06.062
Pancharatra and Core: Bhishma explains the secret behind Arjuna and Vasudeva as Nara and Narayana.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tataḥ sa bhagavān devo lokānāṃ parameśvaraḥ। brahmāṇaṃ pratyuvācedaṃ snigdhagambhīrayā girā ॥6-62-1॥
Then the blessed Lord, the supreme ruler of the worlds, spoke to Brahma in a gentle and profound voice.
viditaṁ tāta yogānme sarvametattavepsitam। tathā tadbhavitetyuktvā tatraivāntaradhīyata ॥6-62-2॥
"Dear, all that you desired to know through yoga is known to me. Thus, having said that, he disappeared right there."
tato devarṣigandharvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ। kautūhalaparāḥ sarve pitāmahamathābruvan ॥6-62-3॥
Then the divine sages and celestial musicians were filled with supreme wonder. All of them, driven by curiosity, addressed the grandsire.
ko nvayaṃ yo bhagavatā praṇamya vinayād vibho। vāgbhiḥ stuto variṣṭhābhiḥ śrotum icchāma taṃ vayam ॥6-62-4॥
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.
evamuktastu bhagavānpratyuvāca pitāmahaḥ। devabrahmarṣigandharvānsarvānmadhurayā girā ॥6-62-5॥
Thus addressed, the Lord replied to the grandsire, and to all the gods, sages, and celestial musicians, in a sweet voice.
yattatparaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca bhavitavyaṃ ca yatparam। bhūtātmā yaḥ prabhuścaiva brahma yacca paraṃ padam ॥6-62-6॥
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.
tenāsmi kṛtasaṁvādaḥ prasannena surarṣabhāḥ। jagato'nugrahārthāya yācito me jagatpatiḥ ॥6-62-7॥
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.
mānuṣaṃ lokamātiṣṭha vāsudeva iti śrutaḥ। asurāṇāṃ vadhārthāya sambhavasva mahītale ॥6-62-8॥
Vasudeva, manifest in the human world to destroy the demons, as it has been heard, on earth.
saṅgrāme nihatā ye te daityadānavarākṣasāḥ। ta ime nṛṣu sambhūtā ghorarūpā mahābalāḥ ॥6-62-9॥
In the battle, those demons and ogres who were slain have now taken birth among humans in terrifying forms, possessing great strength.
teṣāṃ vadhārthaṃ bhagavānnareṇa sahito vaśī। mānuṣīṃ yonimāsthāya cariṣyati mahītale ॥6-62-10॥
To destroy them, the Lord, along with a man, will take birth in a human form and live on earth.
naranārāyaṇau yau tau purāṇāvṛṣisattamau। sahitau mānuṣe loke sambhūtāvamitadyutī ॥6-62-11॥
Nara and Narayana, the ancient and revered sages, were born together in the human world, possessing immeasurable splendor.
ajeyau samare yattau sahitāvamarairapi। mūḍhāstvetau na jānanti naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī ॥6-62-12॥
Nara and Narayana, the sages, are invincible in battle and engage together even with the immortals, but these fools do not recognize them.
tasyāhamātmajo brahmā sarvasya jagataḥ patiḥ। vāsudevo'rcanīyo vaḥ sarvalokamaheśvaraḥ ॥6-62-13॥
I am the son of Brahma, the lord of the universe. Vasudeva, the supreme lord of all realms, deserves your reverence.
tathā manuṣyo'yamiti kadācitsurasattamāḥ। nāvajñeyo mahāvīryaḥ śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ ॥6-62-14॥
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.
etatparamakaṃ guhyametatparamakaṃ padam। etatparamakaṃ brahma etatparamakaṃ yaśaḥ ॥6-62-15॥
This is the ultimate secret, the highest state. It is the supreme Brahman and the greatest glory.
etad akṣaram avyaktam etat tac chāśvataṃ mahat। etat puruṣasañjñaṃ vai gīyate jñāyate na ca ॥6-62-16॥
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.
etatparamakaṁ teja etatparamakaṁ sukham। etatparamakaṁ satyaṁ kīrtitaṁ viśvakarmaṇā ॥6-62-17॥
This is the ultimate brilliance, the ultimate happiness. This is the ultimate truth, as proclaimed by Viśvakarman.
tasmātsarvaiḥ suraiḥ sendrairlokaiścāmitavikramaḥ। nāvajñeyo vāsudevo mānuṣo'yamiti prabhuḥ ॥6-62-18॥
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.
yaśca mānuṣamātro'yamiti brūyātsumandadhīḥ। hṛṣīkeśamavajñānāttamāhuḥ puruṣādhamam ॥6-62-19॥
Whoever, due to ignorance, refers to Hṛṣīkeśa as merely a human, is considered extremely foolish and is called the lowest among men.
yoginaṃ taṃ mahātmānaṃ praviṣṭaṃ mānuṣīṃ tanum। avamanyedvāsudevaṃ tamāhustāmasaṃ janāḥ ॥6-62-20॥
The people who disrespect Vasudeva, despite him being a great soul who has taken a human form, are considered ignorant.
devaṁ carācarātmānaṁ śrīvatsāṅkaṁ suvarcasam। padmanābhaṁ na jānāti tamāhustāmasaṁ janāḥ ॥6-62-21॥
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.
