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Pancharatra and Core: Bhishma explains the secret behind Arjuna and Vasudeva as Nara and Narayana.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततः स भगवान्देवो लोकानां परमेश्वरः। ब्रह्माणं प्रत्युवाचेदं स्निग्धगम्भीरया गिरा ॥६-६२-१॥
Then the blessed Lord, the supreme ruler of the worlds, spoke to Brahma in a gentle and profound voice.
विदितं तात योगान्मे सर्वमेतत्तवेप्सितम्। तथा तद्भवितेत्युक्त्वा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥६-६२-२॥
"Dear, all that you desired to know through yoga is known to me. Thus, having said that, he disappeared right there."
ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वा विस्मयं परमं गताः। कौतूहलपराः सर्वे पितामहमथाब्रुवन् ॥६-६२-३॥
Then the divine sages and celestial musicians were filled with supreme wonder. All of them, driven by curiosity, addressed the grandsire.
को न्वयं यो भगवता प्रणम्य विनयाद्विभो। वाग्भिः स्तुतो वरिष्ठाभिः श्रोतुमिच्छाम तं वयम् ॥६-६२-४॥
Who is this person who, having humbly bowed to the Lord, is praised by the best with words? We wish to hear about him, O Lord.
एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान्प्रत्युवाच पितामहः। देवब्रह्मर्षिगन्धर्वान्सर्वान्मधुरया गिरा ॥६-६२-५॥
Thus addressed, the Lord replied to the grandsire, and to all the gods, sages, and celestial musicians, in a sweet voice.
यत्तत्परं भविष्यं च भवितव्यं च यत्परम्। भूतात्मा यः प्रभुश्चैव ब्रह्म यच्च परं पदम् ॥६-६२-६॥
The supreme entity, which encompasses the future and what is to be, is the soul of all beings, the lord, and Brahman, representing the ultimate state.
तेनास्मि कृतसंवादः प्रसन्नेन सुरर्षभाः। जगतोऽनुग्रहार्थाय याचितो मे जगत्पतिः ॥६-६२-७॥
O best of gods, I have been engaged in a conversation with the pleased one, and for the purpose of blessing the world, I have requested the lord of the world.
मानुषं लोकमातिष्ठ वासुदेव इति श्रुतः। असुराणां वधार्थाय सम्भवस्व महीतले ॥६-६२-८॥
Vasudeva, manifest in the human world to destroy the demons, as it has been heard, on earth.
सङ्ग्रामे निहता ये ते दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः। त इमे नृषु सम्भूता घोररूपा महाबलाः ॥६-६२-९॥
In the battle, those demons and ogres who were slain have now taken birth among humans in terrifying forms, possessing great strength.
तेषां वधार्थं भगवान्नरेण सहितो वशी। मानुषीं योनिमास्थाय चरिष्यति महीतले ॥६-६२-१०॥
To destroy them, the Lord, along with a man, will take birth in a human form and live on earth.
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ। सहितौ मानुषे लोके सम्भूतावमितद्युती ॥६-६२-११॥
Nara and Narayana, the ancient and revered sages, were born together in the human world, possessing immeasurable splendor.
अजेयौ समरे यत्तौ सहितावमरैरपि। मूढास्त्वेतौ न जानन्ति नरनारायणावृषी ॥६-६२-१२॥
Nara and Narayana, the sages, are invincible in battle and engage together even with the immortals, but these fools do not recognize them.
तस्याहमात्मजो ब्रह्मा सर्वस्य जगतः पतिः। वासुदेवोऽर्चनीयो वः सर्वलोकमहेश्वरः ॥६-६२-१३॥
I am the son of Brahma, the lord of the universe. Vasudeva, the supreme lord of all realms, deserves your reverence.
तथा मनुष्योऽयमिति कदाचित्सुरसत्तमाः। नावज्ञेयो महावीर्यः शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ॥६-६२-१४॥
Thus, O best of gods, this man, sometimes, should not be disregarded as he is of great valor and bears the conch, discus, and mace.
एतत्परमकं गुह्यमेतत्परमकं पदम्। एतत्परमकं ब्रह्म एतत्परमकं यशः ॥६-६२-१५॥
This is the ultimate secret, the highest state. It is the supreme Brahman and the greatest glory.
