12.323
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
ततोऽतीते महाकल्पे उत्पन्नेऽङ्गिरसः सुते। बभूवुर्निर्वृता देवा जाते देवपुरोहिते ॥३-३२३-१॥
Then, after the great aeon had passed and the son of Aṅgiras was born, the gods became contented, for the priest of the gods had arisen. (3-323-1)
बृहद्ब्रह्म महच्चेति शब्दाः पर्यायवाचकाः। एभिः समन्वितो राजन्गुणैर्विद्वान्बृहस्पतिः ॥३-३२३-२॥
The words 'bṛhadbrahma' and 'mahac' are synonyms. O king, Bṛhaspati, the wise one, is endowed with these qualities. (3-323-2)
तस्य शिष्यो बभूवाग्र्यो राजोपरिचरो वसुः। अधीतवांस्तदा शास्त्रं सम्यक्चित्रशिखण्डिजम् ॥३-३२३-३॥
His disciple, the foremost, Rājoparicara Vasu, then thoroughly studied the treatise called Citraśikhaṇḍija. (3-323-3)
स राजा भावितः पूर्वं दैवेन विधिना वसुः। पालयामास पृथिवीं दिवमाखण्डलो यथा ॥३-३२३-४॥
That king Vasu, who was formerly destined by fate and ordinance, protected the earth just as Indra protects heaven. (3-323-4)
तस्य यज्ञो महानासीदश्वमेधो महात्मनः। बृहस्पतिरुपाध्यायस्तत्र होता बभूव ह ॥३-३२३-५॥
His sacrifice was great, the horse-sacrifice of the great-souled one; there, Bṛhaspati, the preceptor, indeed became the priest. (3-323-5)
प्रजापतिसुताश्चात्र सदस्यास्त्वभवंस्त्रयः। एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चैव महर्षयः ॥३-३२३-६॥
Here, the sons of Prajāpati became three members: the great sages Ekata, Dvita, and Trita. (3-323-6)
धनुषाक्षोऽथ रैभ्यश्च अर्वावसुपरावसू। ऋषिर्मेधातिथिश्चैव ताण्ड्यश्चैव महानृषिः ॥३-३२३-७॥
Then Dhanuṣākṣa, Raibhya, the sages Arvāvasu and Parāvasu, Medhātithi, and also Tāṇḍya, the great sage. (3-323-7)
ऋषिः शक्तिर्महाभागस्तथा वेदशिराश्च यः। कपिलश्च ऋषिश्रेष्ठः शालिहोत्रपितामहः ॥३-३२३-८॥
The sage Śakti, the greatly fortunate one, as well as Vedaśirā, and Kapila, the foremost among sages, the grandfather of Śālihotra. (3-323-8)
आद्यः कठस्तैत्तिरिश्च वैशम्पायनपूर्वजः। कण्वोऽथ देवहोत्रश्च एते षोडश कीर्तिताः ॥ सम्भृताः सर्वसम्भारास्तस्मिन्राजन्महाक्रतौ ॥३-३२३-९॥
First, Kaṭha, the Taittiriya, and the ancestor of Vaiśampāyana; Kaṇva and Devahotra—these sixteen are named. All the necessary materials were assembled for that great royal sacrifice, O king. (3-323-9)
न तत्र पशुघातोऽभूत्स राजैवं स्थितोऽभवत्। अहिंस्रः शुचिरक्षुद्रो निराशीः कर्मसंस्तुतः ॥ आरण्यकपदोद्गीता भागास्तत्रोपकल्पिताः ॥३-३२३-१०॥
There, animal slaughter did not occur; the king thus remained established. He was non-violent, pure, not petty, without expectation, and praised for his actions. The portions sung from the Āraṇyaka texts were arranged there. (3-323-10)
प्रीतस्ततोऽस्य भगवान्देवदेवः पुरातनः। साक्षात्तं दर्शयामास सोऽदृश्योऽन्येन केनचित् ॥३-३२३-११॥
Then the ancient Lord, God of gods, being pleased, directly revealed himself to him; he who is invisible to anyone else. (3-323-11)
स्वयं भागमुपाघ्राय पुरोडाशं गृहीतवान्। अदृश्येन हृतो भागो देवेन हरिमेधसा ॥३-३२३-१२॥
He himself, having smelled the portion of the sacrificial cake, took it; the portion was taken away by the invisible god Harimedhas. (3-323-12)
