Shri Guru Gita: Interactive Sanskrit Course

~ Verse 43 ~

I bow to the two lotus feet of my Guru, one
white, embodying Shiva; one red, embodying
Shakti. My speech and mind focus on the
contemplation of this divine mystery.

devanagari


	Vande guru
	vun – day goo – roo
	Note: vande means I bow or pay homage to

	pada dvandvam
	pu – du dwun – dwum
	Note: as in the previous verse we see dvandvam, meaning two. Pada is another word for feet.

	vaan manash citta
	vaan mu – nush chit – tu
	Note: vaan here means speech, while manas means mind. There are actually two components of mind mentioned in this verse: manas and chitta. Manas is the aspect of mind that does most of the every-moment thinking, while chitta is that aspect of mind that holds awareness or consciousness.

	gocharam
	go – chu – rum

	glue...
	Vande guru pada dvandvam, vaan manash citta gocharam

	Shveta rakta
	shvay – tu ruk – tu
	Note: Shveta means white, and rakta means red. We'll see rakta again in verse 103, so it's good to learn now. White and red are seen in many aspects of the spiritual path. Not only do they represent Shiva and Shakti, but they also are the colors of the ida (red) and pingala (white), the two principals nadis or subtle channels on either side of the central channel of sushumna, rising up the spine. White and red are also the colors of the bodhicitta: the white drop at the crown of the head and the red drop at the navel, which merge at the heart. The Six Session Vajra Guru Yoga, another ancient scriptural text which Mark Griffin often recites, also has many references to red and white sources. While we know Shiva and Parvati (Shakti) as the principal characters who are in dialog in the Guru Gita itself, they also stand for universal principles of reality, and it is that which is being referred to in this verse. Shiva refers to the unmanifest infinite void, while Shakti refers to the infinite manifest expression of creation. As realization dawns, these seemingly-separate realities are revealed to be one unified field. It is this understanding that leads to Shiva and Shakti being portrayed so often as lovers, coming together.

	prabhaa bhinnam
	pru – bhaa bheen – num
	Note: aspirate both 'bh' sounds

	shiva shaktyaat
	shi – vu shuk – tyaat
	Note: break the syllables of shaktyaat up into separate parts to learn to say them, and them gradually combine them into one word. First say the 'shuk', like shucking an ear of corn. Then you can think of a diamond tiara that a princess might wear to get the sound for 'tyaat'. Then combine them. Shaktyaat is another word for Shakti, the divine feminine principle.

	makam param
	mu – kum pu – rum
	Note: as we have seen before, param is the highest or most divine.

	glue...
	Shveta rakta prabhaa bhinnam, shiva shaktyaat makam param

	Now repeat the entire verse all together:
	Vande guru pada dvandvam, vaan manash citta gocharam; Shveta rakta prabhaa bhinnam, shiva shaktyaat makam param.
	and repeat it, concentrating on the keywords:
	Vande guru pada dvandvam, vaan manash citta gocharam; Shveta rakta prabhaa bhinnam, shiva shaktyaat makam param.
	I bow to the two lotus feet of my Guru, one white, embodying Shiva; one red, embodying Shakti. My speech and mind focus on the contemplation of this divine mystery.