एतदक्षरमव्यक्तमेतत्तच्छाश्वतं महत्। एतत्पुरुषसञ्ज्ञं वै गीयते ज्ञायते न च ॥६-६२-१६॥
This imperishable and unmanifest entity, which is eternal and great, is indeed known as 'puruṣa'. It is sung about, yet it is not truly known.
एतत्परमकं तेज एतत्परमकं सुखम्। एतत्परमकं सत्यं कीर्तितं विश्वकर्मणा ॥६-६२-१७॥
This is the ultimate brilliance, the ultimate happiness. This is the ultimate truth, as proclaimed by Viśvakarman.
तस्मात्सर्वैः सुरैः सेन्द्रैर्लोकैश्चामितविक्रमः। नावज्ञेयो वासुदेवो मानुषोऽयमिति प्रभुः ॥६-६२-१८॥
Therefore, all the gods along with Indra and the worlds should not disregard Vasudeva, who possesses immeasurable valor, as merely a human, thus spoke the Lord.
यश्च मानुषमात्रोऽयमिति ब्रूयात्सुमन्दधीः। हृषीकेशमवज्ञानात्तमाहुः पुरुषाधमम् ॥६-६२-१९॥
Whoever, due to ignorance, refers to Hṛṣīkeśa as merely a human, is considered extremely foolish and is called the lowest among men.
योगिनं तं महात्मानं प्रविष्टं मानुषीं तनुम्। अवमन्येद्वासुदेवं तमाहुस्तामसं जनाः ॥६-६२-२०॥
The people who disrespect Vasudeva, despite him being a great soul who has taken a human form, are considered ignorant.
देवं चराचरात्मानं श्रीवत्साङ्कं सुवर्चसम्। पद्मनाभं न जानाति तमाहुस्तामसं जनाः ॥६-६२-२१॥
People refer to those who do not recognize the divine being, who is the essence of all that moves and does not move, marked by Śrīvatsa, radiant, and with a lotus in his navel, as ignorant.
किरीटकौस्तुभधरं मित्राणामभयङ्करम्। अवजानन्महात्मानं घोरे तमसि मज्जति ॥६-६२-२२॥
He who wears the crown and the Kaustubha gem, who is fearless to his friends, disregards the great soul and sinks into terrible darkness.
एवं विदित्वा तत्त्वार्थं लोकानामीश्वरेश्वरः। वासुदेवो नमस्कार्यः सर्वलोकैः सुरोत्तमाः ॥६-६२-२३॥
Thus, understanding the true essence, Vasudeva, the supreme Lord of all worlds, is to be revered by all, including the best of gods.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्सर्वान्देवगणान्पुरा। विसृज्य सर्वलोकात्मा जगाम भवनं स्वकम् ॥६-६२-२४॥
Thus, having addressed all the groups of gods in the past, the Lord, who is the soul of all worlds, departed to his own abode.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा मुनयोऽप्सरसोऽपि च। कथां तां ब्रह्मणा गीतां श्रुत्वा प्रीता दिवं ययुः ॥६-६२-२५॥
Upon hearing the story sung by Brahma, the gods, celestial musicians, sages, and nymphs were pleased and ascended to heaven.
एतच्छ्रुतं मया तात ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्। वासुदेवं कथयतां समवाये पुरातनम् ॥६-६२-२६॥
"O dear, I have heard this ancient story of Vasudeva from the enlightened sages in the assembly."
जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य मार्कण्डेयस्य धीमतः। व्यासनारदयोश्चापि श्रुतं श्रुतविशारद ॥६-६२-२७॥
The wise Markandeya, along with Jamadagni's son Rama, and the sages Vyasa and Narada, who are experts in knowledge, have also heard this.
एतमर्थं च विज्ञाय श्रुत्वा च प्रभुमव्ययम्। वासुदेवं महात्मानं लोकानामीश्वरेश्वरम् ॥६-६२-२८॥
Understanding this purpose and hearing about the imperishable Lord Vasudeva, the great soul, who is the supreme Lord of all worlds.
