THE DAKSHINAMURTI STOTRA OF SANKARACHARYA.

 

    Who sees, by soul's illusion, as in dream,

    All things without him, though within they gleam,

    Like towns in mirrors; but his own pure soul.

    Who at the awakening meets, secondless, whole;

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

    Who, as by magic or by occult power,

    This world that formless, changeless, was of yotr,

    Like plant in seed, but picturesque made, by space

    And time, illusion's work, by his will displays;

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

 

    In things almost unreal, whose radiance shine,

    The one real life; to pupils who explains

    The Vedic "That thou art" : and, knowing whom,

    One dreads no more the ocean of birth and doom:

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

    As, through a vase of many holes, the light

    That burns within, through senses such as sight,

    Whose consciousness goes forth; and all below

    That shine, reflect but whose self-conscious glow:

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

    Like women, children, idiots, or the blind,

    Fools argue long, and think, "I'm body, mind

    Erratic, senses, vacuum, breath," – what else!

    But who illusion's darkest gloom dispels:

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

    With senses closed, beneath illusion's veil,

    Like sun or moon eclipsed, who sleeps awhile,

    Existence pure; and who could, waking, say,

    "'T was none but I that till now slept away:"

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

    In childhood, youth, or age, in waking dream.

    Or sleep, who shines the same, the "I" supreme,

    Through different states; who, by the mystic sign,

    Reveals to votaries his Self divine:

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

    Lost in illusion, dreaming or awake,

    Who does, of all this world, distinction make,

    As cause and effect, owner and his own,

    As teacher and the taught, as sire and son:

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

    Whose eightfold form, earth, water, fire and air,

    And ether, sun and moon and soul, this fair

    Living and lifeless universe makes; than whose

    Form infinite, naught else the seer views:

        Be this how to that Teacher incarnate,

        The Lord that faces south, effulgent, great.

 

S. VENKATARAMANAN.