जनमेजय उवाच सांख्यं योगः पाञ्चरात्रं वेदारण्यकमेव च। ज्ञानान्येतानि ब्रह्मर्षे लोकेषु प्रचरन्ति ह॥
The Sankhya System, the Pancharatra Scriptures, and the Aranyaka-Vedas—these different systems of knowledge or religion,-0 twice-born Rishi, are current in the world.
किमेतान्येकनिष्ठानि पृथनिष्ठानि वा मुने। प्रब्रूहि वै मया पृष्टः प्रवृत्तिं च यथाक्रमम्॥
Do all these systems preach the same course of duties, or are the courses of duties preached by them, O ascetic, different from one another? Accosted by me, do you describe to me on Renunciation in due order!
वैशम्पायन उवाच जज्ञे बहुशं परमत्युदारं यं द्वीपमध्ये सुतमात्मयोगात्। पराशरात् सत्यवती महर्षि तस्मै नमोऽज्ञानतमोनुदाय॥
Vaishampayana said I bow to that great Rishi who is the remover of Darkness, and whom Satyavati bore to Parashara in the midst of an island, who is endued with great knowledge and great liberality of soul.
पितामहाद् यं प्रवदन्ति षष्ठं महर्षिमायविभूतियुक्तम्। नारायणस्यांशजमेकपुत्रं द्वैपायनं वेद महानिधानम्॥
The learned say that he is the origin of the Grandfather Brahman; that he is the sixth form of Narayana; that he is the foremost of Rishis; that he is endued with the power of Yoga; that as the only son of his parents he is an incarnate part of Narayana; and that, born under extraordinary circumstances on an Island, he is the undecaying receptacle of the Vedas.
रायणो ब्रह्ममहानिधानम्। ससर्ज पुत्रार्थमुदारतेजा व्यासं महात्मानमजं पुराणम्॥
In the Krita age, Narayana, of great power and might energy, created him as his son. Verily, the great Vyasa is unborn and ancient and is the undecaying receptacle of the Vedas.
जनमेजय उवाच त्वयैव कथितं पूर्वं सम्भवे द्विजसत्तम। वसिष्ठस्य सुतः शक्तिः शक्तिपुत्रः पराशरः॥ पराशरस्य दायादः कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः।
Janamejaya said, O best of twice-born ones, it was you who said before this that the Rishi Vashishtha had a son named Shakti and that Shakti had a son named Parashara, and that Parashara begot a son named the Island-born Krishna gifted with great ascetic merit.
भूयो नारायणसुतं त्वमेवैनं प्रभाषसे॥ किमतः पूर्वजं जन्म व्यासस्यामिततेजसः। कथयस्वोत्तममते जन्म नारायणोद्भवम्॥
You tell me again that Vyasa is the son of Narayana. I ask was it in some former birth that Vyasa of great energy had originated from Narayana? O you of great intelligence, do tell me of that birth of Vyasa from Narayana!
वैशम्पायन उवाच वेदार्थान् वेत्तुकामस्य धर्मिष्ठस्य तपोनिधेः। गुरोर्मे ज्ञाननिष्ठस्य हिमवत्पाद आसतः॥
Desirous of understanding the meaning of the Shrutis, my preceptor, that sea of penances, who is greatly devoted to the observance of all scriptural duties and the acquisition of knowledge, lived for sometime in a particular region of the Himavat mountains.
कृत्वा भारतमाख्यानं तप:श्रान्तस्य धीमतः। शुश्रूषां तत्परा राजन् कृतवन्तो वयं तदा॥ सुमन्तुजैमिनिश्चैव पैलश्च सुदृढव्रतः। अहं चतुर्थः शिष्यो वै शुकोव्यासात्मजस्तथा॥
Gifted with great intelligence, he became fatigued with his penances on account of the great strain on his energies made by the composition of the Mahabharata. At that time, Sumanta and Jaimini and Paila of firm vows and myself as the fourth, and Shuka his own son, were his disciples. All of us, O king, seeing the fatigfue of our preceptor, waited dutifully upon him, engaged in doing all that was necessary for removing that fatigue of his.
