Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच सांख्यं योगं पञ्चरात्रं वेदारण्यकमेव च ज्ञानान्येतानि ब्रह्मर्षे लोकेषु प्रचरन्ति ह
M. N. Dutt: The Sankhya System, the Pancharatra Scriptures, and the Aranyaka-Vedas—these different systems of knowledge or religion,-0 twice-born Rishi, are current in the world.
किमेतान्येकनिष्ठानि पृथङ्निष्ठानि वा मुने प्रब्रूहि वै मया पृष्टः प्रवृत्तिं च यथाक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Do all these systems preach the same course of duties, or are the courses of duties preached by them, O ascetic, different from one another? Accosted by me, do you describe to me on Renunciation in due order!
वैशंपायन उवाच जज्ञे बहुज्ञं परमत्युदारं; यं द्वीपमध्ये सुतमात्मवन्तम् पराशराद्गन्धवती महर्षिं; तस्मै नमोऽज्ञानतमोनुदाय
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said I bow to that great Rishi who is the remover of Darkness, and whom Satyavati bore to Parashara in the midst of an island, who is endued with great knowledge and great liberality of soul.
पितामहाद्यं प्रवदन्ति षष्ठं; महर्षिमार्षेयविभूतियुक्तम् नारायणस्यांशजमेकपुत्रं; द्वैपायनं वेदमहानिधानम्
M. N. Dutt: The learned say that he is the origin of the Grandfather Brahman; that he is the sixth form of Narayana; that he is the foremost of Rishis; that he is endued with the power of Yoga; that as the only son of his parents he is an incarnate part of Narayana; and that, born under extraordinary circumstances on an Island, he is the undecaying receptacle of the Vedas.
तमादिकालेषु महाविभूति;र्नारायणो ब्रह्ममहानिधानम् ससर्ज पुत्रार्थमुदारतेजा; व्यासं महात्मानमजः पुराणः
M. N. Dutt: In the Krita age, Narayana, of great power and might energy, created him as his son. Verily, the great Vyasa is unborn and ancient and is the undecaying receptacle of the Vedas.
जनमेजय उवाच त्वयैव कथितः पूर्वं संभवो द्विजसत्तम वसिष्ठस्य सुतः शक्तिः शक्तेः पुत्रः पराशरः
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said, O best of twice-born ones, it was you who said before this that the Rishi Vashishtha had a son named Shakti and that Shakti had a son named Parashara, and that Parashara begot a son named the Island-born Krishna gifted with great ascetic merit.
पराशरस्य दायादः कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः भूयो नारायणसुतं त्वमेवैनं प्रभाषसे
AI Translation: The sage Krishna Dvaipāyana, the son of Parāśara, You yourself are speaking to him again, the son of Nārāyaṇa.
किमतः पूर्वजं जन्म व्यासस्यामिततेजसः कथयस्वोत्तममते जन्म नारायणोद्भवम्
M. N. Dutt: You tell me again that Vyasa is the son of Narayana. I ask was it in some former birth that Vyasa of great energy had originated from Narayana? O you of great intelligence, do tell me of that birth of Vyasa from Narayana!
वैशंपायन उवाच वेदार्थान्वेत्तुकामस्य धर्मिष्ठस्य तपोनिधेः गुरोर्मे ज्ञाननिष्ठस्य हिमवत्पाद आसतः
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of understanding the meaning of the Shrutis, my preceptor, that sea of penances, who is greatly devoted to the observance of all scriptural duties and the acquisition of knowledge, lived for sometime in a particular region of the Himavat mountains.
कृत्वा भारतमाख्यानं तपःश्रान्तस्य धीमतः शुश्रूषां तत्परा राजन्कृतवन्तो वयं तदा
AI Translation: Having composed the story of the Mahabharata, we, O king, have been engaged in serving the wise one who was exhausted by austerities.
