Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच ततोऽतीते महाकल्पे उत्पन्नेऽङ्गिरसः सुते बभूवुर्निर्वृता देवा जाते देवपुरोहिते
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Then, upon the expiration of the great cycle, when the celestial priest Brihaspati was born in the family of Angiras, all the gods became very happy.
बृहद्ब्रह्म महच्चेति शब्दाः पर्यायवाचकाः एभिः समन्वितो राजन्गुणैर्विद्वान्बृहस्पतिः
M. N. Dutt: The words Vrihat, Brahma, and Mahat all carry the same significance. The celestial priest, O king, came to be called Brihaspati because he was gifted with all these accomplishments.
तस्य शिष्यो बभूवाग्र्यो राजोपरिचरो वसुः अधीतवांस्तदा शास्त्रं सम्यक्चित्रशिखण्डिजम्
M. N. Dutt: King Uparichara, otherwise called Vasu, became a disciple of Brihaspati and soon became the greatest of his disciples. Admitted as such, he began of study from his preceptor that science which was composed by the seven Rishis who were known by the name of Chitrashikhandins.
स राजा भावितः पूर्वं दैवेन विधिना वसुः पालयामास पृथिवीं दिवमाखण्डलो यथा
M. N. Dutt: With soul purified by sacrifices and other religious rites, he governed the Earth like Indra ruling the Heaven.
तस्य यज्ञो महानासीदश्वमेधो महात्मनः बृहस्पतिरुपाध्यायस्तत्र होता बभूव ह
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious king celebrated a great Horse-sacrifice in which his preceptor Brihaspati became the priest offering libation.
प्रजापतिसुताश्चात्र सदस्यास्त्वभवंस्त्रयः एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चैव महर्षयः
AI Translation: And the three sons of Prajapati were the members here, namely Ekata, Dvita, and Trita, the great sages.
धनुषाक्षोऽथ रैभ्यश्च अर्वावसुपरावसू ऋषिर्मेधातिथिश्चैव ताण्ड्यश्चैव महानृषिः
AI Translation: Dhanushākṣa, Raibhya, Arvāvasu, Parāvasu, The sage Medhātithi, and the great sage Tandy.
ऋषिः शक्तिर्महाभागस्तथा वेदशिराश्च यः कपिलश्च ऋषिश्रेष्ठः शालिहोत्रपितामहः
AI Translation: The sage Śakti, the illustrious one, and also the one with the head of the Vedas, And Kapila, the best of sages, the grandfather of Śālihotra,
आद्यः कठस्तैत्तिरिश्च वैशंपायनपूर्वजः कण्वोऽथ देवहोत्रश्च एते षोडश कीर्तिताः संभृताः सर्वसंभारास्तस्मिन्राजन्महाक्रतौ
AI Translation: The first is Kâtha, then Taittiriya, and Vaishâmpâyana, the eldest of all. Kânawa and Devâhûtri are the sixteenth. All the necessary arrangements were made for the great sacrifice at the birth of the king.
न तत्र पशुघातोऽभूत्स राजैवं स्थितोऽभवत् अहिंस्रः शुचिरक्षुद्रो निराशीः कर्मसंस्तुतः आरण्यकपदोद्गीता भागास्तत्रोपकल्पिताः
M. N. Dutt: He was full of mercy. Of pure and liberal mind, he had renounced all desire, and was well-conversant with all rites. The necessary articles of that sacrifice were the productions of the forest.
प्रीतस्ततोऽस्य भगवान्देवदेवः पुरातनः साक्षात्तं दर्शयामास सोऽदृश्योऽन्येन केनचित्
M. N. Dutt: The ancient God of gods (viz., Hari), became highly pleased with the king on account of that sacrifice. Incapable of being seen by any one else, the great God appeared before his worshipper.
स्वयं भागमुपाघ्राय पुरोडाशं गृहीतवान् अदृश्येन हृतो भागो देवेन हरिमेधसा
M. N. Dutt: Accepting by taking its scent, the share offered to him he himself took up the Purodasha (clarified butter with cakes of powdered barley). The great God took up the offerings without being seen by any one.
