न लग्नतिथिनक्षत्रवारयोगादयः प्रिये अस्यात्यंतमवेक्ष्याः स्युर्नैष सप्तस्सदोदितः
Beloved, auspicious times, lunar days, stars, weekdays, and yogas are not to be considered for this; it is not governed by the seven prescribed rules.
न कदाचिन्न कस्यापि रिपुरेष महामनुः सुसिद्धो वापि सिद्धो वा साध्यो वापि भविष्यति
This great mantra is never, for anyone, at any time, an enemy; whether perfectly accomplished, accomplished, or to be accomplished, it will always be so.
सिद्धेन गुरुणादिष्टस्सुसिद्ध इति कथ्यते असिद्धेनापि वा दत्तस्सिद्धसाध्यस्तु केवलः
When instructed by a perfected guru, it is called perfectly accomplished; even if given by an unaccomplished one, it is merely accomplished and to be perfected.
असाधितस्साधितो वा सिध्यत्वेन न संशयः श्रद्धातिशययुक्तस्य मयि मंत्रे तथा गुरौ
Whether perfected or not, it is accomplished without doubt for one endowed with supreme faith in me, in the mantra, and in the guru.
आश्रमेत्परमां विद्यां साक्षात्पञ्चाक्षरीं बुधः
The wise should learn the supreme knowledge, the five-syllable mantra, directly in the ashram.
मंत्रान्तरेषु सिद्धेषु मंत्र एष न सिध्यति सिद्धे त्वस्मिन्महामंत्रे ते च सिद्धा भवंत्युत
Among other mantras, even if they are accomplished, this mantra does not become accomplished; but when this great mantra is accomplished, those others also become accomplished.
यथा देवेष्वलब्धो ऽस्मि लब्धेष्वपि महेश्वरि मयि लब्धे तु ते लब्धा मंत्रेष्वेषु समो विधिः
O Great Goddess, just as I am not attained among the gods, even among those who are attained, when I am attained, then you are attained; in these mantras, the rule is the same.
ये दोषास्सर्वमंत्राणां न ते ऽस्मिन्संभवंत्यपि अस्य मंत्रस्य जात्यादीननपेक्ष्य प्रवर्तनात्
Whatever faults exist in all other mantras, they do not occur in this one, because this mantra is practiced without regard for caste or other conditions.
तथापि नैव क्षुद्रेषु फलेषु प्रति योगिषु सहसा विनियुंजीत तस्मादेष महाबलः
Even so, one should not hastily employ it among those engaged in lowly or trivial aims; therefore, this mantra is of great power.
एवं साक्षान्महादेव्यै महादेवेन शूलिना हिता य जगतामुक्तः पञ्चाक्षरविधिर्यथा
Thus, the procedure of the five-syllabled mantra has been directly spoken for the benefit of the worlds by Mahadeva, the wielder of the trident, to Mahadevi.
य इदं कीर्तयेद्भक्त्या शृणुयाद्वा समाहितः सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः प्रयाति परमां गतिम्
Whoever recites this with devotion, or listens to it with concentration, is freed from all sins and attains the highest state.
भगवान्मंत्रमाहात्म्यं भवता कथितं प्रभो तत्प्रयोगविधानं च साक्षाच्छ्रुतिसमं यथा
O Lord, you have described the greatness of the mantra and its method of application, which is as direct as the Veda.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि शिवसंस्कारमुत्तमम् मंत्रसंग्रहणे किंचित्सूचितन्न तु विस्मृतम्
Now I wish to hear about the supreme initiation of Shiva; something has been indicated regarding the collection of mantras, but not forgotten.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि सर्वपापविशोधनम् संस्कारं परमं पुण्यं शिवेन पतिभाषितम्
Indeed, I will tell you the supreme, meritorious initiation, which destroys all sins, as spoken by Shiva himself.
सम्यक् कृताधिकारः स्यात्पूजादिषु नरो यतः संस्कारः कथ्यते तेन षडध्वपरिशोधनम्
A person becomes fully qualified for worship and other rites through this initiation, which is therefore described as the purification of the six paths.
