14.044
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said;
yadādimadhyaparyantaṃ grahaṇopāyameva ca. nāmalakṣaṇasaṃyuktaṃ sarvaṃ vakṣyāmi tattvataḥ ॥14-44-1॥
I shall truly explain all that extends from beginning to middle to end, the means of apprehension, along with names and definitions. (14-44-1)
ahaḥ pūrvaṃ tato rātrirmāsāḥ śuklādayaḥ smṛtāḥ। śraviṣṭhādīni ṛkṣāṇi ṛtavaḥ śiśirādayaḥ ॥14-44-2॥
First is the day, then night; months beginning with the bright fortnight are remembered. The constellations starting from Śraviṣṭhā, and the seasons beginning with Śiśira (the cold season). (14-44-2)
bhūmirādistu gandhānāṃ rasānāmāpa eva ca। rūpāṇāṃ jyotirādistu sparśādirvāyurucyate ॥ śabdasyaādistathākāśameṣa bhūtakṛto guṇaḥ ॥14-44-3॥
Earth is the origin of smells, and water alone is the origin of tastes; light is the origin of forms, air is said to be the origin of touch, and ether is the origin of sound. Thus, these are the properties created by the elements. (14-44-3)
ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi bhūtānām ādim uttamam। ādityaḥ jyotiṣām ādir agniḥ bhūta-ādir iṣyate॥14-44-4॥
Therefore, I shall now declare the supreme origin among beings: the Sun is the foremost among lights, and Agni is considered the origin among the elements. (14-44-4)
sāvitrī sarva-vidyānāṃ devatānāṃ prajāpatiḥ। oṅkāraḥ sarva-vedānāṃ vacasāṃ prāṇa eva ca ॥ yady-asmin-niyataṃ loke sarvaṃ sāvitr-am-ucyate ॥14-44-5॥
Sāvitrī is the lord of progeny among all sciences and deities. Om is the very life of all Vedas and all speech. If, in this world, everything is indeed called Sāvitrī. (14-44-5)
gāyatrī chandhasām ādiḥ paśūnām aja ucyate. gāvaś catuṣpadām ādiḥ manuṣyāṇām dvijātayaḥ ॥14-44-6॥
The Gāyatrī is considered the foremost among metres; the goat among animals; cows among four-footed creatures; and the twice-born among humans. (14-44-6)
śyenaḥ patatriṇām ādir yajñānām hutam uttamam। parisarpiṇām tu sarveṣām jyeṣṭhaḥ sarpo dvijottamāḥ ॥14-44-7॥
The hawk is the foremost among birds; the offering is the best among sacrifices. Among all crawling creatures, the serpent is the eldest, O best of the twice-born. (14-44-7)
kṛtam ādir yugānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ na atra saṃśayaḥ। hiraṇyaṃ sarva-ratnānām oṣadhīnāṃ yavās tathā ॥14-44-8॥
The Kṛta is the first of the ages, and of all there is no doubt about this here. Gold is the foremost of all jewels, and among all herbs, barley likewise. (14-44-8)
sarveṣāṃ bhakṣyabhojyānām annaṃ paramam ucyate। dravāṇāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ peyānām āpa uttamāḥ॥14-44-9॥
Of all food that is to be eaten and consumed, food is considered supreme; and among all liquids and drinks, water is the best. (14-44-9)
sthāvarāṇāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ sarveṣām aviśeṣataḥ. brahmakṣetraṃ sadā puṇyaṃ plakṣaḥ prathamajaḥ smṛtaḥ ॥14-44-10॥
Among all beings, both immobile and all living creatures without distinction, the Plaksha tree—regarded as the field of Brahman—is always considered sacred and the first-born. (14-44-10)
ahaṃ prajāpatiīnāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ। mama viṣṇuracintiyātmā svayambhūr iti sa smṛtaḥ॥14-44-11॥
I am among the lords of progeny and all; there is no doubt about this. My Viṣṇu, whose nature is inconceivable and who is self-born, is thus remembered. (14-44-11)
parvatānāṃ mahāmeruḥ sarveṣāmagrajaḥ smṛtaḥ। diśāṃ ca pradiśāṃ cordhvā digjātā prathamaṃ tathā ॥14-44-12॥
Among mountains, Mahāmeru is remembered as the eldest of all. The directions, the intermediate directions, and the upward direction were thus born first. (14-44-12)
tathā tripathagā gaṅgā nadīnām agrajā smṛtā। tathā sarodapānānāṃ sarveṣāṃ sāgaro'grajaḥ॥14-44-13॥
Thus, Gaṅgā, who moves in three ways, is regarded as the eldest among rivers. Likewise, the ocean is the eldest of all lakes and waters. (14-44-13)
devadānavabhūtānāṃ piśācoragarakṣasām। narakiṃnarayakṣāṇāṃ sarveṣāmīśvaraḥ prabhuḥ ॥14-44-14॥
He is the lord and master of all—devas, dānavas, bhūtas, piśācas, uragas, rakṣasas, naras, kiṃnaras, and yakṣas. (14-44-14)
ādiḥ viśvasya jagato viṣṇur brahmamayo mahān। bhūtaṁ parataraṁ tasmāt trailokye neha vidyate ॥14-44-15॥
Viṣṇu, the great one consisting of Brahman, is the origin of the universe and world; there exists no entity higher than him here in the three worlds. (14-44-15)
āśramāṇāṃ ca gārhasthyaṃ sarveṣāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ. lokānām ādir avyaktaṃ sarvasya antaḥ tadeva ca ॥14-44-16॥
Among āśramas, the householder's stage is the chief—of this there is no doubt here. The unmanifest is the origin of worlds, and that alone is the end of everything. (14-44-16)
ahāni astamayāntāni udayāntā ca śarvarī। sukhasyāntaḥ sadā duḥkhaṃ duḥkhasyāntaḥ sadā sukham ॥14-44-17॥
Days end with sunset, and night ends with sunrise. The end of happiness is always sorrow, and the end of sorrow is always happiness. (14-44-17)
sarve kṣayāntā nicayāḥ patanāntāḥ samuccrayāḥ। saṃyogā viprayogāntā maraṇāntaṃ hi jīvitam ॥14-44-18॥
All accumulations inevitably end in destruction, all raisings ultimately fall, associations come to separation, and life indeed ends in death. (14-44-18)
sarvaṃ kṛtaṃ vināśāntaṃ jātasyamaraṇaṃ dhruvam। aśāśvataṃ hi loke'smin sarvaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam॥14-44-19॥
Everything that is made comes to an end in destruction; for every being that is born, death is certain. Truly, in this world, all things—whether stationary or moving—are impermanent. (14-44-19)
iṣṭaṃ dattaṃ tapo'dhītaṃ vratāni niyamāś ca ye. sarvam etad vināśāntaṃ jñānasya-anto na vidyate ॥14-44-20॥
All sacrificial offerings, gifts, austerities, studies, vows, and rules—these all have destruction as their end; the end of knowledge does not exist. (14-44-20)
tasmājjñānena śuddhena prasannātmā samāhitaḥ। nirmamo nirahaṅkāro mucyate sarvapāpmabhiḥ॥14-44-21॥
Therefore, being composed, with a serene mind, pure knowledge, free from possessiveness and ego, one is freed from all sins. (14-44-21)
