12.337
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
sāṅkhyaṃ yogaṃ pañcarātraṃ vedāraṇyakam eva ca। jñānāni etāni brahmarṣe lokeṣu pracaranti ha ॥12-337-1॥
O Brahmarṣi, these knowledges—the Sāṅkhya system, Yoga system, Pañcarātra doctrine, and Vedāraṇyaka—indeed circulate in the worlds. (12-337-1)
kim etāni eka-niṣṭhāni pṛthak-niṣṭhāni vā mune। prabrūhi vai mayā pṛṣṭaḥ pravṛttiṃ ca yathā-kramam ॥12-337-2॥
O sage, are these of single devotion or of separate devotion? Please declare, as I have asked, the activity and its order. (12-337-2)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
jajñe bahujñaṃ paramatyudāraṃ; yaṃ dvīpamadhye sutamātmavantam। parāśarādgandhavatī maharṣiṃ; tasmai namo'jñānatamonudāya ॥12-337-3॥
To the great sage, the son of Parāśara and Gandhavatī, who was born in the midst of the island, possessed of self-control, supremely noble and all-knowing, to him, the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance, I offer obeisance. (12-337-3)
pitāmahādyaṃ pravadanti ṣaṣṭhaṃ; maharṣimārṣeyavibhūtiyuktam। nārāyaṇasyāṃśajamekaputraṃ; dvaipāyanaṃ vedamahānidhānam ॥12-337-4॥
They declare the sixth, beginning with the grandfather, as the great sage Dvaipāyana, the only son born from a portion of Nārāyaṇa, endowed with the glory of the ṛṣis, and the great treasure of the Vedas. (12-337-4)
tamādikāleṣu mahāvibhūti; rnārāyaṇo brahmamahānidhānam. sasarja putrārthamudāratejā; vyāsaṃ mahātmānamajaḥ purāṇaḥ ॥12-337-5॥
In the earliest times, the greatly powerful Nārāyaṇa, who is Brahman and the great repository, created Vyāsa, the noble and great-souled, for the sake of his son; he is the unborn and ancient one. (12-337-5)
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
tvayaiva kathitaḥ pūrvaṃ sambhavo dvijasattama। vasiṣṭhasya sutaḥ śaktiḥ śakteḥ putraḥ parāśaraḥ ॥12-337-6॥
O best of the twice-born, you have already told me before about the origin: Śakti was the son of Vasiṣṭha, and Parāśara was the son of Śakti. (12-337-6)
parāśarasya dāyādaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ। bhūyo nārāyaṇasutaṃ tvamevainaṃ prabhāṣase ॥12-337-7॥
Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, the sage and heir of Parāśara, you are again speaking of this son of Nārāyaṇa. (12-337-7)
kimataḥ pūrvajaṃ janma vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ। kathayasvottamamate janma nārāyaṇodbhavam ॥12-337-8॥
What is the earlier birth of Vyāsa, who possesses immeasurable splendor? O best of intellect, please narrate the birth that originated from Nārāyaṇa. (12-337-8)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
vedārthān vettu kāmasya dharmiṣṭhasya taponidheḥ। guror me jñānaniṣṭhasya himavatpāda āsataḥ ॥12-337-9॥
My teacher Himavatpada, who is established in knowledge, a treasure of austerity, most righteous, and desirous of knowing the meanings of the Vedas, was seated. (12-337-9)
kṛtvā bhāratamākhyānaṃ tapaḥśrāntasya dhīmataḥ। śuśrūṣāṃ tatparā rājan kṛtavanto vayaṃ tadā ॥12-337-10॥
O king, then we, devoted to service, having narrated the Mahābhārata for the wise one wearied by austerity, have accomplished this. (12-337-10)
sumantur jaiminiś caiva pailaś ca sudṛḍhavrataḥ। ahaṃ caturthaḥ śiṣyo vai śuko vyāsātmajas tathā ॥12-337-11॥
Sumantu, Jaimini, and Paila, who was steadfast in his vows; I myself was the fourth disciple, and also Śuka, the son of Vyāsa. (12-337-11)