बृहस्पतिस्ततः क्रुद्धः स्रुवमुद्यम्य वेगितः। आकाशं घ्नन्स्रुवः पातै रोषादश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ॥३-३२३-१३॥
Then Bṛhaspati, enraged, swiftly raised the ladle and struck the sky; from his anger, tears flowed from the ladle. (3-323-13)
उवाच चोपरिचरं मया भागोऽयमुद्यतः। ग्राह्यः स्वयं हि देवेन मत्प्रत्यक्षं न संशयः ॥३-३२३-१४॥
Uparicara said: "This portion offered by me is to be accepted by the god himself, directly from me—there is no doubt about it." (3-323-14)
उद्यता यज्ञभागा हि साक्षात्प्राप्ताः सुरैरिह। किमर्थमिह न प्राप्तो दर्शनं स हरिर्विभुः ॥३-३२३-१५॥
The sacrificial portions have indeed been directly obtained here by the gods; for what reason has Hari, the all-pervading, not obtained a sight here? (3-323-15)
ततः स तं समुद्धूतं भूमिपालो महान्वसुः। प्रसादयामास मुनिं सदस्यास्ते च सर्वशः ॥३-३२३-१६॥
Then, King Mahānvasu lifted him up and appeased the sage, along with all the members of the assembly, entirely. (3-323-16)
ऊचुश्चैनमसम्भ्रान्ता न रोषं कर्तुमर्हसि। नैष धर्मः कृतयुगे यस्त्वं रोषमचीकृथाः ॥३-३२३-१७॥
They, unagitated, said to him: "You ought not to become angry. This is not the duty in the Krita Yuga, that you have become angry." (3-323-17)
अरोषणो ह्यसौ देवो यस्य भागोऽयमुद्यतः। न स शक्यस्त्वया द्रष्टुमस्माभिर्वा बृहस्पते ॥ यस्य प्रसादं कुरुते स वै तं द्रष्टुमर्हति ॥३-३२३-१८॥
That god, who is not angry, whose portion this is that has arisen, cannot be seen by you or by us, O Bṛhaspati. He whom that god favors, he alone is truly worthy to see him. (3-323-18)
एकतद्वितत्रिता ऊचुः॥
The ones called one, that, two, and three said this.
वयं हि ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा मानसाः परिकीर्तिताः। गता निःश्रेयसार्थं हि कदाचिद्दिशमुत्तराम् ॥३-३२३-१९॥
We, indeed, are mind-born sons of Brahman, as proclaimed; at some time, for the purpose of supreme good, we went to the northern direction. (3-323-19)
तप्त्वा वर्षसहस्राणि चत्वारि तप उत्तमम्। एकपादस्थिताः सम्यक्काष्ठभूताः समाहिताः ॥३-३२३-२०॥
They performed supreme austerity for four thousand years, standing properly on one foot, becoming like wood and fully concentrated. (3-323-20)
मेरोरुत्तरभागे तु क्षीरोदस्यानुकूलतः। स देशो यत्र नस्तप्तं तपः परमदारुणम् ॥ कथं पश्येमहि वयं देवं नारायणं त्विति ॥३-३२३-२१॥
But in the northern part of Meru, towards the Milk Ocean, is that region where we performed our most severe austerity. How may we see the god Nārāyaṇa, you, thus. (3-323-21)
ततो व्रतस्यावभृथे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। सुतप्तं वस्तपो विप्राः प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना ॥३-३२३-२२॥
Then, at the concluding bath of the vow, a bodiless voice spoke: "O Brāhmaṇas, your austerity is well-performed with a pure heart." (3-323-22)
यूयं जिज्ञासवो भक्ताः कथं द्रक्ष्यथ तं प्रभुम्। क्षीरोदधेरुत्तरतः श्वेतद्वीपो महाप्रभः ॥३-३२३-२३॥
You devotees, eager to know, how will you see that Lord? To the north of the ocean of milk is Śvetadvīpa, the greatly radiant one. (3-323-23)
