ध्यै चिंतायां स्मृतो धातुः शिवचिंता मुहुर्मुहुः
In meditation, the root is said to be contemplation; repeated contemplation of Shiva.
योगाभ्यासस्तथाल्पे ऽपि यथा पापं विनाशयेत् ध्यायतः क्षणमात्रं वा श्रद्धया परमेश्वरम्
Even a little practice of yoga destroys sin, just as meditating on the Supreme Lord for even a moment with faith.
अव्याक्षिप्तेन मनसा ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते
Meditation is said to be that which is done with an undistracted mind.
बुद्धिप्रवाहरूपस्य ध्यानस्यास्यावलंबनम् ध्येयमित्युच्यते सद्भिस्तच्च सांबः स्वयं शिवः
The object of meditation, according to the wise, is that which serves as the support for this meditation, which is of the nature of the flow of the intellect; and that is Shiva himself, together with his consort.
विमुक्तिप्रत्ययं पूर्णमैश्वर्यं चाणिमादिकम् शिवध्यानस्य पूर्णस्य साक्षादुक्तं प्रयोजनम्
The direct result of complete meditation on Shiva is liberation, perfect sovereignty, and powers such as becoming minute.
यस्मात्सौख्यं च मोक्षं च ध्यानादभयमाप्नुयात् तस्मात्सर्वं परित्यज्य ध्यानयुक्तो भवेन्नरः
Since happiness and liberation, and freedom from fear, are attained through meditation, therefore, abandoning everything else, a person should be devoted to meditation.
नास्ति ध्यानं विना ज्ञानं नास्ति ध्यानमयोगिनः ध्यानं ज्ञानं च यस्यास्ति तीर्णस्तेन भवार्णवः
There is no knowledge without meditation, nor meditation without a yogin; whoever possesses both meditation and knowledge has crossed the ocean of worldly existence.
ज्ञानं प्रसन्नमेकाग्रमशेषोपाधिवर्जितम् योगाभ्यासेन युक्तस्य योगिनस्त्वेव सिध्यति
Knowledge that is serene, one-pointed, and free from all limiting adjuncts is attained only by the yogin who is engaged in the practice of yoga.
प्रक्षीणाशेषपापानां ज्ञाने ध्याने भवेन्मतिः पापोपहतबुद्धीनां तद्वार्तापि सुदुर्लभा
For those whose every sin has been destroyed, the mind abides in knowledge and meditation; for those whose intellect is afflicted by sin, even talk of these is exceedingly rare.
यथावह्निर्महादीप्तः शुष्कमार्द्रं च निर्दहेत् तथा शुभाशुभं कर्म ध्यानाग्निर्दहते क्षणात्
Just as a blazing fire burns both dry and wet things, so the fire of meditation instantly burns up both good and bad actions.
अत्यल्पो ऽपि यथा दीपः सुमहन्नाशयेत्तमः योगाभ्यासस्तथाल्पो ऽपि महापापं विनाशयेत्
Even a very small lamp can dispel great darkness; in the same way, even a little practice of yoga destroys great sin.
ध्यायतः क्षणमात्रं वा श्रद्धया परमेश्वरम् यद्भवेत्सुमहच्छ्रेयस्तस्यांतो नैव विद्यते
For one who meditates on the Supreme Lord, even for a moment with faith, the resulting supreme good has no end.
नास्ति ध्यानसमं तीर्थं नास्ति ध्यानसमं तपः नास्ति ध्यानसमो यज्ञस्तस्माद्ध्यानं समाचरेत्
There is no pilgrimage equal to meditation, no austerity equal to meditation, no sacrifice equal to meditation; therefore, one should practice meditation.
तीर्थानि तोयपूर्णानि देवान्पाषाणमृन्मयान् योगिनो न प्रपद्यंते स्वात्मप्रत्ययकारणात्
The yogins do not resort to pilgrimages filled with water or to gods made of stone or clay, because their conviction is rooted in their own Self.
योगिनां च वपुः सूक्ष्मं भवेत्प्रत्यक्षमैश्वरम् यथा स्थूलमयुक्तानां मृत्काष्ठाद्यैः प्रकल्पितम्
For yogins, the subtle body is directly perceived as divine, just as for those not engaged in yoga, the gross forms made of clay or wood are imagined.
