incapable of being adored by any one if he does not
grant his permission to the adorer. As regards
myself, it is only when I become fortunate enough
to receive his permission that I succeed in adoring
him. I shall indicate only a few names of that
great Deity who is without birth and without destruction,
who is the original cause of the universe, who is
endued with the highest Soul, and whose origin is unmanifest.
Hear, O Krishna, a few names, that were uttered by
Brahma himself, of that giver of boons, that adorable
deity, that puissant one who has the universe for
his form, and who is possessed of supreme wisdom.
These names that I shall recite are extracted from
the ten thousand names that the great Grandsire had
uttered in days of yore, as ghee is extracted from
curds. As gold represents the essence of rocky
mountains, as honey represents the essence of flowers,
as Manda represents the extract from ghee, even so
have these names been extracted from and represent
the essence of those ten thousand names that were
uttered by Grandsire Brahma. This abstract of
names is capable of cleansing every sin, however heinous.
It possesses the same merit that is attached to the
four Vedas. It should be comprehended with attention
by spiritual aspirants and engraved on the memory.
These names fraught with auspiciousness, leading to
advancement, destructive of Rakshasas,[88] and great
cleansers should be imparted to only him that is devoted
to the great Lord, to him that has faith, to him that
believes. Unto him that has no faith, him that
is an unbeliever, him that has not subjugated his
soul, it should never be communicated. That creature,
O Krishna, who cherishes malice towards the illustrious
Mahadeva who is the original cause of everything, who
is the Supreme Soul, and who is the great Lord, has
certainly to go to hell with all his ancestors before
and all his children after him. This abstract
of names that I shall recite to thee is looked upon
as Yoga.[89] This is looked upon as the highest object
of meditation. This is that which one should
constantly recite as Japya. This is equivalent
to Knowledge. This is the highest Mystery.
If one, even during his last moments, recites it or
hears it recited unto him, one succeeds in attaining
to the highest end. This is holy. This is
auspicious, this is fraught with every kind of benefit.
This is the best of all things. Brahma, the Grandsire
of all the universe, having in days of old composed
it, assigned to it the foremost place among all excellent
hymns. From that time, this hymn to the greatness
and glory of the high-souled Mahadeva, which is held
in the highest esteem by all the deities, has come
to be regarded as the king of all hymns. This
king of all hymns was first conveyed from the region
of Brahman to heaven, the region of the celestials.
Tandi then obtained it from heaven. Hence is
it known as the hymn composed by Tandi. From heaven
Tandi brought it down on Earth. It is the most