ebhiḥ parivṛto vyāsaḥ śiṣyaiḥ pañcabhir uttamaiḥ। śuśubhe himavatpāde bhūtaiḥ bhūtapatiḥ yathā ॥12-337-12॥
Surrounded by these five best disciples, Vyāsa shone at the foot of the Himavat, just as the lord of beings shines among beings. (12-337-12)
vedān āvartayan sāṅgān bhāratārthāṁś ca sarvaśaḥ। tam ekamanasaṁ dāntaṁ yuktā vayam upāsmahe ॥12-337-13॥
We, being engaged and self-restrained, worship with single-mindedness him who recites the Vedas with all their limbs and the meanings of the Mahābhārata in their entirety. (12-337-13)
kathāntare'tha kasmiṃścit pṛṣṭo'smābhir dvijottamaḥ। vedārthān bhāratārthāṃś ca janma nārāyaṇāt tathā ॥12-337-14॥
Then, in another story, when we asked, the best of the twice-born explained to us the meanings of the Vedas, the meanings of the Mahābhārata, and also the birth from Nārāyaṇa. (12-337-14)
sa pūrvam uktvā vedārthān bhāratārthāṁś ca tattvavit. nārāyaṇād idaṁ janma vyāhartum upacakrame ॥12-337-15॥
He, having previously explained the meanings of the Veda and the Bhārata, being a knower of truth, began to declare this birth from Nārāyaṇa. (12-337-15)
śṛṇudhvam ākhyāna-varam etad ārṣeyam uttamam। ādikāla-udbhavam viprāḥ tapasā adhigatam mayā ॥12-337-16॥
Hear, O Brāhmaṇas, this excellent and foremost narrative of the ṛṣis, which originated in the earliest times and has been attained by me through austerity. (12-337-16)
prāpte prajāvisarge vai saptame padmasambhave। nārāyaṇo mahāyogī śubhāśubhavivarjitaḥ ॥12-337-17॥
When the creation of beings had occurred for the seventh time, from the lotus was born Nārāyaṇa, the great yogi, who is beyond both good and evil. (12-337-17)
sasṛje nābhitaḥ putraṃ brahmāṇam amitaprabham। tataḥ sa prādurabhavad athainaṃ vākyam abravīt ॥12-337-18॥
He created from his navel a son, Brahmā, of immeasurable radiance; then he appeared, and then spoke these words to him. (12-337-18)
mama tvaṃ nābhito jātaḥ prajāsargakaraḥ prabhuḥ। sṛja prajāstvaṃ vividhā brahmansajaḍapaṇḍitāḥ ॥12-337-19॥
You, born from my navel, O Brahman, are the lord and creator of beings; create various beings, both dull and wise. (12-337-19)
sa evam-ukto vimukhaś cintā-vyākula-mānasaḥ। praṇamya varadaṃ devaṃ uvāca harim īśvaram ॥12-337-20॥
Thus addressed, he, his mind agitated by worry and turning away, bowed to the boon-giving god and spoke to Hari, the Lord. (12-337-20)
kā śaktir mama deveśa prajāḥ sraṣṭuṃ namo'stu te। aprajñāvān ahaṃ deva vidhatsva yad anantaram ॥12-337-21॥
What power do I have, O lord of the gods, to create beings? Salutations to you. I am unwise, O god; please do what is to be done next. (12-337-21)
sa evam-ukto bhagavān bhūtvā atha antarhitaḥ tataḥ। cintayāmāsa deveśaḥ buddhiṃ buddhimatāṃ varaḥ ॥12-337-22॥
Thus addressed, the blessed one disappeared from there. Then the lord of the gods, the best among the wise, began to ponder the matter. (12-337-22)
svarūpiṇī tato buddhir upatasthe hariṃ prabhum। yogena ca enāṃ niyogaḥ svayaṃ niyuyuje tadā ॥12-337-23॥
Then, having assumed her own form, Intellect approached Hari, the Lord. At that time, by union, Niyoga himself appointed her. (12-337-23)
sa tāmaiśvaryayogasthāṃ buddhiṃ śaktimatīṃ satīm। uvāca vacanaṃ devo buddhiṃ vai prabhuravyayaḥ ॥12-337-24॥
He, the imperishable lord, addressed a word to her—the powerful, virtuous intellect established in the union with sovereignty. (12-337-24)
brahmāṇaṃ praviśasveti lokasṛṣṭyarthasiddhaye। tatastamīśvarādiṣṭā buddhiḥ kṣipraṃ viveśa sā ॥12-337-25॥
For the accomplishment of the purpose of world-creation, the Lord instructed, "Enter Brahmā." Then, that intellect quickly entered him. (12-337-25)
athainaṃ buddhisaṃyuktaṃ punaḥ sa dadṛśe hariḥ। bhūyaścainaṃ vacaḥ prāha sṛjemā vividhāḥ prajāḥ ॥12-337-26॥
Then Hari, seeing him again endowed with intellect, spoke these words once more: "Let us create various kinds of beings." (12-337-26)
evam uktvā sa bhagavāṃs tatraiva antaradhīyata। prāpa caiva muhūrtena svasthānaṃ deva-saṃjñitam ॥12-337-27॥
Having thus spoken, the venerable one disappeared right there; and within a moment, he reached his own abode known as the divine. (12-337-27)
tāṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ prāpya ekībhāvagato'bhavat। athāsya buddhirabhavatpunaranyā tadā kila ॥12-337-28॥
Having attained her very nature and become united with it, he became one. Then, indeed, at that time, his intellect again became different. (12-337-28)
sṛṣṭā imāḥ prajāḥ sarvā brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā। daityadānavagandharvarakṣogaṇasamākulāḥ ॥ jātā hīyaṃ vasumatī bhārākrāntā tapasvinī ॥12-337-29॥
All these creatures were created by Brahmā, the supreme lord, and the world became filled with Daityas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, and Rākṣasas. This earth, thus born, became burdened and devoted to austerity. (12-337-29)
bahavo balinaḥ pṛthvyāṃ daityadānavarākṣasāḥ। bhaviṣyanti tapoyuktā varānprāpsyanti cottamān ॥12-337-30॥
Many powerful daityas, dānavas, and rākṣasas will arise on earth, endowed with austerity; they will obtain excellent boons. (12-337-30)
avaśyameva taiḥ sarvairvaradānena darpitaiḥ। bādhitavyāḥ suragaṇā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ ॥ tatra nyāyyamidaṁ kartuṁ bhārāvataraṇaṁ mayā ॥12-337-31॥
Certainly, by all those who have become arrogant due to receiving boons, the gods, sages, and ascetics must be oppressed. Therefore, it is just for me to perform this act of removing the burden. (12-337-31)
atha nānā-samudbhūtair vasudhāyāṃ yathākramam। nigraheṇa ca pāpānāṃ sādhūnāṃ pragraheṇa ca ॥12-337-32॥
Then, by various means arising on the earth in due order, by restraining the wicked and supporting the virtuous. (12-337-32)
imāṃ tapasvinīṃ satyāṃ dhārayiṣyāmi medinīm। mayā hyeṣā hi dhriyate pātālasthena bhoginā ॥12-337-33॥
I will uphold this ascetic and true earth. Indeed, it is supported by me, by the serpent dwelling in Pātāla. (12-337-33)
mayā dhṛtā dhārayati jagaddhi sacarācaram। tasmāt pṛthvyāḥ paritrāṇaṃ kariṣye sambhavaṃ gataḥ ॥12-337-34॥
The world, with all that moves and does not move, is indeed supported by me; therefore, I have gone to take birth for the protection of the earth. (12-337-34)
evaṁ sa cintayitvā tu bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ। rūpāṇy anekāny asṛjat prādurbhāva-bhavāya saḥ ॥12-337-35॥
Thus, after contemplating, the Lord Madhusūdana created many forms for the purpose of manifesting appearances. (12-337-35)
vārāhaṃ nārasiṃhaṃ ca vāmanaṃ mānuṣaṃ tathā। ebhirmayā nihantavyā durvinītāḥ surārayaḥ ॥12-337-36॥
