारणं नाम ।। 18।।

Transliteration

18. Yadīśasyāsādhāraṇaṃ nāma.

Translation

That which is the extraordinary name of the Lord (Ishvara)…

Sutra 19

Devanagari

तस्य वाचकः प्रणव इति पतञ्जलिरत्र भवति ।। 19।।

Transliteration

19. Tasya vācakaḥ praṇava iti patañjalir-atra bhavati.

Translation

…Patanjali says that the indicator (vachaka) of that is the Pranava.

Sutra 20

Devanagari

तदनभिज्ञस्य मन्त्राः सर्वे व्यर्थाः ।। 20।।

Transliteration

20. Tadanabhijñasya mantrāḥ sarve vyarthāḥ.

Translation

For one who is ignorant of that, all mantras are useless.

Sutra 21

Devanagari

यस्तन्न वेद किमृचा करिष्यतीति मन्त्रवर्णोऽत्र भवति ।। 21।।

Transliteration

21. Yastanna veda kimṛcā kariṣyatīti mantravarṇo’tra bhavati.

Translation

There is a Vedic verse (Mantra) here: “What will one do with the Rig-Veda who does not know that (the Imperishable)?”

Sutra 22

Devanagari

इयं व्यक्तशब्दानाविश्य व्यष्टिशक्तिर्भवति ।। 22।।

Transliteration

22. Iyaṃ vyaktaśabdānāviśya vyaṣṭiśaktir-bhavati.

Translation

She, entering into manifest sounds, becomes the individual power (vyashti-shakti).

Sutra 23

Devanagari

विज्ञानतेजो ध्वनिभेदात् ।। 23।।

Transliteration

23. Vijñānatejo dhvanibhedāt.

Translation

There are distinctions of consciousness (vijnana), light (tejas), and sound (dhvani).

Sutra 24

Devanagari

तत्र ताराविचारे विज्ञानमयी प्रकृता ।। 24।।

Transliteration

24. Tatra tārāvicāre vijñānamayī prakrtā.

Translation

Among those, in the inquiry into Tara, the form consisting of consciousness (vijnanamayi) is the highest.

Sutra 25

Devanagari

इतरे विभूती उपरिष्टाद्व्याख्यास्यामः ।। 25।।

Transliteration

25. Itare vibhūtī upariṣṭādvyākhyāsyāmaḥ.

Translation

We shall explain the other manifestations later.

Sutra 26

Devanagari

विज्ञानमयीं पश्यन्तीमाहुः ।। 26।।

Transliteration

26. Vijñānamayīṃ paśyantīmāhuḥ.

Translation

They call the form of consciousness Pashyanti (the “visualizing” stage of speech).

Sutra 27

Devanagari

विज्ञानं सूक्ष्माच्छब्दान्नातिरिच्यते ।। 27।।

Transliteration

27. Vijñānaṃ sūkṣmāc-chabdānnātiricyate.

Translation

Consciousness is not different from subtle sound.

Sutra 28

Devanagari

सूक्ष्मं शब्दायत इत्येव यद्विजानातीति ।। 28।।

Transliteration

28. Sūkṣmaṃ śabdāyata ityeva yadvijānātīti.

Translation

That which knows “the subtle sound is resonating” is consciousness.

Sutra 29

Devanagari

सत्यविज्ञानसिद्धये तारामुपासीत ।। 29।।

Transliteration

29. Satyavijñānasiddhaye tārāmupāsīta.

Translation

For the attainment of the knowledge of Truth, one should worship Tara.

Sutra 30

Devanagari

प्रणवमायास्त्रीकूर्चास्त्रैः ।। 30।।

Transliteration

30. Praṇavamāyāstrīkūrchāstrai.

Translation

By using Pranava (Om), Maya (Hrim), Strim, Kurcha (Hüm) and Astra (PHAṬ).

Sutra 31

Devanagari

चतुर्भिरुत्तरैर्वा ।। 31।।

Transliteration

31. Caturbhir-uttarair-vā.

Translation

Or with the following four.

Sutra 32

Devanagari

मध्यमैस्त्रिभिर्वा ।। 32।।

Transliteration

32. Madhyamaistribhir-vā.

Translation

Or with the middle three.

Sutra 33

Devanagari

एते मन्त्रास्तान्त्रिकाः ।। 33।।

Transliteration

33. Ete mantrāstāntrikāḥ.

Translation

These are Tantric mantras.

Sutra 34

Devanagari

एतेषामृषिमक्षोभ्यमाहुः ।। 34।।

Transliteration

34. Eteṣāmṛṣimakṣobhyamāhuḥ.

Translation

They say the Rishi (Seer) of these is Akshobhya.

Sutra 35

Devanagari

बृहतीं छन्दः ।। 35।।

Transliteration

35. Bṛhatīṃ chandaḥ.

Translation

The meter is Brihati.

