12.338
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
बहवः पुरुषा ब्रह्मन्नुताहो एक एव तु। को ह्यत्र पुरुषः श्रेष्ठः को वा योनिरिहोच्यते ॥१२-३३८-१॥
O Brahman, are there many persons, or is there only one? Who indeed here is the best person, and what is said to be the origin here? (12-338-1)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
बहवः पुरुषा लोके साङ्ख्ययोगविचारिणाम्। नैतदिच्छन्ति पुरुषमेकं कुरुकुलोद्वह ॥१२-३३८-२॥
O uplifter of the Kuru lineage, many men in the world who reflect on Sāṅkhya and Yoga do not desire this one man. (12-338-2)
बहूनां पुरुषाणां च यथैका योनिरुच्यते। तथा तं पुरुषं विश्वं व्याख्यास्यामि गुणाधिकम् ॥१२-३३८-३॥
Just as one source is said to be for many men, so I shall explain that man, the universe, who is endowed with qualities. (12-338-3)
नमस्कृत्वा तु गुरवे व्यासायामिततेजसे। तपोयुक्ताय दान्ताय वन्द्याय परमर्षये ॥१२-३३८-४॥
Having bowed to the teacher, to Vyāsa of immeasurable brilliance, endowed with austerity, self-control, and worthy of worship, to the supreme sage. (12-338-4)
इदं पुरुषसूक्तं हि सर्ववेदेषु पार्थिव। ऋतं सत्यं च विख्यातमृषिसिंहेन चिन्तितम् ॥१२-३३८-५॥
O king, this Purusha Sukta, which is well-known for its cosmic order and truth in all the Vedas, was contemplated by Ṛṣisiṃha. (12-338-5)
उत्सर्गेणापवादेन ऋषिभिः कपिलादिभिः। अध्यात्मचिन्तामाश्रित्य शास्त्राण्युक्तानि भारत ॥१२-३३८-६॥
O Bhārata, the treatises have been stated by the sages such as Kapila, based on reflection on the self, by means of the general rule and its exceptions. (12-338-6)
समासतस्तु यद्व्यासः पुरुषैकत्वमुक्तवान्। तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रसादादमितौजसः ॥१२-३३८-७॥
But now, from the summary which Vyāsa has spoken regarding the oneness of the spirit, I shall explain that to you in full, by the grace of the immeasurably powerful. (12-338-7)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। ब्रह्मणा सह संवादं त्र्यम्बकस्य विशां पते ॥१२-३३८-८॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between Tryambaka and Brahmā, O lord of men. (12-338-8)
क्षीरोदस्य समुद्रस्य मध्ये हाटकसप्रभः। वैजयन्त इति ख्यातः पर्वतप्रवरो नृप ॥१२-३३८-९॥
O king, in the middle of the Kṣīroda ocean, there is the foremost of mountains, Vaijayanta, which is known for its golden radiance. (12-338-9)
तत्राध्यात्मगतिं देव एकाकी प्रविचिन्तयन्। वैराजसदने नित्यं वैजयन्तं निषेवते ॥१२-३३८-१०॥
There, O god, alone pondering the path of the self, he always dwells in the Vaijayanta palace in the mansion of Viraja. (12-338-10)
अथ तत्रासतस्तस्य चतुर्वक्त्रस्य धीमतः। ललाटप्रभवः पुत्रः शिव आगाद्यदृच्छया ॥ आकाशेनैव योगीशः पुरा त्रिनयनः प्रभुः ॥१२-३३८-११॥
Now, there, as the wise four-faced one was seated, his son Śiva, born from the forehead, came by chance; formerly, the three-eyed lord, the lord of yogis, came through the sky. (12-338-11)
ततः खान्निपपाताशु धरणीधरमूर्धनि। अग्रतश्चाभवत्प्रीतो ववन्दे चापि पादयोः ॥१२-३३८-१२॥
Then, he quickly fell from the pit onto the head of the mountain; standing in front, he became pleased and bowed at the feet. (12-338-12)
तं पादयोर्निपतितं दृष्ट्वा सव्येन पाणिना। उत्थापयामास तदा प्रभुरेकः प्रजापतिः ॥१२-३३८-१३॥
Seeing him fallen at his feet, the one lord Prajapati then raised him up with his left hand. (12-338-13)
उवाच चैनं भगवांश्चिरस्यागतमात्मजम्। स्वागतं ते महाबाहो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मेऽन्तिकम् ॥१२-३३८-१४॥
The venerable one spoke to his son, who had come after a long time: "Welcome, O mighty-armed! By good fortune, you have come close to me." (12-338-14)
कच्चित्ते कुशलं पुत्र स्वाध्यायतपसोः सदा। नित्यमुग्रतपास्त्वं हि ततः पृच्छामि ते पुनः ॥१२-३३८-१५॥
Son, is your well-being always ensured in your self-study and austerities? Since you are constantly engaged in severe austerities, I therefore ask you again. (12-338-15)
रुद्र उवाच॥
Rudra said.
