Tirumantiram - TANTRA ONE - 21 LISTENING AND THUS CONTAINING

English translation of the Tamil Spiritual Classic by Saint Tirumular

 

TANTRA ONE

21 LISTENING AND THUS CONTAINING

 

300: Listen to Words of Siva's Glory

 

Listening to Dharma and to the words of the Holy,

Listening to God's valorous acts and the Devas' mantras many,

Listening to loud reports and the deeds peerless of the Lord,

The Lord, gleaming bright as gold--thus attain the Siva State.

 

 

301: Listening to Holy Words Leads to Realization

 

The Lord of Devas, the Supreme Being Divine,

Who is there who knows Him? If any such be,

Chant His praise; listen to the holy words and Him realise!

Who chant His praise and Him realise, stand aloft and free.

 

 

302: Obey Siva and Become Deva

 

At Nandi's bidding, Maya obeys and builds;

At Hara's bidding, Aya obeys and creates;

Who Siva's bidding obey, Devas they become;

If fruits of action you crave, then to attachments you're chained.

 

 

303: Adore Siva and Be Immortal

 

The pious mortals who praise the Supreme Lord,

In time to come, to the Immortals' status rise;

Who fail not in penance, His smiling Grace receive;

Thus the Lord of penances rare awards the Supreme prize.

 

 

304: Prayer Brings Grace

 

The Lord who gave us Birth and Death,

Of Him e'er talk, His name adore, prattle in praise;

Then the abiding Light of His dear presence,

Like fragrance in flower, comes to you in Grace.

 

 

305: He Forsakes not His Devotees

 

To seek Excellence and to Excellent things listen,

And follow Wisdom's true mandate--if to these the mind awake,

And if, then, you slip not nor stray, the Heavenly Lord,

Unhesitant, will be thine for ever--and never forsake.

 

 

306: Faith Intense Gives Bliss Eternal

 

They of intense faith Heavenly Bliss secure,

But the aimless and drifting with mind unfixed on clear goal,

Neither their own self know nor the Bliss attain,

Like children at play content wwith the mimic rice of sand.

 

 

307: Listening to Holy Things is a Sure Prop

 

Life and body sure support for the soul provide,

Listening to holy things a sure prop and resting place,

Thoughts of Siva's Holy Feet, the one Refuge to seek,

And with that support Supreme to aid, rebirth you wholly efface.

 

 

308: A Stone-Cow to Scorners

 

To them that exalt His name, the first of Beings He;

To them that scorn His Grace, unending sufferings sear;

In rapture lost, if you chant not His Glory great,

He stands, a veritable stone-cow, in silence complete.

 

 

309: Unite in Heart and Thought Towards Lord

 

Heart and tongue in unison met, the Lord cognise,

Though in diverse shapes He be, Him in unity find;

Then, e'en though shaken in life like axle from pin,

Seek the Primal Lord in love and Him to yourself bind.