यथेहांतश्चरा राज्ञः प्रियाः स्युर्न बहिश्चराः तथांतर्ध्याननिरताः प्रियाश्शंभोर्न कर्मिणः
Just as those who dwell within the palace are dear to the king, not those outside, so those devoted to inner meditation are dear to Śambhu, not those engaged in ritual acts.
बहिस्करा यथा लोके नातीव फलभोगिनः दृष्ट्वा नरेन्द्रभवने तद्वदत्रापि कर्मिणः
Those who remain outside, as in the world, do not enjoy much reward, even if seen in the king’s palace; so too, here, those who act only ritually.
यद्यंतरा विपद्यंते ज्ञानयोगार्थमुद्यतः योगस्योद्योगमात्रेण रुद्रलोकं गमिष्यति
If those who strive for knowledge and yoga fall short along the way, by effort alone in yoga they will go to the world of Rudra.
अनुभूय सुखं तत्र स जातो योगिनां कुले ज्ञानयोगं पुनर्लब्ध्वा संसारमतिवर्तते
Having experienced happiness there, he is born in the family of yogins; regaining knowledge and yoga, he transcends worldly existence.
जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य यां गतिं लभते नरः न तां गतिमवाप्नोति सर्वैरपि महामखैः
Even the one who merely desires to know yoga attains a state which cannot be reached by all the greatest sacrifices.
द्विजानां वेदविदुषां कोटिं संपूज्य यत्फलम् भिक्षामात्रप्रदानेन तत्फलं शिवयोगिने
The fruit obtained by worshipping a crore of twice-born knowers of the Veda is gained by giving even a single alms to a Śiva-yogin.
यज्ञाग्निहोत्रदानेन तीर्थहोमेषु यत्फलम् योगिनामन्नदानेन तत्समस्तं फलं लभेत्
Whatever fruit is gained by offering sacrifices, fire rituals, or pilgrimages, the yogin attains all that fruit by giving food.
ये चापवादं कुर्वंति विमूढाश्शिवयोगिनाम् श्रोतृभिस्ते प्रपद्यन्ते नरकेष्वामहीक्षयात्
Those deluded ones who slander Śiva-yogins fall, along with their listeners, into hells ruled by Yama.
सति श्रोतरि वक्तास्यादपवादस्य योगिनाम् तस्माच्छ्रोता च पापीयान्दण्ड्यस्सुमहतां मतः ये पुनः सततं भक्त्या भजंति शवयोगिनः
If there is a listener, the speaker of slander against yogins is also at fault; therefore, the listener is considered even more sinful and deserving of severe punishment. But those who always worship the Śiva-yogins with devotion—
ते विदंति महाभोगानंते योगं च शांकरम् भोगार्थिभिर्नरैस्तस्मात्संपूज्याः शिवयोगिनः
They know the boundless enjoyments and the endless yoga of Shiva; therefore, those who desire enjoyment should worship the yogins devoted to Shiva.
प्रतिश्रयान्नपानाद्यैः शय्याप्रावरणादिभिः योगधर्मः ससारत्वादभेद्यः पापमुद्गरैः
By providing shelter, food, drink, beds, coverings, and the like, the discipline of yoga, being substantial, is not broken by the hammers of sin.
वज्रतंदुलवज्ज्ञेयं तथा पापेन योगिनः न लिप्यंते च तापौघैः पद्मपत्रं यथांभसा
Just as rice grains are hard, so too are yogins firm against sin; they are not tainted by the multitude of afflictions, just as a lotus leaf is not wetted by water.
यस्मिन्देशे वसेन्नित्यं शिवयोगरतो मुनिः सो ऽपि देशो भवेत्पूतः सपूत इति किं पुनः
Wherever a sage devoted to Shiva-yoga dwells continually, that place too becomes pure—how much more so, then, if it is already pure.
तस्मात्सर्वं परित्यज्य कृत्यमन्यद्विचक्षणः सर्वदुःखप्रहाणाय शिवयोगं समभ्यसेत्
Therefore, abandoning all other duties, the wise should practice Shiva-yoga for the removal of all suffering.
सिद्धयोगफलो योगी लोकानां हितकाम्यया भोगान्भुक्त्वा यथाकामं विहरेद्वात्र वर्तताम्
The yogin, having attained the fruits of accomplished yoga, may, out of desire for the welfare of the worlds, enjoy pleasures as he wishes or remain here as he pleases.