The boar, the man-lion, the dwarf, and also the human form—by these, the ill-behaved enemies of the gods are to be slain by me. (12-337-36)
atha bhūyo jagatsraṣṭā bhoḥśabdenānunādayan। sarasvatīm uccacāra tatra sārasvato'bhavat ॥12-337-37॥
Then, once again, the creator of the world resounded the sound 'bhoḥ' and uttered Sarasvatī there; thus, Sārasvata came into being. (12-337-37)
apāntaratamā nāma suto vāksam-bhavo vibhoḥ। bhūta-bhavya-bhaviṣya-jñaḥ satyavādī dṛḍhavrataḥ ॥12-337-38॥
There was a sage named Apāntaratamā, the son born from the speech of the Lord, who knew the past, future, and what is to come, who spoke the truth and was firm in his vows. (12-337-38)
tam uvāca nataṃ mūrdhnā devānām ādir avyayaḥ। vedākhyāne śrutiḥ kāryā tvayā matimatāṃ vara ॥ tasmāt kuru yathājñaptaṃ mayaitad vacanaṃ mune ॥12-337-39॥
The imperishable origin of the gods, having bowed his head, said to him: In the exposition of the Veda, the Veda should be followed by you, O best of the wise. Therefore, O sage, do as I have instructed in this speech. (12-337-39)
tena bhinnās tadā vedā manoḥ svāyambhuve'ntare। tatas tutoṣa bhagavān haris tenāsya karmaṇā ॥ tapasā ca sutaptena yamena niyamena ca ॥12-337-40॥
At that time, during the interval of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Vedas were divided by him; then Lord Hari was pleased with him for this act, as well as for his austerity, well-performed penance, self-restraint, and observances. (12-337-40)
śrībhagavānuvāca॥
The blessed Lord said.
manvantareṣu putra tvam evaṃ lokapravartakaḥ। bhaviṣyasy acalo brahman apradhṛṣyaś ca nityaśaḥ ॥12-337-41॥
O son, in the manvantaras, you will thus be the initiator of the world; you will become unmoving, O Brahman, unassailable and eternal. (12-337-41)
punastiṣye ca samprāpte kuravo nāma bhāratāḥ। bhaviṣyanti mahātmāno rājānaḥ prathitā bhuvi ॥12-337-42॥
Again, when the Tiṣya (Pushya) constellation arrives, the Kurus called Bharatas will become great and renowned kings on earth. (12-337-42)
teṣāṃ tvattaḥ prasūtānāṃ kulabhedo bhaviṣyati। parasparavināśārthaṃ tvāmṛte dvijasattama ॥12-337-43॥
Among those born from you, there will be division of families. Except for you, O best of the twice-born, it will be for the purpose of mutual destruction. (12-337-43)
tatrāpy anekadhā vedān bhetsyase tapasānvitaḥ। kṛṣṇe yuge ca samprāpte kṛṣṇavarṇo bhaviṣyasi ॥12-337-44॥
There, too, you will divide the Vedas in many ways, being endowed with austerity; and when the Kṛṣṇa (dark) age arrives, you will become dark-complexioned. (12-337-44)
dharmāṇāṃ vividhānāṃ ca kartā jñānakaras tathā। bhaviṣyasi tapoyukto na ca rāgād vimokṣyase ॥12-337-45॥
You will become the doer of various dharmas and a giver of knowledge likewise; endowed with austerity, you will not be freed from attachment. (12-337-45)
vītarāgaś ca putras te paramātmā bhaviṣyati। maheśvaraprasādena naitad vacanam anyathā ॥12-337-46॥
Your son, who is free from passion, will become the supreme self; by the grace of Maheśvara, this statement will not be otherwise. (12-337-46)
yaṃ mānasaṃ vai pravadanti putraṃ; pitāmahasyottamabuddhiyuktam। vasiṣṭhamagryaṃ tapaso nidhānaṃ; yaścāpi sūryaṃ vyatiricya bhāti ॥12-337-47॥
He whom they call the mind-born son, endowed with the supreme wisdom of the grandsire—Vasiṣṭha, foremost and repository of austerity—who also shines surpassing even the sun. (12-337-47)
