RANIERO GNOLI

The sivasūtra by Vasugupta

First Light
On the examination of true nature

1 self (atma) is Consciousness (caitanyam).

2 Bondage (bandha) is [discursive] knowledge (jnana),

3 The set of things of the matrix and the karmic activity.

4 The set of alphabetic phonemes (matrka) is the basis of knowledge.

5 The tremendous (Bhairavah) is effort (udyama).

6 A complete dissolution follows the thought on the wheel of powers.

7 Even during the various states of waking (jagrat), dreaming (svapna) and deep sleep
(susupta), the presence (sambhava) of the fourth state (turya) does not fail.

8 [Sensitive] knowledge (jnana) is waking (jagrat).

9 Mental representations (vikalpa) are dreaming.

10 Non-discrimination is the sleep of the unconscious state (maya).

11 The chief of heroes (siva) has free dominion over the triad.

12 The stages of yogic meditation are a wonder (vismaya).

13 The best power of all, killer of evil, is the will [of the yogin].

14 The yogi's body is made by all visible objects.

15 From the union of the mind (citta) in the heart (hrdaya), the yogi obtains vision
(darsana) of the visible and the invisible (the deep sleep).

16 either [The revelation of] the power (sakti) of our own being occurs, or [the vision
occurs] thanks to the meditation on the pure principle (suddhatattva).

17 Knowledge of the self is nothing but reflection or consideration (vitarka)

[consisting in the idea that I am truly Siva, made up of all things].
18 The pleasure of enstasis (samadhi) is bliss-light.

19 Through meditation on the powers, you get the body you want.

20 Union of elements, separateness of elements, union of everything.

21 From rising of pure knowledge is the lordship of the wheel.

23 From meditation on the great lake is the experience of the power of mantras.

Second Light
On the reversal of innate knowledge

1 Mind (citta) is a mantra.

2 Effort (prayatna) is what produces the desired results (sadhaka).

3 The secret essence of mantras lies in their being made up of knowledge.

4 The expansion of the mind in the matrix is a dream of indeterminate knowledge

[based upon the magic powers of illusions which hinder the realisation of the self].

5 Once the knowledge (vidyâ) inherent to our true being (svabhavike) has arisen,
then we achieve the ethereal state, which is proper to siva (sivavasthâ).

6 The master (guru) is the means.

7 The awakening of the wheel of phonemes [is triggered on the adept by a master].

8 The body is [like] an oblation.

9 Knowledge is [like] food.

10 The disappearance of knowledge is the vision of the dreams that come forth of it.
[The careless disciple decays from pure knowledge and goes back to the domain of
discursive representations which are the other side of knowledge] .

Third Light
On the movement of powers

1 self (atma) is the [limited] mind (citta).

2 Bondage (bandha) is [discursive] knowledge (jnana),

3 Non-discernment of the various principles [of finite efficiency] is maya.

4 [the yogin must meditate] a dissolution [of all principles] in his own body.

5 the dissolution of [all] channels (nadi), victory (jaya) over the elements (bhuta),
Isolation (kaivalya) from the elements, and separateness (prthaktvani) of the elements.
[All external principles must be meditated in one's body, dissolved, and rested in it].

6 From obstruction of obfuscation come the [lower] magic powers (siddhi).

7 From victory (jaya) over obfuscation (moha), of infinite extension (anantabhogat), the
conquest (jaya) of innate knowledge (sahajavidya) takes place.

8 the second [world] constitutes the rays of those who are awake.

9 self (atma) is a dancer (nartaka).

10 [limited] inner self is a stage (ranga).

11 the spectators are the senses (indriyani).

12 from realization of true essence (sattva) comes the mind.

13 [from realization of true essence] comes freedom.

14 as there so elsewhere.

15 [One should pay] constant attention to the seed (the supreme power).

16 Sitting in a desired position, the yogin immerses himself in consciousness effortlessly.

17 by means of his own mother, he causes the creation (nirmanam).

18 To destroy [limited] knowledge is to destroy the birth.

19 the powers of dark mothers are in the class of guttural letters.

20 The Fourth [state of consciousness] should be poured like oil in the Three.

21 immerged, the yogi should enter the power of consciousness with his own mind.

22 the manifestation of the lower plan occurs in the middle state.

23 within the correct emission of breath is an equal vision of all things.

24 by means of inner recollection of one's own knowledge is a resurrection of the lost.

25 the yogin becomes like siva.

26 Bodily dimension is like a vow [to him].

27 common speech is mantra recitation.

28 self-knowledge is a gift.

29 [the yogin], shepherd of imprisoned souls is the source of knowledge.

30 for him, everything is but an expression of his own powers.

31 [the same applies to] Maintenance [of life] and dissolution.

32 when they are in place, he is still, as he has the quality of perceiving subject.

33 the perception of pleasure and non-pleasure is extrinsic.

34 He who is truly “isolated” is free from them.

35 but whoever is subjected to karma is affected by obfuscation.

36 Once the world of diversity is out of the way, he can produce another creation.

37 The ability to create what he likes is confirmed by his own experience.

38 He creates life by what comes after the three states.

39 in the body, in the senses, in the external objects as well as on a mental plan.

40 because of desire, the migratory soul flows away.

41 he whose consciousness is well rooted in the fourth state, destroys desire.

[his soul is no longer imprisoned due to the destruction of limited individuality]

42 In him the elements form like an external armor [detached from his individual self],
and he is therefore a liberated, of equal rank to the lord, complete and perfect.

43 the connection with life is [in fact] inherent to nature.

44 the control of the breath of life is realized by focusing on the internal middle of
the nose, what is in this respect in the susumna channels on the left and right?

45 The yogi experiences [the Divine] once again.