The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Lalitātriśatībhāṣyam

p. 290

p. 290

नन्दब्रह्मास्वरूपतया सैव फलं भवति, अन्यज्ञानादन्यफलप्राप्तेरयोगात् ।ब्रह्म वेद ब्रह्मैव भवति ।सरति शोकमात्मवित्', 'येन मामुपयान्ति ते ।तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्' 'ब्रह्मैव सन् ब्रह्माप्यति' इत्यादिश्रुतिस्मृतिशतेभ्य स्वस्वरूपप्राप्तरेव पुरुषार्थस्य प्रदातृत्वं सिद्धम् ॥ॐ ह्रींकारपरसौख्यदायै नमः ॥इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छकरभगवतः कृतौश्रीललितात्रिशतीभाष्यमं संपूर्णम् ॥इत्येव ते मयाख्यातं देव्या नामशतत्रयम् ।रहस्यातिरहस्यत्वागोपनीयं त्वया मुने ।शिववर्णानि नामानि श्रीदेव्या कथितानि हि ।शक्त्यक्षराणि नामानि कामेशकथितानि च । ।उभयाक्षरनामानि ह्युभाभ्यां कथितानि वै ।तदन्यैर्ग्रथितं स्तोत्रमेतस्य सदृशं किमु ॥ ३ ॥नानेन सदृशं स्तोत्रं श्रीदेवीप्रीतिदायकम् ।लोकत्रयेऽपि कल्याणं संभवेन्नात्र सशयः ॥

In plain words

Because Her very nature is the supreme bliss of Brahman, She herself is the ultimate fruit of all spiritual practice. It cannot be otherwise, for relative knowledge can only lead to relative, passing results. As hundreds of sacred scriptures and traditional texts declare: 'The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman indeed,' 'The knower of the Self crosses beyond all sorrow,' 'Those who reach Me are saved from the ocean of death and rebirth,' and 'Being Brahman, one merges into Brahman.' Thus, it is established that She alone bestows the realization of our own true nature—the ultimate goal of human life. Salutations to Her, the giver of supreme bliss through the sacred Hrīṃkāra. Thus is completed the commentary on the Sri Lalita Trishati, composed by the revered master Shankara, the wandering monk of the highest order, the disciple of the holy preceptor Govinda. 'Thus, O Sage, have I revealed to you the three hundred sacred names of the Goddess. Because this is the deepest of all secrets, you must guard it with great care. The names made of Shiva's letters were spoken by the Goddess Herself. The names made of Shakti's letters were spoken by Kamesha. The names made of both letters were spoken by both of them together. What other hymn composed by anyone else could ever equal this? There is no hymn equal to this in bringing delight to the Goddess. It brings absolute auspiciousness to all the three worlds; of this there is no doubt.'

Close to the Sanskrit

By being of the nature of the bliss of Brahman, She herself becomes the fruit, because from other knowledge, the attainment of other fruits is impossible. 'He who knows Brahman becomes Brahman indeed,' 'The knower of Self crosses sorrow,' 'By which they attain Me; I am their savior from the ocean of the death-bound world,' 'Being Brahman indeed, he merges into Brahman'—from hundreds of such scriptures and traditional texts, it is established that She is the bestower of the attainment of one's own true nature, which is the ultimate human goal. Salutations to Her who is the giver of supreme bliss through Hrīṃkāra. Thus is completed the commentary on the Sri Lalita Trishati, composed by the glorious master Shankara, the wandering monk of the highest order, the disciple of the revered feet of Govinda. 'Thus indeed has been declared to you by me, O Sage, the three hundred names of the Goddess. Because it is the secret of secrets, it must be kept hidden by you. The names consisting of Shiva's letters were spoken by the glorious Goddess indeed. The names consisting of Shakti's letters were spoken by Kamesha. The names consisting of both letters were indeed spoken by both. Is there any hymn composed by others that is equal to this? There is no hymn equal to this, which bestows the delight of the glorious Goddess. Auspiciousness will surely happen in all the three worlds; there is no doubt here.'