12.175
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कुतः सृष्टमिदं विश्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्। प्रलये च कमभ्येति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-१७५-१॥
kutaḥ sṛṣṭam idaṃ viśvaṃ jagat sthāvara-jaṅgamam। pralaye ca kam abhyeti tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-175-1॥
[कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; सृष्टम् (sṛṣṭam) - created; इदं (idaṃ) - this; विश्वम् (viśvam) - universe; जगत् (jagat) - world; स्थावर (sthāvara) - immobile; जङ्गमम् (jaṅgamam) - mobile; प्रलये (pralaye) - at dissolution; च (ca) - and; कम् (kam) - where; अभ्येति (abhyeti) - approaches; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Grandfather;]
(From where is this universe, the world of immobile and mobile beings, created? And at dissolution, where does it go? That, tell me, O Grandfather.)
O Grandfather, tell me from where this universe, the world of immobile and mobile beings, is created, and where it goes at dissolution.
ससागरः सगगनः सशैलः सबलाहकः। सभूमिः साग्निपवनो लोकोऽयं केन निर्मितः ॥१२-१७५-२॥
sasāgaraḥ sagaganaḥ saśailaḥ sabalāhakaḥ। sabhūmiḥ sāgnipavano loko'yaṃ kena nirmitaḥ ॥12-175-2॥
[स-सागरः (sa-sāgaraḥ) - with-ocean; स-गगनः (sa-gaganaḥ) - with-sky; स-शैलः (sa-śailaḥ) - with-mountain; स-बलाहकः (sa-balāhakaḥ) - with-cloud; स-भूमिः (sa-bhūmiḥ) - with-earth; स-अग्नि-पवनः (sa-agni-pavanaḥ) - with-fire-wind; लोकः-अयम् (lokaḥ-ayam) - world-this; केन (kena) - by whom; निर्मितः (nirmitaḥ) - created;]
(With ocean, with sky, with mountain, with cloud, with earth, with fire and wind, this world—by whom was it created?)
This world, endowed with ocean, sky, mountains, clouds, earth, fire, and wind—by whom was it created?
कथं सृष्टानि भूतानि कथं वर्णविभक्तयः। शौचाशौचं कथं तेषां धर्माधर्मावथो कथम् ॥१२-१७५-३॥
kathaṃ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni kathaṃ varṇavibhaktayaḥ। śaucāśaucaṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ dharmādharmāvatho katham ॥12-175-3॥
[कथं (katham) - how; सृष्टानि (sṛṣṭāni) - created; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; कथं (katham) - how; वर्णविभक्तयः (varṇavibhaktayaḥ) - caste-divisions; शौचाशौचं (śaucāśaucaṃ) - purity and impurity; कथं (katham) - how; तेषां (teṣāṃ) - of them; धर्माधर्मौ (dharmādharmau) - dharma and adharma; अथ (atha) - then; उ (u) - indeed; कथम् (katham) - how;]
(How are beings created, how are the caste-divisions, how is purity and impurity (determined), how are their dharma and adharma, then indeed, how?)
How are beings created? How are the divisions of caste? How is purity and impurity determined for them? How are their dharma and adharma established, and how is this so?
कीदृशो जीवतां जीवः क्व वा गच्छन्ति ये मृताः। अस्माल्लोकादमुं लोकं सर्वं शंसतु नो भवान् ॥१२-१७५-४॥
kīdṛśo jīvatāṃ jīvaḥ kva vā gacchanti ye mṛtāḥ। asmāllokādamuṃ lokaṃ sarvaṃ śaṃsatu no bhavān ॥12-175-4॥
[कीदृशः (kīdṛśaḥ) - of what kind; जीवताम् (jīvatām) - of the living; जीवः (jīvaḥ) - soul; क्व (kva) - where; वा (vā) - or; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; ये (ye) - who; मृताः (mṛtāḥ) - are dead; अस्मात् (asmāt) - from this; लोकात् (lokāt) - world; अमुं (amuṃ) - that; लोकं (lokaṃ) - world; सर्वं (sarvaṃ) - all; शंसतु (śaṃsatu) - let (him) declare; नः (naḥ) - to us; भवान् (bhavān) - your honor;]
(Of what kind is the soul of the living? Where do those who are dead go? From this world to that world, let your honor declare all to us.)
What is the nature of the soul among the living? Where do those who have died go? Please tell us everything, from this world to the next, your honor.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। भृगुणाभिहितं श्रेष्ठं भरद्वाजाय पृच्छते ॥१२-१७५-५॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। bhṛguṇābhihitaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ bharadvājāya pṛcchate ॥12-175-5॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; भृगुणा (bhṛguṇā) - by Bhṛgu; अभिहितम् (abhihitam) - spoken; श्रेष्ठम् (śreṣṭham) - excellent; भरद्वाजाय (bharadvājāya) - to Bharadvāja; पृच्छते (pṛcchate) - (when he) asks;]
(Here also they cite this ancient history, spoken by Bhṛgu, excellent, to Bharadvāja (when he) asks.)
Here too, they recount this ancient story, the excellent one spoken by Bhṛgu to Bharadvāja when he asked.
