Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ब्राह्मणानर्चसे राजन्सततं संशितव्रतान् कं तु कर्मोदयं दृष्ट्वा तानर्चसि नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You always worship, O king, Brahmanas of praiseworthy vows. What, however, is that fruit sceing which you adore them, O king?
कां वा ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिं दृष्ट्वा महाव्रत तानर्चसि महाबाहो सर्वमेतद्वदस्व मे
M. N. Dutt: O you of high vows, secing what prosperity of the worship of the Brahmanas, do you worship them? Tell me all this, you of mighty arms.
भीष्म उवाच एष ते केशवः सर्वमाख्यास्यति महामतिः व्युष्टिं ब्राह्मणपूजायां दृष्टव्युष्टिर्महाव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Here is Keshava gifted with great intelligence. He will tell you everything. Of high vows and gifted with prosperity, he will tell you what the prosperity is of the worship of Brahmanas.
बलं श्रोत्रे वाङ्मनश्चक्षुषी च; ज्ञानं तथा न विशुद्धं ममाद्य देहन्यासो नातिचिरान्मतो मे; न चातितूर्णं सविताद्य याति
M. N. Dutt: My strength, cars, speech, mind, eyes, and that clear understanding of mine, are all clouded today. I think the time is not distant when I shall have to renounce my body. The Sun seems to me to go very slowly.
उक्ता धर्मा ये पुराणे महान्तो; ब्राह्मणानां क्षत्रियाणां विशां च पौराणं ये दण्डमुपासते च; शेषं कृष्णादुपशिक्षस्व पार्थ
M. N. Dutt: Those high duties, O king, which are mentioned in the Puranas as observed by Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas and Shudras, have all been described by me. Do you, O son of Pritha, learn from Krishna what little remains to be learnt about them.
अहं ह्येनं वेद्मि तत्त्वेन कृष्णं; योऽयं हि यच्चास्य बलं पुराणम् अमेयात्मा केशवः कौरवेन्द्र; सोऽयं धर्मं वक्ष्यति संशयेषु
M. N. Dutt: I know Krishna truly. I know who he is and what his ancient might is. O chief of the Kauravas, Keshava is of immeasurable soul. Whenever doubts arise, it is he who upholds virtue then.
कृष्णः पृथ्वीमसृजत्खं दिवं च; वराहोऽयं भीमबलः पुराणः अस्य चाधोऽथान्तरिक्षं दिवं च; दिशश्चतस्रः प्रदिशश्चतस्रः सृष्टिस्तथैवेयमनुप्रसूता; स निर्ममे विश्वमिदं पुराणम्
M. N. Dutt: Below Him are the sky, Heaven, the four cardinal points, and ihe four subsidiary points. It is from Him that the entirc crcation has emanated. It is He who has created this ancient universe.
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.7 After 7a, V1 B Dn D1.2 ins.: *655 कृष्णस्य देहान्मेदिनी संबभूव While D4-9 ins. after 7a: *656 कृत्स्नमेतत्स्थावरं जंगमं च After 7b, V1 B Dn D1.2.4-9 ins.: *657 स पर्वतान्व्यसृजद्वै दिशश्च
अस्य नाभ्यां पुष्करं संप्रसूतं; यत्रोत्पन्नः स्वयमेवामितौजाः येनाच्छिन्नं तत्तमः पार्थ घोरं; यत्तत्तिष्ठत्यर्णवं तर्जयानम्
M. N. Dutt: In His navel appeared a Lotus. Within that Lotus originated Brahman, himself of immeasurable energy. It was Brahman, O son of Pritha, who broke open that darkness which existed surpassing the very occan (in depth and extent).
कृते युगे धर्म आसीत्समग्र;स्त्रेताकाले ज्ञानमनुप्रपन्नः बलं त्वासीद्द्वापरे पार्थ कृष्णः; कलावधर्मः क्षितिमाजगाम
M. N. Dutt: In the Krita age, O Partha, Krishna existed in the form of Virtuc. In the Treta age, he existed in the form of Knowledge. In the Dvapara age, he existed in the form of power. In the Kali age, he came to the Earth in the form of sin.
स पूर्वदेवो निजघान दैत्या;न्स पूर्वदेवश्च बभूव सम्राट् स भूतानां भावनो भूतभव्यः; स विश्वस्यास्य जगतश्चापि गोप्ता
M. N. Dutt: It is He who formerly killed the Dailyas. It is he who is the Ancient God. It is He who ruled the Asuras in the form of their Emperor (Balin). It is He who is the Creator of all beings. It is He who is also the fulure of all created Beings. It is He who is also the protector of this universe having the seed of destruction.
