12.323
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
tato'tīte mahākalpe utpanne'ṅgirasaḥ sute। babhūvurnirvṛtā devā jāte devapurohite ॥3-323-1॥
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)
bṛhadbrahma mahacceti śabdāḥ paryāyavācakāḥ। ebhiḥ samanvito rājan guṇair vidvān bṛhaspatiḥ ॥3-323-2॥
The words 'bṛhadbrahma' and 'mahac' are synonyms. O king, Bṛhaspati, the wise one, is endowed with these qualities. (3-323-2)
tasya śiṣyo babhūvāgryo rājoparicaro vasuḥ। adhītavāṃstadā śāstraṃ samyak citraśikhaṇḍijam ॥3-323-3॥
His disciple, the foremost, Rājoparicara Vasu, then thoroughly studied the treatise called Citraśikhaṇḍija. (3-323-3)
sa rājā bhāvitaḥ pūrvaṃ daivena vidhinā vasuḥ। pālayāmāsa pṛthivīṃ divamākhaṇḍalo yathā ॥3-323-4॥
That king Vasu, who was formerly destined by fate and ordinance, protected the earth just as Indra protects heaven. (3-323-4)
tasya yajño mahān āsīd aśvamedho mahātmanaḥ। bṛhaspatir upādhyāyas tatra hotā babhūva ha ॥3-323-5॥
His sacrifice was great, the horse-sacrifice of the great-souled one; there, Bṛhaspati, the preceptor, indeed became the priest. (3-323-5)
prajāpatisutāś cātra sadasyās tv abhavaṁs trayaḥ। ekataś ca dvitaś caiva tritaś caiva maharṣayaḥ ॥3-323-6॥
Here, the sons of Prajāpati became three members: the great sages Ekata, Dvita, and Trita. (3-323-6)
dhanuṣākṣo'tha raibhyaś ca arvāvasuparāvasū | ṛṣir medhātithiś caiva tāṇḍyaś caiva mahān ṛṣiḥ ॥3-323-7॥
Then Dhanuṣākṣa, Raibhya, the sages Arvāvasu and Parāvasu, Medhātithi, and also Tāṇḍya, the great sage. (3-323-7)
ṛṣiḥ śaktirmahābhāgastathā vedaśirāśca yaḥ। kapilaśca ṛṣiśreṣṭhaḥ śālihotrapitāmahaḥ ॥3-323-8॥
The sage Śakti, the greatly fortunate one, as well as Vedaśirā, and Kapila, the foremost among sages, the grandfather of Śālihotra. (3-323-8)
ādyaḥ kaṭha-staittiriś ca vaiśampāyana-pūrvajaḥ। kaṇvo 'tha devahotraś ca ete ṣoḍaśa kīrtitāḥ॥ sambhṛtāḥ sarva-sambhārās tasmin rājan-mahākratau॥3-323-9॥
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)
na tatra paśughāto'bhūtsa rājaivaṃ sthito'bhavat। ahiṃsraḥ śucirakṣudro nirāśīḥ karmasaṃstutaḥ ॥ āraṇyakapadodgītā bhāgāstatropakalpitāḥ ॥3-323-10॥
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)
prītastato'sya bhagavāndevadevaḥ purātanaḥ। sākṣāttaṃ darśayāmāsa so'dṛśyo'nyena kenacit ॥3-323-11॥
Then the ancient Lord, God of gods, being pleased, directly revealed himself to him; he who is invisible to anyone else. (3-323-11)
svayaṃ bhāgam upāghrāya puroḍāśaṃ gṛhītavān। adṛśyena hṛto bhāgo devena harimedhasā ॥3-323-12॥
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)
bṛhaspatistataḥ kruddhaḥ sruvamudyamya vegitaḥ। ākāśaṃ ghnansruvaḥ pātai roṣādaśrūṇyavartayat ॥3-323-13॥
Then Bṛhaspati, enraged, swiftly raised the ladle and struck the sky; from his anger, tears flowed from the ladle. (3-323-13)
uvāca coparicaraṃ mayā bhāgo'ayamudyataḥ। grāhyaḥ svayaṃ hi devena matpratyakṣaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ॥3-323-14॥
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)
udyatā yajñabhāgā hi sākṣātprāptāḥ surairiha। kimarthamiha na prāpto darśanaṃ sa harirvibhuḥ॥3-323-15॥
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)
tataḥ sa taṃ samuddhūtaṃ bhūmipālo mahānvasuḥ। prasādayāmāsa muniṃ sadasyāste ca sarvaśaḥ ॥3-323-16॥
Then, King Mahānvasu lifted him up and appeased the sage, along with all the members of the assembly, entirely. (3-323-16)
ūcuś cainam asambhrāntā na roṣaṃ kartum arhasi. naiṣa dharmaḥ kṛtayuge yas tvaṃ roṣam acīkṛthāḥ ॥3-323-17॥
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)
aroṣaṇo hyasau devo yasya bhāgo'yamudyataḥ। na sa śakyastvayā draṣṭumasmābhirvā bṛhaspate ॥ yasya prasādaṃ kurute sa vai taṃ draṣṭumarhati ॥3-323-18॥
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)
ekatadvitatritā ūcuḥ॥
The ones called one, that, two, and three said this.
