Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच ब्रह्मन्सुमहदाख्यानं भवता परिकीर्तितम् यच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयः सर्वे विस्मयं परमं गताः
M. N. Dutt: Saunaka said O Sauti, excellent is this discourse which you have recounted. Varily, these ascetics, having heard it, have all been filled with surprise.
इदं शतसहस्राद्धि भारताख्यानविस्तरात् आमथ्य मतिमन्थेन ज्ञानोदधिमनुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: This discourse on Narayana, that is really an ocean of knowledge, has been raised by your intelligent self by churning that vast history called Bharata which consists of a hundred thousand Verses,
नवनीतं यथा दध्नो मलयाच्चन्दनं यथा आरण्यकं च वेदेभ्य ओषधिभ्योऽमृतं यथा
AI Translation: As ghee is from curds, as sandalwood is from the Malaya mountain, As the Aranyaka is from the Vedas, as nectar is from herbs,
समुद्धृतमिदं ब्रह्मन्कथामृतमनुत्तमम् तपोनिधे त्वयोक्तं हि नारायणकथाश्रयम्
AI Translation: O Brahman, this nectar of the story, which has been extracted, is supreme. It has been spoken by you, O storehouse of austerities, based on the story of Narayana.
स हीशो भगवान्देवः सर्वभूतात्मभावनः अहो नारायणं तेजो दुर्दर्शं द्विजसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Narayana is the Supreme Lord. Illustrious and gifted with great power. He is the soul of all creatures. Indeed, O foremost of twice-born ones, the energy of Narayana is irresistible.
यत्राविशन्ति कल्पान्ते सर्वे ब्रह्मादयः सुराः ऋषयश्च सगन्धर्वा यच्च किंचिच्चराचरम् न ततोऽस्ति परं मन्ये पावनं दिवि चेह च
M. N. Dutt: At the end of the aeon, all the gods having Brahman for their foremost, all Rishis with the Gandharvas, and all things mobile and immobile, enter into Narayana.
सर्वाश्रमाभिगमनं सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् न तथा फलदं चापि नारायणकथा यथा
AI Translation: Visiting all the hermitages, bathing in all the holy places, is not as fruitful as the story of Narayana.
सर्वथा पाविताः स्मेह श्रुत्वेमामादितः कथाम् हरेर्विश्वेश्वरस्येह सर्वपापप्रणाशनीम्
AI Translation: We are all purified by having heard this story from the beginning, which destroys all sins and belongs to Hari, the Lord of the universe.
न चित्रं कृतवांस्तत्र यदार्यो मे धनंजयः वासुदेवसहायो यः प्राप्तवाञ्जयमुत्तमम्
AI Translation: It is not surprising that the noble Dhananjaya, who was assisted by Vasudeva, attained the highest victory.
न चास्य किंचिदप्राप्यं मन्ये लोकेष्वपि त्रिषु त्रैलोक्यनाथो विष्णुः स यस्यासीत्साह्यकृत्सखा
AI Translation: And I do not think there is anything in the three worlds that he cannot obtain. The lord of the three worlds, Vishnu, was his friend who helped him.
धन्याश्च सर्व एवासन्ब्रह्मंस्ते मम पूर्वकाः हिताय श्रेयसे चैव येषामासीज्जनार्दनः
AI Translation: All of them were blessed, and they were my ancestors, O Brahman. For their welfare and good, Janardana was there.
तपसापि न दृश्यो हि भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः यं दृष्टवन्तस्ते साक्षाच्छ्रीवत्साङ्कविभूषणम्
AI Translation: Even by austerities, the Blessed One, worshipped by the world, is not seen. Those who have seen him, adorned with the mark of Shrivatsa,
तेभ्यो धन्यतरश्चैव नारदः परमेष्ठिजः न चाल्पतेजसमृषिं वेद्मि नारदमव्ययम् श्वेतद्वीपं समासाद्य येन दृष्टः स्वयं हरिः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, I think that Narada, who is above all destruction, was gifted with great energy, for going to White-Island he had succeeded in seeing the person of Hari.