बृहस्पतिस्ततः क्रुद्धः स्रुवमुद्यम्य वेगितः आकाशं घ्नन्स्रुवः पातै रोषादश्रूण्यवर्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: At this, Brihaspati became angry. Taking up the ladle he hurled it violently at the sky, and began to shed tears in anger.
उवाच चोपरिचरं मया भागोऽयमुद्यतः ग्राह्यः स्वयं हि देवेन मत्प्रत्यक्षं न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: Addressing king Uparichara he said,-Here, I place this as Narayana's share of the sacrificial offerings! Forsooth, he shall take it before my eyes.
उद्यता यज्ञभागा हि साक्षात्प्राप्ताः सुरैरिह किमर्थमिह न प्राप्तो दर्शनं स हरिर्विभुः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said In the great sacrifice of Uparichara, all the gods appeared in their respective forms for partaking of the sacrificial offerings and were seen by all. Why is it that the powerful Hari only acted otherwise by invisibly taking his share?
ततः स तं समुद्धूतं भूमिपालो महान्वसुः प्रसादयामास मुनिं सदस्यास्ते च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said When Brihaspati yielded to anger, the great king Vasu and all his Sadasyas sought to pacify the great Rishi.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.16 After 16, T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *806 उपरिचरवसुरुवाच हुतं त्वयावदानीह पुरोडाशस्य यावती गृहीता देवदेवेन मत्प्रत्यक्षं न संशयः इत्येवमुक्तो वसुना सरोषश्चाब्रवीद्गुरुः न यजेयमहं चात्र परिभूतस्त्वयानघ त्वया पशुर्वारितश्च कृतः पिष्टमयः पशुः त्वं देवं पश्यसे नित्यं न पश्येयमहं कथम् वसुरुवाच पशुहिंसा वारिता च यजुर्वेदादिमन्त्रतः अहं न वारये हिंसां द्रक्ष्याम्येकान्तिको हरिम् तस्मात्कोपो न कर्तव्यो भवता गुरुणा मयि भीष्म उवाच वसुमेवं ब्रुवाणं तु क्रुद्ध एव बृहस्पतिः उवाच ऋत्विजश्चैव किं नः कर्मेति वारयन् अथैकतो द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चैव महर्षयः
ऊचुश्चैनमसंभ्रान्ता न रोषं कर्तुमर्हसि नैष धर्मः कृतयुगे यस्त्वं रोषमचीकृथाः
M. N. Dutt: With cool heads, all of them said to Brihaspati,-You should not yield to anger. In this golden age, this anger to which you have yielded should not be the characteristic of any one.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.17 After 17ab, T G1.3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *807 शृणु त्वं वचनं पुत्र अस्माभिः समुदाहृतम्
अरोषणो ह्यसौ देवो यस्य भागोऽयमुद्यतः न स शक्यस्त्वया द्रष्टुमस्माभिर्वा बृहस्पते यस्य प्रसादं कुरुते स वै तं द्रष्टुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: The great god for whom the share of the sacrificial offerings was designed by you, is himself free from anger! He is incapable of being seen either by ourselves or by you, O Brihaspati.
एकतद्वितत्रिता ऊचुः वयं हि ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा मानसाः परिकीर्तिताः गता निःश्रेयसार्थं हि कदाचिद्दिशमुत्तराम्
M. N. Dutt: We are the sons of Brahman, begotten by his will. Once on a time we went to the north for the acquisition of our highest good.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.19 For the ref., B0.8 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.8 Cal. Bom. ed. subst. the line: *808 एकतद्वितत्रितश्चोचुस्ततश्चित्रशिखण्डिनः
तप्त्वा वर्षसहस्राणि चत्वारि तप उत्तमम् एकपादस्थिताः सम्यक्काष्ठभूताः समाहिताः
M. N. Dutt: Having practised penances for thousands of years and acquired a great ascetic merit, we again stood on only one foot like fixed rods of wood.
