युधिष्ठिर उवाच ब्राह्मणानर्चसे राजन् सततं संशितव्रतान्। कं तु कर्मोदयं दृष्ट्वा तानर्चसि जनाधिप॥
Yudhishthira said You always worship, O king, Brahmanas of praiseworthy vows. What, however, is that fruit sceing which you adore them, O king?
कां वा ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिं दृष्ट्वा महाव्रत। तानसि महाबाहो सर्वमेतद् वदस्व मे॥
O you of high vows, secing what prosperity of the worship of the Brahmanas, do you worship them? Tell me all this, you of mighty arms.
भीष्म उवाच एप ते केशवः सर्वमाख्यास्यति महामतिः। व्युष्टिं ब्राह्मणपूजायां दृष्टव्युष्टिर्महाव्रतः॥
Bhishma said Here is Keshava gifted with great intelligence. He will tell you everything. Of high vows and gifted with prosperity, he will tell you what the prosperity is of the worship of Brahmanas.
बलं श्रोत्रे वाङ्मनश्चक्षुषी च ज्ञानं तथा सविशुद्धं ममाद्य। देहन्यासो नातिचिरान्मतो मे न चाति तूर्णं सविताद्य याति॥
My strength, cars, speech, mind, eyes, and that clear understanding of mine, are all clouded today. I think the time is not distant when I shall have to renounce my body. The Sun seems to me to go very slowly.
उक्ता धर्मा ये पुराणे महान्तो राजन् विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां विशां च। तथा शूद्राणां धर्ममुपासते च शेषं कृष्णादुपशिक्षस्व पार्थ॥
Those high duties, O king, which are mentioned in the Puranas as observed by Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas and Shudras, have all been described by me. Do you, O son of Pritha, learn from Krishna what little remains to be learnt about them.
अहं ह्येनं वेद्मि तत्त्वेन कृष्ण योऽयं हि यच्चास्य बलं पुराणम्। अमेयात्मा केशवः कौरवेन्द्र सोऽयं धर्मे वक्ष्यति संशयेषु॥
I know Krishna truly. I know who he is and what his ancient might is. O chief of the Kauravas, Keshava is of immeasurable soul. Whenever doubts arise, it is he who upholds virtue then.
कृष्णः पृथ्वीमसृजत् खं दिवं च कृष्णस्य देहान्मेदिनी सम्बभूव। वराहोऽयं भीमबलः पुराण: स पर्वतान् व्यसृजद् वै दिशश्च।॥
It is Krishna who created the Earth, Sky, and Heaven. Indeed, the Earth has originated from Krishna's body. Of dreadful prowess and existing from the beginning of time, it is Krishna who became the powerful Boar and raised the submerged Earth. It is He who created all the cardinal points, together with all the mountains.
अस्य चाधोऽथान्तरिक्षं दिवं च दिशश्चतस्रो विदिशश्चतस्रः। सृष्टिस्तथैवेयमनुप्रसूता स निर्ममे विश्वमिदं पुराणम्॥
Below Him are the sky, Heaven, the four cardinal points, and ihe four subsidiary points. It is from Him that the entirc crcation has emanated. It is He who has created this ancient universe.
अस्य नाभ्यां पुष्करं सम्प्रसूतं यत्रोत्पन्न: स्वयमेवामितौजा:। तेनाच्छिन्नं तत् तमः पार्थ घोरं यत् यत् तिष्ठत्यर्णवं तर्जयानम्॥
In His navel appeared a Lotus. Within that Lotus originated Brahman, himself of immeasurable energy. It was Brahman, O son of Pritha, who broke open that darkness which existed surpassing the very occan (in depth and extent).
स्त्रेताकाले ज्ञानमनुप्रपन्नः। बलं त्वासीद् द्वापरे पार्थ कृष्णः कलौ त्वधर्म: क्षितिमेवाजगाम॥
In the Krita age, O Partha, Krishna existed in the form of Virtuc. In the Treta age, he existed in the form of Knowledge. In the Dvapara age, he existed in the form of power. In the Kali age, he came to the Earth in the form of sin.