कैलासशिखरे दृष्ट्वा दीप्यमानमिवौजसा। भृगुं महर्षिमासीनं भरद्वाजोऽन्वपृच्छत ॥१२-१७५-६॥
kailāsaśikhare dṛṣṭvā dīpyamānamivaujasā। bhṛguṃ maharṣimāsīnaṃ bharadvājo'nvapṛcchata ॥12-175-6॥
[कैलासशिखरे (kailāsaśikhare) - on the peak of Kailāsa; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; दीप्यमानम् (dīpyamānam) - shining; इव (iva) - as if; औजसा (aujasā) - with energy; भृगुम् (bhṛgum) - Bhṛgu; महर्षिम् (maharṣim) - great sage; आसीनम् (āsīnam) - seated; भरद्वाजः (bharadvājaḥ) - Bharadvāja; अन्वपृच्छत् (anvapṛcchat) - asked;]
(On the peak of Kailāsa, having seen Bhṛgu, the great sage, shining as if with energy, Bharadvāja asked (him).)
Bharadvāja, upon seeing the great sage Bhṛgu seated on the peak of Kailāsa, radiant as if with energy, asked him.
ससागरः सगगनः सशैलः सबलाहकः। सभूमिः साग्निपवनो लोकोऽयं केन निर्मितः ॥१२-१७५-७॥
sasāgaraḥ sagaganaḥ saśailaḥ sabalāhakaḥ। sabhūmiḥ sāgnipavano loko'yaṃ kena nirmitaḥ ॥12-175-7॥
[स-सागरः (sa-sāgaraḥ) - with-ocean; स-गगनः (sa-gaganaḥ) - with-sky; स-शैलः (sa-śailaḥ) - with-mountain; स-बलाहकः (sa-balāhakaḥ) - with-cloud; स-भूमिः (sa-bhūmiḥ) - with-earth; स-अग्नि-पवनः (sa-agni-pavanaḥ) - with-fire-wind; लोकः-अयम् (lokaḥ-ayam) - world-this; केन (kena) - by whom; निर्मितः (nirmitaḥ) - created;]
(With ocean, with sky, with mountain, with cloud, with earth, with fire and wind, this world—by whom was it created?)
Who created this world, endowed with ocean, sky, mountains, clouds, earth, fire, and wind?
कथं सृष्टानि भूतानि कथं वर्णविभक्तयः। शौचाशौचं कथं तेषां धर्माधर्मावथो कथम् ॥१२-१७५-८॥
kathaṃ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni kathaṃ varṇavibhaktayaḥ। śaucāśaucaṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ dharmādharmāvatho katham ॥12-175-8॥
[कथं (katham) - how; सृष्टानि (sṛṣṭāni) - created; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; कथं (katham) - how; वर्णविभक्तयः (varṇavibhaktayaḥ) - divisions of castes; शौचाशौचं (śaucāśaucaṃ) - purity and impurity; कथं (katham) - how; तेषां (teṣāṃ) - of them; धर्माधर्मौ (dharmādharmau) - dharma and adharma; अथ (atha) - then; उ (u) - indeed; कथम् (katham) - how;]
(How are beings created, how are the divisions of castes, how is purity and impurity (determined), how are their dharma and adharma, then indeed, how?)
How are beings created? How are the divisions of castes determined? How is purity and impurity established among them? How are their dharma and adharma defined? And then, how is all this so?
कीदृशो जीवतां जीवः क्व वा गच्छन्ति ये मृताः। परलोकमिमं चापि सर्वं शंसतु नो भवान् ॥१२-१७५-९॥
kīdṛśo jīvatāṃ jīvaḥ kva vā gacchanti ye mṛtāḥ। paralokam imaṃ cāpi sarvaṃ śaṃsatu no bhavān ॥12-175-9॥
[कीदृशः (kīdṛśaḥ) - of what kind; जीवताम् (jīvatām) - of the living; जीवः (jīvaḥ) - soul; क्व (kva) - where; वा (vā) - or; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; ये (ye) - who; मृताः (mṛtāḥ) - dead; परलोकम् (paralokam) - the other world; इमम् (imam) - this; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; शंसतु (śaṃsatu) - let (him) tell; नः (naḥ) - to us; भवान् (bhavān) - you (honorific);]
(Of what kind is the soul of the living? Where do those who are dead go? Let you tell us all this and the other world also.)
Please tell us, what is the nature of the soul among the living, and where do those who have died go? Kindly explain to us everything about this world and the next, O revered one.
एवं स भगवान्पृष्टो भरद्वाजेन संशयम्। महर्षिर्ब्रह्मसङ्काशः सर्वं तस्मै ततोऽब्रवीत् ॥१२-१७५-१०॥
evaṃ sa bhagavān pṛṣṭaḥ bharadvājena saṃśayam। maharṣir brahma-saṅkāśaḥ sarvaṃ tasmai tato'bravīt ॥12-175-10॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; स (sa) - he; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the venerable one; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - having been asked; भरद्वाजेन (bharadvājena) - by Bharadvāja; संशयम् (saṃśayam) - doubt; महर्षिः (maharṣiḥ) - the great sage; ब्रह्मसङ्काशः (brahma-saṅkāśaḥ) - resembling Brahmā; सर्वम् (sarvam) - everything; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; ततः (tataḥ) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke;]
(Thus, he, the venerable one, having been asked by Bharadvāja about the doubt, the great sage resembling Brahmā, everything to him then spoke.)
Thus, when Bharadvāja asked his doubt, the great sage, who resembled Brahmā, explained everything to him.