तत्र नारायणपरा मानवाश्चन्द्रवर्चसः। एकान्तभावोपगतास्ते भक्ताः पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥३-३२३-२४॥
There, humans devoted to Nārāyaṇa, shining with the radiance of the moon, having attained single-minded devotion, are the devotees who worship the Supreme Person. (3-323-24)
ते सहस्रार्चिषं देवं प्रविशन्ति सनातनम्। अतीन्द्रिया निराहारा अनिष्पन्दाः सुगन्धिनः ॥३-३२३-२५॥
They, being of a thousand flames, enter the eternal divine being; they are beyond the senses, without food, motionless, and fragrant. (3-323-25)
एकान्तिनस्ते पुरुषाः श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनः। गच्छध्वं तत्र मुनयस्तत्रात्मा मे प्रकाशितः ॥३-३२३-२६॥
Those men who are exclusively devoted, the inhabitants of Śvetadvīpa, go there; there, sages, my self is manifested. (3-323-26)
अथ श्रुत्वा वयं सर्वे वाचं तामशरीरिणीम्। यथाख्यातेन मार्गेण तं देशं प्रतिपेदिरे ॥३-३२३-२७॥
Then, having heard that bodiless voice, we all proceeded to that region by the path that was described. (3-323-27)
प्राप्य श्वेतं महाद्वीपं तच्चित्तास्तद्दिदृक्षवः। ततो नो दृष्टिविषयस्तदा प्रतिहतोऽभवत् ॥३-३२३-२८॥
After reaching the white great continent, with our minds intent on seeing it, our sight was then obstructed from there. (3-323-28)
न च पश्याम पुरुषं तत्तेजोहृतदर्शनाः। ततो नः प्रादुरभवद्विज्ञानं देवयोगजम् ॥३-३२३-२९॥
And we do not see the man, our sight having been deprived of that splendor; then there arose in us a knowledge born of divine union. (3-323-29)
न किलातप्ततपसा शक्यते द्रष्टुमञ्जसा। ततः पुनर्वर्षशतं तप्त्वा तात्कालिकं महत् ॥३-३२३-३०॥
It is indeed not possible for one whose austerity is not intense to see (this) easily. Therefore, after performing austerity again for a hundred years, (one attains) the immediate great result. (3-323-30)
व्रतावसाने सुशुभान्नरान्ददृशिरे वयम्। श्वेतांश्चन्द्रप्रतीकाशान्सर्वलक्षणलक्षितान् ॥३-३२३-३१॥
At the conclusion of the vow, we saw very handsome men, white and shining like the moon, marked with all auspicious signs. (3-323-31)
नित्याञ्जलिकृतान्ब्रह्म जपतः प्रागुदङ्मुखान्। मानसो नाम स जपो जप्यते तैर्महात्मभिः ॥ तेनैकाग्रमनस्त्वेन प्रीतो भवति वै हरिः ॥३-३२३-३२॥
Those who always recite Brahman with joined hands, facing east or north, perform what is called mental recitation; this is practiced by those great souls. By that, with a one-pointed mind, Hari indeed becomes pleased. (3-323-32)
या भवेन्मुनिशार्दूल भाः सूर्यस्य युगक्षये। एकैकस्य प्रभा तादृक्साभवन्मानवस्य ह ॥३-३२३-३३॥
O best of sages, the light that is of the sun at the end of an age, such would be the light of each man. (3-323-33)
तेजोनिवासः स द्वीप इति वै मेनिरे वयम्। न तत्राभ्यधिकः कश्चित्सर्वे ते समतेजसः ॥३-३२३-३४॥
We considered that island as the abode of brilliance; there, no one was superior, all of them were equal in brilliance. (3-323-34)
अथ सूर्यसहस्रस्य प्रभां युगपदुत्थिताम्। सहसा दृष्टवन्तः स्म पुनरेव बृहस्पते ॥३-३२३-३५॥
Then, O Bṛhaspati, we suddenly saw the radiance of a thousand suns rising at once, once again.