स एव पूर्वं निजघान दैत्यान् स पूर्वदेवश्च बभूव सम्राट्। स भूतानां भावनो भूतभव्य: स विश्वस्यास्य जगतश्चाभिगोप्ता॥
It is He who formerly killed the Dailyas. It is he who is the Ancient God. It is He who ruled the Asuras in the form of their Emperor (Balin). It is He who is the Creator of all beings. It is He who is also the fulure of all created Beings. It is He who is also the protector of this universe having the seed of destruction.
यदा धर्मो ग्लाति वंशे सुराणां तदा कृष्णो जायते मानुषेषु। धर्मे स्थित्वा स तु वै भावितात्मा परांश्च लोकानपरांश्च पाति॥
When the cause of Virtue suffers, this Krishna takes birth in the family of either the gods or among men. Staying on Virtuc, this Krishna of purified soul (on such occasions) protects both the higher and the lower worlds.
त्याज्यं त्यक्त्वा चासुराणां वधाय कार्याकार्य कारणं चैव पार्थ। कृतं करिष्यत् क्रियते च देवो राहुं सोमं विद्धि च शक्रमेनम्॥
Sparing those who deserve to be spared, Krishna sets himself to the destruction of the Asuras, O Partha. It is he who is all acts proper and improper and it is he who is the cause. It is Krishna who is the act done, the act to be done, and the act that is being done. Know that the illustrious one is Rahu and Soma and Shakra.
स विश्वकर्मा स हि विश्वरूप: स विश्वभुग विश्वसृग् विश्वजिच्च। स्तं कर्मभिर्विदितं वै स्तुवन्ति॥
It is he who is Vishvakarman. It is he who is of universal forin. He is the destroyer and he is the Creator of the universe. He is the holder of the Shula (lance); He is of human form; and he is of terrible forin. All crcatures sing his praises, for he is known by his decds.
मुपतिष्ठन्ते विबुधानां शतानि। तं राक्षसाच परिसंवदन्ति राजस्पोषः स विजिगीषुरेकः॥
Hundreds of Gandharvas and Apsaras and celestials always accompany him. The very Rakshasas sing his praises. He is the Enhancer of Wealth; He is the one Victorian Being in the universe.
तमध्वरे शंसितारः स्तुवन्ति रथन्तरे सामगाश्च स्तुवन्ति। तं ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्ममन्त्रैः स्तुवन्ति तस्मै हविरध्वर्यवः कल्पयन्ति॥
In Sacrifices, cloqucnt men sing His praises. The singers of Samans praise him by reciting the Rathantaras. The Brahmanas praise him with Vedic Mantras. It is to him that the sacrificial priests pour their libations.
स पौराणी ब्रह्मगुहां प्रविष्टो महीसनं भारताने ददर्श। स चैव गामुधाराय्यकर्मा विक्षोभ्य दैत्यानुरगान् दानवांश्च॥
The celestials headed by Indra sang his praises when he lifted up thc Gobardhana mountains for protecting the cowherds of Vrindavan against the incessant showers that Indra poured in anger. He is, O Bharata, the one Blessing to all creatures. He, O Bharata, having entered the old Brahmacave, saw from that place the original cover of the world in the beginning of time.
तं घोषार्थे गीर्भिरिन्द्राः स्तुवन्ति स चापीशो भारतैकः पशूनाम्। तस्य भक्षान् विविधान् वेदयन्ति तमेवाजौ वाहनं वेदयन्ति॥
Agitating all the Danavas and the Asuras, this Krishna of foremost deeds rescued the Earth. It is to Him that people dedicate various kinds of food, It is to Him that the warriors dedicate all kings of their cars at the time of war.
तस्यान्तरिक्षं पृथिवी दिवं च सर्वे वशे तिष्ठति शाश्वतस्य। स कुम्भे रेतः ससृजे सुराणां यत्रोत्पन्नमृषिमाहुर्वसिष्ठम्॥
He is eternal, and it is under that illustrious one that the Sky, Earth, Heaven, all things exist and stay. He it was who caused the vital seed of the gods Mitra and Varuna to fall within a jar, whence originated thc Rishi known by the name of Vasishtha.
