Muni's PlayVivekachudamani: Maya and the Three Gunas
These verses (108–119) define the nature of Māyā (the power of the Lord) and its three constituent Guṇas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas), which determine the nature of human experience and bondage.
0. The Blissful Atman vs Egoism (Verses 105–106)
Before detailing Maya and the Gunas, the text distinguishes the ever-blissful Atman from the fluctuations of the ego.
Verse 105: Happiness and Misery belong to Egoism
Sanskrit
विषयाणामानुकूल्ये सुखी दुःखी विपर्यये ।
सुखं दुःखं च तद्धर्मः सदानन्दस्य नात्मनः ॥ १०५ ॥
Transliteration
viṣayāṇāmānukūlye sukhī duḥkhī viparyaye | sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ ca taddharmaḥ sadānandasya nātmanaḥ || 105 ||
Translation
When sense-objects are favourable it becomes happy, and it becomes miserable when the case is contrary. So happiness and misery are characteristics of Egoism, and not of the ever-blissful Ātman.
Verse 106: The Atman as the Source of Love
Sanskrit
आत्मार्थत्वेन हि प्रेयान्विषयो न स्वतः प्रियः ।
स्वतः एव हि सर्वेषामात्मा प्रियतमो यतः
तत आत्मा सदानन्दो नास्य दुःखं कदाचन ॥ १०६ ॥
Transliteration
ātmārthatvena hi preyānviṣayo na svataḥ priyaḥ | svata eva hi sarveṣāmātmā priyatamo yataḥ tata ātmā sadānando nāsya duḥkhaṃ कदाचन || १०६ ||
Translation
Sense-objects are pleasurable only as dependent on the Ātman manifesting through them, and not independently, because the Ātman is by Its very nature the most beloved of all. Therefore the Ātman is ever blissful, and never suffers misery.
1. The Nature of Māyā (Verses 108–110)
Māyā is the beginningless, indescribable power that brings forth the universe.
Verse 108: Definition of Maya
Sanskrit
अव्यक्तनाम्नी परमेशशक्तिः अनाद्यविद्या त्रिगुणात्मिका परा ।
कार्यानुमेया सुधियैव माया यया जगत्सर्वमिदं प्रसूयते ॥ १०८ ॥
Transliteration
avyaktanāmnī parameśaśaktiḥ anādyavidyā triguṇātmikā parā | kāryānumeyā sudhiyaiva māyā yayā jagatsarvamidaṃ prasūyate || 108 ||
Translation
Avidya (Nescience) or Māyā, called also the Undifferentiated, is the power of the Lord. She is without beginning, is made up of the three Guṇas and is superior to the effects (as their cause). She is to be inferred by one of clear intellect only from the effects She produces. It is She who brings forth this whole universe.
Verse 109: The Indescribable State
Sanskrit
सन्नाप्यसन्नाप्युभयात्मिका नो भिन्नाप्यभिन्नाप्युभयात्मिका नो ।
साङ्गाप्यनङ्गा ह्युभयात्मिका नो महाद्भुतानिर्वचनीयरूपा ॥ १०९ ॥
Transliteration
sannāpyasannāpyubhayātmikā no bhinnāpyabhinnāpyubhayātmikā no | sāṅgāpyanaṅgā hyubhayātmikā no mahādbhutānirvacanīyarūpā || 109 ||
Translation
She is neither existent nor non-existent nor partaking of both characters; neither same nor different nor both; neither composed of parts nor an indivisible whole nor both. She is most wonderful and cannot be described in words.
Verse 110: Destruction by Knowledge
Sanskrit
शुद्धाद्वयब्रह्मविभोधनाश्या सर्पभ्रमो रज्जुविवेकतो यथा ।
रजस्तमःसत्त्वमिति प्रसिद्धा गुणास्तदीयाः प्रथितैः स्वकार्यैः ॥ ११० ॥
Transliteration
śuddhādvayabrahmavibhodhanāśyā sarpabhramo rajjuvivekato yathā | rajastamaḥsattvamiti prasiddhā guṇāstadīyāḥ prathitaiḥ svakāryaiḥ || 110 ||
Translation
Māyā can be destroyed by the realisation of the pure Brahman, the one without a second, just as the mistaken idea of a snake is removed by the discrimination of the rope. She has her Guṇas as Rajas, Tamas and Sattva, named after their respective functions.