त्वत्प्रसादेन भगवन्स्वाध्यायतपसोर्मम। कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा ॥१२-३३८-१६॥
O Lord, by your grace, may there be welfare and imperishability for my self-study and austerity, and likewise for the entire world. (12-338-16)
चिरदृष्टो हि भगवान्वैराजसदने मया। ततोऽहं पर्वतं प्राप्तस्त्विमं त्वत्पादसेवितम् ॥१२-३३८-१७॥
Indeed, after a long time I saw the venerable one in the palace of Viraja. Then I reached this mountain, which has been served by your feet. (12-338-17)
कौतूहलं चापि हि मे एकान्तगमनेन ते। नैतत्कारणमल्पं हि भविष्यति पितामह ॥१२-३३८-१८॥
O grandsire, indeed I am curious; your going into seclusion cannot be for a small reason.
किं नु तत्सदनं श्रेष्ठं क्षुत्पिपासाविवर्जितम्। सुरासुरैरध्युषितमृषिभिश्चामितप्रभैः ॥१२-३३८-१९॥
What is that best abode, free from hunger and thirst, inhabited by gods, asuras, sages, and those of immeasurable radiance? (12-338-19)
गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च सततं संनिषेवितम्। उत्सृज्येमं गिरिवरमेकाकी प्राप्तवानसि ॥१२-३३८-२०॥
This excellent mountain, always frequented by Gandharvas and Apsarases, you have abandoned and come here alone. (12-338-20)
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahmā said.
वैजयन्तो गिरिवरः सततं सेव्यते मया। अत्रैकाग्रेण मनसा पुरुषश्चिन्त्यते विराट् ॥१२-३३८-२१॥
I always serve the victorious best mountain. Here, with a one-pointed mind, I contemplate the cosmic being Virāṭ. (12-338-21)
रुद्र उवाच॥
Rudra said.
बहवः पुरुषा ब्रह्मंस्त्वया सृष्टाः स्वयम्भुवा। सृज्यन्ते चापरे ब्रह्मन्स चैकः पुरुषो विराट् ॥१२-३३८-२२॥
O Brahman, many persons have been created by you, the self-born; and others are also created, O Brahman. But he is the one person, Virāṭ. (12-338-22)
को ह्यसौ चिन्त्यते ब्रह्मंस्त्वया वै पुरुषोत्तमः। एतन्मे संशयं ब्रूहि महत्कौतूहलं हि मे ॥१२-३३८-२३॥
O Brahman, who indeed is that supreme person whom you contemplate? Please tell me this doubt of mine; I have great curiosity. (12-338-23)
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahmā said.
बहवः पुरुषाः पुत्र ये त्वया समुदाहृताः। एवमेतदतिक्रान्तं द्रष्टव्यं नैवमित्यपि ॥ आधारं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि एकस्य पुरुषस्य ते ॥१२-३३८-२४॥
Son, the many men you have enumerated—this should be seen as surpassed, not just so; but I shall explain to you the basis of one man. (12-338-24)
बहूनां पुरुषाणां स यथैका योनिरुच्यते। तथा तं पुरुषं विश्वं परमं सुमहत्तमम् ॥ निर्गुणं निर्गुणा भूत्वा प्रविशन्ति सनातनम् ॥१२-३३८-२५॥
Just as one source is said to be for many men, so that person, the universe, the supreme, the greatest, is the same. Those who have become without qualities enter the eternal one who is without qualities. (12-338-25)
