Matsyapurana 171

English (machine translation) 171

Language: English

171.1

Matsya said:
And standing upon that lotus, Brahmā, the foremost of knowers of the Brahman,
with arms raised, of great splendor, took recourse to fierce ascetic penance.

171.2

Blazing, as it were, with his own splendors, the dispeller of darkness with his rays,
established in all righteousness, he shone like the thousand-rayed [sun] with its beams.

171.3

Then, assuming another form, Śambhu, the imperishable Nārāyaṇa,
arrived, of great splendor, the teacher of Yoga, of great renown;

171.4

and the teacher of Sāṃkhya, the wise Kapila, the excellent sage,
both great-souled ones praising [him], devoted to the unmanifest cause.

171.5

Arriving there, those two, who knew the distinction between the higher and the lower
and were honored by great sages, spoke to Brahmā of unmeasured vigor.

171.6

Brahmā, who possesses a firm union with the Self of Brahman, vast, sustaining the world,
the leader of all beings, is worshipped by the three worlds.

171.7

Hearing their words, Brahmā, the knower of Yoga brought forth [by them],
created these three worlds in accordance with this sacred tradition of Brahman.

171.8

And the sage generated a single son for Śambhu;
with restrained speech, Brahmā stood before that imperishable Tamas.

171.9

As soon as he was born, that mind-born son spoke to Brahmā:
“What help may we render you? Let the venerable sage declare!”

171.10

Brahmā said:
“This Kapila who embodies Brahman, and who likewise consists of Nārāyaṇa,
declares the reality to you; do that, O high-minded one!”

171.11

Then for that purpose of Brahmā, he rose up again:
“I wish to serve you two; what shall I do?” he said with folded hands.

171.12

The Blessed Lord said:
“That which is the true, imperishable Brahman is eighteen-fold;
that which is true, that which is righteous—remember that supreme state!”

171.13

Having heard this speech, he departed to the northern direction,
and having gone there, he attained the state of Brahman through the brilliance of knowledge.

171.14

Then the powerful Brahmā created a second [son] named Bhuva;
having conceived him with his mind, that high-minded one [brought him forth].

171.15

Then he also spoke these words: “What shall I do, O Pitāmaha?”
Instructed by Pitāmaha, he approached Brahmā.

171.16

Bhuva practiced Brahman and went to the earth,
and having attained the supreme state, he arrived by the side of those two.

171.17

When that son too had departed, the powerful Lord created a third,
skilled in the way of liberation, the mighty one named Bhūrbhuva.

171.18

Attaining mastery over speech, he went the very way of those two;
thus these three sons of the great-souled Śambhu have been spoken of.

171.19

Taking those sons of his, the Blessed Lord Nārāyaṇa
and Kapila, the lord of ascetics, departed to their own attained abode.

171.20

At that very time when those two liberated ones departed, Brahmā,
at that very time, again took recourse to a most terrifying, supreme vow.

171.21

Performing penance alone, the powerful Brahmā found no delight;
thereupon, from half of his body, he produced an auspicious wife,

171.22

equal to himself in penance, splendor, luster, and self-restraint,
a goddess capable of creating the worlds.

171.23

Gathered together with her there, Brahmā took delight as he practiced penance;
then he uttered the three-footed Gāyatrī, revered by the Vedas.

171.24

Creating the lords of progeny, the all-pervading Lord created the oceans,
and four others, the Vedas originating from the Gāyatrī.

171.25

Pitāmaha indeed created sons equal to himself,
all the lords of progeny from whom the worlds came forth.

171.26

First, he created Viśveśa, a son of great asceticism,
benevolent to all sacred mantras, holy, named Dharma.

171.27

Dakṣa, Marīci, and Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu,
Vasiṣṭha, and Gautama, Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras, and Manu—

171.28

and also Adbhuta: these are to be known as the sages born of Pitāmaha;
the great sages undertook thirteen-fold righteousness.

171.29

Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālā, Anāyus, Siṃhikā, Muni,
Tāmrā, Krodhā, and Suratā, Vinatā, and Kadrū—

171.30

these twelve maidens were indeed the offspring of Dakṣa, O king.
Marīci's son Kaśyapa was produced through ascetic penance;

171.31

to him Dakṣa then gave those twelve other maidens.
And the sage then gave the constellations to Soma,

171.32

all the auspicious ones beginning with Rohiṇī, O son of the Sun!
Lakṣmī, Marutvatī, Sādhyā, and the auspicious Viśveśā are considered [such],

171.33

and the goddess Sarasvatī: [these] were created by Brahmā in former times.
These five foremost ones, O king, were given to the best of Suras,

171.34

to auspicious Dharma, by Brahmā of proven deeds.
Now, the wife of Brahmā, shapely and able to assume forms at will,

171.35

having become the beneficial Surabhi, approached Brahmā;
then Brahmā, revered by the worlds, engaged in sexual union with her.

