ब्राह्मण उवाच संकल्पदंशमशकं शोकहर्षहिमातपम्। मोहान्धकारतिमिरं लोभव्याधिसरीसृपम्॥ विषयैकात्ययाध्वानं कामक्रोधविरोधकम्। तदतीत्य महादुर्ग प्रविष्टोऽस्मि महद् वनम्॥
The Brahmana said Having crossed that impassable fortress (of the world) which has purposes for its gadflies and mosquitoes, grief and joy for its cold and heat, heedlessness for its blinding darkness, cupidity and diseases for its reptiles, wealth for its own danger on the road, and lust and anger its robbers. I have entered the extensive forest (of Brahma).
ब्राह्मण्युवाच क्व तद् वनं महाप्राज्ञ के वृक्षाः सरितश्च काः। गिरयः पर्वताश्चैव कियत्यध्वनि तद् वनम्॥
The wife of the Brahmana said Where is that foremost, O you of great wisdom? What are its trces? What are its rivers? What its mountains and hills? How far is that forest?
ब्राह्मण उवाच नैतदस्ति पृथग्भाव: किंचिदन्यत् ततः सुखम्। नैतदस्त्यपृथग्भावः किंचिद् दुःखतरं ततः॥
The Brahmana said There exists nothing that is separate from it. There is nothing more delightful than it. There is nothing that is un-separated from it. There is nothing more afflicting than it.
तस्माद्धस्वतरं नास्ति न ततोऽस्ति महत्तरम्। नास्ति तस्मात् सूक्ष्मतरं नास्त्यन्यत् तत्समं सुखम्॥
There is nothing smaller than that. There is nothing huger than that. There is nothing minuter than that. There is no happiness that can resemble it.
न तत्राविश्य शोचन्ति न प्रहष्यन्ति च द्विजाः। न च बिभ्यति केषांचित् तेभ्यो बिभ्यति केचन॥
Twice-born persons. entering into it, at once get over both joy and sorrow. They (then) never stand in fear of any creature, nor does any creature stand in fear of them.
तस्मिन् वने सप्त यहादुमाश्च फलानि सप्तातिथयश्च सप्त। सप्ताश्रमाः सप्त समाधयश्च दीक्षाश्च सप्तैतदरण्यरूपम्।।७।
In that forest are seven large trees, seven fruits, and seven guests. There are seven hermitages, (forms of) Yoga concentration, and seven (forms) of initiation. This is a description of that forest.
पञ्चवर्णानि दिव्यानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। सृजन्तः पादपास्तत्र व्याप्य तिष्ठन्ति तद् वनम्॥
The trees which stand filling that forest yield excellent flowers and fruits of five colours. seven
सुवर्णानि द्विवर्णानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। सृजन्तः पादपास्तत्र व्याप्य तिष्ठन्ति तद् वनम्॥
The trees which stand there filling that forest, yield flowers and fruits which are of excellent colours and which are, besides of two kinds.
सुरभीणि द्विवर्णानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। सृजन्तः पादपास्तत्र व्याप्य तिष्ठन्ति तद् वनम्॥
The trees which stand there filling that forest, yield flowers and fruits of two colours.
सुरभीण्येकवर्णानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। सृजन्तः पादपास्तत्र व्याप्य तिष्ठन्ति तद् वनम्॥
The trees which stand there filling that forest, yield fragrant flowers and fruits of one colour.
बहून्यव्यक्तवर्णानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। विसृजन्तौ महावृक्षौ तद् वनं व्याप्य तिष्ठतः॥
The two trces which stand filling that forest, produce many flowers and fruits which are of unmanifest colours.
एको वह्निः सुमना ब्राह्मणोऽत्र पञ्चेन्द्रियाणि समिधश्चात्र सन्ति। तेभ्यो मोक्षाः सप्त फलन्ति दीक्षा गुणाः फलान्यतिथयः फलाशाः॥
There is one fire here, possessed of a good mind. That is connected with Brahmana. The five senses are the fuel here. The seven forms of Libcration originating from them are the seven forms of Initiation. The qualities are the fruits, and the guests eat those fruits.
आतिथ्यं प्रतिगृह्णन्ति तत्र तत्र महर्षयः। अर्चितेषु प्रलीनेषु तेष्वन्यद् रोचते वनम्॥
There, in various places, the great Rishis accept hospitality. When they, having been adored become annihilated, then another forest shines forth.
प्रज्ञाक्षं मोक्षफलं शान्तिच्छायासमन्वितम्। ज्ञानाश्रयं तृप्तितोयमन्तःक्षेत्रज्ञभास्करम्॥
In that forest, Intelligence is the tree; Liberation is the fruit. Tranquillity is the shade of which it is possessed. It has knowledge for its resting house, contentment for its water, and the Kshetrajna for its sun.
येऽधिगच्छन्ति तं सन्त स्तेषां नास्ति भयं पुनः। ऊर्वे चाधश्च तिर्यक् च तस्य नान्तोऽधिगम्यते॥
Its end cannot be determined upwards, downwards, or horizontally.
स्त्ववाङ्मुखा भानुमत्यो जनित्र्यः। अर्ध्वं रसानाददते प्रजाभ्यः। सर्वान् यथा सत्यमनित्यता च॥
Seven females always live there, with faces downwards, endued with effulgence, and the cause of generation. They take up all the different tastes from all creatures, cven as inconstancy sucks up truth.
तत्रैव प्रतितिष्ठन्ति पुनस्तत्रोपयन्ति च। सप्त सप्तर्षयः सिद्धा वसिष्ठप्रमुखैः सह॥
In that itself live, and from that emerge, the seven Rishis who are crowned with ascetic success, having Vasishtha for their foremost.
यशो वर्थो भगश्चैव विजयः सिद्धतेजसः। एवमेवानुवर्तन्ते सप्त ज्योतींषि भास्करम्॥
Glory, effulgence, greatness, enlightenment; victory, perfection, and energy, these seven always follow this same like rays following the sun.
गिरयः पर्वताश्चैव सन्ति तत्र समासतः। नद्यश्च सरितो वारि वहन्त्यो ब्रह्मसम्भवम्॥
Hills and mountains also exist there, in a body; and rivers and steams carrying waters in their course, waters that are born of Brahma.
नदीनां सङ्गमश्चैव वैताने समुपह्वरे। स्वात्मतृप्ता यतो यान्ति साक्षादेव पितामहम्॥
And there is a confluence also of rivers in the secluded spot for sacrifice. Thence those who are contented with their own souls proceed to the Grandfather.
कृशाशाः सुव्रताशाश्च तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषा:। आत्मन्यात्मानमाविश्य ब्रह्माणं समुपासते॥
They whose wishes have been reduced, whose wishes have been directed to excellent vows, and whose sins have been consumed by penances, merging themselves in their souls, succeed in attain to Brahma.
शममप्यत्र शंसन्ति विद्यारण्यविदो जनाः। तदारण्यमभिप्रेत्य यथाधीरभिजायत॥
Tranquillity is lauded by those who are conversant with the forest of knowledge. Keeping that forest in view, they take birth so as not to lose courage.
एतदेवेदृशं पुण्यमरण्यं ब्राह्मणा विदुः। विदित्वा चानुतिष्ठन्ति क्षेत्रज्ञेनानुदर्शिना॥
Such is that sacred forest that is understood by Brahmanas, and understanding it, they live as directed by the Kshetrajna.