12.331
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
brahman sumahad ākhyānaṃ bhavatā parikīrtitam। yat śrutvā munayaḥ sarve vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ ॥12-331-1॥
O Brāhmaṇa, you have recounted a very great narrative. Upon hearing it, all the sages were filled with the utmost astonishment. (12-331-1)
idaṃ śatasahasrāddhi bhāratākhyānavistarāt। āmathya matimanthena jñānodadhimanuttamam ॥12-331-2॥
This, indeed, is the unsurpassed ocean of knowledge, extracted by churning with the intellect from the vast expanse of the hundred-thousand-versed narrative of the Bhārata. (12-331-2)
navanītaṃ yathā dadhno malayāccandanaṃ yathā। āraṇyakaṃ ca vedebhya oṣadhibhyo'mṛtaṃ yathā ॥12-331-3॥
Just as fresh butter comes from curds, sandalwood from the Malaya mountain, the Āraṇyaka from the Vedas, and nectar from herbs, (12-331-3)
samuddhṛtam idaṃ brahman kathāmṛtam anuttamam। taponidhe tvayoktaṃ hi nārāyaṇakathāśrayam ॥12-331-4॥
O Brahman, this unsurpassed nectar of stories, well-extracted and supported by the tales of Nārāyaṇa, has indeed been spoken by you, O treasure of austerity. (12-331-4)
sa hīśo bhagavān devaḥ sarvabhūtātmabhāvanaḥ। aho nārāyaṇaṃ tejo durdarśaṃ dvijasattama ॥12-331-5॥
He is truly the Lord, the glorious God, the creator of the essence of all beings. O best of the twice-born, behold the splendor of Nārāyaṇa, which is difficult to look upon. (12-331-5)
yatrāviśanti kalpānte sarve brahmādayaḥ surāḥ। ṛṣayaś ca sagandharvā yac ca kiñcic carācaram॥ na tato'sti paraṃ manye pāvanaṃ divi ceha ca॥12-331-6॥
Where, at the end of a kalpa, all—Brahma and the other gods, sages, Gandharvas, and every moving and unmoving being—enter; I think there is no purifier greater than that, either in heaven or here. (12-331-6)
sarvāśramābhigamanaṁ sarvatīrthāvagāhanam। na tathā phaladaṁ cāpi nārāyaṇakathā yathā ॥12-331-7॥
Visiting all hermitages and bathing in all sacred places do not give as much fruit as the story of Nārāyaṇa does. (12-331-7)
sarvathā pāvitāḥ smeha śrutvemāmāditaḥ kathām। harerviśveśvarasyeha sarvapāpapraṇāśanīm ॥12-331-8॥
We have indeed been completely purified here by hearing this story of Hari, the Lord of the universe, from the beginning, which destroys all sins. (12-331-8)
na citraṃ kṛtavāṃs tatra yad āryo me dhanañjayaḥ। vāsudeva-sahāyo yaḥ prāptavāñ jayam uttamam ॥12-331-9॥
It is not a wonder that my noble Dhananjaya, with Vāsudeva as his helper, has achieved the highest victory there. (12-331-9)
na cāsya kiñcidaprāpyaṃ manye lokeṣvapi triṣu। trailokyanātho viṣṇuḥ sa yasyāsītsāhyakṛtsakhā ॥12-331-10॥
I think there is nothing unattainable for him even in the three worlds, for Viṣṇu, the lord of the three worlds, was his friend and helper. (12-331-10)
dhanyāś ca sarva evāsan brahmaṁs te mama pūrvakāḥ। hitāya śreyase caiva yeṣām āsīj janārdanaḥ ॥12-331-11॥
O Brahman, all my ancestors were truly blessed, for Janardana was present for their welfare and supreme good. (12-331-11)
tapasāpi na dṛśyo hi bhagavāṁllokapūjitaḥ। yaṁ dṛṣṭavantaḥ te sākṣācchrīvatsāṅkavibhūṣaṇam ॥12-331-12॥
Even by austerity, the Lord worshipped by the world is not visible; those who have seen Him directly, adorned with the mark of Śrīvatsa, are truly blessed. (12-331-12)
tebhyo dhanyataraś caiva nāradaḥ parameṣṭhijaḥ। na cālpitejasam ṛṣiṃ vedmi nāradam avyayam॥ śvetadvīpaṃ samāsādya yena dṛṣṭaḥ svayaṃ hariḥ॥12-331-13॥
Among them, Nārada, born of Brahmā, is indeed the most blessed; I do not know any sage of lesser splendor than the imperishable Nārada. It was he who, having reached Śvetadvīpa, saw Hari himself. (12-331-13)
devaprasādānugataṃ vyaktaṃ tattasya darśanam। yaddṛṣṭavāṃstadā devam aniruddhatanau sthitam ॥12-331-14॥
