Verse 9Nonduality
Worldly Appearance is Insubstantial
Bhairava
Bhairava says the world of ordinary appearances is not as solid as it seems. It is like a magic trick, a dream, or a mirage city that appears but has no lasting substance. Seeing this loosens the grip of everyday confusion.
तदसारतया देवि विज्ञेयं शक्रजालित् । मायास्वप्नोपमं चैव गन्धर्वनगरभ्रमम् ॥ ९ ॥
tad asāratayā devi vijñeyaṃ śakrajālit | māyā-svapnopamaṃ caiva gandharva-nagara-bhramam || 9 ||
Translation
O Devi, that should be known as essenceless, like a magical illusion, like a dream, and like the भ्रम of a city of gandharvas.
Bhairava teaches that ordinary appearances are to be seen as insubstantial and dreamlike.