Hum! In the midst of a canopy of five-coloured rainbow light,

A jewelled palace, the precious celestial mansion,

Within which swirls an ocean of all that gods and humans desire.

I praise Great Bhairava, manifesting as a body of form.

Vajra mind of all the Victorious Ones of the three times,

Command-bearing messenger who emanated from the heart of the Lord of Secrets,

Who, by the power of aspirations, accomplishes beings' welfare—

I praise the Great Shanglon Dorje Dudul!

In the form of a Yaksha, with colour of the dark blue sky,

Bearing expressions of wrathful smiling, allure, and grace.

Three flashing eyes beholding all of samsara and nirvāṇa—

I praise you who, without distraction, guard all wayfarers.

Right hand holds a wish-fulfilling jewel of power,

Bestowing all desired siddhis to practitioners.

From the treasure vase of nectar in the left hand,

You pour down a great rain of immortality—I praise you.

With crown and earrings, necklace and bracelets and more,

Adorned with ornaments of priceless gems,

Wearing a silk brocade cloak and bejewelled boots,

Seated at royal ease, one leg extended, the other bent—I praise you.

A roaring laughter of Ha Ha resounds through the three realms,

Passionate peals of laughter summoning the ḍākinīs of the three places.

According to the mental dispositions of countless beings,

Your vajra speech-melody transforms into whatever [is needed]—I praise you.

The one who clearly perceives all phenomena, conventional and ultimate,

Thoroughly intoxicated by marvellous great compassion,

Taming all beings through the four enlightened activities—

I praise you, compassionate-natured, oceanic oath-bound guardian.

Occasionally manifesting as Demon Protector Mahākāla,

Standing forth grasping a trident and blood-filled skull,

Revelling and playing with all mamos and ḍākinīs,

Protector of all oath-bound yogis—I praise you.

At other times, you appear as the intensely wrathful Lord of Death,

Galloping in the four directions on a demonic black horse,

With myriad weapons, grinding enemies and obstructors to dust—

I praise you, the one who manifests as task-performing messenger.

Joy-arousing marvellous secret mother,

All-accomplished sovereign lady who displays whatever manifestation,

Foremost powerful ḍākinī of the three places,

I praise you, unique mother of the Victorious Ones, mistress of magical display.

The Mighty, Swift, Sun, Mars, and others;

The Wilderness Dweller, Treasure Lord, and Powerful Yaksha;

Through the oceanic legions of the oath-bound Eight Classes,

I praise those pervading heaven, earth, and the space between.

Pema Totreng, great and powerful Lord of Secrets (Vajrapāṇi),

Drapa Ngönshé, Terdak Lingpa and others,

In accordance with the sacred pledges of Vidyadhara root lineage lamas,

Do not neglect your promises, but carry out your entrusted enlightened activities.

We, the vajra brothers and sisters of method and wisdom,

Rely on you deities, the essence of the ocean of three roots,

When we arouse your sacred commitment through one-pointed supplication,

Do not neglect us but think of us with love.

Bless the three gates in their vajra nature,

Especially grant the supreme and common siddhis,

Through the four enlightened activities, fulfil mind's hopes,

Be a companion until enlightenment.

Reverse the fierce hostile intentions of the malicious eight classes,

Protect against black magic, harmful spells, adverse conditions and obstacles,

All precious aims for the doctrine and beings—

Perform enlightened activities to accomplish [these] without hindrance.

Externally manifesting as the oath-bound guardian

And the clear light essence great Mahākāla,

Unified self-awareness—essence of Buddha nature,

Through recognising one's true nature, manifest enlightenment.

Foundational clear light—Dorje Dudul,

Clear light of the path—great blissful realm,

Resultant clear light—Vajra essence body,

Make them ripen and liberate as one inseparable unity!

Colophon

The 'Opening the Door to Excellence: A Praise to the Three Secrets of Shanglon, the Embodiment of All Victorious Ones of the Three Times' was composed with devotion by Rigdzin Zhepe Dorje on the seventh day of the waxing moon of the ninth lunar month, while staying at Bom Tsor in Zhelha Sakgong, during a journey to the great monastic centre of Chenye, in the Female Water Ox year, together with the Queen Consort, most noble of ḍākinīs, Lhachik Dorje Kyabje. May it bring goodness and well-being!

Bibliography:

Zhepe Dorje (bzhad pa’i rdo rje). “Zhang blon chen po rdo rje bdud ʼdul gyi thugs dam bskul baʼi bstod pa legs tshogs sgo ʼbyed.” gSung ʼbum  bzhad paʼi rdo rje (dbu med), vol. 7, 1982–1983, pp. 567–72. Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC), purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW1CZ2744_9DA65A. [BDRC bdr:MW1CZ2744_9DA65A]