O Beloved, those who know say the Guru is
Shiva, the witness of all, but without his three
eyes; he is Vishnu, but without his four arms;
he is Brahma, but without his four faces.
| Atrinetrah | |
| u – tri – nay – tru (h) | |
Note: tri means three. When an 'a' is placed before a word, it often gives the meaning of the opposite. So atri means not three, or without three. Netrah means eyes. Shiva is usually shown with three eyes, the third eye being the sixth chakra, depicted as an open eye at the forehead. The sixth chakra is the doorway to distant sight and clairvoyence, so it known as the third eye.
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| sarva saakshi | |
| sur – vu saak – shee | |
| Note: sarva means all; saakshi is from saakshin, meaning the witness consciousness that is the essential attribute of the Self. The Guru is the witness of all, even without the three eyes of Shiva. | |
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| achatur baahur | |
| u – chu – toor baa – hoor | |
Note: chatur mean four, so again... achatur means not-four, or without four; baahur means arms. Vishnu is often shown with four arms. Each hand holds an emblem of his divinity: the conch, discus, club, and lotus. The consch shell represents Vishnu's power to create and maintain the universe; the chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, held by the upper right hand, symbolizes the purified spiritualized mind; the mace held by the lower left hand, symbolizes Vishnu's divine power and is the source all spiritual, mental and physical strength; a lotus flower held by the lower right hand, represents spiritual liberation, Divine perfection, purity and the unfolding of spiritual consciousness within the individual.
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| achyutah | |
| u – chyoo – tu (h) | |
| Note: achyuta means 'he who undergoes no changes, who is firm, immovable and imperishable.' It is understood to be one of the names of Vishnu. | |
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| Atrinetrah sarva saakshi, achatur baahur achyutah | |
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| Achatur vadano | |
| u – chu – toor vu – du – no | |
Note: again, chatur mean four, so again... achatur means not-four, or without four; Brahma's 4 heads represent the 4 directions , 4 Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva) and the 4 Varnas or castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras) in Hindu Religion.
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| brahmaa | |
| bru +(h) – maa | |
| Note: remember, as mentioned in verse 2, there is the word Brahman, which means the Infinite Ocean of Consciousness. This is distinct from the word Brahma, which is the god of the Hindu trilogy: Brahma (the Creator of the Universe), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Destroyer). | |
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| Ashri guruh kathitah | |
| ush – ree goo – rooh ku – thee – tuh | |
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| priye | |
| pree – yay | |
| Note: priye means dear one or beloved, a term of affection and compassion. | |
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| Achatur vadano brahmaa, shri guruh kathitah priye | |
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| Now repeat the entire verse all together: | |
| Atrinetrah sarva saakshi, achatur baahur achyutah; Achatur vadano brahmaa, shri guruh kathitah priye. | |
| and know the keywords: | |
| Atrinetrah sarva saakshi, achatur baahur achyutah; Achatur vadano brahmaa, shri guruh kathitah priye. | |
| O Beloved, those who know say the Guru is Shiva, the witness of all, but without his three eyes; he is Vishnu, but without his four arms; he is Brahma, but without his four faces. | |
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