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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
पितामह महाप्राज्ञ पुण्डरीकाक्षमच्युतम्। कर्तारमकृतं विष्णुं भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययम् ॥१२-२००-१॥
The grandfather, the supremely wise, the lotus-eyed, the infallible one, the creator, the uncreated Viṣṇu, is the origin and dissolution of all beings.
नारायणं हृषीकेशं गोविन्दमपराजितम्। तत्त्वेन भरतश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छामि केशवम् ॥१२-२००-२॥
O best of the Bharatas, I wish to hear in reality about Nārāyaṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa, Govinda, the unconquered one, O Keśava.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
श्रुतोऽयमर्थो रामस्य जामदग्न्यस्य जल्पतः। नारदस्य च देवर्षेः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्य च ॥१२-२००-३॥
This meaning has been heard from Rāma, from Jāmadagnya as he spoke, and from Nārada and the divine sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.
असितो देवलस्तात वाल्मीकिश्च महातपाः। मार्कण्डेयश्च गोविन्दे कथयत्यद्भुतं महत् ॥१२-२००-४॥
Asita, Devala, Vālmīki, the great ascetic, and Mārkaṇḍeya narrated the great and wonderful story to Govinda, O dear.
केशवो भरतश्रेष्ठ भगवानीश्वरः प्रभुः। पुरुषः सर्वमित्येव श्रूयते बहुधा विभुः ॥१२-२००-५॥
O best of the Bharatas, Keśava, the glorious lord and master, is heard to be the supreme person, the all-pervading, in many ways.
किं तु यानि विदुर्लोके ब्राह्मणाः शार्ङ्गधन्वनः। माहात्म्यानि महाबाहो शृणु तानि युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२००-६॥
But, O mighty-armed Yudhiṣṭhira, listen to those great glories of the wielder of the Śārṅga bow which the Brāhmaṇas know in the world.
यानि चाहुर्मनुष्येन्द्र ये पुराणविदो जनाः। अशेषेण हि गोविन्दे कीर्तयिष्यामि तान्यहम् ॥१२-२००-७॥
O king of men, I shall recount to you, completely and indeed, those things about Govinda which the knowers of the Purāṇas have said.
महाभूतानि भूतात्मा महात्मा पुरुषोत्तमः। वायुर्ज्योतिस्तथा चापः खं गां चैवान्वकल्पयत् ॥१२-२००-८॥
The supreme person, the great-souled soul of beings, arranged the great elements—wind, light, water, ether, and earth—in their order.
स दृष्ट्वा पृथिवीं चैव सर्वभूतेश्वरः प्रभुः। अप्स्वेव शयनं चक्रे महात्मा पुरुषोत्तमः ॥१२-२००-९॥
Having seen the earth, the lord of all beings, the supreme person, made his resting place in the waters.
सर्वतेजोमयस्तस्मिञ्शयानः शयने शुभे। सोऽग्रजं सर्वभूतानां सङ्कर्षणमचिन्तयत् ॥१२-२००-१०॥
Lying on that auspicious bed, composed of all splendor, he thought of Saṅkarṣaṇa, the elder brother of all beings.
आश्रयं सर्वभूतानां मनसेति विशुश्रुम। स धारयति भूतात्मा उभे भूतभविष्यती ॥१२-२००-११॥
We have heard that the mind is the support of all beings. The soul of beings sustains both the past and the future.
ततस्तस्मिन्महाबाहो प्रादुर्भूते महात्मनि। भास्करप्रतिमं दिव्यं नाभ्यां पद्ममजायत ॥१२-२००-१२॥
Then, O mighty-armed one, when that great soul appeared, a divine lotus, radiant like the sun, sprang forth from his navel.
स तत्र भगवान्देवः पुष्करे भासयन्दिशः। ब्रह्मा समभवत्तात सर्वभूतपितामहः ॥१२-२००-१३॥
O dear one, there at Puṣkara, the illustrious god Brahmā, shining forth in all directions, arose as the grandsire of all beings.
तस्मिन्नपि महाबाहो प्रादुर्भूते महात्मनि। तमसः पूर्वजो जज्ञे मधुर्नाम महासुरः ॥१२-२००-१४॥
O mighty-armed one, when that great soul appeared, then the elder brother of Tamas was born—Madhu by name, the great asura.
तमुग्रमुग्रकर्माणमुग्रां बुद्धिं समास्थितम्। ब्रह्मणोपचितिं कुर्वञ्जघान पुरुषोत्तमः ॥१२-२००-१५॥
The best among men, firmly established in fierce intellect and performing the accumulation of Brahman, killed him of fierce deeds.
तस्य तात वधात्सर्वे देवदानवमानवाः। मधुसूदनमित्याहुर्वृषभं सर्वसात्वताम् ॥१२-२००-१६॥
O father, after his killing, all the gods, demons, and humans called him Madhusūdana, the foremost among all the Sātvatas.
ब्रह्मा तु ससृजे पुत्रान्मानसान्दक्षसप्तमान्। मरीचिमत्र्यङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम् ॥१२-२००-१७॥
But Brahmā created mind-born sons: Dakṣa and the seven sages, namely Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratū.
मरीचिः कश्यपं तात पुत्रं चासृजदग्रजम्। मानसं जनयामास तैजसं ब्रह्मसत्तमम् ॥१२-२००-१८॥
Marīci, O dear one, created his son Kaśyapa, who was also his elder brother. He mentally gave birth to the radiant and supreme being among the Brahmās.
अङ्गुष्ठादसृजद्ब्रह्मा मरीचेरपि पूर्वजम्। सोऽभवद्भरतश्रेष्ठ दक्षो नाम प्रजापतिः ॥१२-२००-१९॥
Brahmā created from his thumb the ancestor of Marīci. That ancestor, O best of the Bharatas, became known as Dakṣa, the progenitor.
तस्य पूर्वमजायन्त दश तिस्रश्च भारत। प्रजापतेर्दुहितरस्तासां ज्येष्ठाभवद्दितिः ॥१२-२००-२०॥
O Bhārata, formerly, ten and three daughters were born to Prajāpati; among them, Diti was the eldest.
सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञः पुण्यकीर्तिर्महायशाः। मारीचः कश्यपस्तात सर्वासामभवत्पतिः ॥१२-२००-२१॥
O dear one, Mārīca Kaśyapa, knower of all dharma distinctions, of meritorious fame and great renown, became the lord of all women.
उत्पाद्य तु महाभागस्तासामवरजा दश। ददौ धर्माय धर्मज्ञो दक्ष एव प्रजापतिः ॥१२-२००-२२॥
But having produced them, the greatly fortunate Dakṣa, the lord of creatures, gave his ten younger daughters to Dharma, as he was a knower of dharma.
धर्मस्य वसवः पुत्रा रुद्राश्चामिततेजसः। विश्वेदेवाश्च साध्याश्च मरुत्वन्तश्च भारत ॥१२-२००-२३॥
O Bhārata, the sons of Dharma, the Vasus, the Rudras of immeasurable energy, the Viśvedevas, the Sādhyas, and the Maruts (were present there).
अपरास्तु यवीयस्यस्ताभ्योऽन्याः सप्तविंशतिः। सोमस्तासां महाभागः सर्वासामभवत्पतिः ॥१२-२००-२४॥
But there were others, twenty-seven in number, younger than those. Soma, who was greatly fortunate, became the lord of all of them.
इतरास्तु व्यजायन्त गन्धर्वांस्तुरगान्द्विजान्। गाश्च किम्पुरुषान्मत्स्यानौद्भिदांश्च वनस्पतीन् ॥१२-२००-२५॥
But others were born, such as Gandharvas, horses, twice-born beings, cows, Kimpurushas, fishes, plants, and trees.
आदित्यानदितिर्जज्ञे देवश्रेष्ठान्महाबलान्। तेषां विष्णुर्वामनोऽभूद्गोविन्दश्चाभवत्प्रभुः ॥१२-२००-२६॥
Aditi gave birth to the Ādityas, the foremost and most powerful of the gods. Among them, Viṣṇu took the form of Vāmana, and Govinda became the supreme Lord.
तस्य विक्रमणादेव देवानां श्रीर्व्यवर्धत। दानवाश्च पराभूता दैतेयी चासुरी प्रजा ॥१२-२००-२७॥
From his stride, the prosperity of the gods increased, while the Dānavas and the Daiteyī and Asurī races were defeated.
विप्रचित्तिप्रधानांश्च दानवानसृजद्दनुः। दितिस्तु सर्वानसुरान्महासत्त्वान्व्यजायत ॥१२-२००-२८॥
Danu created the Dānavas, led by Vipracitti; but Diti gave birth to all the asuras, the mighty beings.
अहोरात्रं च कालं च यथर्तु मधुसूदनः। पूर्वाह्णं चापराह्णं च सर्वमेवान्वकल्पयत् ॥१२-२००-२९॥
Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) arranged day and night, time, and the seasons; he also established the forenoon and afternoon, arranging everything accordingly.
बुद्द्यापः सोऽसृजन्मेघांस्तथा स्थावरजङ्गमान्। पृथिवीं सोऽसृजद्विश्वां सहितां भूरितेजसा ॥१२-२००-३०॥
By his intelligence, he created the waters, the clouds, as well as all immovable and movable beings; he created the entire earth together with all of them, endowed with great brilliance.
ततः कृष्णो महाबाहुः पुनरेव युधिष्ठिर। ब्राह्मणानां शतं श्रेष्ठं मुखादसृजत प्रभुः ॥१२-२००-३१॥
Then Kṛṣṇa, the mighty-armed Lord, again created a hundred of the best Brāhmaṇas from his mouth, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियशतं वैश्यानामूरुतः शतम्। पद्भ्यां शूद्रशतं चैव केशवो भरतर्षभ ॥१२-२००-३२॥
O Keśava, O best of the Bharatas, a hundred Kṣatriyas arose from the arms, a hundred Vaiśyas from the thighs, and a hundred Śūdras from the feet.
स एवं चतुरो वर्णान्समुत्पाद्य महायशाः। अध्यक्षं सर्वभूतानां धातारमकरोत्प्रभुः ॥१२-२००-३३॥
Thus, he, of great fame, having created the four classes, appointed the lord as the overseer and sustainer of all beings.
यावद्यावदभूच्छ्रद्धा देहं धारयितुं नृणाम्। तावत्तावदजीवंस्ते नासीद्यमकृतं भयम् ॥१२-२००-३४॥
As long as men had faith to sustain their bodies, they lived; there was no fear of what was left undone.
न चैषां मैथुनो धर्मो बभूव भरतर्षभ। सङ्कल्पादेव चैतेषामपत्यमुदपद्यत ॥१२-२००-३५॥
O bull among the Bharatas, for these, sexual union was not the law. Indeed, from mere resolve, offspring arose for them.
तत्र त्रेतायुगे काले सङ्कल्पाज्जायते प्रजा। न ह्यभून्मैथुनो धर्मस्तेषामपि जनाधिप ॥१२-२००-३६॥
O ruler of men, in the Tretā Yuga, progeny was born from resolve alone; sexual union was not the law for them.
द्वापरे मैथुनो धर्मः प्रजानामभवन्नृप। तथा कलियुगे राजन्द्वंद्वमापेदिरे जनाः ॥१२-२००-३७॥
O king, in the Dvāpara age, sexual union was the duty of the people. Likewise, in the Kali age, O king, people turned to pairing. "12-200-37"
एष भूतपतिस्तात स्वध्यक्षश्च प्रकीर्तितः। निरध्यक्षांस्तु कौन्तेय कीर्तयिष्यामि तानपि ॥१२-२००-३८॥
This lord of beings, O dear one, is said to be self-supervised. But, O son of Kunti, I will also mention those who are without supervision.
दक्षिणापथजन्मानः सर्वे तलवरान्ध्रकाः। उत्साः पुलिन्दाः शबराश्चूचुपा मण्डपैः सह ॥१२-२००-३९॥
All those born in the southern region—Talavaras, Andhrakas, Utsas, Pulindas, and Shabaras—remained silent together with their pavilions.
उत्तरापथजन्मानः कीर्तयिष्यामि तानपि। यौनकाम्बोजगान्धाराः किराता बर्बरैः सह ॥१२-२००-४०॥
I will also mention those born in the northern region: the Yavanas, Kambojas, Gandharas, Kiratas, together with the Barbaras.
एते पापकृतस्तात चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्। श्वकाकबलगृध्राणां सधर्माणो नराधिप ॥१२-२००-४१॥
O king, these evil-doers roam this earth, sharing the same nature as dogs, crows, and vultures.
नैते कृतयुगे तात चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्। त्रेताप्रभृति वर्तन्ते ते जना भरतर्षभ ॥१२-२००-४२॥
O best of the Bharatas, these people did not dwell on this earth in the Kṛta Yuga, O dear one. They have existed from the beginning of the Tretā Yuga.
ततस्तस्मिन्महाघोरे सन्ध्याकाले युगान्तिके। राजानः समसज्जन्त समासाद्येतरेतरम् ॥१२-२००-४३॥
Then, at that dreadful twilight at the end of the age, the kings gathered together, coming face to face with one another.
एवमेष कुरुश्रेष्ठ प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः। देवदेवर्षिराचष्ट नारदः सर्वलोकदृक् ॥१२-२००-४४॥
Thus, O best of the Kurus, Nārada, the sage among the gods and seer of all worlds, spoke of this manifestation of the great soul.
नारदोऽप्यथ कृष्णस्य परं मेने नराधिप। शाश्वतत्वं महाबाहो यथावद्भरतर्षभ ॥१२-२००-४५॥
O king, Nārada also then recognized the supreme and eternal nature of Kṛṣṇa, O mighty-armed one, just as it truly is, O best of the Bharatas.
एवमेष महाबाहुः केशवः सत्यविक्रमः। अचिन्त्यः पुण्डरीकाक्षो नैष केवलमानुषः ॥१२-२००-४६॥
Thus, this mighty-armed Keśava, who is true in valor, inconceivable, and lotus-eyed, is not merely a human being.