दीयते येन विज्ञानं क्षीयते पाशबंधनम् तस्मात्संस्कार एवायं दीक्षेत्यपि च कथ्यते
By which knowledge is imparted and the bonds of fetters are destroyed, therefore this initiation is also called consecration.
शांभवी चैव शाक्ती च मांत्री चैव शिवागमे दीक्षोपदिश्यते त्रेधा शिवेन परमात्मना
In the Shiva scriptures, initiation is taught in three ways by Shiva, the Supreme Self: Shaambhavi, Shaakti, and Maantri.
गुरोरालोकमात्रेण स्पर्शात्संभाषणादपि सद्यस्संज्ञा भवेज्जंतोः पाशोपक्षयकारिणी
By merely seeing the guru, by touch, or even by conversation, immediate recognition arises in the being, causing the destruction of fetters.
सा दीक्षा शांभवी प्रोक्ता सा पुनर्भिद्यते द्विधा तीव्रा तीव्रतरा चेति पाशो पक्षयभेदतः
This is called Shaambhavi initiation, and it is again divided into two: intense and most intense, according to the degree of fetter destruction.
यया स्यान्निर्वृतिः सद्यस्सैव तीव्रतरा मता तीव्रा तु जीवतोत्यंतं पुंसः पापविशोधिका
That by which immediate liberation occurs is considered most intense; the intense one purifies a person's sins completely while alive.
शक्ती ज्ञानवती दीक्षा शिष्यदेहं प्रविश्य तु गुरुणा योगमार्गेण क्रियते ज्ञानचक्षुषा
Shaakti initiation, endowed with knowledge, is performed by the guru, who, through the path of yoga and the eye of knowledge, enters the disciple's body.
मांत्री क्रियावती दीक्षा कुंडमंडलपूर्विका मंदमंदतरोद्देशात्कर्तव्या गुरुणा बहिः
Maantri initiation, endowed with ritual, is preceded by the arrangement of the pot and the circle; it should be performed externally by the guru, gradually and gently.
शक्तिपातानुसारेण शिष्यो ऽनुग्रहमर्हति शैवधर्मानुसारस्य तन्मूलत्वात्समासतः
According to the descent of power, the disciple is worthy of grace, since the observance of Shaiva dharma is rooted in that, in summary.
यत्र शक्तिर्न पतिता तत्र शुद्धिर्न जायते न विद्या न शिवाचारो न मुक्तिर्न च सिद्धयः
Where power has not descended, there is no purity, no knowledge, no Shaiva conduct, no liberation, nor any accomplishments.
तस्माल्लिंगानि संवीक्ष्य शक्तिपातस्य भूयसः ज्ञानेन क्रियया वाथ गुरुश्शिष्यं विशोधयेत्
Therefore, having observed the signs of a powerful descent of energy, the teacher should purify the disciple by means of knowledge or action.
यो ऽन्यथा कुरुते मोहात्स विनश्यति दुर्मतिः तस्मात्सर्वप्रकारेण गुरुः शिष्यं परीक्षयेत्
Whoever acts otherwise out of delusion, that misguided person perishes; therefore, in every way, the teacher should examine the disciple.
लक्षणं शक्तिपातस्य प्रबोधानंदसंभवः सा यस्मात्परमा शक्तिः प्रबोधानंदरूपिणी
The mark of the descent of energy is the arising of awakening and bliss; for that supreme energy is of the nature of awakening and bliss.
आनंदबोधयोर्लिंगमंतःकरणविक्रियाः यथा स्यात्कंपरोमांचस्वरनेत्रांगविक्रियाः
The signs of awakening and bliss are disturbances within the mind, such as trembling, goosebumps, voice, eyes, and limbs undergoing changes.
शिष्योपि लक्षणैरेभिः कुर्याद्गुरुपरीक्षणम् तत्संपर्कैः शिवार्चादौ संगतैर्वाथ तद्गतैः
The disciple too should examine the teacher by these signs, through contact in worship of Shiva or by association with those connected to him.
शिष्यस्तु शिक्षणीयत्वाद्गुरोर्गौरवकारणात् तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गुरोर्गौरवमाचरेत्
Because the disciple is to be instructed and due to the teacher's dignity, therefore, with utmost effort, the disciple should honor the teacher.