एभिः परिवृतो व्यास: शिष्यैः पञ्चभिरुत्तमैः। शुशुभे हिमवत्पादे भूतैर्भूतपतिर्यथा॥
Surrounded by these disciples of his, Vyasa shone on the breast of the Himavat mountains like the Lord of all the goblins, viz., Mahadeva, in the midst of those ghostly attendants of his.
वेदानावर्तयन् साङ्गान् भारतार्थांश्च सर्वशः। तमेकमनसं दान्तं युक्ता वयमुपास्महे॥
Having recapitulated the Vedas with all their branches as also the meanings of all the Verses in the Mahabharata, one day, with rapt attention, all of us approached our preceptor who, having mastered his senses, was at time engaged in thought.
कथान्तरेऽथ कस्मिंश्चित् पृष्टोऽस्माभिर्द्विजोत्तमः। वेदार्थान् भारतार्थांश्च जन्म नारायणात् तथा॥
Availing ourselves of an interval in the conversation, we asked that foremost of twiceborn ones to explain to us the meanings of the Vedas and of the Verses in the Mahabharata and describe to us the events as well of his own birth from Narayana.
स पूर्वमुक्त्वा वेदार्थान् भारतार्थांश्च तत्त्ववित्। नारायणादिदं जन्म व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे॥
Conversant as he was with all subjects of enquiry, he at first described to us the interpretations of the Shrutis and the Mahabharata, and then began to narrate to us the following events regarding his birth from Narayana.
शृणुध्वमाख्यानवरमिदमायमुत्तमम्। आदिकालोद्भवं विप्रास्तपसाधिगतं मया॥
Vyasa said Listen, ye disciples to this foremost of narratives, to this best of histories that concerns the birth of a Rishi. Belonging to the Krita age, this discourse has become known to me through my penances, ye twice-born ones.
प्राप्ते प्रजाविसर्गे वै सप्तमे पद्मसम्भवे। नारायणो महायोगी शुभाशुभविवर्जितः॥ ससृजे नाभितः पूर्वं ब्रह्माणममितप्रभः। ततः स प्रादुरभवदथैनं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
On the occasion of the seventh creation, viz., that which was due to the primeval Lotus, Narayana, gifted, with the austerest penances, getting over both good and evil, and possessed of peerless splendour, at first created Brahman, from his navel. After Brahman had come into being, Narayana addressed him, saying,
मम त्वं नाभितो जातः प्रजासर्गकरः प्रभुः। सृज प्रजास्त्वं विविधा ब्रह्मन् सजडपण्डिताः॥
You have originated from my navel. Gifted with power of creation, do you begin to create diverse kinds of creatures, rational and irrational.
स एवमुक्तो विमुखश्चिन्ताव्याकुलमानसः। प्रणम्य वरदं देवमुवाच हरिमीश्वरम्॥
Thus addressed by his Creator, Brahman, with mind stricken with anxiety, felt the difficulty of his task and became reluctant to do what he was ordered to do. Bowing his head to the boon-giving and illustrious Hari, the Lord of the universe, Brahman said these words to him,
का शक्तिर्मम देवेश प्रजाः स्रष्टुं नमोऽस्तु ते। अप्रज्ञावानहं देव विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्॥
I bow to you, O Lord of the gods, but I ask what power have I to create various creatures? I have no wisdom. Do you ordain what should be ordained in view of this.
स एवमुक्तो भगवान् भूत्वाथान्तर्हितस्ततः। चिन्तयामास देवेशो बुद्धिं बुद्धिमतां वरः॥
Thus addressed by Brahman, the Lord of the universe, viz., Narayana, disappeared there and then from Brahman's view, the foremost of all being gifted with intelligence, viz., the Supreme Lord, then thought of Intelligence.
स्वरूपिणी ततो बुद्धिरुपतस्थे हरि प्रभुम्। योगेन चैनां निर्योगः स्वयं नियुयुजे तदा॥
Possessed of form that resembled immediately appeared before the powerful Hari. Himself above all Yoga, Narayana then, with Yoga, applied the goddess of Intelligence properly.
