1. Listen to the attributes of teachings. There are numerous types of teachings and it would be impossible to tell them all, but I shall describe a few.
2. Many types of teachings of sacred words, or mantras33, are given. Some give a mantra which is a name of God and some prescribe only the repetition of "OM" (Pronounced "AUM" in three syllables with a lingering emphasis on the M syllable).
Verses 3 through 7 list various names of deities used as mantras.
3. Teachers tell aspirants to repeat mantras of Shiva, Bhavaani, Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, Dattatraya, Ganesha, and Maartanda.
4. They say to chant the mantras of various incarnations of Vishnu in the form of a fish, a tortoise, a bear, and the deity that is half man and half lion. There are mantras of Vamana, Bhaargava, Lord Rama, and Lord Krishna.
5. They give mantras of various deities like Bhairava, Mallaari, Hanuman, Yekshini, Narayana, Panduranga, and of various spirits.
6. There are mantras of Shesha, Garuda, Vayu, Vitthala, Aghora, etc. How many can be told?
7. There are mantras of various Goddesses like Balaa, Bagula, Kali, Kankali, and Batuka. There are many mantras offering many powers.
8. There are as many independent different mantras as there are deities. Some are easy, some difficult, some strange, some with severe effect and some even having effects on the sky.
9. If one looks around the world, many deities can be seen. Who can count them all? There are as many mantras as there are gods. How many can be mentioned?
10. Innumerable are the strings of names used as mantras. Each one different from the other. Strange is the play of Illusion. Who can understand it?
11. There are mantras by which ghosts can be driven away, illnesses can be cured and poison stings from scorpions can be healed.
12. Like this, there are many varieties of mantras that are spoken into the ears of disciples. There are many teachings on the repetition of mantras (japa), meditation, ritual worship (puja), and various symbols of concentration (yantras).
13. Some say to repeat the name of Lord Shiva, some say to repeat "Hari" (Vishnu), and some give the name "Vitthala," for chanting.
14. Some say chant "Krishna, Krishna," and some say chant "Vishnu, Vishnu." Some say to repeat the name "Narayana."
15. Some say to repeat "Achyuta," and some say repeat "Ananta," while some say to repeat "Datta."
16. Some say to chant "Rama, Rama," some tell to repeat only "Om, Om," and some say to chant the many names of "Meghashama" (Krishna)
17. Some say to repeat "Guru, Guru," some say to repeat "Parameshwara," and some say to go on only deeply remembering Lord Ganesha.
18. Some say to chant "Shamaraj" (a name of Krishna), and some say to chant "Garudadhvaja," some say to repeat "Adhokshaja34."
19. Some say repeat "Deva, Deva" (God, God), some say repeat "Keshava, Keshava," and some say to go on repeating "Bhargava."
20. Some say to repeat "Vishvanath," and some say repeat "Malhari," and some say to repeat "Tukai."
21. How many more should I give of these many names? Lord Shiva and his power (Shakti) have an endless number of names. Different names are given as per one’s wish or according to one’s temperament.
22. Some teachers talk about the four types of gestures (mudras) like turning towards the sky (khechari), turning towards the earth (bhuchari), or that which is not fixed (chachari), or that which is said to reveal the Self (agochari), and some advise yogic postures (asanas) according to one's capacity.
23. Some show things that are normally unseen, some teach how to experience clairaudience, and some gurus teach thorough knowledge of the physical body.
24. Some speak about the way of action (karma), some the path of worship, and some speak about the eight limbed yoga (ashtanga yoga), while others talk about the energy centers of the body (chakras).
25. Some tell about various austerities, some tell about the internal chanting that is going on by itself, and some teachers who are knowledgeable expound upon the principles of creation.
26. Some tell about God with form (saguna), some explain the attributeless (nirguna), and some advise aspirants to go to pilgrimage places.
27. Some tell about the four great statements from the Vedas (Mahavakyas35), saying that they should be chanted, and some give the explanation of them, saying "All is Brahman."
28. Some tell the path of worship of the Goddess (Shakti), some talk about unrestricted liberty, and some speak of worship of the sex organs.
29. Some tell about hypnotism, some tell ways to make a person unable to do his activities or how to entice someone into some action or cause them some destruction, and some tell about black magic.
30. There are so many types of teachings. How many should I describe? Let it be as it is that there are innumerable teachings.
31. There are many teachings, but without Self-Knowledge all of them are meaningless. On this subject there is one statement made by Lord Krishna:
"Many people read many scriptures, and worship many deities, but without Self-Knowledge, everything is meaningless. The opinion of the shaivas, shaktas (devotees of Shiva and Shakti), or others, are many. There are many faulty doctrines of individuals in illusion who are confused. There is nothing which purifies like Self-Knowledge."
32. There is nothing that can be found that is as pure as Self-Knowledge. Therefore, one must first acquire Self-Knowledge.
33. Of all teachings, the teachings about Self-Knowledge are special. This has been said by God in many places.
34. The greatness of Self-Knowledge is not known to even the four-faced Brahma36, what can mere individuals understand?
35. The value and status of Self-Knowledge is billions of times greater than the benefit of all pilgrimages, the results of all sacred baths, or the merit of giving in charity.
36. Therefore, know that Self-Knowledge is what is the most profound type of knowledge. Listen to attributes of Knowledge which I will now tell.