171.36

Knowing the cause of the world's generation, the best of beings [did so] for the sake of cattle,
and sons were born of her, vast and resembling smoke;

171.37

resembling the clouds of nightfall and twilight, they burned with fierce brilliance.
They, weeping and running, reviling Pitāmaha,

171.38

from weeping and running were therefore known as Rudras:
Nirṛti, Śambhu, and the third, Aparājita;

171.39

Mṛgavyādha, Kapardin, Dahana, and Īśvara;
the venerable Ahirbudhnya, and Kapālin, and Piṅgala;

171.40

and Senānī, of great splendor: these are remembered as the eleven Rudras.
And in that same Surabhi, cows and the lords of sacrifices were [begotten].

171.41

And the splendid illusory powers, the imperishable beasts born of Surabhi, / goats, swans, and likewise the supreme nectar.

171.42

The supreme medicinal plants sprang from Surasā. / From Dharma, Lakṣmī bore Kāma, and Sādhyā bore the Sādhyas:

171.43

Bhava and Prabhava, Īśa and the slayer of Asuras, / Aruṇa and Āruṇi, Viśvāvasu and Baladhruva,

171.44

Haviṣya and Vitāna, Vidhāna and Śamita as well, / Vatsara and Bhūti, the destroyer of all Asuras,

171.45

and Suparvan. Sādhyā, of vast splendor, revered by the worlds, / that goddess brought forth these Suras, following Indra:

171.46

Vara as the first god, the imperishable Dhruva as the second, / Viśvāvasu as the third, and the lord Soma as the fourth,

171.47

then Anurūpamāya, and Yama immediately after him, / Vāyu as the seventh, and the Vasu Nirṛti as the eighth.

171.48

This was the offspring of Dharma, born of Sudevī. / And the Viśvedevas were born to Viśvā from Dharma, so says sacred tradition:

171.49

Mighty-armed Dakṣa and Puṣkarasvana, / Manu Cākṣuṣa, and Madhu and Mahoraga,

171.50

Viśrāntakavapus, Bāla, highly renowned Viṣkambha, / and Garuḍa of immense strength and energy, resplendent like the sun.

171.51

Viśveśā, mother of the gods, bore the sons known as the Viśvedevas. / Marutvatī bore the sons known as the Marutvat gods:

171.52

Agni, Cakṣus, Ravi, Jyotis, Sāvitra, and Mitra, / Amara, Śaravṛṣṭi, Sukarṣa, mighty-armed [Mahābhuja],

171.53

Virāj, Vāc, Viśvāvasumati, / Aśvamitra, Citraraśmi, and Niṣadhana, O king,

171.54

Hūyanta, Vāḍava, Cāritra, Mandapannaga, / Bṛhanta, Bṛhadrūpa, and Pūtanānuga.

171.55

In ancient times Marutvatī bore these host of Maruts. / Aditi bore from Kaśyapa the twelve Ādityas indeed:

171.56

Indra, Viṣṇu, Bhaga, Tvaṣṭṛ, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Ravi, / Pūṣan, Mitra, Dhanada, Dhātṛ, and Parjanya.

171.57

These are the twelve Ādityas, the foremost heaven-dwellers. / To Āditya two excellent sons were born of Sarasvatī,

171.58

supreme in asceticism, supreme in virtues, honored even in heaven. / Danu bore the Dānavas, and Diti brought forth the Daityas.

171.59

Kālā bore the K心lakeyas, and Surasā the Asuras; / the sons of Anāyuṣā were illnesses of very great power.

171.60

Siṃhikā was the mother of planets; Muni was the mother of Gandharvas; / and Tāmrā was the mother of the virtuous Apsarases, O scion of Bharata.

171.61

From Krodhā came all creatures and Piśācas, O ruler of earth; / she bore the hosts of Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, O lord of subjects.

171.62

The four-footed animals and the cattle of Surabhi [were born]; / and Vinatā brought forth the birds and winged creatures.

171.63

The goddess Kadrū brought forth all the earth-supporting serpents. / In this way all the worlds grew, O scorcher of enemies.

171.64

Then occurred the lotus manifestation of the Great-souled One, O king; / this lotus manifestation has been told to you by me as narrated by Dvaipāyana.

171.65

The ancient Puruṣa, the lord Viṣṇu Hari, / has been described to you in order, as praised by the supreme sages.

171.66

Any man who constantly listens with reverence on sacred days to this foremost Purāṇa, / attains those realms, freed from passion, and enjoys the fruits of heaven in the hereafter.

171.67

Whoever propitiates Kṛṣṇa in four ways—with eyes, mind, speech, and actions— / Kṛṣṇa is pleased with him.

171.68

A king gains a kingdom, a poor man gains supreme wealth, / one whose life is waning gains life, and one desiring a son gains a son.

171.69

Sacrifices, Vedas, desires, and various austerities— / a devotee of Viṣṇu obtains various merits and riches.

171.70

Whatever he may desire, that will come from the Lord of the worlds. / Leaving all aside, whoever recites this lotus manifestation of Hari,

O best of kings, no misfortune will befall him. / This manifestation of the Great-souled One, called the Pauṣkara, / has been declared to you, O fortunate one, as shown in the sacred tradition of Vyāsa.

Translations (1)

The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English

Linked texts (1)

Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit