भृगुरुवाच वानप्रस्थाः खल्वषि धर्ममनुसरन्तः पुण्यानि तीर्थानि नदीप्रस्र वणानि सुविविक्तेष्वरण्येषु मृगमहिषवराहशार्दूल वनगजाकार्णेषु तपस्यन्तोऽनुसंचरन्ति त्यक्तग्राम्यवस्त्राभ्यवहारोपभोगा वन्यौषधि-फलमूलपर्णपरिमितविचित्रनियताहाराः स्थानासनिनो भूमिपाषाणसिकताशर्करावालुकाभस्मशायिनः काशकुशचर्मवल्कलसंवृताङ्गाः केशश्मश्रुनखरोमधारिणो नियतकालोपस्पर्शना अस्कन्दितकालबलिहोमानुष्ठायिनः समित्कुशकुसुमापहारसम्मार्जनलब्धविश्रामाः शीतोष्णवर्षपवनविष्टम्भविभिन्नसर्वत्वचो विविधनियमोपयोगचर्यानुष्ठानविहितपरिशुष्कमांसशोणितत्वस्थिभूता धृतिपराः सत्त्वयोगाच्छरीराण्युद्वहन्ते।॥
Bhrigu said Hermits in order to acquire virtuc, sojourn to sacred waters and rivers and springs, and practises penances in solitary and secluded forest abounding with deer, buffalocs, boars, tigers and wild elephants. They forsake all sorts of raiments and food and enjoyments which people in society like. The live abstemiously upon wild herbs, fruits, roots and leaves of various kinds. The naked Earth is their seat. They lie down on the bare earth or rocks or pebbles or gravel or sand or ashes. They are clad in grass and animal skins and barks of tree. They never shave their heads and beards or pare their nails. They perform their ablutions at regular times. They pour unfailingly libations on the ground, and on the sacred fire at the proper time. They enjoy no rest till they have swept and cleansed (their sacrificial alters). They bear without any concern cold and heat and rain and rind, and, therefore, the skin of their bodies is cracked all over and for performing various kinds of rites vows and acts, their flesh, blood, skin and bones become greatly reduced. Gifted with great patience and calmness, they live, always practising the quality of Goodness.
यस्त्वेतां नियतश्चर्यां ब्रह्मर्षिविहितां चरेत्। स देहदग्निवद्दोषान् जयेल्लोकांश्च दुर्जयान्॥
That person who, with controlled soul, follows such duties originally laid down by regenerate Rishis, consumes all his sins like fire and acquires blissful regions for themselves which are so difficult of attaining.
परिव्राजकानां पुनराचार:-तद् यथा विमुच्याग्निधनकलत्रपरिबर्हणं संगेष्वात्मनः स्नेहपाशानवधूय परिव्रजन्ति। समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनास्त्रिवर्गप्रवृत्तेष्वसक्तबुद्धयो ऽरिमित्रोदासीनानां तुल्यदर्शनाः स्थावरजरायुजाण्डजस्वेदजोद्भिज्जानां भूतानां वाङ्मनः कर्मभिरनभिद्रोहिणो ऽनिकेताः पर्वतपुलिनवृक्षमूल देवतायतनान्यनुचरन्तो वासार्थमुपेयुर्नगरं ग्रामं वा नगरे पञ्चरात्रिका ग्रामे चैकरात्रिकाः प्रविश्य च प्राणधारणार्थं द्विजातीनां भवनान्यसंकीर्णकर्मणामुपतिष्ठेयुः पात्रपतितायाचितभैक्ष्याः काम क्रोधदर्पलोभमोहकार्पण्यदम्भपरिवादाभिमानहिंसानिवृत्ता इति॥
I shall now describe the conduct of the Parivrajakas, which is as follows : alienating themselves from attachment to the sacred fire, wealth, wife and children, and robes, seats, beds, and such other objects of enjoyment, and snapping the fetters of affection, they walk about, regarding with an equal eye a clump of earth or rock and gold. They never think of acquiring or enjoying the threefold objects of life. They regard impartially foes and friends and neutrals or strangers. They never injure, in thought, word, or deed, immobile objects, or creatures that are viviparous, or oviparous, or born of fifth, or called vegetables. They have no homes. They road over hills and mountains, upon shores of rivers or oceans, under shades of trees, and among temples of gods, They may go to towns or villages for living. In one town, however, they should not live for more than five nights, while in the same village they should not live for more than one night. Entering a town or a village, they should , for maintaining their life, go to the houses of liberal Brahmanas only. They should never ask for any alms but accept what is put into the bowls they carry. They should free themselves from lust, anger, pride, cupidity, delusion, miserliness, deceit, slander, vanity, and injury to creatures.
भवति चात्र श्लोकः-अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दत्त्वा यश्चरते मुनिः। न तस्य सर्वभूतेभ्यो भयमुत्पद्यते क्वचित्॥
There are some verses on this subject-that person who, observing the vow of silence roams without giving any creature cause of fear, is never filled with any fear himself by any creature.
कृत्वाग्निहोत्रं स्वशरीरसंस्थं शारीरमग्निं स्वमुखे जुहोति। श्चिताग्निनां स व्रजते हि लोकम्॥
That learned person who performs the Agnihotra with the help of the fire that is in his own body, who pours libations into his own body,-acquires endless blissful regions on account of that fire having been fed with such libations acquired by a life of mendicancy.
मोक्षाश्रमं यश्चरते यथोक्तं शुचिः सुसंकल्पितमुक्तबुद्धिः। अनिन्धनं ज्योतिरिव प्रशान्तं स ब्रह्मलोकं श्रयते मनुष्यः॥
That twice-born person who observes in the aforesaid way this mode of life having Liberation for its end, with a pure heart and understanding, attains to Brahma after the manner of tranquil ray of light that is not fed by any burning fuel.
भरद्वाज उवाच अस्माल्लोकात् परो लोकः श्रूयते नोपलभ्यते। तमहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति॥
Bharadwaja said Beyond this region there is a region of which we have heard but never seen. I wish to know all about it. You should describe it to me.
भृगुरुवाच उत्तरे हिमवत्पार्वे पुण्ये सर्वगुणान्विते। पुण्यः क्षेभ्यश्च काम्यश्च स परो लोक उच्यते॥
Bhrigu said Towards the north on the other a side of Himvat, which is sacred and full of merit, there is a sacred, blessed, and highly desirable region. That is called the other world.
तत्र ह्यपापकर्माणः शुचयोऽत्यन्तनिर्मला:। लोभमोहपरित्यक्ता मानवा निरुपद्रवाः॥
The men who dwell in that region are righteous in act, pious, of pure hearts, freed from cupidity and errors of judgement, and not subject to iniseries of any sort.
स स्वर्गसदृशो देशस्तत्र ह्युक्ताः शुभा गुणाः। काले मृत्युः प्रभवति स्पृशन्ति व्याधयो न च॥
That region is, equal to heaven, possessed of excellent attributes. Death comes there at the proper time. Diseases never attack the inhabitants.
न लोभः परदारेषु स्वदारनिरतो जनः। नान्योन्यं बध्यते तत्र द्रव्येषु च न विस्मयः। परो ह्यधर्मो नैवास्ति संदेहो नापि जायते॥
Nobody looks for the wives of other people. Every one is devoted to his own wife. These people do not assail or kill one another, or covet one another's things. There is no sin or doubt.
कृतस्य तु फलं तत्र प्रत्यक्षमुपलभ्यते। पानासनाशनोपेताः प्रासादभवनाश्रयाः॥
There the fruits of all sacred rites are visible. There some enjoy seats and best sorts of drinks and food, and live within palaces and mansions.
सर्वकामैर्वृताः केचिद्धेमाभरणभूषिताः। प्राणधारणमात्रं तु केषांचिदुपपद्यते। श्रमेण महता केचित् कुर्वन्ति प्राणधारणम्॥
There some, bedecked with ornaments of gold, surround themselves every article of enjoyment. There are again, some that eat very sparingly for only keeping body and soul together.