By the grace of the gods, that manifestation became visible to him; at that time, he saw the god present in the body of Aniruddha. (12-331-14)
badarī-māśramaṃ yat tu nāradaḥ prādravat punaḥ। nara-nārāyaṇau draṣṭuṃ kiṃ nu tat kāraṇaṃ mune ॥12-331-15॥
O sage, what indeed is the reason that Nārada again ran towards the Badarī hermitage to see Nara and Nārāyaṇa? (12-331-15)
śvetadvīpānnivṛttaś ca nāradaḥ parameṣṭhijaḥ। badarīm āśramaṃ prāpya samāgamya ca tau ṛṣī ॥12-331-16॥
After returning from Śvetadvīpa, Nārada, the son of Brahmā, reached the hermitage at Badarī and met with those two sages. (12-331-16)
kiyantaṃ kālam avasat kāḥ kathāḥ pṛṣṭavāṃś ca saḥ। śvetadvīpād upāvṛtte tasmin vā sumahātmani ॥12-331-17॥
How long did he stay, which stories did he ask about, and when he returned from Śvetadvīpa, or in that great soul? (12-331-17)
kimabrūtāṃ mahātmānau naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī। tadetanme yathātattvaṃ sarvamākhyātumarhasi ॥12-331-18॥
What did the two great-souled sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa say? Please tell me all of that truthfully and in full detail. (12-331-18)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
namo bhagavate tasmai vyāsāyāmitatejase। yasya prasādād vakṣyāmi nārāyaṇakathām imām ॥12-331-19॥
I offer obeisance to the divine Vyāsa of immeasurable splendor, by whose grace I shall narrate this story of Nārāyaṇa. (12-331-19)
prāpya śvetaṃ mahādvīpaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca harimavyayam। nivṛtto nārado rājaṃstarasā merumāgamat ॥ hṛdayenodvahannbhāraṃ yaduktaṃ paramātmanā ॥12-331-20॥
After reaching the white great continent and seeing Hari, the imperishable, Nārada returned, O king, and swiftly came to Meru, carrying in his heart the burden of what the Supreme Self had spoken. (12-331-20)
paścād asyābhavad rājan ātmanah sādhvasam mahat। yad gatvā dūram adhvānam kṣemī punar iha āgataḥ ॥12-331-21॥
O king, afterwards he himself became greatly afraid; but having gone far along the path, he returned here safely. (12-331-21)
tato meroḥ pracakrāma parvataṃ gandhamādanam। nipapāta ca khāttūrṇaṃ viśālāṃ badarīmanu ॥12-331-22॥
Then, from Mount Meru, he proceeded to the Gandhamadana mountain. He swiftly descended from the sky towards the vast Badari. (12-331-22)
tataḥ sa dadṛśe devau purāṇāvṛṣisattamau। tapaścarantau sumahad-ātmaniṣṭhau mahāvratau ॥12-331-23॥
Then he saw the two gods, ancient and foremost among rishis, engaged in great austerity, firmly established in the self, and observing great vows. (12-331-23)
tejasābhyadhikau sūryātsarvalokavirocanāt। śrīvatsalakṣaṇau pūjyau jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇau ॥12-331-24॥
They are more brilliant than the Sun, the illuminator of all worlds; marked with the Śrīvatsa symbol, worthy of worship, and bearing a mass of matted hair. (12-331-24)
jālapādabhujau tau tu pādayoścakralakṣaṇau। vyūḍhoraskau dīrghabhujau tathā muṣkacatuṣkiṇau ॥12-331-25॥
Those two, having arms and feet like a net, with wheel marks on their feet, broad chests, long arms, and likewise possessing four testicles. (12-331-25)
ṣaṣṭidantāvaṣṭadaṃṣṭrau meghaughasadṛśasvanau। svāsyau pṛthulalāṭau ca suhanū subhrunāsikau ॥12-331-26॥
He had sixty teeth, eight fangs, a voice like the sound of a mass of clouds, two mouths, broad foreheads and beautiful jaws, with beautiful eyebrows and noses. (12-331-26)
ātapatreṇa sadṛśe śirasī devayos tayoḥ। evaṃ lakṣaṇasampannau mahāpuruṣasañjñitau ॥12-331-27॥
On the heads of those two gods, there was a royal umbrella of similar appearance; thus, endowed with auspicious marks, they were known as great persons. (12-331-27)