सुमन्तुर्जैमिनिश्चैव पैलश्च सुदृढव्रतः अहं चतुर्थः शिष्यो वै शुको व्यासात्मजस्तथा
AI Translation: Sumantu, Jaimini, and Paila, who was steadfast in his vows, and I, the fourth disciple, and also Shuka, the son of Vyasa,
एभिः परिवृतो व्यासः शिष्यैः पञ्चभिरुत्तमैः शुशुभे हिमवत्पादे भूतैर्भूतपतिर्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Surrounded by these disciples of his, Vyasa shone on the breast of the Himavat mountains like the Lord of all the goblins, viz., Mahadeva, in the midst of those ghostly attendants of his.
वेदानावर्तयन्साङ्गान्भारतार्थांश्च सर्वशः तमेकमनसं दान्तं युक्ता वयमुपास्महे
M. N. Dutt: Having recapitulated the Vedas with all their branches as also the meanings of all the Verses in the Mahabharata, one day, with rapt attention, all of us approached our preceptor who, having mastered his senses, was at time engaged in thought.
कथान्तरेऽथ कस्मिंश्चित्पृष्टोऽस्माभिर्द्विजोत्तमः वेदार्थान्भारतार्थांश्च जन्म नारायणात्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Availing ourselves of an interval in the conversation, we asked that foremost of twiceborn ones to explain to us the meanings of the Vedas and of the Verses in the Mahabharata and describe to us the events as well of his own birth from Narayana.
स पूर्वमुक्त्वा वेदार्थान्भारतार्थांश्च तत्त्ववित् नारायणादिदं जन्म व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे
M. N. Dutt: Conversant as he was with all subjects of enquiry, he at first described to us the interpretations of the Shrutis and the Mahabharata, and then began to narrate to us the following events regarding his birth from Narayana.
शृणुध्वमाख्यानवरमेतदार्षेयमुत्तमम् आदिकालोद्भवं विप्रास्तपसाधिगतं मया
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said Listen, ye disciples to this foremost of narratives, to this best of histories that concerns the birth of a Rishi. Belonging to the Krita age, this discourse has become known to me through my penances, ye twice-born ones.
प्राप्ते प्रजाविसर्गे वै सप्तमे पद्मसंभवे नारायणो महायोगी शुभाशुभविवर्जितः
AI Translation: When the seventh creation of beings took place, in the lotus-born age, Nārāyaṇa, the great yogi, free from good and bad,
ससृजे नाभितः पुत्रं ब्रह्माणममितप्रभम् ततः स प्रादुरभवदथैनं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: From his navel he created the son, Brahma, of immeasurable splendor. Then he appeared and spoke these words to him:
मम त्वं नाभितो जातः प्रजासर्गकरः प्रभुः सृज प्रजास्त्वं विविधा ब्रह्मन्सजडपण्डिताः
M. N. Dutt: You have originated from my navel. Gifted with power of creation, do you begin to create diverse kinds of creatures, rational and irrational.
स एवमुक्तो विमुखश्चिन्ताव्याकुलमानसः प्रणम्य वरदं देवमुवाच हरिमीश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by his Creator, Brahman, with mind stricken with anxiety, felt the difficulty of his task and became reluctant to do what he was ordered to do. Bowing his head to the boon-giving and illustrious Hari, the Lord of the universe, Brahman said these words to him,
का शक्तिर्मम देवेश प्रजाः स्रष्टुं नमोऽस्तु ते अप्रज्ञावानहं देव विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: I bow to you, O Lord of the gods, but I ask what power have I to create various creatures? I have no wisdom. Do you ordain what should be ordained in view of this.
स एवमुक्तो भगवान्भूत्वाथान्तर्हितस्ततः चिन्तयामास देवेशो बुद्धिं बुद्धिमतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by Brahman, the Lord of the universe, viz., Narayana, disappeared there and then from Brahman's view, the foremost of all being gifted with intelligence, viz., the Supreme Lord, then thought of Intelligence.
स्वरूपिणी ततो बुद्धिरुपतस्थे हरिं प्रभुम् योगेन चैनां निर्योगः स्वयं नियुयुजे तदा
M. N. Dutt: Possessed of form that resembled immediately appeared before the powerful Hari. Himself above all Yoga, Narayana then, with Yoga, applied the goddess of Intelligence properly.