मेरोरुत्तरभागे तु क्षीरोदस्यानुकूलतः स देशो यत्र नस्तप्तं तपः परमदारुणम् कथं पश्येमहि वयं देवं नारायणं त्विति
M. N. Dutt: The country where we practised these austerest of penances, lies to the north of the mountains of Meru and on the shores of the ocean of milk.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.21 K6 B6-9 Da3.a4 Ds D5 ins. after 21: Dn1.n4 D2.3.8 after the first occurrence of 21ef: *809 वरेण्यं वरदं तं वै देवदेवं सनातनम्
ततो व्रतस्यावभृथे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी सुतप्तं वस्तपो विप्राः प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना
AI Translation: Then, at the conclusion of the vow, a disembodied voice said: "O Brahmins, your austerities have been well-performed, with a contented mind.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.22 After 22ab, K6 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2. 3.5.8 editions ins.: *810 स्निग्धगम्भीरया वाचा प्रहर्षणकरी विभो
यूयं जिज्ञासवो भक्ताः कथं द्रक्ष्यथ तं प्रभुम् क्षीरोदधेरुत्तरतः श्वेतद्वीपो महाप्रभः
AI Translation: You are all inquisitive devotees. How will you see that Lord? To the north of the Milky Ocean is the great and radiant White Island.
तत्र नारायणपरा मानवाश्चन्द्रवर्चसः एकान्तभावोपगतास्ते भक्ताः पुरुषोत्तमम्
AI Translation: There are men devoted to Narayana, shining like the moon, who have attained single-minded devotion and are devotees of Purusottama.
ते सहस्रार्चिषं देवं प्रविशन्ति सनातनम् अतीन्द्रिया निराहारा अनिष्पन्दाः सुगन्धिनः
AI Translation: They enter the eternal god of a thousand rays, beyond the senses, without food, without movement, fragrant.
एकान्तिनस्ते पुरुषाः श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनः गच्छध्वं तत्र मुनयस्तत्रात्मा मे प्रकाशितः
M. N. Dutt: They are shorn of senses. They do not live on any sort of food. Their eyes are winkless. Their bodies always emit a sweet smell. Indeed, the inhabitants of White Island believe and adore only one God. Go there, ye ascetics, for there I have revealed myself.
अथ श्रुत्वा वयं सर्वे वाचं तामशरीरिणीम् यथाख्यातेन मार्गेण तं देशं प्रतिपेदिरे
M. N. Dutt: All of us, hearing these invisible words, proceeded by the way said to the country described.
प्राप्य श्वेतं महाद्वीपं तच्चित्तास्तद्दिदृक्षवः ततो नो दृष्टिविषयस्तदा प्रतिहतोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Eagerly desirous of seeing Him and our hearts full of Him, we reached that large island called White Island. Arrived there, we could see nothing. Indeed our vision was blinded by the energy of the great god and accordingly we could not see Him.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.28 T G1.3.6 M1. 5-7 Kumbh. ed. ins. after 28ab: G2 after 27a: *811 सहसाभिहताः सर्वे तेजसा तस्य मोहिताः
न च पश्याम पुरुषं तत्तेजोहृतदर्शनाः ततो नः प्रादुरभवद्विज्ञानं देवयोगजम्
M. N. Dutt: At this, the idea, due to the grace of the great God Himself, sprung in our minds that one who had not practised sufficient penances could not soon see Narayana.
न किलातप्ततपसा शक्यते द्रष्टुमञ्जसा ततः पुनर्वर्षशतं तप्त्वा तात्कालिकं महत्
M. N. Dutt: Under the influence of this idea we once more began to practise some severe austerities, suited to the time and place, for a hundred years. Upon the termination of our vows, we saw a number of men of auspicious marks.
व्रतावसाने सुशुभान्नरान्ददृशिरे वयम् श्वेतांश्चन्द्रप्रतीकाशान्सर्वलक्षणलक्षितान्
AI Translation: At the end of the vow, we saw very auspicious men who were white like the moon, marked with all the characteristics.
नित्याञ्जलिकृतान्ब्रह्म जपतः प्रागुदङ्मुखान् मानसो नाम स जपो जप्यते तैर्महात्मभिः तेनैकाग्रमनस्त्वेन प्रीतो भवति वै हरिः
M. N. Dutt: The recitation performed by those great persons was a mental Yapa. On account of their hearts, having been entirely fixed upon Him, Hari became highly gratified with them.
या भवेन्मुनिशार्दूल भाः सूर्यस्य युगक्षये एकैकस्य प्रभा तादृक्साभवन्मानवस्य ह
M. N. Dutt: The effulgence that came out of the persons of those men resembled, O foremost of ascetics, the splendours which the sun assumed when the time comes for the dissolution of the universe.
