Kaulajñānanirṇaya

A scholarly plate displays four horizontal rows of manuscript fragments on a dark background. Each row contains a left and right section of a folio, showcasing the historical Newari script (Prachalit) used for Sanskrit Tantric texts. The edges of the fragments appear aged and worn. Vertical text on the left provides the work's title, and a detailed caption on the right provides folio and page references.

Empty of right and wrong action. Because you have asked, O Supreme Lord, I shall speak. Is there anything unknown, or anything that does not lead to liberation? What of mantra sacred sound, yantra mystical diagram, and vidyā knowledge/wisdom; what is there in this teaching? What is yoga union, and what is meditation; tell me what those are. By this method, the eternal yoga is not attained.

The name "Lord of Kula Knowledge" is remembered as giving great success through mantras. There is no vidyā, no mantra, no yantra, and no concentration. The mantra and yantra are great secrets, adorned by the bindu point of concentrated energy and nāda internal sound. Do this, O Goddess; there is no liberation in that [if performed without understanding]. Place the mantra-yoga within your heart, O Goddess, on all sides.

I think, O Goddess, that in me the Kula-knowledge is fully illuminated. Expand, O Goddess, this illuminated knowledge of mantras. The knowledge of mantras is a secret of secrets, O Goddess, and is to be honored. What you ask, O Goddess, I will not give to anyone. I will not grant this well-hidden vidyā of the guru to anyone.

Thus, O Goddess of great fortune, the mantra-mudrās sacred gestures accompanying mantras are perfected. Thus, O Goddess, one may accomplish the mantra-mudrās by oneself. What is the mantra and what is the mudrā; what is the well-hidden mantra-yoga? What is vidyā and what is tantra; through this the mantra-mudrās are perfected. Thus, O Goddess, the mantra-yoga is attained by oneself on all sides.

Folio 3a—pp. 1-2 (beginning ii. 7); Folio 33b—pp. 76-77 (9—xxii. 7); Folio 34b—pp. 79-80 (5—15); Folio 35b—pp. 81-83 (verse 7—end).

Truly, there are no mantras, no yantras, no vidyā, and no concentration. There is no meditation, no yoga, and never any liberation. Those who look for liberation and the path to liberation, they are bound by fetters, like an animal, restless. In the world of mantras and yantras, the eternal Śiva the transformative deity wanders. By this method, O Goddess, one attains success in that very moment.

What is vidyā and what is mantra, and what is the supreme mantra-yantra? How, O Lord, does one attain liberation through mantra-yantra? What is liberation, O Lord of Kula? For whom is the mantra made manifest? Because you ask this, O Goddess, this mantra-vidyā is well hidden. It is full of the supreme Brahman Ultimate Reality, O Goddess. Mantra-tantra does not give liberation. There is no meditation, nor concentration. The mantra itself does not succeed. The mantra is liberation itself, O Lord; the mantra-vidyā is well hidden. Such is the mantra-yoga and meditation. Thus, O Goddess of great fortune, the mantra-yoga is attained.

Thus, the vidyā is well hidden, the mantra-vidyā is well illuminated. The mantra-mudrā is accomplished. Thus, O Goddess, one may accomplish the mantra-mudrā by oneself. There is no vidyā and no mantra. The mantra-vidyā is well illuminated. One should not worship the mantra-yantra. There is no vidyā, no mantra, and never any liberation. Whoever is foolish regarding the mantra-yantra, for him there is error in the mantra-yantras. Thus, O Goddess of great fortune, the mantra-vidyā is well illuminated. It is attained through the yoga of meditation. Thus, O Goddess, the mantra-mudrās are perfected. The mantra-vidyā is well hidden.

Thus, O Goddess of great fortune, the mantra-mudrās are perfected. Thus, O Goddess, the mantra-mudrās are accomplished. The mantra-yoga and vidyā, the mantra-yoga is well hidden. Thus, O Goddess, one may accomplish the mantra by oneself, the mantra-yoga on all sides. Thus, O Goddess, the mantra-mudrās are perfected. The mantra-yoga and meditation, the mantra-vidyā is well hidden. Thus, O Goddess of great fortune, the mantra-mudrā is accomplished.