12.332
Nara and Nārāyaṇa both spoke.
You are fortunate and favoured, for you have personally seen the Lord. Indeed, no one, not even Padmayoni (Brahmā) himself, has seen Him personally. (12-332-1)
The Supreme Person, of unmanifest origin, glorious and difficult to behold, O Nārada, this statement of truth has indeed been declared to you. (12-332-2)
There is no one in this world dearer to him than his devotees. Therefore, O best of the twice-born, he himself revealed his own self. (12-332-3)
Indeed, O best of the twice-born, the state of the supreme self attained by austerity is not reached by anyone except for the two of us.
The splendour that would be of a thousand suns all together, that would be the radiance of that place, by his own shining. (12-332-5)
Therefore, O brāhmaṇa, arise from the god, the lord who sustains the universe; forbearance is the greatest among those who possess it, by which the earth is indeed upheld. (12-332-6)
Therefore, from the god arises the essence that benefits all beings; it is by this that waters indeed are joined and attain fluidity. (12-332-7)
From that alone arises the radiance possessing the nature of form and quality; by which the Sun is indeed joined, and from that the worlds shine forth. (12-332-8)
Thus, touch arises from that god, but from the Supreme Person; by which the wind is indeed joined, from that he blows through the worlds. (12-332-9)
Therefore, sound arises from the lord of all worlds, the master; by which ether is joined, and thus it remains uncovered. (12-332-10)
Therefore, from the god arises the mind that pervades all beings. The moon, being joined with it, possesses the quality of light. (12-332-11)
That place, called the originator of the six elements and designated as the Veda, is where the Lord, the supporter of knowledge and the enjoyer of offerings to gods and ancestors, resides. (12-332-12)
Those who are truly pure in this world, free from both merit and demerit—for them, O best of the twice-born, as they proceed on the safe path, the Sun, destroyer of the darkness of all worlds, is said to be the gateway. (12-332-13)
Having all their limbs burnt by the sun, becoming invisible to anyone anywhere, and having become atomic in form, they indeed enter that deity. (12-332-14)
Thus, having been completely released from that, the mind-born beings who are situated in the body of Aniruddha again enter into Pradyumna. (12-332-15)
The best of Brāhmaṇas, followers of Sāṅkhya, together with the Bhāgavatas, after being released from Pradyumna and also from Saṅkarṣaṇa, enter into the living being. (12-332-16)
Then, those who are free from the three guṇas directly enter the Supreme Self, O best of the twice-born, the knower of the field who is of the nature of being without qualities. Know truly that Vāsudeva, the abode of all, is the knower of the field. (12-332-17)
Those whose minds are composed, who are self-controlled and have restrained senses, who have attained a state of solitude, they enter Vāsudeva. (12-332-18)
O best of the twice-born, we too were born in the house of Dharma, and having taken refuge in a beautiful and spacious place, we both undertook severe austerities. (12-332-19)
But those manifestations of that very god, dear to the gods, who will exist in the three worlds—for them, therefore, O twice-born, say 'well-being'. (12-332-20)
O best of the twice-born, as before, when the two who are properly engaged and have undertaken the vow by their own rule, they should properly observe that highest vow involving all hardships. (12-332-21)
You too were seen by both of us in Śvetadvīpa, O ascetic; when the venerable one arrived, he engaged in conversation as before. (12-332-22)
Indeed, everything in the three worlds, both moving and unmoving, is known to us—whatever will happen, has happened, or is happening, whether auspicious or inauspicious. (12-332-23)
Vaiśampāyana said.
After hearing the words of those two, Nārada, devoted to Nārāyaṇa, with joined palms, undertook intense austerities. (12-332-24)
He recited many mantras related to Nārāyaṇa, in the proper manner, for a thousand divine years in the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa. (12-332-25)
The illustrious sage Nārada resided there, and Nara and Nārāyaṇa, those two, worshipped that very god. (12-332-26)