तेजोनिवासः स द्वीप इति वै मेनिरे वयम् न तत्राभ्यधिकः कश्चित्सर्वे ते समतेजसः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, we thought that that Island was the seat of all Energy. All the denizens were perfectly equal in energy. There was no superiority or inferiority there among them.
अथ सूर्यसहस्रस्य प्रभां युगपदुत्थिताम् सहसा दृष्टवन्तः स्म पुनरेव बृहस्पते
M. N. Dutt: We then suddenly saw once more a light arise that seemed to be the concentrated effulgence of a thousand Sons, O Brihaspati.
सहिताश्चाभ्यधावन्त ततस्ते मानवा द्रुतम् कृताञ्जलिपुटा हृष्टा नम इत्येव वादिनः
M. N. Dutt: The denizens in a body, ran towards that light, with hands joined in reverential attitude, full of joy, and uttering the one word Salutation.
ततोऽभिवदतां तेषामश्रौष्म विपुलं ध्वनिम् बलिः किलोपह्रियते तस्य देवस्य तैर्नरैः
M. N. Dutt: We then heard a very loud noise uttered by all of them together. It appeared that those men were engaged in offering a sacrifice to the great God.
वयं तु तेजसा तस्य सहसा हृतचेतसः न किंचिदपि पश्यामो हृतदृष्टिबलेन्द्रियाः
M. N. Dutt: As regards ourselves, we were suddenly deprived of our senses by his Energy. Shorn of vision and strength and all the senses, we could not behold or feel anything.
एकस्तु शब्दोऽविरतः श्रुतोऽस्माभिरुदीरितः जितं ते पुण्डरीकाक्ष नमस्ते विश्वभावन
M. N. Dutt: We only heard a loud sound uttered by the collected denizens. It said,-Victory to you, O you have eyes like lotus petals! Salutation to you, O Creator of the universe.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.39 After 39ab, K7 D4.9 T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *812 आकाशं पूरयन्सर्वं शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितः
नमस्तेऽस्तु हृषीकेश महापुरुषपूर्वज इति शब्दः श्रुतोऽस्माभिः शिक्षाक्षरसमीरितः
M. N. Dutt: Salutation to you, O Hrishikesha, O foremost of Beings, O First-born! This was the sound we heard, uttered distinctly and in accordance with the rules of orthoepy.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वायुः सर्वगन्धवहः शुचिः दिव्यान्युवाह पुष्पाणि कर्मण्याश्चौषधीस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile, a fragrant and pure breeze blew, carrying perfumes of celestial flowers, and of certain herbs and plants that were necessary on the occasion.
तैरिष्टः पञ्चकालज्ञैर्हरिरेकान्तिभिर्नरैः नूनं तत्रागतो देवो यथा तैर्वागुदीरिता वयं त्वेनं न पश्यामो मोहितास्तस्य मायया
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, Hari appeared in that place whence the sound we heard originated. As regards ourselves, stupefied by His illusion, we could not behold Him.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.42 After 42ab, K6 B0.6-9 Da3. a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.8 editions ins.: *813 भक्त्या परमया युक्तैर्मनोवाक्कर्मभिस्तदा
मारुते संनिवृत्ते च बलौ च प्रतिपादिते चिन्ताव्याकुलितात्मानो जाताः स्मोऽङ्गिरसां वर
M. N. Dutt: After the breeze has ceased and the sacrifice had been over, our hearts became stricken with anxiety, O foremost one of Angiras's race.
मानवानां सहस्रेषु तेषु वै शुद्धयोनिषु अस्मान्न कश्चिन्मनसा चक्षुषा वाप्यपूजयत्
M. N. Dutt: As we stood among those thousands of men all of whom were of pure birth, no one honoured us with a glance or a nod.
तेऽपि स्वस्था मुनिगणा एकभावमनुव्रताः नास्मासु दधिरे भावं ब्रह्मभावमनुष्ठिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those ascetics, all of whom were cheerful and filled with devotion and who were all are practising the Brahma-frame of mind, showed no feeling for us.
