Wave of Bliss of the Liberated

Jivana Muktananda Lahari of Shri Adi Shankara
(The wave of Bliss of the Jèvan-mukta)

Pure paurán paùyannara yuvati nánákøti mayán
suveùán svarïálañkaraïa kalithámùcitra sadøùán
Svayam sákúáddraúûetyapi ca kalayamstaiç saha raman
munir na vyámoham bhajati guru dèkúákúata tamáç(1)

Seeing, like pictures, the people of the city consisting of men and young women of different forms clad in attractive dress and decked with ornaments of gold, Realising that he is actually seeing them and mixing merrily with them. The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.

Vane vøkúán-paùyan-dala phalabharánnamra suùikhán
ghanaccháyácchannán bahula kala küjad dvija gaïán
Bhajañghasre rátrávavanitalatal paika ùayano
munir na vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúákúatatamáç (2)

Seeing in the forest, trees which bend their lovely heads with the weight of foliage and fruits, which spread thick shade and have groups of birds singing sweet; Resorting to them by day (for prayer) and by night lying on the ground serving as bed; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.

Kadácit prásáde kvacidapi ca saudheúu dhaninám
kadá kále kvacidapi ca küleúu saritám
Kuûère dántánám munijanavaráïámapi vasan
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúákúata tamáç (3)

Living sometimes in a palace, then somewhere in the mansions of the rich, At times on a mountain and then somewhere on the banks of rivers, and sometimes in the hut of ascetics rich in self-restraint; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.

Kvacidbálaiç sárdham karatalaja tálaiç saha sitaiç
kvacittáruïtálañkøta nara vadhübhiç saha raman
Kvacid vøddhaiùcintákulita hødayaiùcápi vilapan
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúákúata-tamáç (4)

Sporting somewhere in the company of boys with clap of hands, And elsewhere in the company of young women full of laughter, And sometimes lamenting with aged folk pensive with heavy hearts, The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.

Kadácid vidvadbhir vividiúubhi ratyanta nirataiç
kadácit kávyálankøti rasa rasálaiç kavivaraiç
Kadácit sattarkaiç anumitiparais tárkikavaraiç
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúákúata-tamáç (5)

Sometimes (conversing) with the learned and those keen on learning; Sometimes with eminent poets versed in poetic figures and sentiments; while at times with eminent logicians prone to right reasoning and inferences; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by guru's grace (dèkúá), is not al all deluded.

Kadá dhyánábhyásaiç kvacidapi saparyám vikasitaiç
sugnandhaiç sat puúpaiç kvacidapi dalaireva vimalaiç
Prakurvan devasya pramuditamanáhçsannati paro
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúákúata-tamáç (6)

Sometimes engaged in the practices of Abstract meditation; sometimes in the worship of the Lord, in joy and humility; with fragrant flowers in bloom or with good petals and leaves; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Ùiváyáç ùambhorvá kvacidapi ca viúïorapi kadá
gaïádhyakúasyápi prakaûa tapanasyápi ca kadá
Paûhanvai námálim nayana racitánanda salilo
munir na vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúákúata tamáç (7)

Chanting the many names with tears of joy welling in the eyes, Sometimes of the consort of Ùiva (Sakti), at times of Sambhu (Ùiva), sometimes of Viúïu, And then of Gaïapati and sometimes of the visible Sun; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Kadá gañgámbhobhiç kvacidapi ca küpotthita jalaiç
kvacit kásárotthaiç kvacidapi saduúïaiùca ùiùiraiç
Bajan snánam bhütyá kvacidapi ca karpüra nibhayá
minir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (8)

Bathing sometimes in the waters of the Ganges, sometimes with water drawn from the well, At times with the waters of the pond and then with waters warm or cold, And then besmearing the body with ashes white as camphor; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.