यदा धर्मो ग्लायति वै सुराणां; तदा कृष्णो जायते मानुषेषु धर्मे स्थित्वा स तु वै भावितात्मा; परांश्च लोकानपरांश्च याति
M. N. Dutt: When the cause of Virtue suffers, this Krishna takes birth in the family of either the gods or among men. Staying on Virtuc, this Krishna of purified soul (on such occasions) protects both the higher and the lower worlds.
त्याज्यांस्त्यक्त्वाथासुराणां वधाय; कार्याकार्ये कारणं चैव पार्थ कृतं करिष्यत्क्रियते च देवो; मुहुः सोमं विद्धि च शक्रमेतम्
M. N. Dutt: Sparing those who deserve to be spared, Krishna sets himself to the destruction of the Asuras, O Partha. It is he who is all acts proper and improper and it is he who is the cause. It is Krishna who is the act done, the act to be done, and the act that is being done. Know that the illustrious one is Rahu and Soma and Shakra.
स विश्वकर्मा स च विश्वरूपः; स विश्वभृद्विश्वसृग्विश्वजिच्च स शूलभृच्छोणितभृत्कराल;स्तं कर्मभिर्विदितं वै स्तुवन्ति
M. N. Dutt: It is he who is Vishvakarman. It is he who is of universal forin. He is the destroyer and he is the Creator of the universe. He is the holder of the Shula (lance); He is of human form; and he is of terrible forin. All crcatures sing his praises, for he is known by his decds.
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.13 For 13ab, D10 T2.3 G M subst.: *658 शतक्रतुं जित्य स विश्वकर्मा स विश्वसृक्पार्थ स विश्वरूपः स विश्वभुग्विश्वधृग्विश्वजिच्च
तं गन्धर्वा अप्सरसश्च नित्य;मुपतिष्ठन्ते विबुधानां शतानि तं राक्षसाश्च परिसंवहन्ते; रायस्पोषः स विजिगीषुरेकः
M. N. Dutt: Hundreds of Gandharvas and Apsaras and celestials always accompany him. The very Rakshasas sing his praises. He is the Enhancer of Wealth; He is the one Victorian Being in the universe.
तमध्वरे शंसितारः स्तुवन्ति; रथंतरे सामगाश्च स्तुवन्ति तं ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्ममन्त्रैः स्तुवन्ति; तस्मै हविरध्वर्यवः कल्पयन्ति
M. N. Dutt: In Sacrifices, cloqucnt men sing His praises. The singers of Samans praise him by reciting the Rathantaras. The Brahmanas praise him with Vedic Mantras. It is to him that the sacrificial priests pour their libations.
स पौराणीं ब्रह्मगुहां प्रविष्टो; महीसत्रं भारताग्रे ददर्श स चैव गामुद्दधाराग्र्यकर्मा; विक्षोभ्य दैत्यानुरगान्दानवांश्च
M. N. Dutt: The celestials headed by Indra sang his praises when he lifted up thc Gobardhana mountains for protecting the cowherds of Vrindavan against the incessant showers that Indra poured in anger. He is, O Bharata, the one Blessing to all creatures. He, O Bharata, having entered the old Brahmacave, saw from that place the original cover of the world in the beginning of time.
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.16 V1 B Dn1.n2 (second time).n3 D1.2.4-9 ins. after 16: Dn2 (first time) after 15: *659 तं घोषार्थे गीर्भिरिन्द्राः स्तुवन्ति स चापीशो भारतैकः पशूनाम्
तस्य भक्षान्विविधान्वेदयन्ति; तमेवाजौ वाहनं वेदयन्ति तस्यान्तरिक्षं पृथिवी दिवं च; सर्वं वशे तिष्ठति शाश्वतस्य
AI Translation: They offer him various kinds of food; they offer him a chariot for riding. The sky, the earth, and the heaven are all under the control of the eternal one.
स कुम्भरेताः ससृजे पुराणं; यत्रोत्पन्नमृषिमाहुर्वसिष्ठम् स मातरिश्वा विभुरश्ववाजी; स रश्मिमान्सविता चादिदेवः
AI Translation: He, the seed-bearer, created the ancient one, from whom the sage Vasishtha was born. He is Matarihshvan, the lord, the horse-winner, the radiant one, Savitar, the primordial deity.
तेनासुरा विजिताः सर्व एव; तस्य विक्रान्तैर्विजितानीह त्रीणि स देवानां मानुषाणां पितॄणां; तमेवाहुर्यज्ञविदां वितानम्
AI Translation: By him all the Asuras were conquered; by his prowess these three worlds were conquered. He is the lord of the gods, men, and Pitrs; him alone do they call the measure of the knowers of sacrifice.
स एव कालं विभजन्नुदेति; तस्योत्तरं दक्षिणं चायने द्वे तस्यैवोर्ध्वं तिर्यगधश्चरन्ति; गभस्तयो मेदिनीं तापयन्तः
AI Translation: He, dividing the time, rises; his northern and southern courses are two. His rays, moving upwards, sideways and downwards, heat the earth.
तं ब्राह्मणा वेदविदो जुषन्ति; तस्यादित्यो भामुपयुज्य भाति स मासि मास्यध्वरकृद्विधत्ते; तमध्वरे वेदविदः पठन्ति
AI Translation: The Brahmanas who know the Vedas delight in him; the sun, shining brightly, shines forth from him. He, the performer of sacrifices, arranges the sacrifice every month; the knowers of the Vedas recite him in the sacrifice.
स एकयुक्चक्रमिदं त्रिनाभि; सप्ताश्वयुक्तं वहते वै त्रिधामा महातेजाः सर्वगः सर्वसिंहः; कृष्णो लोकान्धारयते तथैकः अश्नन्ननश्नंश्च तथैव धीरः; कृष्णं सदा पार्थ कर्तारमेहि
AI Translation: He is the one who yokes this wheel with one axle and three spokes, and is yoked to seven horses, and moves in three ways. The greatly radiant one, the all-pervading one, the lion of all, the one Krishna, supports the worlds in one way. Eating and not eating, and also the steadfast one, Krishna, the creator, O Partha
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.22 For 22c, D10 S subst.: *660 हिरण्मयः सप्तगूढः ससंविच् चतुर्बाहुः पद्मगः पद्मनाभः
स एकदा कक्षगतो महात्मा; तृप्तो विभुः खाण्डवे धूमकेतुः स राक्षसानुरगांश्चावजित्य; सर्वत्रगः सर्वमग्नौ जुहोति
M. N. Dutt: Once on a time, the great and powerful Krishna lives, for a while, in the form of Agni in the forest of Khandava among some straw or dry grass. Soon was he pleased. Capable of going everywhere at will, it was Krishna who, having subjugated the Rakshasas and Uragas, poured thein as libations upon the burning fire.
स एवाश्वः श्वेतमश्वं प्रयच्छ;त्स एवाश्वानथ सर्वांश्चकार त्रिवन्धुरस्तस्य रथस्त्रिचक्र;स्त्रिवृच्छिराश्चतुरस्रश्च तस्य
M. N. Dutt: It is Krishna who gave to Arjuna a number of white horses. It is he who is the creator of all horses. This world represents his car. He it is who yokes that car for setting it in motion. That car has three whcels. It has three kinds of motion. It has four horses yoked it. It has three naves.
स विहायो व्यदधात्पञ्चनाभिः; स निर्ममे गां दिवमन्तरिक्षम् एवं रम्यानसृजत्पर्वतांश्च; हृषीकेशोऽमितदीप्ताग्नितेजाः
AI Translation: Having abandoned them, he created them with five forms. He created the earth, heaven, and the intermediate space. Thus the one with infinite radiant fiery energy, Hrishikesha, created the delightful mountains.
स लङ्घयन्वै सरितो जिघांस;न्स तं वज्रं प्रहरन्तं निरास स महेन्द्रः स्तूयते वै महाध्वरे; विप्रैरेको ऋक्सहस्रैः पुराणैः
AI Translation: He leaped over the rivers, desiring to kill him; he repelled that thunderbolt-wielder. That great Indra is praised in the great sacrifice by the Brahmins with one thousand ancient Ṛks
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.26 For 26d, D10 S subst.: *661 तमृक्सहस्रैः पुरुषं पुराणं सुपर्णमादौ चयनैः स्तुवन्ति
दुर्वासा वै तेन नान्येन शक्यो; गृहे राजन्वासयितुं महौजाः तमेवाहुरृषिमेकं पुराणं; स विश्वकृद्विदधात्यात्मभावान्
M. N. Dutt: It was this Krishna, O king, who alone was able to keep the highly energetic Rishi Durvasas as a guest for some time in his house. He is said to be the one ancient Rishi. He is the Creator of the universe. Indeed, he creates everything from his own nature.