स तामैश्वर्ययोगस्थां बुद्धिं गतिमती सतीम्। उवाच वचनं देवो बुद्धिं वै प्रभुरव्ययः॥
The illustrious and powerful and immutable Hari, addressed the goddess of Intelligence who was gifted with activity and goodness and all the power of Yoga, said to her these words-
ब्रह्माणं प्रविशस्वेति लोकसृष्ट्यर्थसिद्धये। ततस्तमीश्वरादिष्टा बुद्धिः क्षिप्रं विवेश सा॥
For the accomplishment of the work of creating all the words do you enter into Brahman!-Ordered thus by the Supreme Lord, Intelligence immediately entered Brahman.
अथैनं बुद्धिसंयुक्तं पुनः स ददृशे हरिः। भूयश्चैव वचः प्राह सृजेमा विविधाः प्रजाः॥
When Hari saw that Brahman had become united with Intelligence, He once addressed him, saying,-Do you now create various creatures.
बाढमित्येव कृत्वासौ यथाऽऽज्ञां शिरसा हरेः। एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत॥ प्राप चैनं मुहूर्तेन संस्थानं देवसंज्ञितम्। तां चैव प्रकृति प्राप्य एकीभावगतोऽभवत्॥
Replying to Narayana by uttering the word— Yes,-Brahman reverently accepted the order of his progenitor. Narayana then disappeared from Brahman's view, and in a more moment repaired to his own place known by the name of Light or Effulgence. Coming back to His own disposition, Hari resolved Himself into His one universal nature.
अथास्य बुद्धिरभवत् पुनरन्या तदा किला सृष्टाः प्रजा इमाः सर्वा ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना॥ दैत्यदानवगन्धर्वरक्षोगणसमाकुला। जाता हीयं वसुमती भाराकान्ता तपस्विनी।॥
After the work of Creation, however, had been done by Brahman, another thought arose in the mind of Narayana. Indeed,. He thought thus,-Brahman, otherwise called Parameshthi, has created all these creatures, consisting of Daityas and Danavas and Gandharvas and Rakshasas. The helpless Earth has become loaded with the weight of creatures.
बहवो बलिनः पृथ्व्यां दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः। भविष्यन्ति तपोयुक्ता वरान् प्राप्स्यन्ति चोत्तमान्॥
Many among the Daityas and Danavas and Rakshsas on Earth will become gifted with great strength. Possessed of penances, they will at various times succeed in acquiring many excellent boons.
अवश्यमेव तैः सर्वैर्वरदानेन दर्पितैः। बाधितव्याः सुरगणा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः॥
Elated with pride and power on account of those boons they will succeed in acquiring, they will oppress and afflict the gods and the Rishis endued with ascetic power.
तत्र न्याय्यमिदं कर्तुं भारावतरणं मया। अथ नानासमुद्भूतैर्वसुधायां यथाक्रमम्॥
It is, therefore, proper that I should now and then lighten the burden of the Earth, by assuming various forms one after another as occasion would require.
निग्रहेण च पापानां साधूनां प्रग्रहेण च। इयं तपस्विनी सत्या धारयिष्यति मेदिनी॥
I shall perform this task by punishing the wicked and supporting the righteous. The Earth, which is the embodiment of Truth, will succeed in bearing her burden of creatures.
मया ह्येषा हि ध्रियते पातालस्थेन भोगिना। मया धृता धारयति जगद् विश्वं चराचरम्॥ तस्मात् पृथ्व्याः परित्राणं करिष्ये सम्भवं गतः।
Assuming the form of a powerful snake I myself have to uphold the Earth in empty space. Supported by me thus, she will support the entire universe of creatures mobile and immobile. Incarnated on the Earth, therefore, in different forms, I shall have to save her at such time from danger.
एवं स चिन्तयित्वा तु भगवान् मधुसूदनः॥ रूपाण्यनेकान्यसृजत् प्रादुर्भावे भवाय सः।
Having thought thus, the illustrious killer of Madhu created various forms in his mind in which to appear from time to time for performing the proposed task.
वाराहं नारसिंह च वामनं मानुषं तथा॥ एभिर्मया निहन्तव्या दुर्विनीताः सुरारयः।
Assuming the form of a Boar, of a Manlion, of a Dwarf, and of human beings, I shall suppress or kill such enemies of the gods as will become wicked and ungovernable.