tau dṛṣṭvā nārado hṛṣṭas tābhyāṃ ca pratipūjitaḥ। svāgatenābhibhāṣyātha pṛṣṭaś cānāmayaṃ tadā ॥12-331-28॥
Seeing those two, Nārada was delighted and, being honored by them, addressed them with words of welcome and was then asked about his well-being. (12-331-28)
babhūvāntargatamatirnirīkṣya puruṣottamau। sadogatāstatra ye vai sarvabhūtanamaskṛtāḥ ॥12-331-29॥
With his mind turned inward, having seen the two supreme persons, he became one who, there, has attained the good state—those who are indeed honored by all beings. (12-331-29)
śvetadvīpe mayā dṛṣṭāstādṛśāvṛṣisattamau। iti sañcintya manasā kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam ॥ upopaviviśe tatra pīṭhe kuśamaye śubhe ॥12-331-30॥
In Śveta-dvīpa, I saw two such excellent sages; thinking thus in my mind, and after circumambulating them, I sat down nearby on the auspicious seat made of kuśa grass. (12-331-30)
tatastau tapasāṃ vāsau yaśasāṃ tejasāmapi। ṛṣī śamadamopetau kṛtvā pūrvāhṇikaṃ vidhim ॥12-331-31॥
Then those two sages, clothed in the glory of austerity, fame, and splendor, endowed with tranquility and self-control, performed the morning ritual. (12-331-31)
paścānnāradamavyagrau pādyārghyābhyāṃ prapūjya ca। pīṭhayoścopaviṣṭau tau kṛtātithyāhnikau nṛpa ॥12-331-32॥
Afterwards, O king, having worshipped Nārada with water for the feet and arghya, the two unperturbed ones sat on the two seats, having performed the rites due to a guest. (12-331-32)
teṣu tatropaviṣṭeṣu sa deśo'bhivyārajata। ājyāhutimahājyālairyajñavāṭo'gnibhir yathā ॥12-331-33॥
As those were seated there, that place shone forth, just as a sacrificial altar shines with fires having great flames from ghee-offerings. (12-331-33)
atha nārāyaṇas tatra nāradaṃ vākyam abravīt। sukhopaviṣṭaṃ viśrāntaṃ kṛtātithyaṃ sukhasthitam ॥12-331-34॥
Then Nārāyaṇa spoke these words to Nārada, who was comfortably seated, rested, had been properly received as a guest, and was pleasantly situated. (12-331-34)
apīdānīṃ sa bhagavān paramātmā sanātanaḥ। śvetadvīpe tvayā dṛṣṭa āvayoḥ prakṛtiḥ parā ॥12-331-35॥
Even now, that Lord, the eternal supreme self, whose supreme nature of both of us you have seen in Śvetadvīpa. (12-331-35)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
dṛṣṭo me puruṣaḥ śrīmān-viśvarūpadharo'vyayaḥ। sarve hi lokās tatrasthās tathā devāḥ saharṣibhiḥ ॥ adyāpi cainaṃ paśyāmi yuvāṃ paśyansanātanau ॥12-331-36॥
I have seen the splendid, imperishable person who bears the universal form. All the worlds, as well as the gods with the sages, are present there. Even today, I see him, and I see you two as eternal. (12-331-36)
yairlakṣaṇairupetaḥ sa hariravyaktarūpadhṛk। tairlakṣaṇairupetau hi vyaktarūpadharau yuvām ॥12-331-37॥
The very characteristics by which Hari, who possesses the unmanifest form, is endowed—by those same characteristics, you two, who possess the manifest form, are indeed endowed. (12-331-37)
dṛṣṭau mayā yuvāṃ tatra tasya devasya pārśvataḥ। iha caiva āgataḥ asmi adya visṛṣṭaḥ paramātmanā ॥12-331-38॥
I saw you both there beside that god; today I have come here, having been sent by the Supreme Self. (12-331-38)
ko hi nāma bhavet tasya tejasā yaśasā śriyā। sadṛśas triṣu lokeṣu ṛte dharmātmajau yuvām ॥12-331-39॥
Who indeed in all the three worlds could be equal to him in brilliance, fame, and prosperity, except you two, the sons of Dharma? (12-331-39)
tena me kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ nāma kṣetrajñasañjñitam। prādurbhāvaś ca kathitā bhaviṣyanti hi ye yathā ॥12-331-40॥
Previously, the name called kṣetrajña was spoken to me by him; and the manifestations that will be, have also been described as they will occur. (12-331-40)