वेदांश्च यो वेदयतेऽधिदेवो; विधींश्च यश्चाश्रयते पुराणान् कामे वेदे लौकिके यत्फलं च; विष्वक्सेने सर्वमेतत्प्रतीहि
M. N. Dutt: Superior to all the celestials, it is he who teaches all the deities. He scrupulously observes all ancient ordinances. Know, O king, that this Krishna, who is called Vishvaksena, is the fruit of all deeds which relate to pleasure, of all deeds which are founded on the Vedas, and of all deeds which appertain to the world.
ज्योतींषि शुक्लानि च सर्वलोके; त्रयो लोका लोकपालास्त्रयश्च त्रयोऽग्नयो व्याहृतयश्च तिस्रः; सर्वे देवा देवकीपुत्र एव
M. N. Dutt: He is the white rays of light which are seen in all the worlds. He is the threc worlds. He is the thrce Regents of all the worlds. He is the threc sacrificial fires He is the three Vyahritis; indeed, this son of Devaki is all the gods together.
संवत्सरः स ऋतुः सोऽर्धमासः; सोऽहोरात्रः स कला वै स काष्ठाः मात्रा मुहूर्ताश्च लवाः क्षणाश्च; विष्वक्सेने सर्वमेतत्प्रतीहि
M. N. Dutt: He is the Ycar; He is the Season; He is the Fortnights; He is the Day and the Night; He is those divisions of time which are called Kalas, and Kashthas, and Matras, and Muhurtas, and Lavas, and Kshanas, Know that this Vishvaksena is all these.
चन्द्रादित्यौ ग्रहनक्षत्रताराः; सर्वाणि दर्शान्यथ पौर्णमास्यः नक्षत्रयोगा ऋतवश्च पार्थ; विष्वक्सेनात्सर्वमेतत्प्रसूतम्
M. N. Dutt: The Moon and the Sun, the Planets, the Constellations, and the Stars, all the Parva days, including the day of the full moon, the conjunctions of the constellations, and the seasons, have, O son of Pritha, emanated from this Krishna who is Vishvaksena.
रुद्रादित्या वसवोऽथाश्विनौ च; साध्या विश्वे मरुतां षड्गणाश्च प्रजापतिर्देवमातादितिश्च; सर्वे कृष्णादृषयश्चैव सप्त
M. N. Dutt: The Rudras, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Saddhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, Prajapati himself, the mother of the celestials, viz., Aditi and the seven Rishis, have all originated from Krishna.
वायुर्भूत्वा विक्षिपते च विश्व;मग्निर्भूत्वा दहते विश्वरूपः आपो भूत्वा मज्जयते च सर्वं; ब्रह्मा भूत्वा सृजते विश्वसंघान्
M. N. Dutt: Changing himself into the Wind, he scatters the universe. Of universal form, he becomes fire which consumes all things. Changing himself into Water, he drenches and submerges all, and assuming the form of Brahmans, he creates all the various animate and inanimate creatures.
वेद्यं च यद्वेदयते च वेदा;न्विधिश्च यश्चाश्रयते विधेयान् धर्मे च वेदे च बले च सर्वं; चराचरं केशवं त्वं प्रतीहि
M. N. Dutt: He is himself the Veda, yet he learns all the Vedas. He is himself all the ordinances, yet he observes all the ordinances which have been laid down in matters connccted with Righteousness and the Vedas and that force or might which rules the world. Indeed, know, O Yudhishthira, that this Keshava is all the mobile and immobile universe.
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.34 After 34, D10 T G1.3.4 ins.: *662 वशे स्थितं तस्य समस्तयोनेः
ज्योतिर्भूतः परमोऽसौ पुरस्ता;त्प्रकाशयन्प्रभया विश्वरूपः अपः सृष्ट्वा ह्यात्मभूरात्मयोनिः; पुराकरोत्सर्वमेवाथ विश्वम्
M. N. Dutt: He is of the form of the most resplendent light. Of universal form, this Krishna is shorn in that blazing cffulgence. The original cause of the soul of all existent crcatures, he at first created the waters. Afterwards he created this universe.
ऋतूनुत्पातान्विविधान्यद्भुतानि; मेघान्विद्युत्सर्वमैरावतं च सर्वं कृष्णात्स्थावरं जङ्गमं च; विश्वाख्याताद्विष्णुमेनं प्रतीहि
M. N. Dutt: Know that this Krishna is Vishnu. Know him to be the soul of the entire universe. Know him to be all the scasons; he is these various wonderful visitations of Nature which we sec; he is the clouds that pour rain and the lightning which fleshes in the sky. He is the clephant Airavata. In fact, he is the immobile and mobile universe.
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.36 For 36ab, D10 S subst.: *663 ऋतून्मासान्विविधं कार्यजातं विद्युत्संघैरापतन्तश्च मेघाः
विश्वावासं निर्गुणं वासुदेवं; संकर्षणं जीवभूतं वदन्ति ततः प्रद्युम्नमनिरुद्धं चतुर्थ;माज्ञापयत्यात्मयोनिर्महात्मा
M. N. Dutt: The clay of the universe and above all attributes, this Krishna is Vasudeva When he becomes individual soul he is called Sankarshana. Next, he changes himself into Pradyumna and them into Aniruddha. Thus, the great Krishna, who has sprung from himself, divides himself in fourfold form.
स पञ्चधा पञ्चजनोपपन्नं; संचोदयन्विश्वमिदं सिसृक्षुः ततश्चकारावनिमारुतौ च; खं ज्योतिरापश्च तथैव पार्थ
M. N. Dutt: For crcating this universe which consists of the five primal elements, he begins this work, and causcs it to go on in the fivefold form of animate existence containing celestial and Asuras and human beings and beasts and birds. He it is who then creates the Earth and the Wind, the Sky, Light, and also Water, O son of Pritha.
स स्थावरं जङ्गमं चैवमेत;च्चतुर्विधं लोकमिमं च कृत्वा ततो भूमिं व्यदधात्पञ्चबीजां; द्यौः पृथिव्यां धास्यति भूरि वारि तेन विश्वं कृतमेतद्धि राज;न्स जीवयत्यात्मनैवात्मयोनिः
M. N. Dutt: Having created this universe of immobile and mobile objects divided into four orders of being (viz., viviparous, oviparous, vegetable, and fifthborn), he then created the Earth with her five fold seed. He then created the Sky for pouring copious rain on the Earth,
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.39 After 39ab, T1 ins.: *664 सृष्ट्वा विश्वं विश्वयोनिर्महात्मा तत्रातिष्ठद्विश्वरूपो हि योगात्
ततो देवानसुरान्मानुषांश्च; लोकानृषींश्चाथ पितॄन्प्रजाश्च समासेन विविधान्प्राणिलोका;न्सर्वान्सदा भूतपतिः सिसृक्षुः
AI Translation: Then he created the gods, demons, men, the worlds, the sages, the manes, and the creatures, and in brief, all the various worlds of creatures, desiring to create all
शुभाशुभं स्थावरं जङ्गमं च; विष्वक्सेनात्सर्वमेतत्प्रतीहि यद्वर्तते यच्च भविष्यतीह; सर्वमेतत्केशवं त्वं प्रतीहि
AI Translation: All that is good and bad, the immovable and the moving, all this comes from Viṣṇu. All that exists and will exist here, all this you should know as Viṣṇu.
मृत्युश्चैव प्राणिनामन्तकाले; साक्षात्कृष्णः शाश्वतो धर्मवाहः भूतं च यच्चेह न विद्म किंचि;द्विष्वक्सेनात्सर्वमेतत्प्रतीहि
AI Translation: And Death, the destroyer of creatures at the time of death, The eternal Krishna, the bearer of Dharma, And whatever exists here, we know nothing of it. From Visvaksena, receive all this.
यत्प्रशस्तं च लोकेषु पुण्यं यच्च शुभाशुभम् तत्सर्वं केशवोऽचिन्त्यो विपरीतमतो भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: All that is noble and meritorious in the universe, all that is good and evil, is Keshava who is inconccivable. Hence, it is absurd to think of anything which is superior to Keshava.
एतादृशः केशवोऽयं स्वयंभू;र्नारायणः परमश्चाव्ययश्च मध्यं चास्य जगतस्तस्थुषश्च; सर्वेषां भूतानां प्रभवश्चाप्ययश्च
M. N. Dutt: Keshava is such. More than this. He is Narayana, the highest of the high, immutable and undecaying. He is the cternal and changeless cause of the entire mobile and immobile universe with its beginning, middle, and end, as also of all creatures whose birth follows their wish.
Supplementary Passages:
13.143.44 For 44, D10 S subst.: *665 तादृशः केशवो देवो भूयो नारायणः परः आदिरन्तश्च मध्यं च देशतः कालतो हरिः जगतां तस्थुषां चैव भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययः