12.323
Bhishma said.
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)
The words 'bṛhadbrahma' and 'mahac' are synonyms. O king, Bṛhaspati, the wise one, is endowed with these qualities. (3-323-2)
His disciple, the foremost, Rājoparicara Vasu, then thoroughly studied the treatise called Citraśikhaṇḍija. (3-323-3)
That king Vasu, who was formerly destined by fate and ordinance, protected the earth just as Indra protects heaven. (3-323-4)
His sacrifice was great, the horse-sacrifice of the great-souled one; there, Bṛhaspati, the preceptor, indeed became the priest. (3-323-5)
Here, the sons of Prajāpati became three members: the great sages Ekata, Dvita, and Trita. (3-323-6)
Then Dhanuṣākṣa, Raibhya, the sages Arvāvasu and Parāvasu, Medhātithi, and also Tāṇḍya, the great sage. (3-323-7)
The sage Śakti, the greatly fortunate one, as well as Vedaśirā, and Kapila, the foremost among sages, the grandfather of Śālihotra. (3-323-8)
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)
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)
Then the ancient Lord, God of gods, being pleased, directly revealed himself to him; he who is invisible to anyone else. (3-323-11)
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)
Then Bṛhaspati, enraged, swiftly raised the ladle and struck the sky; from his anger, tears flowed from the ladle. (3-323-13)
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)
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)
Then, King Mahānvasu lifted him up and appeased the sage, along with all the members of the assembly, entirely. (3-323-16)
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)
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)
The ones called one, that, two, and three said this.
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)
They performed supreme austerity for four thousand years, standing properly on one foot, becoming like wood and fully concentrated. (3-323-20)
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)
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)
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)
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)
They, being of a thousand flames, enter the eternal divine being; they are beyond the senses, without food, motionless, and fragrant. (3-323-25)
Those men who are exclusively devoted, the inhabitants of Śvetadvīpa, go there; there, sages, my self is manifested. (3-323-26)
Then, having heard that bodiless voice, we all proceeded to that region by the path that was described. (3-323-27)
After reaching the white great continent, with our minds intent on seeing it, our sight was then obstructed from there. (3-323-28)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
We considered that island as the abode of brilliance; there, no one was superior, all of them were equal in brilliance. (3-323-34)
Then, O Bṛhaspati, we suddenly saw the radiance of a thousand suns rising at once, once again.
Then those men, together, quickly ran forward, joyfully with folded hands, saying only 'obeisance'. (3-323-36)
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)
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)
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)
We heard the sound "Obeisance to you, O Hṛṣīkeśa, great person, ancestor; let it be," uttered as an instructional syllable. (3-323-40)
Meanwhile, the pure wind, which carries all fragrances, brought divine flowers and ritual herbs as well. (3-323-41)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Then, O drinker of Soma, having thus heard that wonderful speech, by his favor we easily attained the desired region. (3-323-52)
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)
Bhishma said.
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)
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)
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)
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)