2. Rajas: The Projecting Power (Verses 111–112)
Rajas is the active force that causes projection (Vikṣepa), leading to attachment and worldly pursuit.
Verse 111: The Nature of Vikṣepa
Sanskrit
विक्षेपशक्ती रजसः क्रियात्मिका यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी ।
रागादयोऽस्याः प्रभवन्ति नित्यं दुःखादयो ये मनसो विकाराः ॥ १११ ॥
Transliteration
vikṣepaśaktī rajasaḥ kriyātmikā yataḥ pravṛttiḥ prasṛtā purāṇī | rāgādayo’syāḥ prabhavanti nityaṃ duḥkhādayo ye मनसो विकाराः ॥ १११ ॥
Translation
Rajas has its vikṣepa-Shakti or projecting power, which is of the nature of an activity, and from which this primeval flow of activity has emanated. From this also, mental modifications such as attachment and grief are continually produced.
Verse 112: Attributes of Rajas
Sanskrit
कामः क्रोधो लोभदम्भाद्यसूया अहंकारेर्ष्यामत्सराद्यास्तु घोराः ।
धर्मा एते राजसाः पुम्प्रवृत्तिः यस्मादेषा तद्रजो बन्धहेतुः ॥ ११२ ॥
Transliteration
kāmaḥ krodho lobhadambhādyasūyā ahaṃkārerṣyāmatsarādyāstu ghorāḥ | dharmā ete rājasāḥ pumpravṛttiḥ yasmādeṣā tadrajo bandhahetuḥ || 112 ||
Translation
Lust, anger, avarice, arrogance, spite, egoism, envy, jealousy, etc., — these are the dire attributes of Rajas, from which the worldly tendency of man is produced. Therefore Rajas is a cause of bondage.
3. Tamas: The Veiling Power (Verses 113–116)
Tamas is the concealing force (Āvṛti) that obscures the truth and causes delusion.
Verse 113: The Nature of Āvṛti
Sanskrit
एषावृतिर्नाम तमोगुणस्य शक्तिर्मया वस्त्ववभासतेऽन्यथा ।
सैषा निदानं पुरुषस्य संसृतेः विक्षेपशक्तेः प्रवणस्य हेतुः ॥ ११३ ॥
Transliteration
eṣāvṛtirnāma tamoguṇasya śaktirmayā vastvavabhāsate’nyathā | saiṣā nidānaṃ puruṣasya saṃsṛteḥ vikṣepaśakteḥ pravaṇasya hetuḥ || 113 ||
Translation
Āvṛti or the veiling power is the power of Tamas, which makes things appear other than what they are. It is this that causes man’s repeated transmigrations, and starts the action of the projecting power (Vikṣepa).
Verse 114: The Strength of Delusion
Sanskrit
प्रज्ञावानपि पण्डितोऽपि चतुरोऽप्यत्यन्तसूक्ष्मात्मदृग् व्यालीढस्तमसा न वेत्ति बहुधा संबोधितोऽपि स्फुटम् ।
भ्रान्त्यारोपितमेव साधु कलयत्यालम्बते तद्गुणान् हन्तासौ प्रबला दुरन्ततमसः शक्तिर्महत्यावृतिः ॥ ११४ ॥
Transliteration
prajñāvānapi paṇḍito’pi caturo’pyatyantasūkṣmātmadṛg vyālīḍhastamasā na vetti bahudhā saṃbodhito’pi sphuṭam | bhrāntyāropitameva sādhu kalayatyālambate tadguṇān hantāsau prabalā durantatamasaḥ śaktirmahatyāvṛtiḥ || 114 ||
Translation
Even wise and learned men and men who are clever and adepts in the vision of the exceedingly subtle Ātman, are overpowered by Tamas and do not understand the Ātman, even though clearly explained in various ways. What is simply superimposed by delusion, they consider as true, and attach themselves to its effects. Alas! How powerful is the great Āvṛti Shakti of dreadful Tamas!
