Verse 162, Vijñānabhaivatantra union by revelation
“Hearing these words, the Goddess, merged into the throat of Śiva.”
इत्युक्त्वानन्दिता देवि कण्ठे लग्ना शिवस्य तु॥ १६२॥
ityuktvānanditā devi kaṇṭhe lagnā śivasya tu || 162 |
The Vijñānabhairavatantra is a dialogue between the god and the goddess. She began the tantra by asking for enlightenment on a number of issues. From śloka 24 to śloka 138 the god reveals 112 methods for reaching fullness.
This final verse, in fact a half line, gives the conclusion to the whole tantra. He has enlightened her, and she is filled with bliss (ānanditā). She embraces him, literally she merges (lagnā) into him at his throat (kaṇṭhe), precisely at the place from which all these words have sprung. The genitive form ‘of Śiva’ (śivasya) can have two meanings. One is ‘ at the throat (kaṇṭhe) of Śiva.’ Words sprang from his throat and now she joins herself to him there. Words have been the means of their union. The other, that the goddess is ‘of Śiva’, that is she belongs to him, and is identified with him. She had been separated from him by her doubts and ignorance and now she is one with him through revelation.
There is a progression, grammatically, from object – the words spoken (ityuktva) – to the goddess (devi), and then to the god (śivasya). The three dimensions of reality – words, Devī and Śiva – are one. It is the climax of the tantra.
The śloka finishes at the half line, as though to say that once the union of Devī and Śiva occurs, there an on-going profound eternal silence.
