12.338
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
bahavaḥ puruṣā brahmannutāho eka eva tu। ko hyatra puruṣaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ ko vā yonirihochyate ॥12-338-1॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
bahavaḥ puruṣā loke sāṅkhyayogavicāriṇām। naitadicchanti puruṣamekaṃ kurukulodvaha ॥12-338-2॥
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)
bahūnāṃ puruṣāṇāṃ ca yathaikā yonirucyate। tathā taṃ puruṣaṃ viśvaṃ vyākhyāsyāmi guṇādhikam ॥12-338-3॥
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)
namaskṛtvā tu gurave vyāsāyāmitatejase। tapoyuktāya dāntāya vandyāya paramarṣaye ॥12-338-4॥
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)
idaṃ puruṣasūktaṃ hi sarvavedeṣu pārthiva। ṛtaṃ satyaṃ ca vikhyātam ṛṣisiṃhena cintitam ॥12-338-5॥
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)
utsargeṇāpavādena ṛṣibhiḥ kapilādibhiḥ। adhyātmacintāmāśritya śāstrāṇyuktāni bhārata ॥12-338-6॥
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)
samāsatastu yadyvyāsaḥ puruṣaikatvamuktavān। tatte'haṃ sampravakṣyāmi prasādādamitaujasaḥ ॥12-338-7॥
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)
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। brahmaṇā saha saṃvādaṃ tryambakasya viśāṃ pate ॥12-338-8॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between Tryambaka and Brahmā, O lord of men. (12-338-8)
kṣīrodasya samudrasya madhye hāṭakasaprabhaḥ। vaijayanta iti khyātaḥ parvatapravaro nṛpa ॥12-338-9॥
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)
tatrādhyātmagatiṃ deva ekākī pravicintayan। vairājasadane nityaṃ vaijayantaṃ niṣevate ॥12-338-10॥
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)
atha tatrāsatastasya caturvaktrasya dhīmataḥ। lalāṭaprabhavaḥ putraḥ śiva āgādyadṛcchayā ॥ ākāśenaiva yogīśaḥ purā triyananaḥ prabhuḥ ॥12-338-11॥
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)
tataḥ khān nipapātāśu dharaṇīdhara-mūrdhani। agrataś ca abhavat prītaḥ vavande ca api pādayoḥ ॥12-338-12॥
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)
taṃ pādayor nipatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā savyena pāṇinā। utthāpayāmāsa tadā prabhur ekaḥ prajāpatiḥ ॥12-338-13॥
Seeing him fallen at his feet, the one lord Prajapati then raised him up with his left hand. (12-338-13)
uvāca cainaṃ bhagavāṃś cirasyāgatam ātmajam। svāgataṃ te mahābāho diṣṭyā prāpto'si me'ntikam ॥12-338-14॥
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)
kaccitte kuśalaṃ putra svādhyāyatapasoḥ sadā। nityamugratapāstvaṃ hi tataḥ pṛcchāmi te punaḥ ॥12-338-15॥
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)
rudra uvāca॥
Rudra said.
tvatprasādena bhagavansvādhyāyatapasormama। kuśalaṃ cāvyayaṃ caiva sarvasya jagatastathā ॥12-338-16॥
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)
ciradṛṣṭo hi bhagavānvairājasadane mayā। tato'haṃ parvataṃ prāptastvimam tvatpādasevitam ॥12-338-17॥
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)
kautūhalaṃ cāpi hi me ekāntagamanena te। naitatkāraṇamalpaṃ hi bhaviṣyati pitāmaha ॥12-338-18॥
O grandsire, indeed I am curious; your going into seclusion cannot be for a small reason.
kiṁ nu tatsadanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ kṣutpipāsāvivarjitam। surāsurairadhyuṣitamṛṣibhiścāmitaprabhaiḥ ॥12-338-19॥
What is that best abode, free from hunger and thirst, inhabited by gods, asuras, sages, and those of immeasurable radiance? (12-338-19)
gandharvair apsarobhiś ca satataṃ saṃniṣevitam। utsṛjyemaṃ girivaram ekākī prāptavān asi ॥12-338-20॥
This excellent mountain, always frequented by Gandharvas and Apsarases, you have abandoned and come here alone. (12-338-20)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
vaijayanto girivaraḥ satataṃ sevyate mayā। atraikāgreṇa manasā puruṣaścintyate virāṭ ॥12-338-21॥
I always serve the victorious best mountain. Here, with a one-pointed mind, I contemplate the cosmic being Virāṭ. (12-338-21)
rudra uvāca॥
Rudra said.
bahavaḥ puruṣā brahman tvayā sṛṣṭāḥ svayambhuvā। sṛjyante ca apare brahman sa ca ekaḥ puruṣaḥ virāṭ ॥12-338-22॥
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)
ko hyasau cintyate brahmaṃstvayā vai puruṣottamaḥ। etanme saṃśayaṃ brūhi mahatkautūhalaṃ hi me ॥12-338-23॥
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)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
bahavaḥ puruṣāḥ putra ye tvayā samudāhṛtāḥ। evam etad atikrāntaṃ draṣṭavyaṃ naivam ity api ॥ ādhāraṃ tu pravakṣyāmi ekasya puruṣasya te ॥12-338-24॥
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)
bahūnāṃ puruṣāṇāṃ sa yathaikā yonirucyate। tathā taṃ puruṣaṃ viśvaṃ paramaṃ sumahattamam ॥ nirguṇaṃ nirguṇā bhūtvā praviśanti sanātanam ॥12-338-25॥
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)