Verse 115: Obstacles to Judgment
Sanskrit
अभवाना वा विपरीतभावना असंभावना विप्रतिपत्तिरस्याः ।
संसर्गयुक्तं न विमुञ्चति ध्रुवं विक्षेपशक्तिः क्षपयत्यजस्रम् ॥ ११५ ॥
Transliteration
abhāvanā vā viparītabhāvanā asaṃbhāvanā vipratipattirasyāḥ | saṃsargayuktaṃ na vimuñcati dhruvaṃ vikṣepaśaktiḥ kṣapayatyajasram || 115 ||
Translation
Absence of the right judgment, or contrary judgment, want of definite belief and doubt – these certainly never desert one who has any connection with this veiling power, and then the projecting power gives ceaseless trouble.
Verse 116: Attributes of Tamas
Sanskrit
अज्ञानमालस्यजडत्वनिद्रा प्रमादमूढत्वमुखास्तमोगुणाः ।
एतैः प्रयुक्तो नहि वेत्ति किंचिन् निद्रालुवत्स्तम्भवदेव तिष्ठति ॥ ११६ ॥
Transliteration
ajñānamālasyajḍatvanidrā pramādamūḍhatvamukhāstamoguṇāḥ | etaiḥ prayukto nahi vetti kiṃcin nidrāluvatstambhavadeva tiष्ठति || 116 ||
Translation
Ignorance, lassitude, dullness, sleep, inadvertence, stupidity, etc., are attributes of Tamas. One tied to these does not comprehend anything, but remains like one asleep or like a stock or stone.
4. Sattva: The Reflecting Power (Verses 117–119)
Sattva is clear and reflecting, providing the medium through which the light of the Ātman shines.
Verse 117: Reflection of Atman
Sanskrit
सत्त्वं विशुद्धं जलवत्तथापि ताभ्यां मिलित्वा सरणाय कल्पते ।
यत्रात्मबिम्बः प्रतिबिम्बितः सन् प्रकाशयत्यर्क इवाखिलं जडम् ॥ ११७ ॥
Transliteration
sattvaṃ viśuddhaṃ jalavattathāpi tābhyaṃ militvā saraṇāya kalpate | yatrātmabimbaḥ pratibimbitaḥ san prakāśayatyarka ivākhilaṃ jaḍam || 117 ||
Translation
Pure Sattva is (clear) like water, yet in conjunction with Rajas and Tamas it makes for transmigration. The reality of the Ātman becomes reflected in Sattva and like the sun reveals the entire world of matter.
Verse 118: Mixed Sattva
Sanskrit
मिश्रस्य सत्त्वस्य भवन्ति धर्माः त्वमानिताद्या नियमा यमाद्याः ।
श्रद्धा च भक्तिश्च मुमुक्षता च दैवी च सम्पत्तिरसन्निवृत्तिः ॥ ११८ ॥
Transliteration
miśrasya sattvasya bhavanti dharmāḥ tvamānitādyā niyamā yamādyāḥ | śraddhā ca bhaktiśca mumukṣatā ca daivī ca sampattirasannivṛttiḥ || 118 ||
Translation
The traits of mixed Sattva are an utter absence of pride etc., and Niyama, Yama, etc., as well as faith, devotion, yearning for Liberation, the divine tendencies and turning away from the unreal.
Verse 119: Pure Sattva
Sanskrit
विशुद्धसत्त्वस्य गुणाः प्रसादः स्वात्मानुभूतिः परमा प्रशान्तिः ।
तृप्तिः प्रहर्षः परमात्मनिष्ठा यया सदानन्दरसं समृच्छति ॥ ११९ ॥
Transliteration
viśuddhasattvasya guṇāḥ prasādaḥ svātmānubhūtiḥ paramā praśāntiḥ | tṛptiḥ praharṣaḥ paramātmaniṣṭhā yayā sadānandarasaṃ samṛcchati || 119 ||
Translation
The traits of pure Sattva are cheerfulness, the realisation of one’s own Self, supreme peace, contentment, bliss, and steady devotion to the Ātman, by which the aspirant enjoys bliss everlasting.
Index: Vivekachudamani