मानसो नाम विख्यातः श्रुतपूर्वो महर्षिभिः। अनादिनिधनो देवस्तथाभेद्योऽजरामरः ॥१२-१७५-११॥
mānaso nāma vikhyātaḥ śrutapūrvo maharṣibhiḥ। anādinidhano devastathābhedyo'jarāmaraḥ ॥12-175-11॥
[मानसः (mānasaḥ) - of the mind; spirit; नाम (nāma) - named; called; विख्यातः (vikhyātaḥ) - well-known; famous; श्रुतपूर्वः (śrutapūrvaḥ) - heard before; previously known; महर्षिभिः (maharṣibhiḥ) - by great sages; अनादिनिधनः (anādinidhanaḥ) - without beginning or end; eternal; देवः (devaḥ) - divine being; god; तथा (tathā) - thus; in that way; अभेद्यः (abhedyaḥ) - impenetrable; unbreakable; अजरामरः (ajarāmaraḥ) - undecaying and immortal;]
(The one of the mind, named, well-known, previously heard by great sages, the god who is without beginning or end, thus impenetrable, undecaying and immortal.)
The mind-born, known by this name, is renowned and was heard of by great sages; the god who is eternal, thus unbreakable, undecaying, and immortal.
अव्यक्त इति विख्यातः शाश्वतोऽथाक्षरोऽव्ययः। यतः सृष्टानि भूतानि जायन्ते च म्रियन्ति च ॥१२-१७५-१२॥
avyakta iti vikhyātaḥ śāśvato'thākṣaro'vyayaḥ। yataḥ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni jāyante ca mriyanti ca ॥12-175-12॥
[अव्यक्त (avyakta) - unmanifest; not apparent; इति (iti) - thus; so; विख्यातः (vikhyātaḥ) - well-known; famous; शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal; perpetual; अथ (atha) - and; then; अक्षरः (akṣaraḥ) - imperishable; undecaying; अव्ययः (avyayaḥ) - unchanging; immutable; यतः (yataḥ) - from which; because of which; सृष्टानि (sṛṣṭāni) - created (things); creations; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; entities; जायन्ते (jāyante) - are born; arise; च (ca) - and; म्रियन्ति (mriyanti) - die; perish; च (ca) - and;]
(The unmanifest, thus, is well-known, eternal, and then imperishable, unchanging; from which created beings are born and die.)
The unmanifest, so called, is well-known as the eternal, imperishable, and immutable; it is that from which created beings arise and into which they perish.
सोऽसृजत्प्रथमं देवो महान्तं नाम नामतः। आकाशमिति विख्यातं सर्वभूतधरः प्रभुः ॥१२-१७५-१३॥
so'sṛjat prathamaṃ devo mahāntaṃ nāma nāmataḥ। ākāśam iti vikhyātaṃ sarvabhūtadharaḥ prabhuḥ ॥12-175-13॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; असृजत् (asṛjat) - created; प्रथमम् (prathamam) - first; देवः (devaḥ) - the god; महान्तम् (mahāntam) - great; नाम (nāma) - name; नामतः (nāmataḥ) - by name; आकाशम् (ākāśam) - ether; इति (iti) - thus; विख्यातम् (vikhyātam) - well-known; सर्वभूतधरः (sarvabhūtadharaḥ) - supporter of all beings; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the lord;]
(He created first the god, the great name by name; ether thus (is) well-known, the supporter of all beings, the lord.)
He first created the god, the great one by name; this is well-known as ether, the supporter of all beings, the lord.
आकाशादभवद्वारि सलिलादग्निमारुतौ। अग्निमारुतसंयोगात्ततः समभवन्मही ॥१२-१७५-१४॥
ākāśād abhavad vāri salilād agni-mārutau। agni-māruta-saṃyogāt tataḥ samabhavan mahī ॥12-175-14॥
[अभवत् (abhavat) - arose; became; was born; वारि (vāri) - water; सलिलात् (salilāt) - from water; अग्नि (agni) - fire; मारुतौ (mārutau) - and wind; (dual) अग्नि (agni) - fire; मारुत (māruta) - wind; संयोगात् (saṃyogāt) - from the union; by the combination; ततः (tataḥ) - then; thereafter; समभवत् (samabhavat) - arose; was produced; मही (mahī) - earth;]
(From space arose water; from water, fire and wind; from the union of fire and wind, then arose the earth.)
Water arose from space; from water came fire and wind; from the union of fire and wind, the earth was then produced.
ततस्तेजोमयं दिव्यं पद्मं सृष्टं स्वयम्भुवा। तस्मात्पद्मात्समभवद्ब्रह्मा वेदमयो निधिः ॥१२-१७५-१५॥
tatas tejo-mayaṃ divyaṃ padmaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ svayambhuvā। tasmāt padmāt samabhavad brahmā vedamayo nidhiḥ ॥12-175-15॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तेजोमयं (tejo-mayaṃ) - consisting of light; दिव्यं (divyaṃ) - divine; पद्मं (padmaṃ) - lotus; सृष्टं (sṛṣṭaṃ) - created; स्वयम्भुवा (svayambhuvā) - by the self-born; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that; पद्मात् (padmāt) - from the lotus; समभवत् (samabhavat) - arose; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; वेदमयः (vedamayaḥ) - consisting of the Vedas; निधिः (nidhiḥ) - treasure;]
(Then a divine lotus consisting of light was created by the self-born. From that lotus arose Brahmā, the treasure consisting of the Vedas.)
Then, the self-born created a divine, radiant lotus. From that lotus emerged Brahmā, the repository of the Vedas.
अहङ्कार इति ख्यातः सर्वभूतात्मभूतकृत्। ब्रह्मा वै सुमहातेजा य एते पञ्च धातवः ॥१२-१७५-१६॥
ahaṅkāra iti khyātaḥ sarvabhūtātmabhūtakṛt। brahmā vai sumahātejā ya ete pañca dhātavaḥ ॥12-175-16॥
[अहङ्कार (ahaṅkāra) - ego; इति (iti) - thus; ख्यातः (khyātaḥ) - known; सर्वभूतात्मभूतकृत् (sarvabhūtātmabhūtakṛt) - the maker of the self of all beings; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; वै (vai) - indeed; सुमहातेजा (sumahātejā) - of great splendor; यः (yaḥ) - who; एते (ete) - these; पञ्च (pañca) - five; धातवः (dhātavaḥ) - elements;]
(Ego thus known, the maker of the self of all beings. Brahmā indeed, of great splendor, who (is) these five elements.)
The ego, thus known as the maker of the self of all beings, is Brahmā himself, of great splendor, who is these five elements.
शैलास्तस्यास्थिसञ्ज्ञास्तु मेदो मांसं च मेदिनी। समुद्रास्तस्य रुधिरमाकाशमुदरं तथा ॥१२-१७५-१७॥
śailās tasyāsthi-saṃjñās tu medo māṃsaṃ ca medinī। samudrās tasya rudhiram ākāśam udaraṃ tathā ॥12-175-17॥
[शैलाः (śailāḥ) - mountains; तस्य (tasya) - his; अस्थिसञ्ज्ञाः (asthi-saṃjñāḥ) - called bones; तु (tu) - but; मेदः (medaḥ) - fat; मांसं (māṃsaṃ) - flesh; च (ca) - and; मेदिनी (medinī) - earth; समुद्राः (samudrāḥ) - oceans; तस्य (tasya) - his; रुधिरम् (rudhiram) - blood; आकाशम् (ākāśam) - sky; उदरं (udaram) - abdomen; तथा (tathā) - also;]
(Mountains are his so-called bones, but fat, flesh, and earth; oceans are his blood, sky (is) abdomen also.)
The mountains are regarded as his bones, while fat, flesh, and the earth are his body; the oceans are his blood, and the sky is his abdomen.
पवनश्चैव निःश्वासस्तेजोऽग्निर्निम्नगाः सिराः। अग्नीषोमौ तु चन्द्रार्कौ नयने तस्य विश्रुते ॥१२-१७५-१८॥
pavanaścaiva niḥśvāsastejo'gnirnimnagāḥ sirāḥ। agnīṣomau tu candrārkau nayane tasya viśrute ॥12-175-18॥
[पवनः (pavanaḥ) - wind; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; निःश्वासः (niḥśvāsaḥ) - breath; तेजः (tejaḥ) - radiance; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; निम्नगाः (nimnagāḥ) - rivers; सिराः (sirāḥ) - veins; अग्नीषोमौ (agnīṣomau) - Agni and Soma; तु (tu) - but; चन्द्रार्कौ (candrārkau) - moon and sun; नयने (nayane) - eyes; तस्य (tasya) - his; विश्रुते (viśrute) - well-known;]
(Wind and indeed breath, radiance, fire, rivers, veins; Agni and Soma, but moon and sun, eyes, his, well-known.)
It is well-known that in him, wind and breath, radiance and fire, rivers and veins, Agni and Soma, and the moon and sun are (represented as) his eyes.
नभश्चोर्ध्वं शिरस्तस्य क्षितिः पादौ दिशो भुजौ। दुर्विज्ञेयो ह्यनन्तत्वात्सिद्धैरपि न संशयः ॥१२-१७५-१९॥
nabhaścordhvaṃ śirastasya kṣitiḥ pādau diśo bhujau। durvijñeyo hyanantatvātsiddhairapi na saṃśayaḥ ॥12-175-19॥
[नभः (nabhaḥ) - sky; च (ca) - and; ऊर्ध्वं (ūrdhvaṃ) - above; शिरः (śiraḥ) - head; तस्य (tasya) - his; क्षितिः (kṣitiḥ) - earth; पादौ (pādau) - feet; दिशः (diśaḥ) - directions; भुजौ (bhujau) - arms; दुर्विज्ञेयः (durvijñeyaḥ) - difficult to comprehend; हि (hi) - indeed; अनन्तत्वात् (anantatvāt) - due to infinitude; सिद्धैः (siddhaiḥ) - by the perfected beings; अपि (api) - even; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt;]
(The sky above is his head, the earth (is) his feet, the directions (are) his arms. Difficult to comprehend indeed, due to infinitude, even by the perfected beings, there is no doubt.)
The sky is his head above, the earth his feet, and the directions his arms. He is indeed difficult to comprehend due to his infinitude, and even the perfected beings have no doubt about this.
स एव भगवान्विष्णुरनन्त इति विश्रुतः। सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थो दुर्विज्ञेयोऽकृतात्मभिः ॥१२-१७५-२०॥
sa eva bhagavān viṣṇur ananta iti viśrutaḥ। sarvabhūtātmabhūtastho durvijñeyo'kṛtātmabhiḥ ॥12-175-20॥
[स (sa) - he; एव (eva) - indeed; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the Lord; विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Viṣṇu; अनन्तः (anantaḥ) - the infinite; इति (iti) - thus; विश्रुतः (viśrutaḥ) - well-known; सर्वभूतात्म (sarvabhūtātma) - the self of all beings; भूतस्थः (bhūtasthaḥ) - abiding in beings; दुर्विज्ञेयः (durvijñeyaḥ) - difficult to comprehend; अकृतात्मभिः (akṛtātmabhiḥ) - by those whose self is not purified;]
(He indeed, the Lord Viṣṇu, the infinite, thus (is) well-known. The self of all beings, abiding in beings, (is) difficult to comprehend by those whose self is not purified.)
He alone is the Lord Viṣṇu, known as the infinite. He is the self of all beings, abiding within them, and is difficult to comprehend for those whose minds are not purified.
अहङ्कारस्य यः स्रष्टा सर्वभूतभवाय वै। यतः समभवद्विश्वं पृष्टोऽहं यदिह त्वया ॥१२-१७५-२१॥
ahaṅkārasya yaḥ sraṣṭā sarvabhūtabhavāya vai। yataḥ samabhavadviśvaṃ pṛṣṭo'haṃ yadiha tvayā ॥12-175-21॥
[अहङ्कारस्य (ahaṅkārasya) - of ego; यः (yaḥ) - who; स्रष्टा (sraṣṭā) - creator; सर्वभूतभवाय (sarvabhūtabhavāya) - for the existence of all beings; वै (vai) - indeed; यतः (yataḥ) - from whom; समभवत् (samabhavat) - arose; विश्वम् (viśvam) - the universe; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; अहम् (aham) - I; यत् (yat) - which; इह (iha) - here; त्वया (tvayā) - by you;]
(Of ego, who is the creator for the existence of all beings indeed, from whom the universe arose, I have been asked here by you which.)
You have asked me here about the one who is the creator of ego, for the existence of all beings, from whom the universe arose.
भरद्वाज उवाच॥
bharadvāja uvāca॥
[भरद्वाज (bharadvāja) - Bharadvāja; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bharadvāja said;)
Bharadvāja said.
गगनस्य दिशां चैव भूतलस्यानिलस्य च। कान्यत्र परिमाणानि संशयं छिन्धि मेऽर्थतः ॥१२-१७५-२२॥
gaganasya diśāṃ caiva bhūtalasyānilasya ca। kānyatra parimāṇāni saṃśayaṃ chindhi me'rthataḥ ॥12-175-22॥
[गगनस्य (gaganasya) - of the sky; दिशां (diśām) - of the directions; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; भूतलस्य (bhūtalasya) - of the earth's surface; अनिलस्य (anilasya) - of the wind; च (ca) - and; का (kā) - what; अन्यत्र (anyatra) - elsewhere; परिमाणानि (parimāṇāni) - measures; संशयम् (saṃśayam) - doubt; छिन्धि (chindhi) - cut; मे (me) - my; अर्थतः (arthataḥ) - in terms of meaning;]
(Of the sky, of the directions indeed, of the earth's surface, of the wind and, what elsewhere are the measures, the doubt cut my in terms of meaning.)
Please resolve my doubt regarding the measures of the sky, directions, earth's surface, and wind, and explain their meanings to me.
भृगुरुवाच॥
bhṛguruvāca॥
[भृगुः (bhṛguḥ) - Bhṛgu; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhṛgu said;)
Bhṛgu said.
अनन्तमेतदाकाशं सिद्धचारणसेवितम्। रम्यं नानाश्रयाकीर्णं यस्यान्तो नाधिगम्यते ॥१२-१७५-२३॥
anantam etad ākāśam siddha-cāraṇa-sevitam। ramyam nānā-āśraya-ākīrṇam yasya antaḥ na adhigamyate ॥12-175-23॥
[अनन्तम् (anantam) - endless; एतत् (etat) - this; आकाशम् (ākāśam) - sky; सिद्ध (siddha) - perfected being; चारण (cāraṇa) - celestial minstrel; सेवितम् (sevitam) - attended; रम्यम् (ramyam) - beautiful; नाना (nānā) - various; आश्रय (āśraya) - abodes; आकीर्णम् (ākīrṇam) - filled; यस्य (yasya) - whose; अन्तः (antaḥ) - end; न (na) - not; अधिगम्यते (adhigamyate) - is reached;]
(This endless sky, attended by siddhas and cāraṇas, beautiful, filled with various abodes, whose end is not reached.)
This is the endless sky, attended by siddhas and cāraṇas, beautiful and filled with various abodes, whose end cannot be reached.
ऊर्ध्वं गतेरधस्तात्तु चन्द्रादित्यौ न दृश्यतः। तत्र देवाः स्वयं दीप्ता भास्वराश्चाग्निवर्चसः ॥१२-१७५-२४॥
ūrdhvaṃ gater adhastāt tu candrādityau na dṛśyataḥ। tatra devāḥ svayaṃ dīptā bhāsvarāś cāgnivarcasaḥ ॥12-175-24॥
[ऊर्ध्वम् (ūrdhvam) - upwards; गतेः (gateḥ) - of the path; अधस्तात् (adhastāt) - below; तु (tu) - but; चन्द्र (candra) - moon; आदित्यौ (ādityau) - and sun; न (na) - not; दृश्यतः (dṛśyataḥ) - are seen; तत्र (tatra) - there; देवाः (devāḥ) - gods; स्वयम् (svayam) - themselves; दीप्ताः (dīptāḥ) - shining; भास्वराः (bhāsvarāḥ) - radiant; च (ca) - and; अग्निवर्चसः (agnivarcasaḥ) - having the brilliance of fire;]
(Upwards of the path, below, but the moon and sun are not seen. There, the gods themselves are shining, radiant and having the brilliance of fire.)
Above the path, below, the moon and sun are not visible; there, the gods themselves shine, radiant and possessing the brilliance of fire.
ते चाप्यन्तं न पश्यन्ति नभसः प्रथितौजसः। दुर्गमत्वादनन्तत्वादिति मे विद्धि मानद ॥१२-१७५-२५॥
te cāpy antaṃ na paśyanti nabhasaḥ prathitaujasaḥ। durgamatvād anantatvād iti me viddhi mānada ॥12-175-25॥
[ते (te) - they; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अन्तं (antam) - end; न (na) - not; पश्यन्ति (paśyanti) - see; नभसः (nabhasaḥ) - of the sky; प्रथितौजसः (prathitaujasaḥ) - of renowned strength; दुर्गमत्वात् (durgamatvāt) - due to difficulty of access; अनन्तत्वात् (anantatvāt) - due to infinity; इति (iti) - thus; मे (me) - to me; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; मानद (mānada) - O bestower of honor;]
(They and also do not see the end of the sky, of renowned strength, due to difficulty of access, due to infinity—thus know from me, O bestower of honor.)
They also do not see the end of the sky, which is of renowned strength, because it is difficult to reach and infinite—know this from me, O bestower of honor.
उपरिष्टोपरिष्टात्तु प्रज्वलद्भिः स्वयम्प्रभैः। निरुद्धमेतदाकाशमप्रमेयं सुरैरपि ॥१२-१७५-२६॥
upariṣṭopariṣṭāttu prajvaladbhiḥ svayamprabhaiḥ। niruddhametadākāśamaprameyaṃ surairapi ॥12-175-26॥
[उपरिष्टः (upariṣṭaḥ) - above; उपरिष्टात् (upariṣṭāt) - from above; तु (tu) - but; प्रज्वलद्भिः (prajvaladbhiḥ) - by blazing; स्वयम् (svayam) - self; प्रभैः (prabhaiḥ) - by lights; निरुद्धम् (niruddham) - obstructed; एतत् (etat) - this; आकाशम् (ākāśam) - sky; अप्रमेयम् (aprameyam) - immeasurable; सुरैः (suraiḥ) - by the gods; अपि (api) - even;]
(But from above and above, by blazing self-lights, this immeasurable sky is obstructed even by the gods.)
But above and above, this immeasurable sky is obstructed by blazing self-luminous lights, even by the gods.
पृथिव्यन्ते समुद्रास्तु समुद्रान्ते तमः स्मृतम्। तमसोऽन्ते जलं प्राहुर्जलस्यान्तेऽग्निरेव च ॥१२-१७५-२७॥
pṛthivy-ante samudrās tu samudra-ante tamaḥ smṛtam। tamaso ’nte jalaṃ prāhur jalasya-ante ’gnir eva ca ॥12-175-27॥
[पृथिव्य्-अन्ते (pṛthivy-ante) - at the end of the earth; समुद्राः (samudrāḥ) - oceans; तु (tu) - but; समुद्र-अन्ते (samudra-ante) - at the end of the ocean; तमः (tamaḥ) - darkness; स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - is said; तमसः-अन्ते (tamaso-ante) - at the end of darkness; जलम् (jalaṃ) - water; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they say; जलस्य-अन्ते (jalasya-ante) - at the end of water; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and;]
(At the end of the earth are oceans; but at the end of the ocean, darkness is said (to be). At the end of darkness, water, they say; at the end of water, indeed, is fire and (so on).)
At the edge of the earth are the oceans; at the edge of the oceans is said to be darkness. Beyond darkness, they say, is water; and beyond water, indeed, is fire.
रसातलान्ते सलिलं जलान्ते पन्नगाधिपः। तदन्ते पुनराकाशमाकाशान्ते पुनर्जलम् ॥१२-१७५-२८॥
rasātalānte salilaṃ jalānte pannagādhipaḥ। tadante punarākāśam ākāśānte punarjalam ॥12-175-28॥
[रसातल-अन्ते (rasātala-ante) - at the end of the netherworld; सलिलम् (salilam) - water; जल-अन्ते (jala-ante) - at the end of water; पन्नग-अधिपः (pannaga-adhipaḥ) - lord of serpents; तत्-अन्ते (tat-ante) - at the end of that; पुनः (punar) - again; आकाशम् (ākāśam) - sky; आकाश-अन्ते (ākāśa-ante) - at the end of sky; पुनः (punar) - again; जलम् (jalam) - water;]
(At the end of the netherworld is water; at the end of water is the lord of serpents; at the end of that, again is the sky; at the end of the sky, again is water.)
At the end of the netherworld is water; at the end of the water is the lord of serpents; beyond that, again is the sky; and at the end of the sky, again is water.
एवमन्तं भगवतः प्रमाणं सलिलस्य च। अग्निमारुततोयेभ्यो दुर्ज्ञेयं दैवतैरपि ॥१२-१७५-२९॥
evam-antaṃ bhagavataḥ pramāṇaṃ salilasya ca। agni-māruta-toyebhyo durjñeyaṃ daivatair api ॥12-175-29॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; अन्तं (antam) - end; भगवतः (bhagavataḥ) - of the Lord; प्रमाणं (pramāṇam) - measure; सलिलस्य (salilasya) - of water; च (ca) - and; अग्नि (agni) - of fire; मारुत (māruta) - of wind; तोयेभ्यः (toyebhyaḥ) - from waters; दुर्ज्ञेयम् (durjñeyam) - difficult to know; दैवतैः (daivataiḥ) - by the gods; अपि (api) - even;]
(Thus, the end of the Lord's measure and of water, and from fire, wind, and waters, is difficult to know even by the gods.)
Thus, the limits of the Lord, the measure of water, and the origins of fire, wind, and water are difficult to comprehend even for the gods.
अग्निमारुततोयानां वर्णाः क्षितितलस्य च। आकाशसदृशा ह्येते भिद्यन्ते तत्त्वदर्शनात् ॥१२-१७५-३०॥
agnimārutatoyānāṃ varṇāḥ kṣititalasya ca। ākāśasadṛśā hyete bhidyante tattvadarśanāt ॥12-175-30॥
[अग्नि (agni) - fire; मारुत (māruta) - wind; तोयानां (toyānāṃ) - of waters; वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - colors; क्षितितलस्य (kṣititalasya) - of the surface of the earth; च (ca) - and; आकाशसदृशाः (ākāśasadṛśāḥ) - like the sky; हि (hi) - indeed; एते (ete) - these; भिद्यन्ते (bhidyante) - are distinguished; तत्त्वदर्शनात् (tattvadarśanāt) - from the perception of reality;]
(The colors of fire, wind, and waters, and of the surface of the earth, indeed, these are like the sky; they are distinguished from the perception of reality.)
The colors of fire, wind, water, and the earth's surface, though appearing distinct, are in truth like the sky; they are differentiated only due to the perception of reality.
पठन्ति चैव मुनयः शास्त्रेषु विविधेषु च। त्रैलोक्ये सागरे चैव प्रमाणं विहितं यथा ॥ अदृश्याय त्वगम्याय कः प्रमाणमुदाहरेत् ॥१२-१७५-३१॥
paṭhanti caiva munayaḥ śāstreṣu vividheṣu ca। trailokye sāgare caiva pramāṇaṃ vihitaṃ yathā ॥ adṛśyāya tvagamyāya kaḥ pramāṇamudāharet ॥12-175-31॥
[पठन्ति (paṭhanti) - they read; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; मुनयः (munayaḥ) - sages; शास्त्रेषु (śāstreṣu) - in scriptures; विविधेषु (vividheṣu) - various; च (ca) - and; त्रैलोक्ये (trailokye) - in the three worlds; सागरे (sāgare) - in the ocean; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; प्रमाणम् (pramāṇam) - evidence; विहितम् (vihitam) - established; यथा (yathā) - as; अदृश्याय (adṛśyāya) - to the invisible; त्वगम्याय (tvagamyāya) - to the inaccessible; कः (kaḥ) - who; प्रमाणम् (pramāṇam) - evidence; उदाहरेत् (udāharet) - could cite; १२-१७५-३१ (12-175-31) - 12-175-31;]
(They read indeed, the sages, in the various scriptures and in the three worlds and in the ocean, as the evidence is established. For the invisible and the inaccessible, who could cite evidence?)
The sages study various scriptures, and in the three worlds and the ocean, evidence is established as appropriate. But for that which is invisible and inaccessible, who can provide evidence?
सिद्धानां देवतानां च यदा परिमिता गतिः। तदा गौणमनन्तस्य नामानन्तेति विश्रुतम् ॥ नामधेयानुरूपस्य मानसस्य महात्मनः ॥१२-१७५-३२॥
siddhānāṃ devatānāṃ ca yadā parimitā gatiḥ। tadā gauṇamanantasya nāmānanteti viśrutam ॥ nāmadheyānurūpasya mānasasya mahātmanaḥ ॥12-175-32॥
[सिद्धानाम् (siddhānām) - of the perfected beings; देवतानाम् (devatānām) - of the deities; च (ca) - and; यदा (yadā) - when; परिमिता (parimitā) - limited; गतिः (gatiḥ) - movement; state; तदा (tadā) - then; गौणम् (gauṇam) - secondary; अनन्तस्य (anantasya) - of the infinite; नाम (nāma) - name; अनन्तेति (ananteti) - Ananta (the Infinite); विश्रुतम् (viśrutam) - well-known; नामधेयानुरूपस्य (nāmadheyānurūpasya) - according to the designation; मानसस्य (mānasasya) - of the mind; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great soul;]
(Of the perfected beings, of the deities, and when the movement is limited, then the secondary name of the Infinite is well-known as 'Ananta'. According to the designation, of the mind, of the great soul.)
When the movement of perfected beings and deities is limited, then the secondary name of the Infinite is well-known as 'Ananta'. The name corresponds to the mind of the great soul.
यदा तु दिव्यं तद्रूपं ह्रसते वर्धते पुनः। कोऽन्यस्तद्वेदितुं शक्तो योऽपि स्यात्तद्विधोऽपरः ॥१२-१७५-३३॥
yadā tu divyaṃ tadrūpaṃ hrasate vardhate punaḥ। ko'nyaḥ tad vedituṃ śaktaḥ yaḥ api syāt tadvidhaḥ aparaḥ॥12-175-33॥
[यदा (yadā) - when; तु (tu) - but; दिव्यं (divyaṃ) - divine; तद्रूपं (tadrūpaṃ) - that form; ह्रसते (hrasate) - diminishes; वर्धते (vardhate) - increases; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; कः (kaḥ) - who; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - other; तत् (tat) - that; वेदितुम् (veditum) - to know; शक्तः (śaktaḥ) - capable; यः (yaḥ) - who; अपि (api) - even; स्यात् (syāt) - might be; तद्विधः (tadvidhaḥ) - of that kind; अपरः (aparaḥ) - another;]
(When, however, that divine form diminishes and increases again, who else is capable of knowing that, even if he might be another of that kind?)