tatra ye puruṣāḥ śvetāḥ pañcendriyavivarjitāḥ। pratibuddhāś ca te sarve bhaktāś ca puruṣottamam ॥12-331-41॥
There, those men who are white, devoid of the five senses, awakened, all of them are devotees of the Supreme Person. (12-331-41)
te'rcayanti sadā devaṃ taiḥ sārdhaṃ ramate ca saḥ। priyabhakto hi bhagavānparamātmā dvijapriyaḥ ॥12-331-42॥
They always worship the god; with them, he delights as well. The Lord, the Supreme Self, is indeed fond of dear devotees and is especially fond of the twice-born. (12-331-42)
ramate so'rcyamāno hi sadā bhāgavatapriyaḥ। viśvabhuksarvago devo bāndhavo bhaktavatsalaḥ ॥ sa kartā kāraṇaṃ caiva kāryaṃ cātibaladyutiḥ ॥12-331-43॥
He always delights in being worshipped, for he is dear to devotees; he is the enjoyer of the universe, all-pervading, divine, a friend and affectionate to devotees. He is the creator, the cause and the effect, and possesses immense strength and brilliance. (12-331-43)
tapasā yojya so'ātmānaṃ śvetadvīpāt paraṃ hi yat। teja ity abhivikhyātaṃ svayambhāsāvabhāsitam ॥12-331-44॥
He, by austerity, is to be united with the self which is indeed beyond Śvetadvīpa; that radiance, thus well-known, is illuminated by its own light. (12-331-44)
śāntiḥ sā triṣu lokeṣu siddhānāṃ bhāvitātmanām। etayā śubhayā buddhyā naiṣṭhikaṃ vratamāsthitaḥ ॥12-331-45॥
That peace which exists in the three worlds among the perfected ones whose selves are cultivated; by this auspicious intellect, the firm vow is undertaken. (12-331-45)
na tatra sūryas tapati na somo'bhivirājate। na vāyur vāti deveśe tapaś carati duścaram ॥12-331-46॥
There, the sun does not shine, nor does the moon shine forth. The wind does not blow; in the Lord of the gods, austerity that is difficult to perform is practiced. (12-331-46)
vedīmaṣṭatalotsedhāṃ bhūmāvāsthāya viśvabhuk। ekapādasthito deva ūrdhvabāhurudaṅmukhaḥ ॥ sāṅgānāvartayanvedāṃstapastepe suduścaram ॥12-331-47॥
Having set up an eight-leveled altar of height on the earth, the all-consuming god stood on one foot, with arms raised and facing north. Reciting the Vedas with all their parts, he performed austerities that were extremely difficult to accomplish. (12-331-47)
yad brahmā ṛṣayaś caiva svayaṃ paśupatiś ca yat। śeṣāś ca vibudhaśreṣṭhā daityadānavarākṣasāḥ ॥12-331-48॥
That which Brahmā, the sages, Paśupati himself, as well as the rest—the foremost among the wise, the Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas—(all know or do). (12-331-48)
nāgāḥ suparṇā gandharvāḥ siddhā rājarṣayaś ca ye। havyaṃ kavyaṃ ca satataṃ vidhipūrvaṃ prayuñjate ॥ kṛtsnaṃ tat tasya devasya caraṇāv upatiṣṭhati ॥12-331-49॥
Serpents, divine birds, Gandharvas, Siddhas, royal sages, and all those who always offer oblations to gods and ancestors according to prescribed rules—all of that attends at the feet of that god. (12-331-49)
yāḥ kriyāḥ samprayuktās tu ekāntagatabuddhibhiḥ। tāḥ sarvāḥ śirasā devaḥ pratigṛhṇāti vai svayam ॥12-331-50॥
All actions that are well-performed by those whose minds are steadfastly focused, the god himself accepts with his head. (12-331-50)
na tasyānyaḥ priyataraḥ pratibuddhairmahātmabhiḥ। vidyate triṣu lokeṣu tato'smyaikāntikaṃ gataḥ ॥ iha caivāgatastena visṛṣṭaḥ paramātmanā ॥12-331-51॥
There is no one dearer to him than I among the awakened great souls in the three worlds; therefore, I have gone exclusively to him. Here also, I have arrived, sent forth by the Supreme Self. (12-331-51)
evaṃ me bhagavān devaḥ svayam ākhyātavān hariḥ। āsiṣye tatparaḥ bhūtvā yuvābhyāṃ saha nityaśaḥ ॥12-331-52॥
Thus, the blessed god Hari himself has declared this to me. I shall always remain here, intent on that, together with you both. (12-331-52)
