Shiva is the experiencer and the highest object of experience. Shiva is the goal of Sadhana. There is nothing apart from Shiva. There is nothing other than Shiva. Whatever there is, is Shiva. There is nothing, which is not Shiva. There is no place, which is not Shiva. There is no time, which is not Shiva. To be aware of this is to be aware of Shiva.
Vishvam darpanadrishyamaananagariitulyam nijaantargatam
Pashyannaatmani maayayaa bahirivodhbhuutam yadaa nidrayaa
Yah saakshaatkurute prabodhasamaye svaatmaanamevaadvayam
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 1
The universe is the reflection of a mirror the truth is the supreme Brahman, the one without a second the mind, senses and intellect are all able to only discern the reflection of the atman the identity of the brahman and the atman is apparent after self-illumination I offer my profound salutations to the auspicious guru, who is an embodiment of Dakshinamurti, and whose grace is responsible for the illumination
Biijasyaantarivaankuro jagadidam praannirvikalpam punah
Maayaakalpita deshakaalakalanaa vaichitryachitriikritamh
Maayaaviiva vijrimbhayatyapi mahaayogiiva yah svechchhayaa
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 2
He in whom this universe, prior to its projection was present like a tree in a seed (unmanifested), and by whose magic this was transformed (manifested) in various forms, by his own will similar to a yogi's- to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations.
Yasyaiva sphuranam sadaatmakamasatkalpaarthakam bhaasate
Saakshaattattvamasiiti vedavachasaa yo bodhayatyaashritaanh
Yatsaakshaatkaranaadbhavenna punaraavrittirbhavaambhonidhau
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 3
He, by whose light the (unreal) universe appears real, teaches the truth of brahman to those who want to know the atman through the Vedic statement tattvamasi (thou art that) and he who puts an end to the samsaric cycle - to that dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations.
Naanaachchhidraghatodarasthitahaadiipaprabhaabhaasvaram
Gyaanam yasya tu chakshuraadikaranadvaaraa bahih spandate
Jaanaamiiti tameva bhaantamanubhaatyetatsamastam jagath
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 4
He whose light gleams through the senses like the light emanating from a pot with holes (in which a lamp is kept), he whose knowledge alone brings the state of knowing (I am that), he whose brightness makes everything shine - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations
Deham praanamapiindriyaanyapi chalaam buddhim cha shuunyam viduh
Striibaalaandhaja dopamaastvahamiti bhraantaa bhrisham vaadinah
Maayaashaktivilaasakalpitamahaa vyaamohasanhaarine
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 5
Some philosophers contend the body, senses, life-breath, intellect and non-existence (shunya) as the real `I' (atman) their comprehension is worse than that of women, children, blind and the dull. He who destroys this delusion caused by maya (and makes us aware of the truth)- to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations
Raahugrastadivaakarendusadrisho maayaasamaachchhaadanaath
Sanmaatrah karanopasanharanato yoabhuutsushhuptah pumaanh
Praagasvaapsamiti prabodhasamaye yah pratyabhigyaayate
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 6
The brillance of sun exists even when intercepted by rahu during eclipse similarly, the power of cognition only remains suspended during deep sleep the self exists as pure being even though unrecognized due to the veil of maya a person on awakening becomes aware that he was asleep earlier (and the dream was unreal) similarly, a person who awakens to the consciousness of the self recognizes his previous state of ignorance as unreal he by whose grace alone does one awaken to the consciousness of the self - to that dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations
Baalyaadishhvapi jaagradaadishhu tathaa sarvaasvavasthaasvapi
Vyaavrittaasvanuvartamaanamahamityantah sphurantam sadaa
Svaatmaanam prakatiikaroti bhajataam yo mudrayaa bhadrayaa
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 7
He, whose existence is changeless throughout the various states of the body (like old, young etc) and the mind (waking, dreaming etc), and who reveals the greatest knowledge of atman by gyaana-mudra (the joining of the thumb and the forefinger of a raised right hand) - to that Dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my Profound salutations
Vishvam pashyati kaaryakaaranatayaa svasvaamisambandhatah
Shishhyaachaaryatayaa tayaiva pitriputraadyaatmanaa bhedatah
Svapne jaagrati vaa ya eshha purushho maayaaparibhraamitah
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 8
He, whose power of maya enables one to experience the world as multiform, (like teacher, disciple, father, son etc) during both the waking and dream states - to that dakshinamurti, who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations
Bhuurambhaansyanaloaniloambaramaharnaatho himaanshuh pumaanh
Ityaabhaati charaacharaatmakamidam yasyaiva muurtyashhtakamh
Naanyatkijnchana vidyate vimrishataam yasmaatparasmaadvibhoh
Tasmai shriigurumuurtaye nama idam shriidakshinaamuurtaye 9
He, whose subtle and unmanifest eightfold form causes the moving and unmoving universe, and by whose grace alone does all these manifestation disappear to reveal that `all that exists is brahman' - to that dakshinamurti, Who is embodied in the auspicious guru, I offer my profound salutations.
The verse points out to the all pervasiveness of the indwelling spirit, atman by the recital, contemplation and meditation of this hymn, the disciple attains the state of oneness with atman and realizes his unity with the universe, thus becoming the very essence of the eightfold manifestation.
