Guha gita 4.1 to 4.35 in English

Courtesy; Sri.P.R.Kannan

GUHAGITA
 *अथ चतुर्थोऽध्यायः*
Chapter Four
 *ज्ञानोत्पत्तिः*
Birth of Gnana

हिडिम्भ उवाच- Hidimbha said
सङ्कोचो देहयात्रायां प्राणिनां अस्ति षण्मुख ।
तेषु ज्ञानार्थिनां बुद्धिरुपक्षीणा भवेत्किल ॥ ४.१॥
O Shanmukha, during the mundane progress of life (Dehayatra) of living beings, there is deterioration (of bodily faculties). Among all the persons, the intellect of aspirants of Gnana also declines indeed. (4.1)

तद्धेतोः ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः देहयात्रा च दुर्लभा ।
तस्यास्तस्याश्च सौलभ्यं कथं भवति सद्गुरो ॥ ४.२॥
O Sadguru, owing to that reason, for both acquisition of Gnana and normal mundane life to proceed together is difficult. How does one attain both easily? (4.2)

श्रीभिक्षुरुवाच- Sri Bhikshu said
हन्त तात प्रवक्ष्यामि ज्ञानोत्पत्तेस्तु कारणम् ।
विना येन शिवज्ञानं न जायेत कथञ्चन ॥ ४.३॥
O dear child, I shall tell you the cause of birth of Gnana. Without this, true knowledge of Siva cannot arise by any means. (4.3)

मुमुक्षुरतिसन्तुष्टः सिद्ध्यत्येव गतिर्मम ।
इति निश्चयबुद्धिस्तु प्रतिबन्धनिवृत्तये ॥ ४.४॥
The aspirant, who is very keen on Liberation and is highly contented, certainly attains my state. This resolute intellect is necessary for relief from obstacles. (4.4)

देवतास्सकला नित्यं प्रार्थयेन्मतिमुत्तमः ।
अधिकारी भवेत्तत्र जन्मना कर्मणा द्विजः ॥ ४.५॥
One, who is brahmana by birth and actions, and is of high intellect, should pray to all Devatas; he would then be qualified (to strive for Gnana). (4.5)

नमोऽस्तु ब्रह्मणे वायो नमोऽस्तु तव शोभनम् ।
त्वमेव साक्षाद् ब्रह्मासि त्वां वदिष्यामि शङ्करम् ॥ ४.७॥
My prostrations to Brahma; My prostrations to Vayu; May you be splendorous. You are Brahman indeed; I shall call you Sankara. (4.7)

ऋतं च सत्यं चाहं त्वां वदिष्यामि समाहितः ।
तन्मामवतु कल्याणं तद्वक्तारं च शोभनम् ॥ ४.८॥
With concentrated mind, I shall call you Cosmic order (Rita), Truth (Satya). May that Brahman protect me with auspiciousness; may Brahman grant splendour to one who speaks of him. (4.8)

शताक्षरां च गायत्रीं जपेन्नित्यं दिने दिने ।
तन्मन्त्रपूतोदकेन स्नानपानादिनाऽपि च ॥ ४.१२॥
He should chant Shatakshara Gayatri every day, and use the water sanctified by that mantra for bath, drinking etc. (4.12)

 *Shatakshara Gayatri is given in Devi Bhagavatham as follows:*
ऊँ तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् |  त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्, उर्वारुकमिव बंधनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीयमाsमृतात्  | जातवेदसे सुनवाम सोममरातीयतो निदहाति वेदः | स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुं दुरितात्यग्निः  ||
It can be seen that this Shatakshari Gayatri mantra, of 100 letters, comprises Gayatri mantra, Mrityunjaya mantra and the first mantra of Durga Suktam. Devi Bhagavatham recommends that this Shatakshari Gayatri mantra be chanted first every time Gayatri mantra is chanted during Sandhyavandanam.

ज्ञानोत्पत्तिर्भवत्येव शिवभक्त्या च सन्ततम् ।
उपायमपरं चापि ब्रवीमि शृणु सादरम् ॥ ४.१३॥
Genesis of Gnana happens always only through devotion to Siva. I shall tell you another method; listen carefully. (4.13)

गुरोर्भक्तिर्दृढा यस्य स्वतो ज्ञानं प्रजायते ।
बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते गुरुभक्तिः प्रजायते ॥ ४.१४॥
For one, whose devotion to Guru is firm, Gnana arises on its own. At the end of many births, devotion to Guru arises in man. (4.14)

गुरुभक्तियुते जन्तौ ज्ञानोत्पत्तिर्न संशयः ।
यथाकथञ्चित् स भवेत् ब्राह्मणो जायते भुवि ॥ ४.१५॥
In one, who has devotion to Guru, Gnana arises; no doubt about it. Somehow he is born a brahmana on earth. (4.15)

ब्राह्मणो गुरुभक्तस्तु श्रुतिज्ञानात् प्रमुच्यते ।
श्रुतिप्रामाण्यबुद्धिर्हि मोक्षस्य गतिरुच्यते ॥ ४.१६॥
A brahmana, devoted to Guru, is liberated through knowledge of Veda. It is faith in the authority of Veda that leads to Moksha, it is said. (4.16)

प्रारब्धं पुष्यति वपुः इति निश्चित्य चेतसा ।
धैर्यमालम्ब्य यत्नेन तूष्णीं स्थितिरपि स्वयम् ॥ ४.१७॥
With the mind determined that it is fate that nourishes the body, the aspirant should resort to courage and remain silent through resolute effort. (4.17)

Here sitting silent does not refer to mere silence in speech, but quietening and concentrating the mind on Parabrahman.
तदशक्तः स्मरेन्नित्यं मन्त्रं वा श्रद्धया सह ।
ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वा वानप्रस्थश्च भिक्षुकः ॥ ४.२०॥
If unable to do so, one should at least chant the mantras daily with sincerity, whether he be brahmachari, householder (grihastha), anchorite (vanaprastha) or ascetic (Sanyasi). (4.20)

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ ४.२२॥
To those who always think of me and engage in exclusive devotion to me, whose minds are always absorbed in me, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess. (4.22)

This verse is same as the well-known verse in Bhagavadgita, 9.22.

नित्यं देवाचर्नपराः सत्क्रियादग्धकिल्बिषाः ।

एवं ज्ञानार्थिनां सम्यक् साधनानि बहूनि च ॥ ४.३४॥

They keenly perform ritual Puja of Devas daily and burn away their sins through virtuous actions. Thus there are many good means for aspirants of Gnana. (4.34)

सन्ति तेषां मुख्यतमानीदानीं कथितानि वै ।

ज्ञानं वेदान्तविज्ञानं ब्रह्मात्मैकत्वगोचरम् ॥ ४.३५॥

Of all the means, the most important have been told to you. Gnana is the actual experience of the truth of Vedanta and the unity of Brahman and Atma (Self- Jivatma). (4.35)