vayaṃ hi brahmaṇaḥ putrā mānasāḥ parikīrtitāḥ। gatā niḥśreyasārthaṃ hi kadācid diśam uttarām ॥3-323-19॥
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)
taptvā varṣasahasrāṇi catvāri tapa uttamam। ekapādasthitāḥ samyak kāṣṭhabhūtāḥ samāhitāḥ ॥3-323-20॥
They performed supreme austerity for four thousand years, standing properly on one foot, becoming like wood and fully concentrated. (3-323-20)
meror uttarabhāge tu kṣīrodasyānukūlataḥ। sa deśo yatra nas taptaṃ tapaḥ paramadāruṇam ॥ kathaṃ paśyemahi vayaṃ devaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ tv iti ॥3-323-21॥
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)
tato vratasyāvabhṛthe vāguvācaaśarīriṇī। sutaptaṃ vastapo viprāḥ prasannenāntarātmanā ॥3-323-22॥
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)
yūyaṃ jijñāsavo bhaktāḥ kathaṃ drakṣyatha taṃ prabhum। kṣīrodadheruttarataḥ śvetadvīpo mahāprabhaḥ ॥3-323-23॥
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)
tatra nārāyaṇaparā mānavāścandravarcasaḥ। ekāntabhāvopagatāste bhaktāḥ puruṣottamam ॥3-323-24॥
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)
te sahasrārciṣaṃ devaṃ praviśanti sanātanam। atīndriyā nirāhārā aniṣpandāḥ sugandhinaḥ ॥3-323-25॥
They, being of a thousand flames, enter the eternal divine being; they are beyond the senses, without food, motionless, and fragrant. (3-323-25)
ekāntinaste puruṣāḥ śvetadvīpanivāsinaḥ। gacchadhvaṃ tatra munayastatrātmā me prakāśitaḥ ॥3-323-26॥
Those men who are exclusively devoted, the inhabitants of Śvetadvīpa, go there; there, sages, my self is manifested. (3-323-26)
atha śrutvā vayaṃ sarve vācaṃ tāmaśarīriṇīm। yathākhyātena mārgeṇa taṃ deśaṃ pratipedire ॥3-323-27॥
Then, having heard that bodiless voice, we all proceeded to that region by the path that was described. (3-323-27)
prāpya śvetaṃ mahādvīpaṃ taccittās taddidṛkṣavaḥ। tato no dṛṣṭiviṣayas tadā pratihato'bhavat ॥3-323-28॥
After reaching the white great continent, with our minds intent on seeing it, our sight was then obstructed from there. (3-323-28)
na ca paśyāma puruṣaṃ tat-tejo-hṛta-darśanāḥ। tato naḥ prādurabhavad-vijñānaṃ deva-yoga-jam ॥3-323-29॥
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)
na kilātaptatapasā śakyate draṣṭumañjasā। tataḥ punarvarṣaśataṃ taptvā tāt kālikaṃ mahat ॥3-323-30॥
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)
vratāvasāne suśubhān narān dadṛśire vayam। śvetāṁś candrapratīkāśān sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitān ॥3-323-31॥
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)
nityāñjalikṛtānbrahma japataḥ prāgudaṅmukhān। mānaso nāma sa japo japyate tairmahātmabhiḥ ॥ tenaikāgramanastvena prīto bhavati vai hariḥ ॥3-323-32॥
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)
yā bhaven muniśārdūla bhāḥ sūryasya yugakṣaye। ekaikasya prabhā tādṛk sā bhaven mānavasya ha ॥3-323-33॥
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)
tejonivāsaḥ sa dvīpa iti vai menire vayam। na tatrābhyadhikaḥ kaścit sarve te samatejasaḥ ॥3-323-34॥
We considered that island as the abode of brilliance; there, no one was superior, all of them were equal in brilliance. (3-323-34)
atha sūryasahasrasya prabhāṃ yugapadutthitām। sahasā dṛṣṭavantaḥ sma punareva bṛhaspate ॥3-323-35॥
Then, O Bṛhaspati, we suddenly saw the radiance of a thousand suns rising at once, once again.