tasyānvaye cāpi tato maharṣiḥ; parāśaro nāma mahāprabhāvaḥ। pitā sa te vedanidhirvariṣṭho; mahātapā vai tapaso nivāsaḥ ॥ kānīnagarbhaḥ pitṛkanyakāyāṃ; tasmādṛṣestvaṃ bhavitā ca putraḥ ॥12-337-48॥
In his lineage, from him, there was the great sage named Parāśara, of great power; he, your father, was the most excellent treasure of the Vedas, and of great austerity, truly an abode of penance. Born in the womb of an unmarried girl, in the daughter of the father; from that sage, you too will be born as a son. (12-337-48)
bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyāṇāṃ chinnasarvārthasaṃśayaḥ। ye hyatikrāntakāḥ pūrvaṃ sahasrayugaparyayāḥ ॥12-337-49॥
Those of the past, future, and those yet to come, whose every doubt about all meanings has been dispelled; those who have indeed transcended before, are the cycles of a thousand ages. (12-337-49)
tāṁś ca sarvān mayoddiṣṭān drakṣyase tapasānvitaḥ। punar drakṣyasi ca aneka-sahasra-yuga-paryayān ॥12-337-50॥
You will see all those whom I have indicated, endowed with austerity; and again, you will see many cycles of thousands of ages. (12-337-50)
anādinidhanaṃ loke cakrahastaṃ ca māṃ mune| anudhyānān mama mune naitad vacanam anyathā ॥12-337-51॥
O sage, I am the one without beginning or end in the world, holding the discus in my hand. By constant meditation on me, O sage, this statement does not become otherwise. (12-337-51)
śanaiścaraḥ sūryaputro bhaviṣyati manur mahān। tasmin manvantare caiva saptaṛṣigaṇapūrvakaḥ ॥ tvam eva bhavitā vatsa matprasādān na saṃśayaḥ ॥12-337-52॥
Saturn, the son of the Sun, will become the great Manu. In that Manvantara, together with the group of seven sages, you too will be, my child, by my grace; there is no doubt about this. (12-337-52)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
evaṃ sārasvatam ṛṣim apāntaratamaṃ tadā। uktvā vacanam īśānaḥ sādhayasva iti atha abravīt ॥12-337-53॥
Thus, at that time, the Lord spoke to the Sarasvatī sage Apāntaratama, saying, "Accomplish this," and then spoke thus. (12-337-53)
so'ham tasya prasādena devasya harimedhasaḥ। apāntaratamā nāma tato jāto''jñayā hareḥ ॥ punaśca jāto vikhyāto vasiṣṭhakulanandanaḥ ॥12-337-54॥
I am he; by the grace of that god, the Hari-minded one, I was born as Apāntaratamā by the command of Hari. Again, I was born as the renowned delight of the family of Vasiṣṭha. (12-337-54)
tadetatkathitaṃ janma mayā pūrVakamātmanaḥ। nārāyaṇaprasādena tathā nārāyaṇāṃśajam ॥12-337-55॥
Thus, I have described this former birth of myself, which occurred by the grace of Nārāyaṇa and also as one born from a portion of Nārāyaṇa. (12-337-55)
mayā hi sumahattaptaṃ tapaḥ paramadāruṇam। purā matimatāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ parameṇa samādhinā ॥12-337-56॥
Indeed, I practiced extremely severe austerity in the past, being the best among the intelligent, with the highest concentration. (12-337-56)
etad vaḥ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ yan māṃ pṛcchatha putrakāḥ। pūrvajanma bhaviṣyaṃ ca bhaktānāṃ snehato mayā ॥12-337-57॥
O sons, all this which you ask me about, regarding the former birth and the future of the devotees, has been told to you by me out of affection. (12-337-57)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
eṣa te kathitaḥ pūrvaṃ sambhavo'smadguror nṛpa। vyāsasyākliṣṭamanaso yathā pṛṣṭaḥ punaḥ śṛṇu ॥12-337-58॥
O king, the origin of our teacher has already been told to you before. Now, as you have asked about Vyāsa, who has an untroubled mind, hear it again. (12-337-58)
sāṅkhyaṃ yogaṃ pañcarātraṃ vedāḥ pāśupataṃ tathā। jñānānyetāni rājarṣe viddhi nānāmatāni vai ॥12-337-59॥
O royal sage, know that Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Pañcarātra, the Vedas, and the Pāśupata doctrine—these knowledges are indeed various opinions. (12-337-59)
sāṅkhyasya vaktā kapilaḥ paramarṣiḥ sa ucyate। hiraṇyagarbho yogasya vettā nānyaḥ purātanaḥ ॥12-337-60॥
Kapila, the supreme sage, is called the expounder of Sāṅkhya. Hiraṇyagarbha is known as the knower of Yoga; there is no other ancient one. (12-337-60)
apāntaratamāś caiva vedācāryaḥ sa ucyate। prācīnagarbhaṃ tam ṛṣiṃ pravadantīha kecana ॥12-337-61॥
He whose darkness is dispelled, who is indeed the teacher of the Veda, is called thus. Some here refer to that sage as Prācīnagarbha. (12-337-61)
umāpatir bhūtapatiḥ śrīkaṇṭho brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ। uktavān idam avyagraḥ jñānaṃ pāśupataṃ śivaḥ ॥12-337-62॥
Śiva, the consort of Umā, lord of beings, the auspicious-throated one, and son of Brahmā, unperturbed, has spoken this Paśupata knowledge. (12-337-62)
pañcarātrasya kṛtsnasya vettā tu bhagavān svayam। sarveṣu ca nṛpaśreṣṭha jñāneṣu eteṣu dṛśyate ॥12-337-63॥
O best of kings, the Lord himself is indeed the knower of the entire Pañcarātra scripture; in all these knowledges, He is seen. (12-337-63)
yathāgamaṃ yathājñānaṃ niṣṭhā nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ। na ca inam evaṃ jānanti tamobhūtā viśāṃ pate ॥12-337-64॥
O lord of men, as per scripture and as per knowledge, steadfastness is Nārāyaṇa, the lord; but those who are of darkness do not know him thus. (12-337-64)
tameva śāstrakartāraṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ। niṣṭhāṃ nārāyaṇam ṛṣiṃ nānyo'stīti ca vādinaḥ ॥12-337-65॥
The wise declare him alone as the maker of the śāstra; those who speak say that the sage Nārāyaṇa is the goal, and there is no other. (12-337-65)
niḥsaṃśayeṣu sarveṣu nityaṃ vasati vai hariḥ। sasaṃśayān hetubalān nādhyāvasati mādhavaḥ ॥12-337-66॥
Hari always dwells in all who are without doubt; Mādhava does not abide in those with doubt, due to the force of reasoning. (12-337-66)
pañcarātravido ye tu yathākramaparā nṛpa। ekāntabhāvopagatās te hariṃ praviśanti vai ॥12-337-67॥
O king, those who know the Pañcarātra and are devoted to its proper practice, having attained single-minded devotion, they indeed enter into Hari (Viṣṇu). (12-337-67)
sāṅkhyaṃ ca yogaṃ ca sanātane dve; vedāś ca sarve nikhilena rājan। sarvaiḥ samastair ṛṣibhir nirukto; nārāyaṇo viśvam idaṃ purāṇam ॥12-337-68॥
Both Sāṅkhya and Yoga are eternal; and all the Vedas in their entirety, O king, have been explained by all the great sages as Nārāyaṇa, this universe, the ancient one. (12-337-68)
śubhāśubhaṃ karma samīritaṃ ya; tpravartate sarvalokeṣu kiñcit. tasmādṛṣestadbhavatīti vidyā; ddivyantarikṣe bhuvi cāpsu cāpi ॥12-337-69॥
Any auspicious or inauspicious action that is set in motion, whatever proceeds in all worlds, should be known as originating from the seer; thus it manifests in the divine, in the sky, on earth, and also in the waters. (12-337-69)
