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.
यो गुरुस्स शिवः प्रोक्तो यः शिवः स गुरुः स्मृतः गुरुर्वा शिव एवाथ विद्याकारेण संस्थितः
The teacher is declared to be Shiva; Shiva is remembered as the teacher; or Shiva himself abides in the form of knowledge.
यथा शिवस्तथा विद्या यथा विद्या तथा गुरुः शिवविद्या गुरूणां च पूजया सदृशं फलम्
As Shiva, so is knowledge; as knowledge, so is the teacher; the fruit of worshipping Shiva, knowledge, and teachers is alike.
सर्वदेवात्मकश्चासौ सर्वमंत्रमयो गुरुः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन यस्याज्ञां शिरसा वहेत्
He is the essence of all gods, the teacher is composed of all mantras; therefore, with utmost effort, one should bear his command upon one's head.
श्रेयो ऽर्थी यदि गुर्वाज्ञां मनसापि न लंघयेत् गुर्वाज्ञापालको यस्माज्ज्ञानसंपत्तिमश्नुते
If one seeks welfare, one should not transgress the teacher's command even in thought; for the keeper of the teacher's command attains the wealth of knowledge.
गच्छंस्तिष्ठन्स्वपन्भुंजन्नान्यत्कर्म समाचरेत् समक्षं यदि कुर्वीत सर्वं चानुज्ञया गुरोः
Whether walking, standing, sleeping, or eating, one should not perform any other action; if anything is done in the teacher's presence, it should be with his permission.
गुरोर्गृहे समक्षं वा न यथेष्टासनो भवेत् गुरुर्देवो यतः साक्षात्तद्गृहं देवमन्दिरम्
In the teacher's house or presence, one should not sit as one pleases; since the teacher is directly divine, his house is a temple.
पापिनां च यथा संगात्तत्पापात्पतितो भवेत् यथेह वह्निसंपर्कान्मलं त्यजति कांचनम्
Just as by association with the wicked one falls into their sin, so here, by contact with fire, gold sheds its impurity.
तथैव गुरुसंपर्कात्पापं त्यजति मानवः यथा वह्निसमीपस्थो घृतकुम्भो विलीयते
In the same way, by association with the teacher, a person sheds sin; just as a pot of ghee melts near fire.
तथा पापं विलीयेत ह्याचार्यस्य समीपतः यथा प्रज्वलितो वह्निः शुष्कमार्द्रं च निर्दहेत्
So too, sin dissolves near the teacher; just as blazing fire consumes both dry and moist things.
तथायमपि संतुष्टो गुरुः पापं क्षणाद्दहेत् मनसा कर्मणा वाचा गुरोः क्रोधं न कारयेत्
Thus, when the teacher is pleased, he burns away sin in an instant; one should not provoke the teacher's anger by thought, deed, or word.