स तामैश्वर्ययोगस्थां बुद्धिं शक्तिमतीं सतीम् उवाच वचनं देवो बुद्धिं वै प्रभुरव्ययः
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious and powerful and immutable Hari, addressed the goddess of Intelligence who was gifted with activity and goodness and all the power of Yoga, said to her these words-
ब्रह्माणं प्रविशस्वेति लोकसृष्ट्यर्थसिद्धये ततस्तमीश्वरादिष्टा बुद्धिः क्षिप्रं विवेश सा
M. N. Dutt: For the accomplishment of the work of creating all the words do you enter into Brahman!-Ordered thus by the Supreme Lord, Intelligence immediately entered Brahman.
अथैनं बुद्धिसंयुक्तं पुनः स ददृशे हरिः भूयश्चैनं वचः प्राह सृजेमा विविधाः प्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: When Hari saw that Brahman had become united with Intelligence, He once addressed him, saying,-Do you now create various creatures.
Supplementary Passages:
12.337.26 After 26, K1.2.4.6.7 V1 (marg.) B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2-5.7-9 T1 G1.3.6 Cs Kumbh. ed. ins.: *902 बाढमित्येव कृत्वा स यथाज्ञां शिरसा हरेः D7 T1 G3.6 cont.: *903 तथाकरोच्च धर्मात्मा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत प्राप चैव मुहूर्तेन स्वस्थानं देवसंज्ञितम्
AI Translation: Having spoken thus, the Blessed One disappeared right there. And in a moment he reached his own place called Devakula.
तां चैव प्रकृतिं प्राप्य एकीभावगतोऽभवत् अथास्य बुद्धिरभवत्पुनरन्या तदा किल
AI Translation: And having attained that nature, he became one with it. Then his mind again became different, it seems.
सृष्टा इमाः प्रजाः सर्वा ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना दैत्यदानवगन्धर्वरक्षोगणसमाकुलाः जाता हीयं वसुमती भाराक्रान्ता तपस्विनी
M. N. Dutt: After the work of Creation, however, had been done by Brahman, another thought arose in the mind of Narayana. Indeed,. He thought thus,-Brahman, otherwise called Parameshthi, has created all these creatures, consisting of Daityas and Danavas and Gandharvas and Rakshasas. The helpless Earth has become loaded with the weight of creatures.
बहवो बलिनः पृथ्व्यां दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः भविष्यन्ति तपोयुक्ता वरान्प्राप्स्यन्ति चोत्तमान्
M. N. Dutt: Many among the Daityas and Danavas and Rakshsas on Earth will become gifted with great strength. Possessed of penances, they will at various times succeed in acquiring many excellent boons.
अवश्यमेव तैः सर्वैर्वरदानेन दर्पितैः बाधितव्याः सुरगणा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः तत्र न्याय्यमिदं कर्तुं भारावतरणं मया
M. N. Dutt: Elated with pride and power on account of those boons they will succeed in acquiring, they will oppress and afflict the gods and the Rishis endued with ascetic power.
अथ नानासमुद्भूतैर्वसुधायां यथाक्रमम् निग्रहेण च पापानां साधूनां प्रग्रहेण च
AI Translation: Then, in accordance with the various origins on the earth, by restraining the wicked and promoting the virtuous,
इमां तपस्विनीं सत्यां धारयिष्यामि मेदिनीम् मया ह्येषा हि ध्रियते पातालस्थेन भोगिना
AI Translation: I shall support this earth, which is full of ascetics and truth. For, this earth is supported by me, who am a serpent dwelling in the nether regions.
मया धृता धारयति जगद्धि सचराचरम् तस्मात्पृथ्व्याः परित्राणं करिष्ये संभवं गतः
M. N. Dutt: Assuming the form of a powerful snake I myself have to uphold the Earth in empty space. Supported by me thus, she will support the entire universe of creatures mobile and immobile. Incarnated on the Earth, therefore, in different forms, I shall have to save her at such time from danger.
एवं स चिन्तयित्वा तु भगवान्मधुसूदनः रूपाण्यनेकान्यसृजत्प्रादुर्भावभवाय सः
M. N. Dutt: Having thought thus, the illustrious killer of Madhu created various forms in his mind in which to appear from time to time for performing the proposed task.