सहिताश्चाभ्यधावन्त ततस्ते मानवा द्रुतम्। कृताञ्जलिपुटा हृष्टा नम इत्येव वादिनः ॥३-३२३-३६॥
Then those men, together, quickly ran forward, joyfully with folded hands, saying only 'obeisance'. (3-323-36)
ततोऽभिवदतां तेषामश्रौष्म विपुलं ध्वनिम्। बलिः किलोपह्रियते तस्य देवस्य तैर्नरैः ॥३-३२३-३७॥
Then, among those who were greeting, we heard a great sound. Indeed, the offering for that god is being brought by those men. (3-323-37)
वयं तु तेजसा तस्य सहसा हृतचेतसः। न किञ्चिदपि पश्यामो हृतदृष्टिबलेन्द्रियाः ॥३-३२३-३८॥
But we, our minds suddenly seized by his brilliance, with our sight, strength, and senses taken away, do not see anything at all. (3-323-38)
एकस्तु शब्दोऽविरतः श्रुतोऽस्माभिरुदीरितः। जितं ते पुण्डरीकाक्ष नमस्ते विश्वभावन ॥३-३२३-३९॥
But only one unceasing sound has been heard and uttered by us. O lotus-eyed creator of the universe, you have conquered; salutations to you. (3-323-39)
नमस्तेऽस्तु हृषीकेश महापुरुषपूर्वज। इति शब्दः श्रुतोऽस्माभिः शिक्षाक्षरसमीरितः ॥३-३२३-४०॥
We heard the sound "Obeisance to you, O Hṛṣīkeśa, great person, ancestor; let it be," uttered as an instructional syllable. (3-323-40)
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वायुः सर्वगन्धवहः शुचिः। दिव्यान्युवाह पुष्पाणि कर्मण्याश्चौषधीस्तथा ॥३-३२३-४१॥
Meanwhile, the pure wind, which carries all fragrances, brought divine flowers and ritual herbs as well. (3-323-41)
तैरिष्टः पञ्चकालज्ञैर्हरिरेकान्तिभिर्नरैः। नूनं तत्रागतो देवो यथा तैर्वागुदीरिता ॥ वयं त्वेनं न पश्यामो मोहितास्तस्य मायया ॥३-३२३-४२॥
Hari, worshipped by those who know the five times and are solely devoted, has certainly come there, as declared by their words. But we do not see him, being deluded by his illusion. (3-323-42)
मारुते संनिवृत्ते च बलौ च प्रतिपादिते। चिन्ताव्याकुलितात्मानो जाताः स्मोऽङ्गिरसां वर ॥३-३२३-४३॥
O best of the Angiras, when the wind had ceased and the two armies were set in motion, we became anxious and disturbed. (3-323-43)
मानवानां सहस्रेषु तेषु वै शुद्धयोनिषु। अस्मान्न कश्चिन्मनसा चक्षुषा वाप्यपूजयत् ॥३-३२३-४४॥
Among thousands of men, even among those of pure origin, not a single one honored us, either in mind or with their eyes or in any way. (3-323-44)
तेऽपि स्वस्था मुनिगणा एकभावमनुव्रताः। नास्मासु दधिरे भावं ब्रह्मभावमनुष्ठिताः ॥३-३२३-४५॥
Those groups of sages, also self-abiding and united in one state, did not hold any feeling towards us, being established in the state of Brahman. (3-323-45)
ततोऽस्मान्सुपरिश्रान्तांस्तपसा चापि कर्शितान्। उवाच खस्थं किमपि भूतं तत्राशरीरकम् ॥३-३२३-४६॥
Then, when we were very exhausted and emaciated by austerity, a certain bodiless being situated in the sky spoke to us there. (3-323-46)
दृष्टा वः पुरुषाः श्वेताः सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जिताः। दृष्टो भवति देवेश एभिर्दृष्टैर्द्विजोत्तमाः ॥३-३२३-४७॥
O lord of the gods, the white men devoid of all senses whom you have seen—by seeing these, the best of the twice-born is seen. (3-323-47)