अथ भूयो जगत्स्रष्टा भोःशब्देनानुनादयन्॥ सरस्वतीमुच्चचार तत्र सारस्वतोऽभवत्।
After this, the Prime Creator of the universe once more uttered the syllable BHO, causing the atmosphere to resound with it. From this syllable of speech arose a Rishi named Sarasvat.
अपान्तरतमा नाम सुतो वाक्सम्भवः प्रभुः॥ भूतभव्यभविष्यज्ञः सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः।
The son, thus born of the Speech of Narayana, also passed by the name of Apantara-tamas. Endued with great power, he was fully conversant with the past, the present, and the future. Firm in the observance of vows, he was truthful in speech.
तमुवाच नतं मूर्धा देवानामादिरव्ययः॥ वेदाख्याने श्रुतिः कार्या त्वया मतिमतां वर।
To that Rishi who, after birth, had bowed his head to Narayana, the latter, who was the original Creator of all the gods and possessed of immutable nature, said those words-You should bestow your attention on the distribution of the Vedas, O foremost of all persons gifted with intelligence.
तस्मात् कुरु यथाऽऽज्ञप्तं ममैतद् वचनं मुने॥ सेन भिन्नास्तदा वेदा मनोः स्वायम्भुवेऽन्तरे।
Do you, therefore, O ascetic, do what I command you!-In obedience to this command of the Supreme Lord from whose Speech the Rishi Apantaratamas came into being, the latter, in that Kalpa which is named from the Self-born Manu, distributed and arranged the Vedas.
ततस्तुतोष भगवान् हरिस्तेनास्य कर्मणा॥ तपसा च सुतप्तेन यमेन नियमेन च।
For that act of the Rishi, the illustrious Hari became pleased with him, as also for his wellperformed penances, his and observances, and his control of the senses or passions.
मन्वन्तरेषु पुत्रत्वमेवमेव प्रवर्तकः॥ भविष्यस्यचलो ब्रह्मन्नप्रधृष्यश्च नित्यशः।
Addressing him, Narayana said,-At each cycle of Manu, O son, you will act thus about the Vedas. You shall on account of this act of yours, be immutable, O twice-born one, and incapable of being excellent by any one.
पुनस्तिष्ये च सम्प्राप्ते कुरवो नाम भारताः॥ भविष्यन्ति महात्मानो राजानः प्रथिता भुवि।
When the Kali age will set in, certain princes of Bharata's line, named Kauravas, will take their birth from you. They will be celebrated over Earth as great princes ruling over powerful kingdoms.
तेषां त्वत्तः प्रसूतानां कुलभेदो भविष्यति॥ परस्परविनाशार्थ त्वामृते द्विजसत्तम।
Born of you, dissension's will break out among them for their destruction at one another's hands during your absence, O foremost of twice-born ones.
तत्राप्यनेकधा वेदान् भेत्स्यते तपसान्वितः॥ कृष्णे युगे च सम्प्राप्ते कृष्णवर्णो भविष्यसि।
In that age also, gifted with austere penances, you will divide the Vedas into various classes. Indeed, in that dark age, your complexion will become dark.
धर्माणां विविधानां च कर्ता ज्ञानकरस्तथा। भविष्यसि तपोयुक्तो न च रागाद् विमोक्ष्यसे।॥
You will made various kinds of duties of flow and various kinds of knowledge also. Although gifted with austere penances, yet you shall never be able to free yourself from desire and attachment to the world.
वीतरागश्च पुत्रस्ते परमात्मा भविष्यति। महेश्वरप्रसादेन नैतद् वचनमन्यथा॥
Your son, however, will be freed from every attachment like the Supreme Soul, through the favour of Mahadeva. It will not be otherwise.
यं मानसं वै प्रवदन्ति विप्राः पितामहस्योत्तमबुद्धियुक्तमा वसिष्ठमयं च तपोनिधानं यस्यातिसूर्यं व्यतिरिच्यते भाः॥ तस्यान्वये चापि ततो महर्षिः पराशरो नाम महाप्रभावः। पिता स ते वेदनिधिर्वरिष्ठो महातपा वै तपसो निवासः॥ कानीनगर्भः पितृकन्यकायां तस्मादृषेस्त्वं भविता च पुत्रः॥
He whom learned Brahmanas call the mindbegotten son of the Grandfather, viz., Vashishtha gifted with great intelligence and like an ocean of penances, and whose splendour excells that of the Sun himself, will be the progenitor of a family in which a great Rishi of the name of Parashara, endued with mighty energy and prowess, will take his birth. That foremost of persons, that ocean of Vedas, that habitation of penances, will become your father. You shall take your birth as the son of a maiden living in the house of her father, through an act of sexual union with the great Rishi Parashara.
भूतभव्यभविष्याणां छिन्नसर्वार्थसंशयः। ये ह्यतिक्रान्तकाः पूर्वं सहस्रयुगपर्ययाः॥ तांश्च सर्वान् मयोद्दिष्टान् द्रक्ष्यसे तपसान्वितः। पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि चानेकसहस्रयुगपर्ययान्॥
You will entertain no doubts about the meanings of things past, present, and future. Gifted with penances and instructed by me, you will see the incidents of a thousands and thousands of ages long past away. You will see through thousands and thousands of ages also in the future.
अनादिनिधनं लोके चक्रहस्तं च मां मुने। अनुध्यानान्मम मुने नैतद् वचनमन्यथा।॥
You shall in that birth, see me, O ascetic,—me who am without birth and death,-incarnated on Earth armed with the discus. All this will happen to you, O ascetic, through the merit that you will acquire for your continued devotion to me. These words of mine will never be otherwise.
भविष्यति महासत्त्व ख्यातिश्चाप्यतुला तव। शनैश्चरः सूर्यपुत्रो भविष्यति मनुर्महान्॥
You shall be one of the foremost of creatures. Great shall be your fame. The Sun's son Shani (Saturn) will in a future cycle, take birth as the great Manu of that period.
तस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे चैव मन्वादिगणपूर्वकः। त्वमेव भविता वत्स मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः॥
During that period, O son, you shall, as regards merits, be superior to even the Manus of the several periods. Forsooth, you will be so through my favour.
यत्किचिद् विद्यते लोके सर्वं तन्मद्विचेष्टितम्। अन्यो ह्यन्यं चिन्तयति स्वच्छन्दं विदधाम्यहम्॥
Whatever exists in the world is the result of my exertion. The thoughts of others may not tally with their deeds. As regards myself, however, I always ordain what I think, without the least obstacles.
एवं सारस्वतमृषिमपान्तरतमं तथा। उक्त्वा वचनमीशानः साधयस्वेत्यथाब्रवीत्॥ सोऽहं तस्य प्रसादेन देवस्य हरिमेधसः। अपान्तरतमा नाम ततो जातोऽऽज्ञया हरेः। पुनश्च जातो विख्यातो वसिष्ठकुलनन्दनः॥
Having said these words to the Rishi Apantaratamas, otherwise called by the name of Sarasvat, the Supreme Lord sent him away, saying to him,-Go!-I am he that was born as Apantaratamas through the behest of Hari. Once more have I taken birth as the celebrated Krishna-Dvaipayana, a delighter of the race of Vashishtha.
तदेतत् कथितं जन्म मा पूर्वकमात्मनः। नारायणप्रसादेन तथा नारायणांशजम्॥
I have thus told, you my dear disciples, the circumstances of my own pristine birth which was due to the favour of Narayana in so much that I was a very part of Narayana himself.
मया हि सुमहत् तप्तं तपः परमदारुणम्। पुरा मतिमतां श्रेष्ठाः परमेण समाधिना॥
You foremost of intelligent persons, I practised, in days of yore, the austerest penances, with the help of the highest abstraction of the mind.
एतद् वः कथितं सर्वं यन्मां पृच्छत पुत्रकाः। पूर्वजन्म भविष्यं च भक्तानां स्नेहतो मया॥
You sons, actuated by my great love for yourselves who are devoted to me with reverence, I have told you everything about what you wished to know from me. viz., my first birth in days gone by and that other birth subsequent to it.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एष ते कथितः पूर्वं सम्भवोऽस्मद्गुरोर्नृप। व्यासस्याक्लिष्टमनसो यथा पृष्टः पुनः शृणु॥
Vaishampayana said I have thus described to you, O king, the circumstances about the former birth of our revered preceptor, viz., Vyasa of unsullied mind, as asked by you! Listen to me once again!