वाराहं नारसिंहं च वामनं मानुषं तथा एभिर्मया निहन्तव्या दुर्विनीताः सुरारयः
M. N. Dutt: Assuming the form of a Boar, of a Manlion, of a Dwarf, and of human beings, I shall suppress or kill such enemies of the gods as will become wicked and ungovernable.
अथ भूयो जगत्स्रष्टा भोःशब्देनानुनादयन् सरस्वतीमुच्चचार तत्र सारस्वतोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: After this, the Prime Creator of the universe once more uttered the syllable BHO, causing the atmosphere to resound with it. From this syllable of speech arose a Rishi named Sarasvat.
अपान्तरतमा नाम सुतो वाक्संभवो विभोः भूतभव्यभविष्यज्ञः सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: The son, thus born of the Speech of Narayana, also passed by the name of Apantara-tamas. Endued with great power, he was fully conversant with the past, the present, and the future. Firm in the observance of vows, he was truthful in speech.
तमुवाच नतं मूर्ध्ना देवानामादिरव्ययः वेदाख्याने श्रुतिः कार्या त्वया मतिमतां वर तस्मात्कुरु यथाज्ञप्तं मयैतद्वचनं मुने
M. N. Dutt: To that Rishi who, after birth, had bowed his head to Narayana, the latter, who was the original Creator of all the gods and possessed of immutable nature, said those words-You should bestow your attention on the distribution of the Vedas, O foremost of all persons gifted with intelligence.
तेन भिन्नास्तदा वेदा मनोः स्वायंभुवेऽन्तरे ततस्तुतोष भगवान्हरिस्तेनास्य कर्मणा तपसा च सुतप्तेन यमेन नियमेन च
M. N. Dutt: For that act of the Rishi, the illustrious Hari became pleased with him, as also for his wellperformed penances, his and observances, and his control of the senses or passions.
श्रीभगवानुवाच मन्वन्तरेषु पुत्र त्वमेवं लोकप्रवर्तकः भविष्यस्यचलो ब्रह्मन्नप्रधृष्यश्च नित्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Addressing him, Narayana said,-At each cycle of Manu, O son, you will act thus about the Vedas. You shall on account of this act of yours, be immutable, O twice-born one, and incapable of being excellent by any one.
पुनस्तिष्ये च संप्राप्ते कुरवो नाम भारताः भविष्यन्ति महात्मानो राजानः प्रथिता भुवि
M. N. Dutt: When the Kali age will set in, certain princes of Bharata's line, named Kauravas, will take their birth from you. They will be celebrated over Earth as great princes ruling over powerful kingdoms.
तेषां त्वत्तः प्रसूतानां कुलभेदो भविष्यति परस्परविनाशार्थं त्वामृते द्विजसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Born of you, dissension's will break out among them for their destruction at one another's hands during your absence, O foremost of twice-born ones.
तत्राप्यनेकधा वेदान्भेत्स्यसे तपसान्वितः कृष्णे युगे च संप्राप्ते कृष्णवर्णो भविष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: In that age also, gifted with austere penances, you will divide the Vedas into various classes. Indeed, in that dark age, your complexion will become dark.
धर्माणां विविधानां च कर्ता ज्ञानकरस्तथा भविष्यसि तपोयुक्तो न च रागाद्विमोक्ष्यसे
M. N. Dutt: You will made various kinds of duties of flow and various kinds of knowledge also. Although gifted with austere penances, yet you shall never be able to free yourself from desire and attachment to the world.
वीतरागश्च पुत्रस्ते परमात्मा भविष्यति महेश्वरप्रसादेन नैतद्वचनमन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Your son, however, will be freed from every attachment like the Supreme Soul, through the favour of Mahadeva. It will not be otherwise.