गच्छध्वं मुनयः सर्वे यथागतमितोऽचिरात्। न स शक्यो अभक्तेन द्रष्टुं देवः कथञ्चन ॥३-३२३-४८॥
All of you sages, depart from here at once as you have come. The god cannot be seen in any way by one who is not devoted. (3-323-48)
कामं कालेन महता एकान्तित्वं समागतैः। शक्यो द्रष्टुं स भगवान्प्रभामण्डलदुर्दृशः ॥३-३२३-४९॥
Indeed, after a long time, when solitude is attained, it is possible to see that Lord who is difficult to behold because of his circle of radiance. (3-323-49)
महत्कार्यं तु कर्तव्यं युष्माभिर्द्विजसत्तमाः। इतः कृतयुगेऽतीते विपर्यासं गतेऽपि च ॥३-३२३-५०॥
O best of the twice-born, you must perform a great deed; even after the Kṛta Yuga has passed from here and change has occurred. (3-323-50)
वैवस्वतेऽन्तरे विप्राः प्राप्ते त्रेतायुगे ततः। सुराणां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं सहाया वै भविष्यथ ॥३-३२३-५१॥
O Brāhmaṇas, in the Vaivasvata Manvantara, when the Tretā Yuga arrives, then, for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose, you will indeed become their helpers. (3-323-51)
ततस्तदद्भुतं वाक्यं निशम्यैवं स्म सोमप। तस्य प्रसादात्प्राप्ताः स्मो देशमीप्सितमञ्जसा ॥३-३२३-५२॥
Then, O drinker of Soma, having thus heard that wonderful speech, by his favor we easily attained the desired region. (3-323-52)
एवं सुतपसा चैव हव्यकव्यैस्तथैव च। देवोऽस्माभिर्न दृष्टः स कथं त्वं द्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥ नारायणो महद्भूतं विश्वसृग्घव्यकव्यभुक् ॥३-३२३-५३॥
Thus, even with good austerities and offerings to gods and ancestors, we have not seen that god; so how are you able to see him? Nārāyaṇa is the great being, the creator of the universe, and the receiver of offerings to gods and ancestors. (3-323-53)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
एवमेकतवाक्येन द्वितत्रितमतेन च। अनुनीतः सदस्यैश्च बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः ॥ समानीय ततो यज्ञं दैवतं समपूजयत् ॥३-३२३-५४॥
Thus, by the unified statement and the opinions of the second and third, and being persuaded by the members, the noble-minded Bṛhaspati, having assembled the sacrifice, then worshipped the deity completely. (3-323-54)
समाप्तयज्ञो राजापि प्रजाः पालितवान्वसुः। ब्रह्मशापाद्दिवो भ्रष्टः प्रविवेश महीं ततः ॥३-३२३-५५॥
After completing his sacrifice, King Vasu, who had protected his subjects, was cast down from heaven by Brahma's curse and then entered the earth. (3-323-55)
अन्तर्भूमिगतश्चैव सततं धर्मवत्सलः। नारायणपरो भूत्वा नारायणपदं जगौ ॥३-३२३-५६॥
Having gone within the earth, and always being fond of dharma, he became devoted to Nārāyaṇa and attained the abode of Nārāyaṇa. (3-323-56)
तस्यैव च प्रसादेन पुनरेवोत्थितस्तु सः। महीतलाद्गतः स्थानं ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरम् ॥ परां गतिमनुप्राप्त इति नैष्ठिकमञ्जसा ॥३-३२३-५७॥
By his grace alone, he again indeed rose up; having departed from the surface of the earth, he immediately reached the abode of Brahman; thus, he directly attained the supreme and final state. (3-323-57)