ततोऽस्मान्सुपरिश्रान्तांस्तपसा चापि कर्शितान् उवाच खस्थं किमपि भूतं तत्राशरीरकम्
M. N. Dutt: We had been greatly tired. Our penances had einaciated us. At that time, a bodiless Being addressed us from the sky and said to us
दृष्टा वः पुरुषाः श्वेताः सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जिताः दृष्टो भवति देवेश एभिर्दृष्टैर्द्विजोत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: These white men, who are divested of all external senses, competent to see (Narayana). Only those foremost of twice-born persons whom these white men honoured with their looks, can see the great God.
गच्छध्वं मुनयः सर्वे यथागतमितोऽचिरात् न स शक्यो अभक्तेन द्रष्टुं देवः कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Go hence, ye Munis, to the place from where you have come! That great Deity is incapable of being ever seen by one who has no devotion.
कामं कालेन महता एकान्तित्वं समागतैः शक्यो द्रष्टुं स भगवान्प्रभामण्डलदुर्दृशः
M. N. Dutt: Incapable of being seen on account of his dazzling effulgence, that illustrious Deity can be seen only by those person who succeed, in course of long time, in devoting themselves wholly and solely to Him. O foremost of twiceborn ones, you have a great duty to perform.
महत्कार्यं तु कर्तव्यं युष्माभिर्द्विजसत्तमाः इतः कृतयुगेऽतीते विपर्यासं गतेऽपि च
AI Translation: O best of Brahmanas, you must perform a great task. When the Krita age is past and the world is in a state of confusion,
वैवस्वतेऽन्तरे विप्राः प्राप्ते त्रेतायुगे ततः सुराणां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं सहाया वै भविष्यथ
M. N. Dutt: After the expiration of this the golden age, when the Treta age comes in course of the Vivasvat cycle, a great calamity will befall the world. You Munis, you shall then have to help the gods.
ततस्तदद्भुतं वाक्यं निशम्यैवं स्म सोमप तस्य प्रसादात्प्राप्ताः स्मो देशमीप्सितमञ्जसा
M. N. Dutt: no Having heard this wonderful words that were sweet as nectar, we soon returned to the place we desired, through the favour of that great Deity.
एवं सुतपसा चैव हव्यकव्यैस्तथैव च देवोऽस्माभिर्न दृष्टः स कथं त्वं द्रष्टुमर्हसि नारायणो महद्भूतं विश्वसृग्घव्यकव्यभुक्
M. N. Dutt: When with the help of even such austere penances of offerings devoutly given in sacrifices, we could not see the great Deity, how, indeed, can you except to see Him so easily?
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.53 After 53, K4.6 B0. 6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.8 editions ins.: *814 अनादिनिधनोऽव्यक्तो देवदानवपूजितः
भीष्म उवाच एवमेकतवाक्येन द्वितत्रितमतेन च अनुनीतः सदस्यैश्च बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः समानीय ततो यज्ञं दैवतं समपूजयत्
M. N. Dutt: Induced by these words spoken by Ekata and approved by his companions, viz., Dvita and Trita, and solicited also by the other Sadasyas, the great Brihaspati terminated that sacrifice after duly offering the accustomed adorations to the gods.
समाप्तयज्ञो राजापि प्रजाः पालितवान्वसुः ब्रह्मशापाद्दिवो भ्रष्टः प्रविवेश महीं ततः
M. N. Dutt: Having completed his great sacrifice, king Uparichara, also, began to rule his subjects piously. At last, renouncing his body, he ascended to heaven. After sometime, through the curse of the Brahmanas, he dropped down from those happy regions and sank deep into the bowels of the Earth.
Supplementary Passages:
12.323.55 After 55, K6 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.8 editions ins.: *815 स राजा राजशार्दूल सत्यधर्मपरायणः
अन्तर्भूमिगतश्चैव सततं धर्मवत्सलः नारायणपरो भूत्वा नारायणपदं जगौ
AI Translation: Always devoted to the Dharma, dwelling within the earth, Becoming devoted to Narayana, he uttered the words of Narayana.
तस्यैव च प्रसादेन पुनरेवोत्थितस्तु सः महीतलाद्गतः स्थानं ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरम् परां गतिमनुप्राप्त इति नैष्ठिकमञ्जसा
M. N. Dutt: Getting up from the bowels of the Earth, king Vasu, on account of the very highest end that he attained, proceeded to a spot which is even higher than the region of Brahman himself.”