यं मानसं वै प्रवदन्ति पुत्रं; पितामहस्योत्तमबुद्धियुक्तम् वसिष्ठमग्र्यं तपसो निधानं; यश्चापि सूर्यं व्यतिरिच्य भाति
AI Translation: The one who is said to be the son of the mind, endowed with the highest intellect of the grandfather, Vasistha, the foremost, the abode of austerities, who also shines surpassing
तस्यान्वये चापि ततो महर्षिः; पराशरो नाम महाप्रभावः पिता स ते वेदनिधिर्वरिष्ठो; महातपा वै तपसो निवासः कानीनगर्भः पितृकन्यकायां; तस्मादृषेस्त्वं भविता च पुत्रः
AI Translation: And in his family there was a great sage named Parashara, of great power. He is your father, a treasure of the Vedas, the best, a great ascetic, a dweller in austerities. From the daughter of the sage, from the womb of a virgin, you will be born as his son.
भूतभव्यभविष्याणां छिन्नसर्वार्थसंशयः ये ह्यतिक्रान्तकाः पूर्वं सहस्रयुगपर्ययाः
AI Translation: One who has cut through all doubts about the past, present, and future Those who have passed beyond, in the course of a thousand cycles of the world-age,
तांश्च सर्वान्मयोद्दिष्टान्द्रक्ष्यसे तपसान्वितः पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि चानेकसहस्रयुगपर्ययान्
AI Translation: You will see all those whom I have indicated, endowed with austerities. You will see many thousands of aeons again.
अनादिनिधनं लोके चक्रहस्तं च मां मुने अनुध्यानान्मम मुने नैतद्वचनमन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: You shall in that birth, see me, O ascetic,—me who am without birth and death,-incarnated on Earth armed with the discus. All this will happen to you, O ascetic, through the merit that you will acquire for your continued devotion to me. These words of mine will never be otherwise.
Supplementary Passages:
12.337.51 After 51, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.8 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *904 भविष्यति महासत्त्व ख्यातिश्चाप्यतुला तव
शनैश्चरः सूर्यपुत्रो भविष्यति मनुर्महान् तस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे चैव सप्तर्षिगणपूर्वकः त्वमेव भविता वत्स मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: During that period, O son, you shall, as regards merits, be superior to even the Manus of the several periods. Forsooth, you will be so through my favour.
Supplementary Passages:
12.337.52 After 52, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.8 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *905 यत्किंचिद्विद्यते लोके सर्वं तन्मद्विचेष्टितम् अन्यो ह्यन्यं चिन्तयति स्वच्छन्दं विदधाम्यहम्
व्यास उवाच एवं सारस्वतमृषिमपान्तरतमं तदा उक्त्वा वचनमीशानः साधयस्वेत्यथाब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Vyasa said: Thus the Lord, having spoken these words to the sage Sarvasva, the most excellent of the wise, said to him, "Accomplish it."
सोऽहं तस्य प्रसादेन देवस्य हरिमेधसः अपान्तरतमा नाम ततो जातोऽऽज्ञया हरेः पुनश्च जातो विख्यातो वसिष्ठकुलनन्दनः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words to the Rishi Apantaratamas, otherwise called by the name of Sarasvat, the Supreme Lord sent him away, saying to him,-Go!-I am he that was born as Apantaratamas through the behest of Hari. Once more have I taken birth as the celebrated Krishna-Dvaipayana, a delighter of the race of Vashishtha.
तदेतत्कथितं जन्म मया पूर्वकमात्मनः नारायणप्रसादेन तथा नारायणांशजम्
M. N. Dutt: I have thus told, you my dear disciples, the circumstances of my own pristine birth which was due to the favour of Narayana in so much that I was a very part of Narayana himself.
मया हि सुमहत्तप्तं तपः परमदारुणम् पुरा मतिमतां श्रेष्ठाः परमेण समाधिना
M. N. Dutt: You foremost of intelligent persons, I practised, in days of yore, the austerest penances, with the help of the highest abstraction of the mind.
एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं यन्मां पृच्छथ पुत्रकाः पूर्वजन्म भविष्यं च भक्तानां स्नेहतो मया
M. N. Dutt: You sons, actuated by my great love for yourselves who are devoted to me with reverence, I have told you everything about what you wished to know from me. viz., my first birth in days gone by and that other birth subsequent to it.
