There are many books and translations of texts originally written in Sanskrit. But they all have their own kind of flavor of the author or how he interprets it. Or they simply write it in a way that is almost going too creatively in a completely new direction.
Therefore with some texts or mantras, I look up the translation word for word. This also helps me a lot with mantra recitation, as I then actually know what I am reciting.
As I did it with mantras before, so I am also doing it with the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra. Written by Abhinavagupta some hundred years ago, it is a classical text of Yoga. Originally belonging to the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, it is still teached in many schools and by many teachers. It shows 112 ways of reaching the absolute.
So without further explanation, let‘s get into the text:
(Note: I will add more Dharanas frequently and after I translated them)
The Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra
1. In the space between inhalation and exhalation, the life-force is active. By abiding in that middle point, one realizes the nature of Bhairava.
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śvāsa-praśvāsayor madhye
prāṇa-śaktiḥ pravartate |
tayor madhye sthitā bhūtvā
bhairavaṁ rūpam āpnuyāt ||
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śvāsa = inhalation
praśvāsayoḥ = of exhalation (dual form: of both inhale & exhale)
madhye = in the middle / between
👉 śvāsa-praśvāsayoḥ madhye = in the space between inhalation and exhalation
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prāṇa-śaktiḥ = life-force energy / vital energy
pravartate = moves, operates, unfolds
👉 prāṇa-śaktiḥ pravartate = the life-force energy moves / is active
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tayor = of those two (inhale & exhale)
madhye = in the middle
sthitā bhūtvā = having become established / abiding
👉 tayor madhye sthitā bhūtvā = being established in their middle
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bhairavam = the state of Bhairava (ultimate reality / pure awareness)
rūpam = form / nature
āpnuyāt = one attains / realizes
👉 bhairavaṁ rūpam āpnuyāt = one attains the nature of Bhairava
2. At the end of inhalation and at the end of exhalation, there is a moment of stillness. By bringing awareness there, attentively, one realizes the nature of Bhairava.
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antaḥ kumbhake yāvat
bahir kumbhake eva ca |
kṣaṇaṁ bhairava-rūpatvaṁ
bhāvayet tatra yatnataḥ ||
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antaḥ = inner / inside
kumbhake = in retention (after inhalation)
yāvat = as long as / to the extent that
👉 antaḥ kumbhake yāvat = as long as the inner retention (after inhalation)
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bahir = outer / outside
kumbhake = in retention (after exhalation)
eva ca = and also / likewise
👉 bahir kumbhake eva ca = and likewise in the outer retention (after exhalation)
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kṣaṇam = a moment
bhairava-rūpatvam = the state/nature of Bhairava
👉 kṣaṇaṁ bhairava-rūpatvam = the state of Bhairava for a moment
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bhāvayet = one should contemplate / realize / become aware of
tatra = there
yatnataḥ = with effort / attentiveness
👉 bhāvayet tatra yatnataḥ = one should become aware there, with attentiveness
3. When the breath flows out (after exhalation) and before the next inhalation arises, in that pause, the state of Bhairava is revealed.
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śūnye bāhye prāṇe
praviṣṭe hṛdaye kṣaṇāt |
bhairavī bhairavasyāsya
prakaṭī bhavati dhruvam ||
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śūnye = in emptiness / in the void
bāhye = external / outside
prāṇe = when the breath / life-force
👉 śūnye bāhye prāṇe = when the outer breath dissolves into emptiness
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praviṣṭe = having entered / having dissolved into
hṛdaye = the heart / the inner center
kṣaṇāt = in a moment / instantly
👉 praviṣṭe hṛdaye kṣaṇāt = as it enters the heart, in a moment
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bhairavī = the power of Bhairava / divine energy (Śakti)
bhairavasya = of Bhairava
asya = of this (experience / practitioner)
👉 bhairavī bhairavasyāsya = the energy of Bhairava belonging to this (state)
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prakaṭī = becomes manifest / revealed
bhavati = becomes / is
dhruvam = certainly / steadily / without doubt
👉 prakaṭī bhavati dhruvam = it is certainly revealed and becomes manifest
4. When the breath is completely still—neither inhaling nor exhaling—and one abides in the center, the mind dissolves and Bhairava is revealed.
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naivocchvāso na niḥśvāso
madhye tiṣṭhati yaḥ sthitaḥ |
nirvikalpaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā
bhairavaṁ tatra paśyati ||
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na eva = neither / not at all
ucchvāsaḥ = inhalation
na = nor
niḥśvāsaḥ = exhalation
👉 naivocchvāso na niḥśvāso = neither inhalation nor exhalation
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madhye = in the middle / in between
tiṣṭhati = remains / abides
yaḥ = who
sthitaḥ = established / steady
👉 madhye tiṣṭhati yaḥ sthitaḥ = one who remains steadily in the middle
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nirvikalpam = without thought / beyond conceptualization
manaḥ = mind
kṛtvā = having made / having brought into
👉 nirvikalpaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā = having made the mind free of thought
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bhairavam = Bhairava / the Absolute
tatra = there
paśyati = sees / perceives / realizes
👉 bhairavaṁ tatra paśyati = one perceives Bhairava there
5. By fixing the gaze steadily and dissolving the mind into that seeing, one enters the state of Bhairava.
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dṛṣṭiṁ kṛtvā sthirāṁ kṛtvā
nirālambaṁ manaḥ kṣaṇāt |
vilīnaṁ bhairave bhāve
bhairavaḥ tatra jāyate ||
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dṛṣṭim = the gaze / seeing
kṛtvā = having made
sthirām = steady / unmoving
👉 dṛṣṭiṁ kṛtvā sthirāṁ kṛtvā = having made the gaze steady
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nirālambam = without support / without object
manaḥ = mind
kṣaṇāt = in a moment
👉 nirālambaṁ manaḥ kṣaṇāt = the mind becomes unsupported in a moment
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vilīnam = dissolved / merged
bhairave = in Bhairava
bhāve = in the state / feeling / being
👉 vilīnaṁ bhairave bhāve = dissolved into the state of Bhairava
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bhairavaḥ = Bhairava / the Absolute
tatra = there
jāyate = arises / is born
👉 bhairavaḥ tatra jāyate = Bhairava arises there