kirīṭakaustubhadharaṃ mitrāṇāmabhayaṅkaram। avajānannmahātmānaṃ ghore tamasi majjati ॥6-62-22॥
He who wears the crown and the Kaustubha gem, who is fearless to his friends, disregards the great soul and sinks into terrible darkness.
evaṃ viditvā tattvārthaṃ lokānāmīśvareśvaraḥ। vāsudevo namaskāryaḥ sarvalokaiḥ surottamāḥ ॥6-62-23॥
Thus, understanding the true essence, Vasudeva, the supreme Lord of all worlds, is to be revered by all, including the best of gods.
evamuktvā sa bhagavānsarvāndevagaṇānpurā। visṛjya sarvalokātmā jagāma bhavanaṃ svakam ॥6-62-24॥
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.
tato devāḥ sagandharvā munayo'psaraso'pi ca। kathāṃ tāṃ brahmaṇā gītāṃ śrutvā prītā divaṃ yayuḥ ॥6-62-25॥
Upon hearing the story sung by Brahma, the gods, celestial musicians, sages, and nymphs were pleased and ascended to heaven.
etacchrutaṃ mayā tāta ṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanām। vāsudevaṃ kathayatāṃ samavāye purātanam ॥6-62-26॥
"O dear, I have heard this ancient story of Vasudeva from the enlightened sages in the assembly."
jāmadagnyasya rāmasya mārkaṇḍeyasya dhīmataḥ। vyāsanāradayoścāpi śrutaṃ śrutaviśārada ॥6-62-27॥
The wise Markandeya, along with Jamadagni's son Rama, and the sages Vyasa and Narada, who are experts in knowledge, have also heard this.
etamarthaṁ ca vijñāya śrutvā ca prabhumavyayam। vāsudevaṁ mahātmānaṁ lokānāmīśvareśvaram ॥6-62-28॥
Understanding this purpose and hearing about the imperishable Lord Vasudeva, the great soul, who is the supreme Lord of all worlds.
yasyāsāvātmajo brahmā sarvasya jagataḥ pitā। kathaṃ na vāsudevo'yamarcyaścejyaśca mānavaiḥ ॥6-62-29॥
This Vasudeva, whose son is Brahma, the father of the entire world, should indeed be worshipped and revered by all men.
vārito'si purā tāta munibhirvedapāragaiḥ। mā gaccha saṃyugaṃ tena vāsudevena dhīmatā ॥ mā pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhamiti tacca mohānna budhyase ॥6-62-30॥
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.
manye tvāṃ rākṣasaṃ krūraṃ tathā cāsi tamovṛtaḥ। yasmāddviṣasi govindaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanañjayam ॥ naranārāyaṇau devau nānyo dviṣyāddhi mānavaḥ ॥6-62-31॥
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.
tasmād bravīmi te rājan eṣa vai śāśvato'vyayaḥ। sarvalokamayo nityaḥ śāstā dhātā dharo dhruvaḥ ॥6-62-32॥
Therefore, O king, I declare to you that this is truly eternal and imperishable, encompassing all worlds, constant, the ruler, sustainer, bearer, and unchanging.
lokāndhārayate yastrīṃścarācaraguruḥ prabhuḥ। yoddhā jayaśca jetā ca sarvaprakṛtirīśvaraḥ ॥6-62-33॥
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.
rājansattvamayo hyeṣa tamorāgavivarjitaḥ। yataḥ kṛṣṇastato dharmo yato dharmastato jayaḥ ॥6-62-34॥
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.
tasya māhātmyayogena yogenātmana eva ca। dhṛtāḥ pāṇḍusutā rājañjayaścaiṣāṃ bhaviṣyati ॥6-62-35॥
Due to his greatness and self-control, O king, the sons of Pandu are steadfast, and they will achieve victory.
śreyoyuktāṃ sadā buddhiṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ dadhāti yaḥ। balaṃ caiva raṇe nityaṃ bhayebhyaścaiva rakṣati ॥6-62-36॥
He who always grants the Pandavas wisdom endowed with excellence, and consistently protects their strength in battle and from fears.
sa eṣa śāśvato devaḥ sarvaguhyamayaḥ śivaḥ। vāsudeva iti jñeyo yanmāṃ pṛcchasi bhārata ॥6-62-37॥
He, this eternal god, who embodies all mysteries and auspiciousness, is known as Vasudeva, as you inquire, O Bharata.
brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyairvaiśyaiḥ śūdraiśca kṛtalakṣaṇaiḥ। sevyate'bhyarcyate caiva nityayuktaiḥ svakarmabhiḥ ॥6-62-38॥
The divine is served and worshipped by Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras who are engaged in their respective duties with dedication.
dvāparasya yugasya-ante ādau kaliyugasya ca। sātvataṃ vidhim āsthāya gītaḥ saṅkarṣaṇena yaḥ ॥6-62-39॥
At the transition between the Dvapara and Kali ages, the Sattvata method was followed and sung by Sankarshana.
sa eṣa sarvāsuramartyalokaṁ; samudrakakṣyāntaritāḥ purīśca। yuge yuge mānuṣaṁ caiva vāsaṁ; punaḥ punaḥ sṛjate vāsudevaḥ ॥6-62-40॥
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.