स मातरिश्वा विभुरश्ववाजी सरश्मिवान् सविता चादिदेवः। तेनासुरा विजिताः सर्व एव तद्विक्रान्तैर्विजितानीह त्रीणि॥
It is Krishna who is the god of wind; it is he who is the powerful Ashvins; it is he who is that first of gods, viz., the Sun living a thousand rays. It is he by whom the Asuras have been subjugated. It is he who covered the three worlds with three footsteps.
स देवानां मानुषाणां पितॄणां तमेवाहुर्यज्ञविदां वितानम्। स एव कालं विभजन्नुदेति तस्योत्तरं दक्षिणं चायने द्व।।
He is the soul of the celestials and human beings, and Pitris. It is he who is the Sacrifice performed by those persons who are conversant with the rituals of sacrifices. It is he who rises every day in the sky (in the form of the Sun) and divides Time into day and night, and courses for half the year northwards and for half the years southwards.
तस्यैवोज़ तिर्यगधश्चरन्ति गभस्तयो मेदिनी भासयन्तः। तं ब्राह्मणा वेदविदो जुषन्ति तस्यादित्यो भामुपयुज्य भाति॥ स मासि मास्यध्वरकृद् विधत्ते तमध्वरे वेदविदः पठन्ति। स एवोक्तश्चक्रममिदं त्रिनाभि सप्ताश्वयुक्तं वहते वै त्रिधाम॥
Innumerable rays of light come out from his upwards and downwards and transversely and illumine the Earth. Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas worship him. Taking a portion of his rays the Sun shines in the sky. Month after month, the sacrificer ordains him as a sacrifice. Twiccborn persons conversant with the Vedas hymn his praises in sacrifices of all kinds. He it is who is the wheel of the year, having three naves and seven horses to drag it. It is thus that the supports the seasons.
महातेजाः सर्वगः सर्वसिंहः कृष्णो लोकान् धारयते यथैकः। हंसं तमोध्नं च तमेव वीर कृष्णं सदा पार्थं कर्तारमेहि॥
Gifted with great energy, pervading all things, the foremost of all creatures, it is Krishna who alone upholds all the worlds. He is the Sun, the remover of all darkness. He is the Creator of all. Do you, O hero, approach that Krishna.
स एकदा कक्षगतो महात्मा तुष्टो विभुः खाण्डवे धूमकेतुः। स राक्षसानुरगांश्चावजित्य सर्वत्रगः सर्वमग्नौ जुहोति॥
Once on a time, the great and powerful Krishna lives, for a while, in the form of Agni in the forest of Khandava among some straw or dry grass. Soon was he pleased. Capable of going everywhere at will, it was Krishna who, having subjugated the Rakshasas and Uragas, poured thein as libations upon the burning fire.
स एव पार्थाय श्वेतमश्वं प्रायच्छत् स एवाश्वानथ सर्वांश्चकार। स्त्रिवृच्छिराश्चतुरश्वस्त्रिनाभिः॥
It is Krishna who gave to Arjuna a number of white horses. It is he who is the creator of all horses. This world represents his car. He it is who yokes that car for setting it in motion. That car has three whcels. It has three kinds of motion. It has four horses yoked it. It has three naves.
स विहायो व्यदधात् पञ्चनाभिः स निर्ममे गां दिवमन्तरिक्षम्। सोऽरण्यानि व्यसृजत् पर्वतांश्च हृषीकेशोऽमितदीप्ताग्नितेजाः॥ अलंघयद् वै सरितो जिघांसन् शक्रं वज्रं प्रहरन्तं निरास स महेन्द्रः स्तूयते वै महाध्वरे विगैरेको ऋक्सहस्रः पुराणैः॥
It is this Krishna who is the refuge of the five original elements with the sky among them. It is he who created the Earth and Heaven and the intervening space. Indeed, it is the Krishna of immeasurable and burning energy who has created the forests and the mountains. It is this Krishna who, desirous of punishing Shakra who was about to hurl his thunder at him, crossed the rivers and at once paralysed him. He is the one great Indra who is worshipped by the Brahmanas in great sacrifices with the help of a thousand old Richs.