यस्यासावात्मजो ब्रह्मा सर्वस्य जगतः पिता। कथं न वासुदेवोऽयमर्च्यश्चेज्यश्च मानवैः ॥६-६२-२९॥
This Vasudeva, whose son is Brahma, the father of the entire world, should indeed be worshipped and revered by all men.
वारितोऽसि पुरा तात मुनिभिर्वेदपारगैः। मा गच्छ संयुगं तेन वासुदेवेन धीमता ॥ मा पाण्डवैः सार्धमिति तच्च मोहान्न बुध्यसे ॥६-६२-३०॥
Dear one, you were previously advised by sages who are well-versed in the Vedas. Do not engage in battle with the wise Vasudeva. Do not join forces with the Pandavas, as you fail to understand this due to delusion.
मन्ये त्वां राक्षसं क्रूरं तथा चासि तमोवृतः। यस्माद्द्विषसि गोविन्दं पाण्डवं च धनञ्जयम् ॥ नरनारायणौ देवौ नान्यो द्विष्याद्धि मानवः ॥६-६२-३१॥
I believe you are a cruel demon, shrouded in darkness, for you despise Govinda and Dhanañjaya, who are the divine Nara and Nārāyaṇa. No other human would indeed hate them.
तस्माद्ब्रवीमि ते राजन्नेष वै शाश्वतोऽव्ययः। सर्वलोकमयो नित्यः शास्ता धाता धरो ध्रुवः ॥६-६२-३२॥
Therefore, O king, I declare to you that this is truly eternal and imperishable, encompassing all worlds, constant, the ruler, sustainer, bearer, and unchanging.
लोकान्धारयते यस्त्रींश्चराचरगुरुः प्रभुः। योद्धा जयश्च जेता च सर्वप्रकृतिरीश्वरः ॥६-६२-३३॥
He who upholds the three worlds, is the teacher of all beings, both moving and unmoving, the supreme lord, the warrior, the victorious and the conqueror, and the master of all creation.
राजन्सत्त्वमयो ह्येष तमोरागविवर्जितः। यतः कृष्णस्ततो धर्मो यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥६-६२-३४॥
O King, this is indeed composed of goodness, free from darkness and passion. Wherever Krishna is present, there is righteousness, and wherever there is righteousness, there is victory.
तस्य माहात्म्ययोगेन योगेनात्मन एव च। धृताः पाण्डुसुता राजञ्जयश्चैषां भविष्यति ॥६-६२-३५॥
Due to his greatness and self-control, O king, the sons of Pandu are steadfast, and they will achieve victory.
श्रेयोयुक्तां सदा बुद्धिं पाण्डवानां दधाति यः। बलं चैव रणे नित्यं भयेभ्यश्चैव रक्षति ॥६-६२-३६॥
He who always grants the Pandavas wisdom endowed with excellence, and consistently protects their strength in battle and from fears.
स एष शाश्वतो देवः सर्वगुह्यमयः शिवः। वासुदेव इति ज्ञेयो यन्मां पृच्छसि भारत ॥६-६२-३७॥
He, this eternal god, who embodies all mysteries and auspiciousness, is known as Vasudeva, as you inquire, O Bharata.
ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रैश्च कृतलक्षणैः। सेव्यतेऽभ्यर्च्यते चैव नित्ययुक्तैः स्वकर्मभिः ॥६-६२-३८॥
The divine is served and worshipped by Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras who are engaged in their respective duties with dedication.
द्वापरस्य युगस्यान्ते आदौ कलियुगस्य च। सात्वतं विधिमास्थाय गीतः सङ्कर्षणेन यः ॥६-६२-३९॥
At the transition between the Dvapara and Kali ages, the Sattvata method was followed and sung by Sankarshana.
स एष सर्वासुरमर्त्यलोकं; समुद्रकक्ष्यान्तरिताः पुरीश्च। युगे युगे मानुषं चैव वासं; पुनः पुनः सृजते वासुदेवः ॥६-६२-४०॥
Vasudeva, in every age, recreates the realms of all beings, both demons and mortals, along with the cities separated by oceans, and the human dwellings, time and again.