Sutra 36

Devanagari

वधूर्बीजम् ।। 36।।

Transliteration

36. Vadhūrbījam.

Translation

The seed (bija) is Vadhu (Striim).

Sutra 37

Devanagari

लज्जा शक्तिः ।। 37।।

Transliteration

37. Lajjā śaktiḥ.

Translation

The power (shakti) is Lajja (Hrim).

Sutra 38

Devanagari

क्रोधः कीलकम् ।। 38।।

Transliteration

38. Krodhaḥ kīlakam.

Translation

The pin (kilakam) is Krodha (Hum).

Sutra 39

Devanagari

षड्दीर्घयुक्तया स्त्रिया न्यासः ।। 39।।

Transliteration

39. Ṣaḍdīrghayuktayā striyā nyāsaḥ.

Translation

The ritual placement (nyasa) is done with Striim combined with the six long vowels.

Sutra 40

Devanagari

नीला मुण्डमालिनी जटिलाऽष्टनागभूषणा खड्गकर्तरी मुण्डोत्पलभृच्चतुर्भुजा ध्येया ।। 40।।

Transliteration

40. Nīlā muṇḍamālinī jaṭilā’ṣṭanāgabhūṣaṇā khaḍgakartarī muṇḍotpala-bhṛccaturbhujā dhyeyā.

Translation

Meditation: One should meditate on the Four-armed Goddess: Blue, wearing a garland of skulls, with matted hair, adorned with eight serpents, holding a sword and scissors, and carrying a severed head and a blue lotus.

Sutra 41

Devanagari

एकनादत्वस्य द्योतकं जटिलत्वम् ।। 41।।

Transliteration

41. Ekanādatvasya dyotakaṃ jaṭilatvam.

Translation

Her matted hair indicates the state of “Single Sound” (ekanaadatva).

Sutra 42

Devanagari

अष्टसिद्धिमत्त्वस्याष्टनागभूषणत्वम् ।। 42।।

Transliteration

42. Aṣṭasiddhimattvasyāṣṭanāgabhūṣaṇatvam.

Translation

The eight serpent ornaments represent the possession of the eight Siddhis (supernatural powers).

Sutra 43

Devanagari

पाशच्छित्त्वस्य कर्तरीभृत्त्वम् ।। 43।।

Transliteration

43. Pāśacchittvasya kartarībhṛttvam.

Translation

Carrying the scissors represents the cutting of worldly bonds (pasha).

Sutra 44

Devanagari

विकसितहृदयवत्त्वस्योत्पलभृत्त्वम् ।। 44।।

Transliteration

44. Vikasitahṛdayavattvasyotpala-bhṛttvam.

Translation

Carrying the lotus represents having an expanded (blossomed) heart.

Sutra 45

Devanagari

‘‘गौरीर्मिमाय सलिलानि तक्षत्येकपदी द्विपदी सा चतुष्पदी । अष्टापदी नवपदी बभूवुषी सहस्राक्षरा परमे व्योमन्।।’’ इत्यौचथ्येन दीर्घतमसा दृष्ट्या वैदिक्या जगत्या विद्यया वा । ।। 45।।

Transliteration

45. ‘‘Gaurīrmimāya salilāni takṣatyekapadī dvipadī sā catuṣpadī। aṣṭāpadī navapadī babhūvuṣī sahasrākṣarā parame vyoman।।’’ ityauca-thyena dīrghatamasā dṛṣṭyā vaidikyā jagatyā vidyayā vā.

Translation

Through the Vedic Jagati meter or knowledge, as seen by Dirghatamas, son of Uchathya: “The Cow (Gauri) lowed, fashioning the waters…”

Sutra 46

Devanagari

‘‘गौर्धयति मरुतां श्रवस्युर्माता मघोनाम् । युक्ता वज्री रथानाम् ।।’’ इत्याङ्गिरसेन बिन्दुना दृष्ट्या गायत्रया वा ।। 46।।

Transliteration

46. ‘‘Gaurdhayati marutāṃ śravasyurmātā maghonām। yuktā vajrī rathānām।।’’ ityāṅgirasena bindunā dṛṣṭyā gāyatryā vā.

Translation

Through the Gayatri meter or the “Point” (Bindu), as seen by Angirasa: “The Cow (Gauri) sucks the mother of the Maruts…”

Sutra 47

Devanagari

व्यक्तशब्ददृष्ट्या तारां बार्हस्पत्यां शक्तिमाहुः ।। 47।।

Transliteration

47. Vyaktaśabdadṛṣṭyā tārāṃ bārhaspatyāṃ śaktimāhuḥ.

Translation

From the perspective of manifest speech, Tara is called the power of Brihaspati.

Sutra 48

Devanagari

बृहस्पतिर्हि व्यक्तशब्देशः ।। 48।।

Transliteration

48. Bṛhaspatir-hi vyaktaśabdeśaḥ.

Translation

For Brihaspati is the Lord of manifest speech.

Sutra 49

Devanagari

वागाश्रयदृष्ट्या जिह्वा तारा ।। 49।।

Transliteration

49. Vāgāśrayadṛṣṭyā jihvā tārā.

Translation

From the perspective of the locus of speech, Tara is the tongue.

Sutra 50

Devanagari

रसाश्रयश्च भवति ।। 50।।

Transliteration

50. Rasāśrayaśca bhavati.

Translation

She is also the locus of taste (rasa).

Sutra 51

Devanagari

रसः सोमः ।। 51।।

Transliteration

51. Rasas somaḥ.

Translation

Taste is Soma.

Sutra 52

Devanagari

भक्षयन्त्यास्तद्योगेन बोधोत्पत्तिः ।। 52।।

Transliteration

52. Bhakṣayantyāstadyogena bodhotpattiḥ.

Translation

By “consuming” (experiencing) Her, the birth of wisdom (bodha) occurs through that union.

Sutra 53

Devanagari

बोधो बुधः ।। 53।।

Transliteration

53. Bodho budhaḥ.

Translation

Wisdom is Budha (Mercury).

Sutra 54

Devanagari

ताराशशाङ्ककथाया इदं मूलम् ।। 54।।

Transliteration

54. Tārāśaśāṅkakathāyā idaṃ mūlam.

Translation

This is the root of the story of Tara and Shashanka (the Moon).

Sutra 55

Devanagari

ग्रहा ऋषयो वा नात्र कथायां बृहस्पतिसोमबुधाः ।। 55।।

Transliteration

55. Grahā ṛṣayo vā nātra kathāyāṃ bṛhaspatisomabudhāḥ.

Translation

In this story, Brihaspati, Soma, and Budha are not the planets or the Rishis (but these principles of speech and consciousness).

Sutra 56

Devanagari

शुद्धमुपासनं तस्या अन्तरव्यक्ते शब्दे स्थितिः ।। 56।।

Transliteration

56. Śuddhamupāsanaṃ tasyā antaravyakte śabde sthitiḥ.

Translation

Her pure worship is to remain established in the unmanifest sound within.

Sutra 57

Devanagari

मनसोङ्कारमन्त्रानुसन्धानादव्यक्तशब्दनिष्ठाऽन्ततः सिध्येत् ।। 57।।

Transliteration

57. Manasoṅkāramantrānusandhānā-davyaktaśabdaniṣṭhā’ntataḥ sidhyet.

Translation

By meditating on the Omkara mantra with the mind, the state of unmanifest sound is eventually achieved.

Sutra 58

Devanagari

संकल्पमूलान्वीक्षणेन वा ।। 58।।

Transliteration

58. Saṅkalpamūlānvīkṣaṇena vā.

Translation

Or by observing the source of one’s intentions (sankalpa).

Sutra 59

Devanagari

अनुज्ञामुद्रया वा ।। 59।।

Transliteration

59. Anujñāmudrayā vā.

Translation

Or through the Anujna Mudra.

Sutra 60

Devanagari

इयमक्षरविद्योपनिषत्सु गीयते ।। 60।।

Transliteration

60. Iyamakṣaravidyopaniṣatsu gīyate.

Translation

This is sung in the Upanishads of the Knowledge of the Imperishable (Akshara Vidya).

Sutra 61

Devanagari

कैश्चिदुद्गीथविद्या ।। 61।।

Transliteration

61. Kaischidudgīthavidyā.

Translation

This is the “Knowledge of the Chant” (Udgitha Vidya) according to some.

Sutra 62

Devanagari

सर्वेषामधिकार ओङ्कारमन्त्रे ।। 62।।

Transliteration

62. Sarveṣām-adhikāra oṅkāramantre.

Translation

Everyone has the right to the Omkara mantra.

Sutra 63

Devanagari

संन्यासिनामेवेति समयमात्रम् ।। 63।।

Transliteration

63. Saṃnyāsināmeveti samayamātram.

Translation

The idea that it is only for Sannyasins is merely a convention (samaya).

Sutra 64

Devanagari

समयस्य समयान्तरापोद्यत्वात् न सार्वकालिकं प्रामाण्यम् ।। 64।।

Transliteration

64. Samayasya samayāntarāpodyatvāt na sārvakālikaṃ prāmāṇyam.

Translation

Since one convention can be set aside by another, it does not have universal, eternal authority.

Sutra 65

Devanagari

तारोपासनाद्दिव्यविज्ञानो भवेद्दिव्यविज्ञानो भवेत् ।। 65।।

Transliteration

65. Tāropāsanād-divyavijñāno bhaveddivyavijñāno bhavet.

Translation

From the worship of Tara, one becomes possessed of divine wisdom; one becomes possessed of divine wisdom.

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