दुर्वासा वै तेन नान्येन शक्यो गृहे राजन् वासयितुं महौजाः। तमेवाहुर्ऋषिमेकं पुराणं स विश्वकृद् विदधात्यात्मभावान्॥
It was this Krishna, O king, who alone was able to keep the highly energetic Rishi Durvasas as a guest for some time in his house. He is said to be the one ancient Rishi. He is the Creator of the universe. Indeed, he creates everything from his own nature.
वेदांश्च यो वेदयतेऽधिदेवो विधींश्च यश्चाश्रयते पुराणान्। कामे वेदे लौकिके यत्फलं च विष्वक्सेनः सर्वमेतत् प्रतीहि॥
Superior to all the celestials, it is he who teaches all the deities. He scrupulously observes all ancient ordinances. Know, O king, that this Krishna, who is called Vishvaksena, is the fruit of all deeds which relate to pleasure, of all deeds which are founded on the Vedas, and of all deeds which appertain to the world.
ज्योतींषि शुक्लानि हि सर्वलोके त्रयो लोका लोकपालास्त्रयश्च। त्रयोऽग्नयो व्याहृतयश्च तिस्रः सर्वे देवा देवकीपुत्र एव॥
He is the white rays of light which are seen in all the worlds. He is the threc worlds. He is the thrce Regents of all the worlds. He is the threc sacrificial fires He is the three Vyahritis; indeed, this son of Devaki is all the gods together.
स वत्सरः स ऋतुः सोऽर्धमासः सोऽहोरात्रः स कला वै स काष्ठाः। मात्र मुहूर्ताश्च लवाः क्षणाश्च विष्वक्सेनः सर्वमेतत् प्रतीहि॥
He is the Ycar; He is the Season; He is the Fortnights; He is the Day and the Night; He is those divisions of time which are called Kalas, and Kashthas, and Matras, and Muhurtas, and Lavas, and Kshanas, Know that this Vishvaksena is all these.
चन्द्रादित्यौ ग्रहनक्षत्रताराः सर्वाणि दर्शान्यथ पौर्णमासम्। नक्षत्रयोगा ऋतवश्च पार्थ विष्वक्सेनात् सर्वमेतत् प्रसूतम्॥
The Moon and the Sun, the Planets, the Constellations, and the Stars, all the Parva days, including the day of the full moon, the conjunctions of the constellations, and the seasons, have, O son of Pritha, emanated from this Krishna who is Vishvaksena.
रुद्रादित्या वसवोऽथाश्चिनौ च साध्याश्च विश्वे मरुतां गणाश्च। प्रजापतिर्देवमातादितिश्च सर्वे कृष्णादृषयश्चैव सप्त॥
The Rudras, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Saddhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, Prajapati himself, the mother of the celestials, viz., Aditi and the seven Rishis, have all originated from Krishna.
मग्निर्भूत्वा दहते विश्वरूपः। आपो भूत्वा मज्जयते च सर्वे ब्रह्मा भूत्वा सृजते विश्वसंघान्॥
Changing himself into the Wind, he scatters the universe. Of universal form, he becomes fire which consumes all things. Changing himself into Water, he drenches and submerges all, and assuming the form of Brahmans, he creates all the various animate and inanimate creatures.
वेद्यं च यद् वेदयते च वेद्यं विधिश्च यश्च श्रयते विधेयम्। धर्मे च वेदे च बले च सर्वं चराचरं केशवं त्वं प्रतीहि॥
He is himself the Veda, yet he learns all the Vedas. He is himself all the ordinances, yet he observes all the ordinances which have been laid down in matters connccted with Righteousness and the Vedas and that force or might which rules the world. Indeed, know, O Yudhishthira, that this Keshava is all the mobile and immobile universe.
ज्योतिर्भूतः परमोऽसौ पुरस्तात् प्रकाशते यत्प्रभया विश्वरूपः। अप: सृष्ट्वा सर्वभूतात्मयोनिः पुराकरोत् सर्वमेवाथ विश्वम्॥
He is of the form of the most resplendent light. Of universal form, this Krishna is shorn in that blazing cffulgence. The original cause of the soul of all existent crcatures, he at first created the waters. Afterwards he created this universe.
ऋतूनुत्पातान् विविधान्यद्भुतानि मेघान् विद्युत्सर्वमैरावतं च। सर्वे कृष्णात् स्थावरं जङ्गमं च विश्वात्मानं विष्णुमेनं प्रतीहि।३८।।
Know that this Krishna is Vishnu. Know him to be the soul of the entire universe. Know him to be all the scasons; he is these various wonderful visitations of Nature which we sec; he is the clouds that pour rain and the lightning which fleshes in the sky. He is the clephant Airavata. In fact, he is the immobile and mobile universe.
विश्वावासं निर्गुणं वासुदेवं संकर्षणं जीवभूतं वदन्ति। माज्ञापयत्यात्मयोनिर्महात्मा॥
The clay of the universe and above all attributes, this Krishna is Vasudeva When he becomes individual soul he is called Sankarshana. Next, he changes himself into Pradyumna and them into Aniruddha. Thus, the great Krishna, who has sprung from himself, divides himself in fourfold form.
स पञ्चधा पञ्चजनोपपन्न संचोदयन् विश्वमिदं सिसृक्षुः। ततश्चकारावनिमारुतौ च खं ज्योतिरम्भश्च तथैव पार्थ॥
For crcating this universe which consists of the five primal elements, he begins this work, and causcs it to go on in the fivefold form of animate existence containing celestial and Asuras and human beings and beasts and birds. He it is who then creates the Earth and the Wind, the Sky, Light, and also Water, O son of Pritha.
स स्थावरं जङ्गमं चैवमेतच्चतुर्विधं लोकमिमं च कृत्वा। ततो भूमि व्यदधात् पञ्चवीजां द्यौः पृथिव्यां धास्यति भूरि वारि॥
Having created this universe of immobile and mobile objects divided into four orders of being (viz., viviparous, oviparous, vegetable, and fifthborn), he then created the Earth with her five fold seed. He then created the Sky for pouring copious rain on the Earth,
तेन विश्वं कृतमेतद्धि राजन् स जीवयत्यात्मनैवात्मयोनिः। ततो देवासुरान् मानवांश्च लोकानृषीश्चापि पितॄन् प्रजाश्चा समासेन विधिवत्प्राणिलोकान् सर्वान् सदा भूतपतिः सिसृक्षुः॥ शुभाशुभं स्थावरं जङ्गमं च विष्वक्सेनात् सर्वमेतत् प्रतीहि। यद वर्तते यच्च भविष्यतीह सर्वं ह्येतत् केशव त्वं प्रतीहि॥ मृत्युश्चैव प्राणिनामन्तकाले साक्षात् कृष्ण: शाश्वतो धर्मवाहः। भूतं च यच्चेह न विद्म किंचिद् विष्वक्सेनात् सर्वमेतत् प्रतीहि॥
Forsooth, O king, it is this Krishna who has created this universe. He has originated from his own self; it is he who causes all things to exist through his own power. He it is who has created the celestials, the Asuras, the human beings, the worlds, the Rishis, the departed manes and all creatures. Desirous of creating, that Lord of all creatures duly created the entire universe of life. Know that good and evil, mobile and immobile, have all originated from this one who is Vishvaksena. Whatever exists, and whatever will come into being, all is Keshava. This Krishna is also the death which overtakes all creatures when their end comes. He is eternal and it is he who upholds the cause of Virtue Whatever existed in the past, and whatever we do not know, indeed, all that also is this Vishvaksena.
यत् प्रशस्तं च लोकेषु पुण्यं यच्च शुभाशुभम्। तत्सर्वं केशवोऽचिन्त्यो विपरीतमतः परम्॥
All that is noble and meritorious in the universe, all that is good and evil, is Keshava who is inconccivable. Hence, it is absurd to think of anything which is superior to Keshava.
एतादृशः केशवाऽतश्च भूयो नारायणः परमश्चाव्ययश्च। मध्याद्यन्तस्य जगतस्तस्थुषश्च बुभूषतां प्रभवश्चाव्ययश्च॥
Keshava is such. More than this. He is Narayana, the highest of the high, immutable and undecaying. He is the cternal and changeless cause of the entire mobile and immobile universe with its beginning, middle, and end, as also of all creatures whose birth follows their wish.