वैशंपायन उवाच एष ते कथितः पूर्वं संभवोऽस्मद्गुरोर्नृप व्यासस्याक्लिष्टमनसो यथा पृष्टः पुनः शृणु
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said I have thus described to you, O king, the circumstances about the former birth of our revered preceptor, viz., Vyasa of unsullied mind, as asked by you! Listen to me once again!
सांख्यं योगं पञ्चरात्रं वेदाः पाशुपतं तथा ज्ञानान्येतानि राजर्षे विद्धि नानामतानि वै
M. N. Dutt: There are various kinds of religion, O royal sage, who go by various names such as Sankhya, Yoga, the Panch-ratra, Vedas, and Pashupati.
सांख्यस्य वक्ता कपिलः परमर्षिः स उच्यते हिरण्यगर्भो योगस्य वेत्ता नान्यः पुरातनः
M. N. Dutt: The promulgator of the Sankhya religion is said to be the great Rishi Kapila. The primeval Hiranyagarbha, and none else, is the promulgator of the Yoga system.
अपान्तरतमाश्चैव वेदाचार्यः स उच्यते प्राचीनगर्भं तमृषिं प्रवदन्तीह केचन
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi Apantaratamas is said to be the preceptor of the Vedas, some call that Rishi by the name of Prachina-garbha.
उमापतिर्भूतपतिः श्रीकण्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः उक्तवानिदमव्यग्रो ज्ञानं पाशुपतं शिवः
M. N. Dutt: The religion known by the name of Pashupata was promulgated by the Lord of Uma, that lord of all creatures, viz., the cheerful Shiva, otherwise known by the name of Shreekantha, the son of Brahman.
पञ्चरात्रस्य कृत्स्नस्य वेत्ता तु भगवान्स्वयम् सर्वेषु च नृपश्रेष्ठ ज्ञानेष्वेतेषु दृश्यते
AI Translation: The Lord Himself is the knower of the entire Pancharatra. And He is seen in all these knowledges, O best of kings.
यथागमं यथाज्ञानं निष्ठा नारायणः प्रभुः न चैनमेवं जानन्ति तमोभूता विशां पते
AI Translation: As per the scriptures and as per knowledge, the Lord Narayana is the ultimate. O Lord of the earth, those who are in darkness do not know Him in this way.
तमेव शास्त्रकर्तारं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः निष्ठां नारायणमृषिं नान्योऽस्तीति च वादिनः
M. N. Dutt: Those wise persons who are the authors of the scriptures say that Narayana, who is a Rishi, is the one object of respectful adoration in the universe, I say that there is no other being like Him.
निःसंशयेषु सर्वेषु नित्यं वसति वै हरिः ससंशयान्हेतुबलान्नाध्यावसति माधवः
M. N. Dutt: The Supreme God, called by the name of Hari, lives in the hearts of those who have are are succeeded in removing all doubts. Madhava never lives in the hearts of those who are under the sway of doubt and who would dispute away everything with the help of false logic.
पञ्चरात्रविदो ये तु यथाक्रमपरा नृप एकान्तभावोपगतास्ते हरिं प्रविशन्ति वै
M. N. Dutt: They who conversant with the Pancharatra Scriptures, who are duly observant of the duties laid down therein, and who are whole-mindedly devoted to Narayana, succeed in entering into Narayana.
सांख्यं च योगं च सनातने द्वे; वेदाश्च सर्वे निखिलेन राजन् सर्वैः समस्तैरृषिभिर्निरुक्तो; नारायणो विश्वमिदं पुराणम्
M. N. Dutt: The Sankhya and the Yoga Systems are eternal. All the Vedas, again, O king, are eternal. The Rishis, in all these systems or religion, have said that this universe existing from ancient times is Narayana's self.
शुभाशुभं कर्म समीरितं य;त्प्रवर्तते सर्वलोकेषु किंचित् तस्मादृषेस्तद्भवतीति विद्या;द्दिव्यन्तरिक्षे भुवि चाप्सु चापि
M. N. Dutt: You should know that whatever acts, good or bad, laid down in the Vedas and occurring in heaven and Earth, the sky between, and the waters, are all made by that ancient Rishi Narayana.