Supplementary Passages:
12.331.13 After 13cd, T2 G1.2 ins.: *883 दृष्टवान्यो हरिं देवं नारायणमजं विभुम्
देवप्रसादानुगतं व्यक्तं तत्तस्य दर्शनम् यद्दृष्टवांस्तदा देवमनिरुद्धतनौ स्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, it is clear that the sight he had got of the Supreme Lord was owing to only the favour of that Being. Fortunate was Narada inasmuch as he had succeeded in seeing Narayana as existing in the form of Aniruddha. agiru TTG: TECL 7:118411
बदरीमाश्रमं यत्तु नारदः प्राद्रवत्पुनः नरनारायणौ द्रष्टुं किं नु तत्कारणं मुने
AI Translation: What was the reason, O sage, that Nārada, having gone to the hermitage of Badarī, fled again, to see Nara and Nārāyaṇa?
श्वेतद्वीपान्निवृत्तश्च नारदः परमेष्ठिजः बदरीमाश्रमं प्राप्य समागम्य च तावृषी
AI Translation: Nārada, who had come from Śvetadvīpa, the son of Prajāpati, having reached Badarikāśrama and met those two sages,
कियन्तं कालमवसत्काः कथाः पृष्टवांश्च सः श्वेतद्वीपादुपावृत्ते तस्मिन्वा सुमहात्मनि
AI Translation: How long did he stay there? What stories did he ask? When that very great soul returned from Śvetadvīpa,
किमब्रूतां महात्मानौ नरनारायणावृषी तदेतन्मे यथातत्त्वं सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि
AI Translation: What did the great sages Nara and Narayana say? Please tell me all this exactly as it is.
Supplementary Passages:
12.331.18 On the other hand, K1.2.4 V1 (marg.) ins. after 18: *884 सूत उवाच एवं पृष्टस्तदा राज्ञा पराशर्यो महामुनिः समीपस्थं ततः शिष्यं वैशंपायनमब्रवीत् ब्रूह्यस्मै सर्वमखिलं यद्वृत्तं नारदस्य ह तयोः सकाशं गत्वा च यथा स कृतवान्पुनः while D7 T G1-3.6 ins. after 18: *885 सूत उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशंपायनमन्तिके तदस्मै सर्वमाचक्ष्व यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि गुरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय स तु विप्रर्षभस्तदा आचचक्षे ततः सर्वमितिहासं पुरातनम्
वैशंपायन उवाच नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे यस्य प्रसादाद्वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Salutations to the holy Vyasa of incomparable energy. Through his favour; I shall recite this narrative having Narayana for its theme.
Supplementary Passages:
12.331.19 After 19, T1 G3.6 repeat 7; while T1 G3.6 ins. after the repetition: T2 G1.2 ins. after 19: *886 नास्ति नारायणसमं न भूतं न भविष्यति एतेन सत्यवाक्येन सर्वार्थान्साधयाम्यहम् नारदेन पुरा या मे गुरवे विनिवेदिता ऋषीणां पाण्डवानां च शृण्वतोः कृष्णभीष्मयोः
प्राप्य श्वेतं महाद्वीपं दृष्ट्वा च हरिमव्ययम् निवृत्तो नारदो राजंस्तरसा मेरुमागमत् हृदयेनोद्वहन्भारं यदुक्तं परमात्मना
M. N. Dutt: Arrived at White Island Narada saw the immutable Hari. Leaving that place, he speedily went, O king, to the mountains of Meru, remembering those weighty words which the Supreme Lord had said to him. Arrived at Meru he became filled with wonder at the thought, O king, of what he had done.
पश्चादस्याभवद्राजन्नात्मनः साध्वसं महत् यद्गत्वा दूरमध्वानं क्षेमी पुनरिहागतः
M. N. Dutt: And he said to himself,-'How wonderful is it! The journey I have done is a long one! Having gone to such a distance, I have returned safe and sound!' From the mountains of Meru he then went towards Gandhamadana.
ततो मेरोः प्रचक्राम पर्वतं गन्धमादनम् निपपात च खात्तूर्णं विशालां बदरीमनु
AI Translation: Then he went from Meru to the mountain Gandhamadana, and quickly descended from the sky to the extensive Badari.
ततः स ददृशे देवौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ तपश्चरन्तौ सुमहदात्मनिष्ठौ महाव्रतौ
M. N. Dutt: Passing through the skies he speedily got down upon that extensive retreat known by the name of Vadari. There he saw those ancient gods, viz., those two foremost of Rishis, (called Nara and Narayana) performing penances, observing high vows, and depending upon their own selves.
तेजसाभ्यधिकौ सूर्यात्सर्वलोकविरोचनात् श्रीवत्सलक्षणौ पूज्यौ जटामण्डलधारिणौ
M. N. Dutt: Both of those adorable persons bore on their chests the mystic marks called Shrivatsa, and both had matted locks on their heads. And an account of the effulgence with which they illumined the world they seemed to surpass the very Sun in energy.
जालपादभुजौ तौ तु पादयोश्चक्रलक्षणौ व्यूढोरस्कौ दीर्घभुजौ तथा मुष्कचतुष्किणौ
M. N. Dutt: The palms of each bore the mark called the swan's foot. The soles of their feet bore the mark of the discus. Their chests were very broad; their arms extended to their knees. Each of them had four shoulder joints.
षष्टिदन्तावष्टदंष्ट्रौ मेघौघसदृशस्वनौ स्वास्यौ पृथुललाटौ च सुहनू सुभ्रुनासिकौ
M. N. Dutt: Each of them had sixty teeth and four arms. The voice of each was as deep as the roaring of the clouds. Their faces were highly beautiful, their foreheads broad, their brows fair, their cheeks well-formed, and their noses acquiline.
आतपत्रेण सदृशे शिरसी देवयोस्तयोः एवं लक्षणसंपन्नौ महापुरुषसंज्ञितौ
M. N. Dutt: The heads of those two gods were large and round, resembling open umbrellas. Endued with these marks, they were certainly very superior persons in appearance.
तौ दृष्ट्वा नारदो हृष्टस्ताभ्यां च प्रतिपूजितः स्वागतेनाभिभाष्याथ पृष्टश्चानामयं तदा
AI Translation: Seeing them, Narada was delighted and was honored by them. Having been welcomed and addressed, he was then asked about his well-being.
बभूवान्तर्गतमतिर्निरीक्ष्य पुरुषोत्तमौ सदोगतास्तत्र ये वै सर्वभूतनमस्कृताः
AI Translation: Having seen the two Supreme Beings, his mind was absorbed. Those who were in the good places there, bowed to by all beings,
श्वेतद्वीपे मया दृष्टास्तादृशावृषिसत्तमौ इति संचिन्त्य मनसा कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम् उपोपविविशे तत्र पीठे कुशमये शुभे
M. N. Dutt: Thinking thus, he went round them both and then sat down on the excellent seat made of Kusha grass that had been offered to him.
ततस्तौ तपसां वासौ यशसां तेजसामपि ऋषी शमदमोपेतौ कृत्वा पूर्वाह्णिकं विधिम्
M. N. Dutt: After this, those two Rishis that were the abode of penances, of famous deeds, and of energy,-those ascetics that were gifted with tranquillity of heart and self-control, performed their morning rites.
पश्चान्नारदमव्यग्रौ पाद्यार्घ्याभ्यां प्रपूज्य च पीठयोश्चोपविष्टौ तौ कृतातिथ्याह्निकौ नृप
M. N. Dutt: They then, without anxious hearts, adored Narada with water to wash his feet and the usual articles of the Arghya. Having performed their morning rites and the observances necessary for receiving their guest, they sat down on the two seats made of wood.
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु स देशोऽभिव्यराजत आज्याहुतिमहाज्वालैर्यज्ञवाटोऽग्निभिर्यथा
M. N. Dutt: When those two Rishis sat, that place began to shine with peculiar beauty even as the sacrificial altar shines with beauty on account of the sacred fires when libations of clarified butter are poured upon them.
अथ नारायणस्तत्र नारदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् सुखोपविष्टं विश्रान्तं कृतातिथ्यं सुखस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: Then seeing Narada refreshed from fatigue and seated at his ease and well-pleased with the rites of hospitality he had received, Narayana said these words.
अपीदानीं स भगवान्परमात्मा सनातनः श्वेतद्वीपे त्वया दृष्ट आवयोः प्रकृतिः परा
M. N. Dutt: Have you seen in White Island the Supreme Soul, who is eternal and divine, and who is the high source whence we have originated.
नारद उवाच दृष्टो मे पुरुषः श्रीमान्विश्वरूपधरोऽव्ययः सर्वे हि लोकास्तत्रस्थास्तथा देवाः सहर्षिभिः अद्यापि चैनं पश्यामि युवां पश्यन्सनातनौ
M. N. Dutt: Narada said are I have seen that beautiful Being who is immutable and who has universe for his form! In Hiin live all the worlds, and all the gods with the Rishis.
यैर्लक्षणैरुपेतः स हरिरव्यक्तरूपधृक् तैर्लक्षणैरुपेतौ हि व्यक्तरूपधरौ युवाम्
AI Translation: By those characteristics which the Lord, the bearer of the unmanifest form, possesses, you two, the bearers of the manifest form, are endowed with those characteristics.
दृष्टौ मया युवां तत्र तस्य देवस्य पार्श्वतः इह चैवागतोऽस्म्यद्य विसृष्टः परमात्मना
AI Translation: I saw you both there, at the side of that god. And now I have come here, sent by the Supreme Self.
को हि नाम भवेत्तस्य तेजसा यशसा श्रिया सदृशस्त्रिषु लोकेषु ऋते धर्मात्मजौ युवाम्
M. N. Dutt: Dismissed by the Supreme Soul, I have come here to-day. In energy, fame and beauty, who else in the three worlds can equal Him than you two who have been born in the race of Dharma.
तेन मे कथितं पूर्वं नाम क्षेत्रज्ञसंज्ञितम् प्रादुर्भावाश्च कथिता भविष्यन्ति हि ये यथा
M. N. Dutt: He has told me the entire list of duties referring to Soul. He has also told me of all those incarnations which he will, in the future, have in this world.
तत्र ये पुरुषाः श्वेताः पञ्चेन्द्रियविवर्जिताः प्रतिबुद्धाश्च ते सर्वे भक्ताश्च पुरुषोत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: The inhabitants, of White Island whom I have seen, are all shorn of the five senses that the ordinary persons have. All of them are of awakened souls, endued as they are with true knowledge. They are, again, entirely devoted to the foremost of Beings, viz., the Supreme Lord of the universe. They always engaged in adoring that great God, and the latter always sports with them.
तेऽर्चयन्ति सदा देवं तैः सार्धं रमते च सः प्रियभक्तो हि भगवान्परमात्मा द्विजप्रियः
AI Translation: He always worships the Lord, and the Lord sports with them. The Lord is dear to His devotees, the Supreme Self, dear to the twice-born.
रमते सोऽर्च्यमानो हि सदा भागवतप्रियः विश्वभुक्सर्वगो देवो बान्धवो भक्तवत्सलः स कर्ता कारणं चैव कार्यं चातिबलद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: Enjoying the universe, pervading everything, the illustrious Madhava is ever affectionate towards his worshippers. He is the Actor; he is the Cause; and He is the Effect. He is gifted with omnipotence and immeasurable, effulgence.
Supplementary Passages:
12.331.43 After 43, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.8 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *887 हेतुश्चाज्ञाविधानं च तत्त्वं चैव महायशाः
तपसा योज्य सोऽऽत्मानं श्वेतद्वीपात्परं हि यत् तेज इत्यभिविख्यातं स्वयंभासावभासितम्
AI Translation: Having joined his self with asceticism, he went to the supreme place beyond the White Island, Which is known as Tejas, self-luminous and self-illuminated,
शान्तिः सा त्रिषु लोकेषु सिद्धानां भावितात्मनाम् एतया शुभया बुद्ध्या नैष्ठिकं व्रतमास्थितः
AI Translation: That peace is attained by the purified souls in the three worlds. Having resorted to the final vow with this auspicious intellect,
न तत्र सूर्यस्तपति न सोमोऽभिविराजते न वायुर्वाति देवेशे तपश्चरति दुश्चरम्
M. N. Dutt: With such an auspicious understanding, he observes a very superior vow which is the embodiment of holiness. The Sun warms not and Soma does not adorn the region where he lives practising austerest penances. There the wind blows not.
वेदीमष्टतलोत्सेधां भूमावास्थाय विश्वभुक् एकपादस्थितो देव ऊर्ध्वबाहुरुदङ्मुखः साङ्गानावर्तयन्वेदांस्तपस्तेपे सुदुश्चरम्
M. N. Dutt: Having made an altar measuring eight fingers breadth, the illustrious Creator of the universe is practising penances there, standing on one foot, with arms upraised, and with face directed towards the East.
यद्ब्रह्मा ऋषयश्चैव स्वयं पशुपतिश्च यत् शेषाश्च विबुधश्रेष्ठा दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः
AI Translation: What Brahma, the sages, and Pashupati himself, and the best of the gods, the demons, the demons, and the ogres,
नागाः सुपर्णा गन्धर्वाः सिद्धा राजर्षयश्च ये हव्यं कव्यं च सततं विधिपूर्वं प्रयुञ्जते कृत्स्नं तत्तस्य देवस्य चरणावुपतिष्ठति
AI Translation: The Nāgas, Suparnas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Royal Sages, Always offer oblations and libations according to the prescribed method. The entire universe rests at his feet.
याः क्रियाः संप्रयुक्तास्तु एकान्तगतबुद्धिभिः ताः सर्वाः शिरसा देवः प्रतिगृह्णाति वै स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever rites and religious acts are performed by persons whose souls are entirely given to him, are all received by that great God on his head.
न तस्यान्यः प्रियतरः प्रतिबुद्धैर्महात्मभिः विद्यते त्रिषु लोकेषु ततोऽस्म्यैकान्तिकं गतः इह चैवागतस्तेन विसृष्टः परमात्मना
M. N. Dutt: No one is dearer to him in the three worlds than those persons who are enlightened and possessed of great souls. Dearer even than those persons is one who is entirely devoted to him.
Supplementary Passages:
12.331.51 After 51, G1 ins.: *888 अनन्यदेवताभक्तिरनन्यमनुता हरेः अनन्यसेव्यता विष्णोरनन्यार्च्यत्वमेव च ब्रह्मरुद्रादिसाम्यत्वं बुद्धिराहित्यमेव च अनन्यदेवालयगतिरनन्यभक्ताद्यवीक्षणम् तथा कर्मफलासङ्गो ह्येकान्तित्वमिदं मतम्
एवं मे भगवान्देवः स्वयमाख्यातवान्हरिः आसिष्ये तत्परो भूत्वा युवाभ्यां सह नित्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Dismissed by him who is the Supreme Soul, I am coming here. This is what the illustrious and holy Hari has himself said to me. I shall henceforth live with you two, devoted to Narayana in the form of Anirudhha.