सांख्यं योगः पाञ्चरात्रं वेदाः पाशुपतं तथा। ज्ञानान्येतानि राजर्षे विद्धि नामामतानि वै॥
There are various kinds of religion, O royal sage, who go by various names such as Sankhya, Yoga, the Panch-ratra, Vedas, and Pashupati.
सांख्यस्य वक्ता कपिलः परमर्षिः स उच्यते। हिरण्यगर्भो योगस्य वेत्ता नान्यः पुरातनः॥
The promulgator of the Sankhya religion is said to be the great Rishi Kapila. The primeval Hiranyagarbha, and none else, is the promulgator of the Yoga system.
अपान्तरतमाश्चैव वेदाचार्यः स उच्यते। प्राचीनगर्भ तमृषि प्रवदन्तीह केचन॥
The Rishi Apantaratamas is said to be the preceptor of the Vedas, some call that Rishi by the name of Prachina-garbha.
उमापतिर्भूतपति: श्रीकण्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः। उक्तवानिदमव्यग्रो ज्ञानं पाशुपतं शिवः॥
The religion known by the name of Pashupata was promulgated by the Lord of Uma, that lord of all creatures, viz., the cheerful Shiva, otherwise known by the name of Shreekantha, the son of Brahman.
पाञ्चरात्रस्य कृत्स्नस्य वेत्ता तु भगवान् स्वयम्। सर्वेषु च नृपश्रेष्ठ ज्ञानेष्वेतेषु दृश्यते॥ यथागमं यथाज्ञानं निष्ठा नारायणः प्रभुः। न चैनमेवं जानन्ति तमोभूता विशाम्पते॥
The illustrious Narayana is himself the promulgator of the religion, contained in the Pancharatra Scriptures. In all these religions, O foremost of kings, it is seen that the powerful Narayana is the one sole object of exposition. According to the scriptures of these religions and the extent of knowledge they contain, Narayana is the one sole object of adoration they preach. Those persons whose vision, O king, blinded by darkness, cannot understand that Narayana is the Supreme Soul pervading the entire universe.
तमेव शास्त्रकर्तारः प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः। निष्ठां नारायणमृर्षि नान्योऽस्तीति वचो मम॥
Those wise persons who are the authors of the scriptures say that Narayana, who is a Rishi, is the one object of respectful adoration in the universe, I say that there is no other being like Him.
नि:संशयेषु सर्वेषु नित्यं वसति वै हरिः। ससंशयान् हेतुबलान् नाध्यावसति माधवः॥
The Supreme God, called by the name of Hari, lives in the hearts of those who have are are succeeded in removing all doubts. Madhava never lives in the hearts of those who are under the sway of doubt and who would dispute away everything with the help of false logic.
पाञ्चरात्रविदो ये तु यथाक्रमपरा नृप। एकान्तभावोपगतास्ते हरि प्रविशन्ति वै॥
They who conversant with the Pancharatra Scriptures, who are duly observant of the duties laid down therein, and who are whole-mindedly devoted to Narayana, succeed in entering into Narayana.
सांख्यं च योगं च सनातने द्वे वेदाश्च सर्वे निखिलेन राजन्। सर्वैः समस्तैर्ऋषिभिर्निरुक्तो नारायणो विश्वमिदं पुराणम्॥
The Sankhya and the Yoga Systems are eternal. All the Vedas, again, O king, are eternal. The Rishis, in all these systems or religion, have said that this universe existing from ancient times is Narayana's self.
शुभाशुभं कर्म समीरितं यत् प्रवर्तते सर्वलोकेषु किञ्चित्। तस्मादृषेस्तद्भवतीति विद्याद् दिव्यन्तरिक्षे भुवि चाप्सु चेति॥
You should know that whatever acts, good or bad, laid down in the Vedas and occurring in heaven and Earth, the sky between, and the waters, are all made by that ancient Rishi Narayana.