इह धर्मपराः केचित् केचिन्नैकृतिका नराः। सुखिता दुःखितः केचिन्निर्धना धनिनोऽपरे॥
There some, with great exertion, try to suppress the vital airs. Here some men and devoted to righteousness, and some addicted to deceit. Some are happy and some wretched; some are poor and some, rich.
इह श्रमो भयं मोहः क्षुधा तीव्रा च जायते। लोभश्चार्थकृतो नृणां येन मुह्यन्त्यपण्डिताः॥
Here are to be found exhaustion, and fear, and delusion and painful hunger. here cupidity for wealth is also seen, a passion that stupefies even the learned.
इह वार्ता बहुविधा धर्माधर्मस्य कारिणः। यस्तद्वेदोभयं प्राज्ञः पाप्मना न स लिप्यते॥
Here various opinions are advanced by those who do virtuous or sinful deeds. That wise man who knows all those opinions which may be divided into two sorts, is never sullied by sin.
सोपधं निकृतिः स्तेयं परीवादो ह्यसूयिता। परोपघातो हिंसा च पैशुन्यमनृतं तथा॥ एतानासेवते यस्तु तपस्तस्य प्रहीयते। यस्त्वेतान् नाचरेद् विद्वांस्तपस्तस्य प्रवर्धते॥
Deceit with fraud, theft, slander malice, oppression, injury, treachery, and untruth, are vices which destroy the merit of one's penances. A learned man however, who avoids them, find the merit of his penances multiplied.
इह चिन्ता बहुविधा धर्माधर्मस्य कर्मणः। कर्मभूमिरियं लोके इह कृत्वा शुभाशुभम्। शुभैः शुभमवाप्नोति तथाशुभमथान्यथा॥
Here there is much thought about fair and sinful acts. This region where we live is the field of action. One reaps the fruits of his actions, according to thelife he has led.
इह प्रजापतिः पूर्वं देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा। इष्टदेवतपसः पूता ब्रह्मलोकमुपाश्रिताः॥
Here, in days of yore, the very Creator and all the gods having performed proper penances, with the Rishis became cleansed and attained to Brahma.
उत्तरः पृथिवीभाग: सर्वपुण्यतमः शुभः। इहस्थास्तत्र जायन्ते ये वै पुण्यकृतो जनाः॥ असत्कर्माणि कुर्वन्तस्तिर्यग्योनिषु चापरे। क्षीणायुषस्तथा चान्ये नश्यन्ति पृथिवीतले॥
The northern port of the Earth is highly auspicious and sacred. People of our region who perform fair deeds or show regard for Yoga, are born in that region. Others are born in the intermediate species. Some again, when their lease of life run out, become lost on Earth.
अन्योन्यभक्षणासक्ता लोभमोहसमन्विताः। इहैव परिवर्तन्ते न ते यान्त्युत्तरां दिशम्॥
Engaged in feeding upon one another and sullied by cupidity and delusion, these men return to this very region without being able to go to that northern region.
ये गुरून् पर्युपासन्ते नियता ब्रह्मचारिणः। पन्थानं सर्वलोकानां विजानन्ति मनीषिणः॥
Those wise men who with vows and observing Brahmacharya listen with reverence to the instructions of preceptors, can learn the ends reserved for all classes of men.
इत्युक्तोऽयं मया धर्मः संक्षिप्तो ब्रह्मनिर्मितः। धर्माधर्मो हि लोकस्य यो वै वेत्ति स बुद्धिमान्॥
I have now described to you briefly the duties laid down by Brahman. He, indeed, in an intelligent men who knows what is righteousness and its opposite in this world.
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तो भृगुणा राजन् भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। भृगुं परमधर्मात्मा विस्मितः प्रत्यपूजयत्॥
Bhishma said Thus, O king, did Bhrigu speak the highly energetic Bharadwaja. Of highly virtuous soul the latter became filled with wonder and adored the great sage with veneration.
एष ते प्रसवो राजन् जगतः सम्प्रकीर्तितः। निखिलेन महाप्राज्ञ किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥
Thus, O king, the origin of the universe has been described fully to you. What, O you of great wisdom, do you wish to hear after this.'