sahitāś cābhyadhāvanta tatas te mānavā drutam। kṛtāñjalipuṭā hṛṣṭā nama ityeva vā dinaḥ ॥3-323-36॥
Then those men, together, quickly ran forward, joyfully with folded hands, saying only 'obeisance'. (3-323-36)
tato'bhivadatāṃ teṣāmaśrauṣma vipulaṃ dhvanim। baliḥ kilopahriyate tasya devasya tair naraiḥ ॥3-323-37॥
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)
vayaṃ tu tejasā tasya sahasā hṛtacetasaḥ। na kiñcidapi paśyāmo hṛtadṛṣṭibalendriyāḥ ॥3-323-38॥
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)
ekas tu śabdo'virataḥ śruto'smābhir udīritaḥ। jitaṃ te puṇḍarīkākṣa namas te viśvabhāvana ॥3-323-39॥
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)
namaste'stu hṛṣīkeśa mahāpuruṣapūrvaja। iti śabdaḥ śruto'smābhiḥ śikṣākṣarasamīritaḥ ॥3-323-40॥
We heard the sound "Obeisance to you, O Hṛṣīkeśa, great person, ancestor; let it be," uttered as an instructional syllable. (3-323-40)
etasminnantare vāyuḥ sarvagandhavahaḥ śuciḥ। divyānyuvāha puṣpāṇi karmaṇyāś cauṣadhīs tathā ॥3-323-41॥
Meanwhile, the pure wind, which carries all fragrances, brought divine flowers and ritual herbs as well. (3-323-41)
tairiṣṭaḥ pañcakālajñair harirekāntibhir naraiḥ। nūnaṃ tatrāgato devo yathā tair vāgudīritā ॥ vayaṃ tvenaṃ na paśyāmo mohitās tasya māyayā ॥3-323-42॥
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)
mārute saṁnivṛtte ca balau ca pratipāditē। cintāvyākulitātmānō jātāḥ smō'ṅgirasāṁ vara ॥3-323-43॥
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)
mānavānāṃ sahasreṣu teṣu vai śuddhayoniṣu। asmān na kaścin manasā cakṣuṣā vā apy apūjayat ॥3-323-44॥
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)
te'pi svasthā munigaṇā ekabhāvamanuvratāḥ। nāsmāsu dadhire bhāvaṃ brahmabhāvamanuṣṭhitāḥ ॥3-323-45॥
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)
tato'smān supariśrāntāṁs tapasā cāpi karśitān। uvāca kha-sthaṁ kim api bhūtaṁ tatra aśarīrakam ॥3-323-46॥
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)
dṛṣṭā vaḥ puruṣāḥ śvetāḥ sarvendriyavivarjitāḥ। dṛṣṭo bhavati deveśa ebhirdṛṣṭairdvijottamāḥ ॥3-323-47॥
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)
gacchadhvaṃ munayaḥ sarve yathāgatam ito'cirāt। na sa śakyo abhaktena draṣṭuṃ devaḥ kathaṃcana ॥3-323-48॥
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)
kāmaṃ kālena mahatā ekāntitvaṃ samāgataiḥ। śakyo draṣṭuṃ sa bhagavān prabhāmaṇḍala-durdṛśaḥ ॥3-323-49॥
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)
mahatkāryaṃ tu kartavyaṃ yuṣmābhir dvijasattamāḥ। itaḥ kṛtayuge'tīte viparyāsaṃ gate'pi ca ॥3-323-50॥
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)
vaivasvate'ntare viprāḥ prāpte tretāyuge tataḥ। surāṇāṃ kāryasiddhyarthaṃ sahāyā vai bhaviṣyatha ॥3-323-51॥
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)
tatastadadbhutaṃ vākyaṃ niśamyaivaṃ sma somapa। tasya prasādātprāptāḥ smo deśamīpsitamañjasā ॥3-323-52॥
Then, O drinker of Soma, having thus heard that wonderful speech, by his favor we easily attained the desired region. (3-323-52)
evaṃ sutapasā caiva havyakavyais tathaiva ca। devo'smābhir na dṛṣṭaḥ sa kathaṃ tvaṃ draṣṭum arhasi ॥ nārāyaṇo mahadbhūtaṃ viśvasṛg havyakavyabhuk ॥3-323-53॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
evamekatavākyena dvitatritamatena ca। anunītaḥ sadasyaiśca bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ ॥ samānīya tato yajñaṃ daivataṃ samapūjayat ॥3-323-54॥
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)
samāptayajño rājāpi prajāḥ pālitavānvasuḥ। brahmaśāpāddivo bhraṣṭaḥ praviveśa mahīṃ tataḥ ॥3-323-55॥
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)
antarbhūmigataś caiva satataṃ dharmavatsalaḥ। nārāyaṇaparo bhūtvā nārāyaṇapadaṃ jagau ॥3-323-56॥
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)
tasyaiva ca prasādena punarevotthitastu saḥ। mahītalādgataḥ sthānaṃ brahmaṇaḥ samanantaram ॥ parāṃ gatimanuprāpta iti naiṣṭhikamañjasā ॥3-323-57॥
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)
