Tripura Rahasya

Sage Dattatreya

On hearing these words of Shiva, all of them, including Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, meditated on Her Divine Majesty, the Transcendental Consciousness pervading the three states of life (waking, dream and sleep). Thus invoked, She manifested in Her glory as the Transcendental Voice in the expanse of pure consciousness. They heard the voice speak like thunder from the skies: "Speak out your minds, O Rishis! Be quick, the desires of my devotees will always be fulfilled immediately."

Hearing the voice, the exalter rishis prostrated and Brahma and the others praised the Goddess - namely Absolute Consciousness pervading the three states of life. 

"Salutations to Thee! The Greatest! The Best! The Most Auspicious! The Absolute Knowledge! The Consciousness of the three states! The Creatrix! The Protectress! The Dissolver in the Self! The Supreme One transcending all! Salutations again!

There was no time when Thou were not, because Thou art unborn! Thou art ever fresh and hence Thou never growest old. Thou art all; the essence of all, the knower of all, the delighter of all. Thou art not all. Thou art nowhere, with no core in Thee, unaware of anything, and delighting no one.

(Note: Since there is no ‘all’ or ‘place’ or ‘anything’ in Her natural state, She is everything that ‘is’ and ‘is not’.)

O Supreme Being! Salutations to Thee, over and over again, before and behind, above and below, on all sides and everywhere. Kindly tell us of Thy relative form and Thy transcendental state, Thy prowess, and Thy identity with jnana. What is the proper and perfect means for attaining Thee, the nature and the result of such attainment? What is the utmost finality of accomplishment, beyond which there remains nothing to be accomplished? Who is the best among the accomplished Sages? Salutations again to Thee!"