Kadácijjágøtyám viúayakaraïaih samvyasvaharan
kadácit svapnasthánapi ca viúayáneva ca bhajan
Kadácit sauúuptam sukhamanubhavanneva satatam
munir na vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (9)

Sometimes in the waking state, operating well with the sense-organs amidst the objects of sense, At times in the dreaming state, enjoying also the objects presented therein, And then, in deep sleep, enjoying continuously the bliss of that state; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not all deluded.


Kadá pyáùáváùç kvacidapi ca divyámbaradharaç
kvacit paòcásyotthám tvacamapi dadhánaç kaûitaûe
Manasvi nissañgaç sujanahødayánanadajanako
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (10)

Sometimes clad in the quarters (i.e. nude), at times attired in costly robes, Sometimes wearing the lion's (tiger's) skin around the waist, with restrained mind, in complete detachment and gladdening the heart of the good; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace, (diksha) is not at all deluded.

Kádácit satvasthaç kvacidapi rajovøtti sugatas-
tamovøttiç kvápi tritayarahitaç kvápi ca punaç
Kadácit samsárè ùrutipathavihári kvacidaho
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (11)

Sometimes firm in satva-guïa, and then motivated by rajoguïa, Then influenced by tamas and latter free from these three, then a man of the world, and Lo, revelling anon in the realm of vedic lore; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Kadácinmaunasth tç kvacidapi vágvádanirataç
kadácit svánande hasati rabhasá tyaktavacanaç
Kadácillokánám vyavahøtisamálokana paro
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (12)

Sometimes, observing silence, at times active in wordy discussions, Sometimes speechless laughs all of a sudden in innate joy, And sometimes engrossed in observing the activities by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.

Kadácicchalinám vikacamukha padmeúu kabalán
kúi pumstásám bhajati svayamapi ca gøhyan svamukhataç
Tadadvaitam rüpam nijapara vihènam prakaûayan
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (13)

Sometimes transferring from his own mouth, balls (of rice and other oblations) into the open lotus-like mouths of the Ùaktis (goddesses), And sometimes taking them from out of their mouths, And thereby declaring the Unity where the distinction of one's own self and another is gone; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Kvacicchaivaiç sárdham kvacidapi ca ùálaiç saha raman
Kadá viúïorbhaktaiç kvacidapi ca sauraih saha vasan
Kadá gáïápatyairgatasakala bhedo'dvayatayá
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (14)

Living at ease somewhere in the company of Ùaivas and elsewhere with Ùáktas, And still in another place with the devotees of Viúïu or the Sun, Sometimes with Gaïapati's worshippers and thus with all difference gone with the feeling of one-ness; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Nirákáram kvápi kvacidapi ca sákáramamalam
nijam ùaivam rüpam vividhaguïabhedena bahudhá
Kadá ùcaryam paùyan kimidamiti høúyannapi kadá
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkúá kúata tamáç (15)

Visualising his own pure form of Ùiva (the auspicious) sometimes as formless, And sometimes with form owing to association with gunas, sometimes looking on in wonder at these, and at times delighted within; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Kádá'dvaitam paùyannakhilamapi satyam ùivamayam
mahákhyárthánámavagati samabhyása vaùataç
Gatadvaitábhásaç ùiva ùiva ùivetyeva vilapan
munir ca vyámoham bhajati guru dèkúá kúata tamáç (16)

Seeing everything as One, as ever-existent and auspicious, and owing to the realisation and practice of the import of the Mahávákhyas, freed from the mistaken notion of duality and always uttering the word Ùiva; The sage, with ignorance dispelled by Guru's grace (diksha), is not at all deluded.


Imám muktávasthám paramùivasamsthám guru køpá
sudhá páògavyápyám sahaja sukhavápyámanudinam
Muhurmajjan majjan bhajati sukøtaiùcennara varaç
sadá yogi tyági kaviriti vadaniha kavayah (17)

If the blessed human being immersing himself time and again in the lake of innate bliss, resorts to this state of Lliberation rooted in Supreme Ùiva, and attainable by the nectarine and graceful glance of the Guru, Him the wise declare as a yogin, tyágin and Kavi.

Translation by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.