SS 3.16–3.19: Tiefe und Lautkräfte
SS 3.16–3.19: Tiefe und Lautkräfte

Śiva Sūtra 3.16–3.19: Hṛda, Creation, and the Mātṛkās

In the inner lake the yogin recognizes the self-measuring creation of the world and the end of birth, while discerning the binding power of the sound-mothers.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner
Śiva Sūtra 3.16
आसनस्थः सुखं ह्रदे निमज्जति ||3.16||
āsana-sthaḥ sukhaṃ hrade nimajjati ||3.16|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
āsana
tatpuruṣa-compound lokative
substantive neuter
seat, foundation
sthaḥ
nominative singular masculine
adjective
standing, abiding
sukham
adverb
easily, effortlessly, pleasantly
hrade
lokative singular
substantive masculine
in the lake, Hṛda, lake of the heart
nimajjati
3rd person singular aktive present
previx
verbal root
enters, immerses
Established in the foundation (āsana-sthaḥ | nom sg m), [the yogin] easily (sukham | adv) enters the lake [of awareness] (hrade | loc sg) (nimajjati | 3p sg act pres).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Established in this foundation, you enter the lake of awareness effortlessly.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Kṣemarāja explains in the Vimarśinī: The right seat is more than bodily posture; it is a stable inner position.

Kṣemarāja's Śivasūtravimarśinī

The Vārttika explains: Āsana here is not an external seat but abiding in unity.

Bhāskara's Śivasūtravārttika
Śiva Sūtra 3.17
स्वमात्रानिर्माणमापादयति ||3.17||
sva-mātrā-nirmāṇam āpādayati ||3.17|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
sva
karmadhāraya-compound
pronoun
own, self
mātrā
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive feminine
Mātrā, measure, limiting unit
nirmāṇam
accusative singular
substantive neuter
production, formation
āpādayati
3rd person singular aktive present causative
previx
verbal root
brings forth, produces
[He] produces (āpādayati | 3p sg act pres caus) a form according to his own measure (sva-mātrā-nirmāṇam | acc sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
From it, you can shape experience according to your own inner measure.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Kṣemarāja explains in the Vimarśinī: Realised experience takes a form of its own, suited to the practitioner's inner maturity.

Kṣemarāja's Śivasūtravimarśinī

The Vārttika explains: The yogin sees his own Mātrā as a constructed share in the condensation of awareness.

Bhāskara's Śivasūtravārttika
Śiva Sūtra 3.18
विद्याविनाशे जन्मविनाशः ||3.18||
vidyāvināśe janma-vināśaḥ ||3.18|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
vidyā
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive feminine
Vidyā, knowledge
avināśe
lokative singular
substantive masculine
when there is no passing away, imperishability
janma
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive neuter
birth
vināśaḥ
nominative singular
substantive masculine
destruction, dissolution
When knowledge does not pass away (vidyā-avināśe | loc absl sg), [there follows] the dissolution of birth (janma-vināśaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Where knowledge no longer passes away, the recurrence of limited birth ends.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Kṣemarāja explains in the Vimarśinī: Birth here means repeatedly falling into limited identity.

Kṣemarāja's Śivasūtravimarśinī

The Vārttika explains: Birth ends when Sahaja-Vidyā arises permanently: the whole complex of body, Prāṇa, thought, ignorance, and karma loses its root.

Bhāskara's Śivasūtravārttika
Śiva Sūtra 3.19
कवर्गादिषु माहेश्वर्याद्याः पशुमातरः ||3.19||
ka-vargādiṣu māheśvary-ādyāḥ paśu-mātaraḥ ||3.19|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
ka
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive neuter
of the sound ka
varga
tatpuruṣa-compound lokative
substantive masculine
group, class
ādiṣu
lokative plural
substantive masculine
beginning with, and so forth
māheśvarī
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive feminine
Māheśvarī
ādi
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
beginning with
ādyāḥ
nominative plural feminine
adjective
first, beginning with
paśu
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
Paśu, bound being
mātaraḥ
nominative plural
substantive feminine
mothers
In the groups of sounds beginning with ka (ka-varga-ādiṣu | loc pl), the mothers of bound beings (paśu-mātaraḥ | nom pl) [are the powers] beginning with Māheśvarī (māheśvarī-ādyāḥ | nom pl f).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
The powers of sound can produce the bound being; once recognised, they become powers of liberation.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Kṣemarāja explains in the Vimarśinī: The powers of language produce bound beings by clothing experience in names, classes, and fixed meanings.

Kṣemarāja's Śivasūtravimarśinī

The Vārttika explains: The Mātṛkā powers abide in the groups of sounds and can enter the knowers.

Bhāskara's Śivasūtravārttika

Illustrations: AI-generated.

Editor

Dr. Ronald Steiner

From Ulm

The "Yoga Doc" - Dr. Ronald Steiner is the founder of the AYI method. This method links traditional Ashtanga Yoga with innovative Yogatherapy and living Philosophy. This forms a practice that is personal for each and... more ›

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