गुरुणा कमलासनमुरशासनपुरशासनसेवया लब्धे
When, by the service of the guru—who himself serves the Lord seated on the lotus and the Lord who wields the city as his domain—one obtains [the desired knowledge or initiation],
वामपार्श्वे गुरोस्तिष्ठेदमानी विनयान्वितः
He should stand humbly, filled with reverence, at the left side of the guru.
विमुच्य नेत्रबन्धं तु दर्शयेदर्चनक्रमम्
Releasing the binding of the eyes, he should demonstrate the sequence of worship.
महात्रिपुरसुन्दर्या नैवेद्यमिति चादिशेत्
He should instruct, 'This is the offering for Mahātripurasundarī.'
ततो बहिर्विनिर्गत्य स्थाप्य दार्वासने शुचिम्
Then, going outside, he should seat the pure one (the disciple) on a wooden seat.
शिष्यं श्रीकुम्भसलिलैरभिषिञ्चेत्समन्त्रकम्
He should anoint the disciple with water from the auspicious pot, accompanied by mantras.
अष्टोत्तरशतं मन्त्रं जप्त्वा निद्रामथाविशेत्
Having recited the mantra one hundred and eight times, he should then enter sleep.
दुःस्वप्ने तु जपं कुर्यादष्टोत्तरसहस्रकम्
If he has a bad dream, he should perform japa of the mantra one thousand and eight times.
यदा न दृष्टः स्वप्नो ऽपि तदा सिद्धिश्चिराद्भवेत्
If even a dream is not seen, then attainment will be long delayed.
सद्य एव स शिष्यः स्यात्पङ्क्तिपावनपावनः
Immediately, that disciple becomes a purifier of the line of those who partake in the sacred meal.
तदधीनश्च रेन्नित्यं तद्वाक्यं नैव लघयेत्
He should always remain dependent on that [guru], and never disregard his words.
दुर्लभं तं विजानीयाद्गुरुं संसारतारकम्
He should recognize that guru, who leads across the ocean of existence, as rare to obtain.
अन्धकारनिरोधित्वाद्गुरुरित्यभिधीयते
Because he removes darkness, he is called 'guru.'
गुरुक्तं परुषं वाक्यमाशिषं परिचिन्तयेत्
He should reflect upon the harsh words or blessings spoken by the guru.
आददीत ततो ज्ञानं पूर्वं तमभिवादयेत्
He should then receive knowledge from him, having first offered his salutations.
गुरुभक्तिस्सदाचारस्तद्द्रोहस्तत्र पातकम्
Devotion to the guru and good conduct are meritorious; enmity toward him is a sin in this matter.
यत्पापं समवाप्नोति गुर्वग्रे ऽनृतभाषणत्
The sin one incurs by speaking falsely in the presence of the guru—
ब्रह्मादिस्तंब पर्यतं यस्य मे गुरुसंततिः
—extends from Brahmā down to a blade of grass, for whom my lineage of gurus exists.
इति सर्वानुकूलो यः स शिष्यः परिकीर्तितः
Thus, the disciple who is entirely agreeable in all respects is described.
गुरुशासनवर्तित्वाच्छिष्य इत्यभिधीयते
He is called a disciple because he follows the commands of the teacher.
जपध्यानादियुक्तस्य क्षिप्रं मन्त्रः प्रसिध्यति
For one engaged in recitation, meditation, and similar practices, the mantra quickly becomes effective.
तथा समाधिसा मर्थ्याद्ब्रह्मीभूतो भवेन्नरः
Likewise, through samadhi, a mortal becomes transformed into a state of Brahman.
तथैव मीलयेन्नेत्रे एतद्ध्यानस्य लक्षणम्
In the same way, one closes the eyes; this is the mark of that meditation.
किङ्करत्वं च गच्छन्ति मन्त्रा मन्त्राधिपैः सह
Mantras, together with their presiding deities, attain the state of servitude.
योगस्तपः स तन्मन्त्रस्तद्धनं यन्निरीक्षणम्
Yoga, austerity, that mantra, and that wealth are whatever is observed.
यत्रयत्र मनो याति तत्रतत्र समाधयः
Wherever the mind goes, there samadhis arise.
न तस्य किञ्चिदाप्तव्यं ज्ञातव्यं वावशिष्यते
He has nothing left to attain or to know.
जपकोटिसमं ध्यानं ध्यानकोटिसमो लयः
Meditation equal to a crore of recitations, and absorption equal to a crore of meditations.
त्यजेदज्ञाननिर्माल्यं सोहंभावेन योजयेत्
He should abandon the impurity of ignorance and unite with the 'soham' consciousness.
पाशबद्धः स्मृतो जीवः पाशमुक्तो महेश्वरः
The living being bound by fetters is called jiva; freed from fetters, he is Maheshvara.