But when that divine form diminishes and grows again, who else could know it, even if there were another of the same kind?
ततः पुष्करतः सृष्टः सर्वज्ञो मूर्तिमान्प्रभुः। ब्रह्मा धर्ममयः पूर्वः प्रजापतिरनुत्तमः ॥१२-१७५-३४॥
tataḥ puṣkarataḥ sṛṣṭaḥ sarvajño mūrtimān prabhuḥ। brahmā dharmamayaḥ pūrvaḥ prajāpatiḥ anuttamaḥ ॥12-175-34॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - from then; from that; पुष्करतः (puṣkarataḥ) - from Puṣkara (lotus or the sacred place Puṣkara); सृष्टः (sṛṣṭaḥ) - created; brought forth; सर्वज्ञः (sarvajñaḥ) - all-knowing; omniscient; मूर्तिमान् (mūrtimān) - embodied; having form; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - lord; master; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā (the creator); धर्ममयः (dharmamayaḥ) - consisting of dharma; full of righteousness; पूर्वः (pūrvaḥ) - former; ancient; first; प्रजापतिः (prajāpatiḥ) - lord of creatures; progenitor; अनुत्तमः (anuttamaḥ) - unsurpassed; highest;]
(From then, from Puṣkara, was created the all-knowing, embodied lord, Brahmā, consisting of dharma, the former, the unsurpassed progenitor.)
Then, from Puṣkara, the all-knowing, embodied lord Brahmā, full of righteousness, the ancient and unsurpassed progenitor, was created.
भरद्वाज उवाच॥
bharadvāja uvāca॥
[भरद्वाज (bharadvāja) - Bharadvāja; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bharadvāja said;)
Bharadvāja said.
पुष्कराद्यदि सम्भूतो ज्येष्ठं भवति पुष्करम्। ब्रह्माणं पूर्वजं चाह भवान्संदेह एव मे ॥१२-१७५-३५॥
puṣkarādyadi sambhūto jyeṣṭhaṃ bhavati puṣkaram। brahmāṇaṃ pūrvajaṃ cāha bhavānsandeha eva me ॥12-175-35॥
[पुष्करात् (puṣkarāt) - from Puṣkara; यदि (yadi) - if; सम्भूतः (sambhūtaḥ) - arisen; ज्येष्ठम् (jyeṣṭham) - eldest; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; पुष्करम् (puṣkaram) - Puṣkara; ब्रह्माणम् (brahmāṇam) - Brahmā; पूर्वजम् (pūrvajam) - ancestor; च (ca) - and; आह (āha) - says; भवान् (bhavān) - you; संदेह (sandeha) - doubt; एव (eva) - indeed; मे (me) - my;]
(If from Puṣkara one is arisen, the eldest becomes Puṣkara. Brahmā, the ancestor, and you say, doubt indeed is mine.)
If one is born from Puṣkara, then Puṣkara becomes the eldest. Brahmā is the ancestor, and you say this; yet, I still have doubt.
भृगुरुवाच॥
bhṛguruvāca॥
[भृगु (bhṛgu) - Bhṛgu; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhṛgu said;)
Bhṛgu said.
मानसस्येह या मूर्तिर्ब्रह्मत्वं समुपागता। तस्यासनविधानार्थं पृथिवी पद्ममुच्यते ॥१२-१७५-३६॥
mānasasyeha yā mūrtir brahmatvaṃ samupāgatā| tasyāsanavidhānārthaṃ pṛthivī padmam ucyate ||12-175-36||
[मानसस्य (mānasasya) - of the mind; इह (iha) - here; या (yā) - which; मूर्तिः (mūrtiḥ) - form; ब्रह्मत्वं (brahmatvam) - Brahman-hood; समुपागता (samupāgatā) - has fully attained; तस्य (tasya) - for that; आसनविधानार्थं (āsanavidhānārtham) - for the purpose of arranging the seat; पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - earth; पद्मम् (padmam) - lotus; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called;]
(Of the mind here, the form which has attained Brahman-hood—for the purpose of arranging the seat for that, the earth is called the lotus.)
Here, the form of the mind which has attained the state of Brahman—for arranging its seat, the earth is called the lotus.
कर्णिका तस्य पद्मस्य मेरुर्गगनमुच्छ्रितः। तस्य मध्ये स्थितो लोकान्सृजते जगतः प्रभुः ॥१२-१७५-३७॥
karṇikā tasya padmasya merur gaganam ucchritaḥ। tasya madhye sthito lokān sṛjate jagataḥ prabhuḥ॥12-175-37॥
[कर्णिका (karṇikā) - central part (of a lotus); तस्य (tasya) - of that; पद्मस्य (padmasya) - of the lotus; मेरुः (meruḥ) - Meru (the sacred mountain); गगनम् (gaganam) - sky; उच्छ्रितः (ucchritaḥ) - raised; तस्य (tasya) - of that; मध्ये (madhye) - in the middle; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - situated; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; सृजते (sṛjate) - creates; जगतः (jagataḥ) - of the universe; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the Lord;]
(The central part of that lotus is Meru, raised to the sky. In its middle, the Lord of the universe, situated, creates the worlds.)
The central part of that lotus is Mount Meru, which rises to the sky. In its center, the Lord of the universe sits and creates all the worlds.
