Swaroopanusandhanaashtakam

Swaroopanusandhanaashtakam

(The octet  on search for our own  form)

By

SWami Brahmananda

Translated  by

P.R.Ramachander

       (Here is another  great prayer of philosophy   from the great SWami Brahmananda I have only     given the peripheral meaning and not delved  in its interpretation.)

1.Thapo yagna dhaanadhibhi, Sudha budhir,

Virakthe nrupadhe padhe thucha budhyaa,

Parithyajya sarvam yathapnothi  thathwam,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

BY practicing  , Penances , Yagnas  and   charity, 

With pure thought      and leaving out insignificant thought of even a position of a king

And sacrificing everything , if one adopts  philosophy(Principles behind things),

He would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

2.Dhayalum Gurum  Brahmanishtam  prasantham,

Samaradhya  madhyaa  vicharya swaroopam,

Yad aapnothi   thathwam   nidhidhyasya Vidwan,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

By worshipping that Guru   who is merciful  ,and peaceful,

And in between   thinking about that form of Brahman ,

If  one who practices  profound meditation makes philosophy his own

He would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

3.Yad AAnanda roopam , Prakasa swaroopam ,

Nirastha prapancham paricheda heenam,

Aham  Brahma  vruthaieka gamyam thureeyam,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

If one with a form of joy   and a form of luster,

Casts off this world  and he   does not have a faint heart,

And he  travels towards thureeya* state  and expands towards  Brahmam,

He would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

   *4^th state of soul beyond waking, sleeping   and state of dream

4.Yatha jnantho bathi viswam samastham,

Vinashtam cha sadhyo, yad Atma prabothe,

Manovak adheetham  Vishudham, Vimuktham,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

If the entire world appears  like  only   wisdom,

And if one    looses it  instantly  and  if One’s soul wakes  up,

He becomes beyond  mind and speech , pure  and free,

And  would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

5.Nishedhe  , kruthe   nethi netheethi vakhyai,

Samadhi sthithaanaam   yadabhathi poornam,

Avasthathrya atheetham  advaitha mekam,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

Negating   by use of “Not this”, “Not this”,

Being in Samadhi, looking like he  is complete,

And   if he  is  beyond  normal three  states  and

Experiences there is no two but only one,

Then he  would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

6. Yad aananda lesai  samanandhi viswam ,

Yada bhathi sathve thatha bhathi sarvam,

Yadhalokane roopam anyath samastham,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

If  one ceases  to be joyous  but   enjoys    the universe,

And  seeing the beings  concludes   that everything is like this,

And is able to see   all forms as not different  from any other,

Then he  would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

7.Anantham Vibhum nirvikalpam  nireeham,

Shivam   sanga heenam    yadoangara  kamyam,

Nirakaram  athyujjwalam  mruthyuheenam,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

That  Lord without an end  free   from any differences  and  free from  any desires,

Is Peaceful, without company ,  desires the  state of perfection,

Which is without any shape , greatly lustrous and without death

Then   he  would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

8.Yada anantha sindhou  nimagna pumaansya,

Tha vidhyaa vilasa samastha prapancha,

 THadhaa  na  sphurath adbutham   yannimitham,

Param  brahma  nithyam  thadhevahamasmi.

That Gentle man who drowns himself in the endless sea,

And  has    an expert knowledge of the  entire universe.

Would not get a feeling a surprise because  of that

And  he  would permanently own the knowledge  of divine Brahman.

9.Swaroopa anusandhana roopaam  sthuthim ya,

Padeth aadarath   bhakthi bhavo manushya,

Srunotheeha  va nithyam udyuktha    chitho,

Bhaveth  Vishnurath raithraiva  veda pramanath

This prayer  which tries to investigate the form,

If read with   devotion and concentration

Or if heard  with concentrated active mind,

He  would become all pervading  and have authority of Veda.

Ithi Sri Paramahamsa   Parivrarajaka aacharyasta,

Sri  Govinda Bhagwath poojya  pada  Sishyasya,

Srimath  Sankara bhagawatha kruthou,

Swaroopaanusandhashtakam  sampoornam.

Thus ends    the octet on investigation of ones own self   which was written by  Sri Sankara BHagwath Pada  who was the  disciple    of the honourable  Sri Govinda Bhagawatpada   who is very great saint and Guru.