Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच अस्तौषीद्यैरिमं व्यासः सशिष्यो मधुसूदनम् नामभिर्विविधैरेषां निरुक्तं भगवन्मम
AI Translation: Janamejaya said: Vyasas, with his disciples, praised this Madhusudana. Please tell me the etymology of their various names.
वक्तुमर्हसि शुश्रूषोः प्रजापतिपतेर्हरेः श्रुत्वा भवेयं यत्पूतः शरच्चन्द्र इवामलः
AI Translation: O Lord, you should tell me, who am eager to hear, about the Lord of the Creator, Hari. Having heard, I shall become pure, like the spotless moon in autumn.
वैशंपायन उवाच शृणु राजन्यथाचष्ट फल्गुनस्य हरिर्विभुः प्रसन्नात्मात्मनो नाम्नां निरुक्तं गुणकर्मजम्
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: O king, listen to how the Lord Hari told Arjuna the meaning of his names, which are based on his qualities and deeds, when he was pleased with him
नामभिः कीर्तितैस्तस्य केशवस्य महात्मनः पृष्टवान्केशवं राजन्फल्गुनः परवीरहा
AI Translation: The great-souled Keshava was praised by these names. O king, Arjuna, the slayer of enemy heroes, asked Keshava about this.
अर्जुन उवाच भगवन्भूतभव्येश सर्वभूतसृगव्यय लोकधाम जगन्नाथ लोकानामभयप्रद
AI Translation: Arjuna said: O Lord, master of the past and future, creator and destroyer of all beings, O abode of the world, protector of the world, bestower of fearlessness on the
यानि नामानि ते देव कीर्तितानि महर्षिभिः वेदेषु सपुराणेषु यानि गुह्यानि कर्मभिः
AI Translation: Those names that have been proclaimed by the great sages, in the Vedas and Puranas, which are secret due to their actions,
तेषां निरुक्तं त्वत्तोऽहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि केशव न ह्यन्यो वर्तयेन्नाम्नां निरुक्तं त्वामृते प्रभो
AI Translation: I wish to hear from you the etymology of those names, O Keśava. For no one else can explain the etymology of the names except you, O Lord.
श्रीभगवानुवाच ऋग्वेदे सयजुर्वेदे तथैवाथर्वसामसु पुराणे सोपनिषदे तथैव ज्योतिषेऽर्जुन
AI Translation: The Blessed Lord said: In the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda, In the Puranas, Upanishads, and Astrology, Arjuna,
सांख्ये च योगशास्त्रे च आयुर्वेदे तथैव च बहूनि मम नामानि कीर्तितानि महर्षिभिः
AI Translation: In the Sāṃkhya and Yoga scriptures, and also in Ayurveda, many of my names have been praised by the great sages.
गौणानि तत्र नामानि कर्मजानि च कानिचित् निरुक्तं कर्मजानां च शृणुष्व प्रयतोऽनघ कथ्यमानं मया तात त्वं हि मेऽर्धं स्मृतः पुरा
AI Translation: There are also secondary names, some of which are due to actions. Listen attentively, O sinless one, to the etymology of those due to actions, as I explain them. O
नमोऽतियशसे तस्मै देहिनां परमात्मने नारायणाय विश्वाय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने
AI Translation: Salutations to that very famous one, the supreme Self of embodied beings, to Narayana, the universe, to the one without qualities, to the one with qualities.
यस्य प्रसादजो ब्रह्मा रुद्रश्च क्रोधसंभवः योऽसौ योनिर्हि सर्वस्य स्थावरस्य चरस्य च
AI Translation: From whose grace was born Brahma, and Rudra from anger, Who is the womb of all that is immobile and mobile.
अष्टादशगुणं यत्तत्सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतां वर प्रकृतिः सा परा मह्यं रोदसी योगधारिणी ऋता सत्यामराजय्या लोकानामात्मसंज्ञिता
AI Translation: That is the eighteenfold essence, O best of the virtuous, That is the supreme nature of mine, the bearer of the yoga of the earth and the sky, The true, the un
तस्मात्सर्वाः प्रवर्तन्ते सर्गप्रलयविक्रियाः ततो यज्ञश्च यष्टा च पुराणः पुरुषो विराट् अनिरुद्ध इति प्रोक्तो लोकानां प्रभवाप्ययः
AI Translation: Therefore, all the activities of creation and destruction proceed from him. Then there is the sacrifice, the performer of the sacrifice, the ancient Purusha, the great one, called Anirudd
ब्राह्मे रात्रिक्षये प्राप्ते तस्य ह्यमिततेजसः प्रसादात्प्रादुरभवत्पद्मं पद्मनिभेक्षण तत्र ब्रह्मा समभवत्स तस्यैव प्रसादजः
AI Translation: When the night of Brahma was over, that of immeasurable splendor, By his grace, a lotus appeared, O lotus-eyed one. Brahma was born there, born from his grace alone
अह्नः क्षये ललाटाच्च सुतो देवस्य वै तथा क्रोधाविष्टस्य संजज्ञे रुद्रः संहारकारकः
AI Translation: At the end of the day, from the forehead of the god, who was possessed by anger, Rudra, the destroyer, was born.
एतौ द्वौ विबुधश्रेष्ठौ प्रसादक्रोधजौ स्मृतौ तदादेशितपन्थानौ सृष्टिसंहारकारकौ निमित्तमात्रं तावत्र सर्वप्राणिवरप्रदौ
AI Translation: These two, the best of the gods, are said to be born from grace and anger. They follow the path commanded by him, the cause of creation and destruction. They are merely the
कपर्दी जटिलो मुण्डः श्मशानगृहसेवकः उग्रव्रतधरो रुद्रो योगी त्रिपुरदारुणः
AI Translation: The matted-haired, the shaven-headed, the one who serves the house of the cremation ground, The fierce vow-wearer, the terrible Rudra, the yogi
दक्षक्रतुहरश्चैव भगनेत्रहरस्तथा नारायणात्मको ज्ञेयः पाण्डवेय युगे युगे
AI Translation: He who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, and also the eyes of Bhaga, should be known as the soul of Narayana, O son of Pandu, in every age.
Supplementary Passages:
12.328.19 After 19, Ds D8 Cs ins.: *870 योऽसौ रुद्रः सोऽहमस्मि योऽहमस्मि शिवः परः यथा रुद्रस्तथाहं च नावयोरन्तरं तथा
तस्मिन्हि पूज्यमाने वै देवदेवे महेश्वरे संपूजितो भवेत्पार्थ देवो नारायणः प्रभुः
AI Translation: For when the Lord of the gods, Mahesvara, is worshipped, the Lord Narayana, the master, is worshipped, O Partha.
अहमात्मा हि लोकानां विश्वानां पाण्डुनन्दन तस्मादात्मानमेवाग्रे रुद्रं संपूजयाम्यहम्
AI Translation: O son of Pandu, I am the Self of all the worlds. Therefore, I first worship the Self, Rudra.
यद्यहं नार्चयेयं वै ईशानं वरदं शिवम् आत्मानं नार्चयेत्कश्चिदिति मे भावितं मनः मया प्रमाणं हि कृतं लोकः समनुवर्तते
AI Translation: If I do not worship the Lord, the bestower of boons, the auspicious one, I have thought in my mind that no one would worship himself. I have made a standard,
प्रमाणानि हि पूज्यानि ततस्तं पूजयाम्यहम् यस्तं वेत्ति स मां वेत्ति योऽनु तं स हि मामनु
AI Translation: For the means of knowledge are to be honored, therefore I honor him. He who knows him knows me, he who follows him follows me.
रुद्रो नारायणश्चैव सत्त्वमेकं द्विधाकृतम् लोके चरति कौन्तेय व्यक्तिस्थं सर्वकर्मसु
AI Translation: Rudra and Narayana are the one essence divided into two. O son of Kunti, it moves in the world, embodied in all actions.
न हि मे केनचिद्देयो वरः पाण्डवनन्दन इति संचिन्त्य मनसा पुराणं विश्वमीश्वरम् पुत्रार्थमाराधितवानात्मानमहमात्मना
AI Translation: For no one can give me a boon, O son of the Pandavas. Having thus reflected in my mind, I worshipped the ancient lord of the universe, For the sake of a son
न हि विष्णुः प्रणमति कस्मैचिद्विबुधाय तु ऋत आत्मानमेवेति ततो रुद्रं भजाम्यहम्
AI Translation: For Vishnu does not bow to any god. But the truth is that he worships his own self. Therefore I worship Rudra.
सब्रह्मकाः सरुद्राश्च सेन्द्रा देवाः सहर्षिभिः अर्चयन्ति सुरश्रेष्ठं देवं नारायणं हरिम्
AI Translation: With Brahma, Rudra, Indra, and the gods along with the sages, They worship the best of the gods, the god Narayana Hari.
भविष्यतां वर्ततां च भूतानां चैव भारत सर्वेषामग्रणीर्विष्णुः सेव्यः पूज्यश्च नित्यशः
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, Vishnu is the leader of all the beings of the past, present and future. He should always be served and worshipped.
नमस्व हव्यदं विष्णुं तथा शरणदं नम वरदं नमस्व कौन्तेय हव्यकव्यभुजं नम
AI Translation: Salutations to you, O Vishnu, the receiver of oblations, and to the bestower of refuge. Salutations to the bestower of boons, O son of Kunti, to
चतुर्विधा मम जना भक्ता एवं हि ते श्रुतम् तेषामेकान्तिनः श्रेष्ठास्ते चैवानन्यदेवताः अहमेव गतिस्तेषां निराशीःकर्मकारिणाम्
AI Translation: I have four kinds of devotees. You have heard about them. Among them, the devotees who are one-sided are the best, and they are the ones who have no other deity.
ये च शिष्टास्त्रयो भक्ताः फलकामा हि ते मताः सर्वे च्यवनधर्माणः प्रतिबुद्धस्तु श्रेष्ठभाक्
AI Translation: And the three remaining devotees are considered to be desirous of fruits. And all of them are subject to death. But the awakened one is the best.
ब्रह्माणं शितिकण्ठं च याश्चान्या देवताः स्मृताः प्रबुद्धवर्याः सेवन्ते मामेवैष्यन्ति यत्परम् भक्तं प्रति विशेषस्ते एष पार्थानुकीर्तितः
AI Translation: Those who are the best of the awakened, who serve Brahma, Shiva, and the other deities remembered, will come to me, the supreme. This is the special relationship with the devotee that
त्वं चैवाहं च कौन्तेय नरनारायणौ स्मृतौ भारावतरणार्थं हि प्रविष्टौ मानुषीं तनुम्
AI Translation: You and I, O son of Kunti, are known as Nara and Narayana, For the purpose of removing the burden, we have entered the human body.
जानाम्यध्यात्मयोगांश्च योऽहं यस्माच्च भारत निवृत्तिलक्षणो धर्मस्तथाभ्युदयिकोऽपि च
AI Translation: I know the yoga of the inner self, O Bhārata, who I am and from where I am. The Dharma of renunciation and also the Dharma of prosperity.
नराणामयनं ख्यातमहमेकः सनातनः आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता आपो वै नरसूनवः अयनं मम तत्पूर्वमतो नारायणो ह्यहम्
AI Translation: The abode of men is well-known. I alone am the eternal one. The waters are said to be men. The waters are indeed the sons of men. That is my abode in
छादयामि जगद्विश्वं भूत्वा सूर्य इवांशुभिः सर्वभूताधिवासश्च वासुदेवस्ततो ह्यहम्
AI Translation: I shall cover the world with my rays, becoming like the sun. I am Vāsudeva, the abode of all beings.
गतिश्च सर्वभूतानां प्रजानां चापि भारत व्याप्ता मे रोदसी पार्थ कान्तिश्चाभ्यधिका मम
AI Translation: O descendant of the Bharata dynasty! I am the energy that moves all beings and the progeny of all beings. O Partha! I have pervaded the sky and the earth, and my
अधिभूतानि चान्तेऽहं तदिच्छंश्चास्मि भारत क्रमणाच्चाप्यहं पार्थ विष्णुरित्यभिसंज्ञितः
AI Translation: And at the end I am the overlord of the beings. I am so desired, O descendant of Bharata. And because of my movement, O son of Pritha, I am known
दमात्सिद्धिं परीप्सन्तो मां जनाः कामयन्ति हि दिवं चोर्वीं च मध्यं च तस्माद्दामोदरो ह्यहम्
AI Translation: People who desire success through self-control desire me. I am the sky, the earth, and the space between them. Therefore, I am Dāmodara.
पृश्निरित्युच्यते चान्नं वेदा आपोऽमृतं तथा ममैतानि सदा गर्भे पृश्निगर्भस्ततो ह्यहम्
AI Translation: The food is called "pṛṣni", the Vedas, the waters, and the nectar. These are always in my womb. Therefore, I am "pṛṣnigarbha".
ऋषयः प्राहुरेवं मां त्रितकूपाभिपातितम् पृश्निगर्भ त्रितं पाहीत्येकतद्वितपातितम्
AI Translation: The sages said to me thus: "O Priśnigarbha, save Trita, who has fallen into the well." "One said, ""Save Trita, who has fallen into
ततः स ब्रह्मणः पुत्र आद्यो ऋषिवरस्त्रितः उत्ततारोदपानाद्वै पृश्निगर्भानुकीर्तनात्
AI Translation: Then the first son of Brahma, the best of sages, Triṭa, rose up from the waters of the ocean by the recitation of the Purusha-sūkta.
सूर्यस्य तपतो लोकानग्नेः सोमस्य चाप्युत अंशवो ये प्रकाशन्ते मम ते केशसंज्ञिताः सर्वज्ञाः केशवं तस्मान्मामाहुर्द्विजसत्तमाः
AI Translation: The rays of the sun, the fire, and the moon, which illuminate the worlds, are known as my hair. The best of Brahmins call me the omniscient Keshava,
स्वपत्न्यामाहितो गर्भ उतथ्येन महात्मना उतथ्येऽन्तर्हिते चैव कदाचिद्देवमायया बृहस्पतिरथाविन्दत्तां पत्नीं तस्य भारत
AI Translation: The great-souled Utathya had deposited his seed in his wife. Once, by the power of the gods, Utathya disappeared. Then Brihaspati, O descendant of
ततो वै तमृषिश्रेष्ठं मैथुनोपगतं तथा उवाच गर्भः कौन्तेय पञ्चभूतसमन्वितः
AI Translation: Then the embryo, O son of Kunti, endowed with the five elements, spoke to that best of sages who was thus engaged in sexual intercourse.
पूर्वागतोऽहं वरद नार्हस्यम्बां प्रबाधितुम् एतद्बृहस्पतिः श्रुत्वा चुक्रोध च शशाप च
AI Translation: "O bestower of boons, I have come first. It is not proper for you to obstruct the mother." Hearing this, Brihaspati became angry and cursed him,
मैथुनोपगतो यस्मात्त्वयाहं विनिवारितः तस्मादन्धो जास्यसि त्वं मच्छापान्नात्र संशयः
AI Translation: Since you have prevented me from having sexual intercourse, therefore, you will become blind by my curse. There is no doubt about this.
स शापादृषिमुख्यस्य दीर्घं तम उपेयिवान् स हि दीर्घतमा नाम नाम्ना ह्यासीदृषिः पुरा
AI Translation: He, by the curse of the chief of the sages, entered into a long darkness. For he was formerly a sage named Dīrghatamas.
वेदानवाप्य चतुरः साङ्गोपाङ्गान्सनातनान् प्रयोजयामास तदा नाम गुह्यमिदं मम
AI Translation: Having studied the four Vedas with their appendages and the eternal Upanishads, he then applied himself to this secret name of mine.
आनुपूर्व्येण विधिना केशवेति पुनः पुनः स चक्षुष्मान्समभवद्गौतमश्चाभवत्पुनः
AI Translation: By the method of sequence, again and again with "Keśava", He became one with eyes, and Gautama became again.
एवं हि वरदं नाम केशवेति ममार्जुन देवानामथ सर्वेषामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्
AI Translation: Thus, O Arjuna, the name of the bestower of boons is Keshava, of all the gods and the great-souled sages,
अग्निः सोमेन संयुक्त एकयोनि मुखं कृतम् अग्नीषोमात्मकं तस्माज्जगत्कृत्स्नं चराचरम्
AI Translation: Agni, united with Soma, has made the mouth the one womb. Therefore the entire universe, the moving and the unmoving, is the essence of Agni and Soma.
अपि हि पुराणे भवति एकयोन्यात्मकावग्नीषोमौ देवाश्चाग्निमुखा इति एकयोनित्वाच्च परस्परं महयन्तो लोकान्धारयत इति
AI Translation: For in the Purāṇa it is said: "The two, Agni and Soma, are of one origin." "And the gods are Agni-faced." "And because they are