Critical Edition
ब्रह्मोवाच अहंकारात्प्रसूतानि महाभूतानि पञ्च वै पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिश्च पञ्चमम्
M. N. Dutt: Brahman said From Egoism were, indeed, born the five great elements. They are earth, air, ether, water and light numbering the fifth.
तेषु भूतानि मुह्यन्ते महाभूतेषु पञ्चसु शब्दस्पर्शनरूपेषु रसगन्धक्रियासु च
M. N. Dutt: In these five great clements, in the matter of the operations of sound, touch, colour, tasie, and smell, all creatures become deluded.
महाभूतविनाशान्ते प्रलये प्रत्युपस्थिते सर्वप्राणभृतां धीरा महदुत्पद्यते भयम्
M. N. Dutt: When at the close of the destruction of the great elements, the dissolution of the universe comes, O wisemen, a great fear possesses all living creatures.
यद्यस्माज्जायते भूतं तत्र तत्प्रविलीयते लीयन्ते प्रतिलोमानि जायन्ते चोत्तरोत्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: Every existent object is dissolved into that from which it is produced. The dissolution takes place in an order that is the reverse of that in which creation occurs. Indeed, as regards birth, they are born from one another.
ततः प्रलीने सर्वस्मिन्भूते स्थावरजङ्गमे स्मृतिमन्तस्तदा धीरा न लीयन्ते कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: Then, when all existent objects, mobile and immobile, become become dissolved, wise men possessed of a powerful memory never dissolve.
शब्दः स्पर्शस्तथा रूपं रसो गन्धश्च पञ्चमः क्रियाकारणयुक्ताः स्युरनित्या मोहसंज्ञिताः
M. N. Dutt: Sound, touch, colour, taste, and smell numbering the fifth, are effects. They are, however, inconstant, and called by the name of delusion.
लोभप्रजनसंयुक्ता निर्विशेषा ह्यकिंचनाः मांसशोणितसंघाता अन्योन्यस्योपजीविनः
AI Translation: Joined with the generation of greed, they are without distinction, without anything. They are masses of flesh and blood, mutually supporting each other.
बहिरात्मान इत्येते दीनाः कृपणवृत्तयः प्राणापानावुदानश्च समानो व्यान एव च
AI Translation: These are the external selves, the wretched ones with miserable conduct. The prāṇa, apāna, udāna, samāna, and vyāna.
अन्तरात्मेति चाप्येते नियताः पञ्च वायवः वाङ्मनोबुद्धिरित्येभिः सार्धमष्टात्मकं जगत्
AI Translation: And these five winds are called the inner self. And the world is eightfold together with speech, mind, and intellect.
त्वग्घ्राणश्रोत्रचक्षूंषि रसनं वाक्च संयता विशुद्धं च मनो यस्य बुद्धिश्चाव्यभिचारिणी
AI Translation: Restrained are his skin, nose, ears, eyes, tongue, and speech, And his mind is pure, and his intellect is unwavering.
अष्टौ यस्याग्नयो ह्येते न दहन्ते मनः सदा स तद्ब्रह्म शुभं याति यस्माद्भूयो न विद्यते
AI Translation: Those for whom these eight fires do not always burn the mind, they go to that auspicious Brahman, from which there is no more.
एकादश च यान्याहुरिन्द्रियाणि विशेषतः अहंकारप्रसूतानि तानि वक्ष्याम्यहं द्विजाः
M. N. Dutt: I shall now, O twice-born ones, mention particularly, those which have been called the eleven organs and which have originated from Egoism.
श्रोत्रं त्वक्चक्षुषी जिह्वा नासिका चैव पञ्चमी पादौ पायुरुपस्थं च हस्तौ वाग्दशमी भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: They are the ear, the skin, the two eyes, the longue, the nose for the fifth, the two feet, the lower duct, the organ of generation, the two hands, and speech forming the tenth.
इन्द्रियग्राम इत्येष मन एकादशं भवेत् एतं ग्रामं जयेत्पूर्वं ततो ब्रह्म प्रकाशते
M. N. Dutt: These form the group of organs, with mind numbering as the eleventh. One should first subdue this group. Then will Brahma shine forth (in him).
बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि पञ्चाहुः पञ्च कर्मेन्द्रियाणि च श्रोत्रादीन्यपि पञ्चाहुर्बुद्धियुक्तानि तत्त्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Five amongst these are called organs of knowledge, and five, organs of action. The five beginning with the ear are connected with knowledge.
अविशेषाणि चान्यानि कर्मयुक्तानि तानि तु उभयत्र मनो ज्ञेयं बुद्धिर्द्वादशमी भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: The rest, however, which are connected with action, are without distinction. The mind should be considered as belonging to both. The understanding is the twelfth in the top.
इत्युक्तानीन्द्रियाणीमान्येकादश मया क्रमात् मन्यन्ते कृतमित्येव विदित्वैतानि पण्डिताः
M. N. Dutt: Thus have been enumerated the eleven organs in due order. Learned man, having understood these, think they have done everything.
Supplementary Passages:
14.42.17 After 17, B Dc1 Dn1 D3-6 T2 ins.: *78 अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वं विविधमिन्द्रियम्
त्रीणि स्थानानि भूतानां चतुर्थं नोपपद्यते स्थलमापस्तथाकाशं जन्म चापि चतुर्विधम्
AI Translation: There are three places for beings, and a fourth is not possible. The earth, water, and space, and also the four kinds of birth.
अण्डजोद्भिज्जसंस्वेदजरायुजमथापि च चतुर्धा जन्म इत्येतद्भूतग्रामस्य लक्ष्यते
AI Translation: The four kinds of birth are egg-born, sprout-born, sweat-born, and womb-born. These are seen to be the four kinds of birth of the group of elements.
अचराण्यपि भूतानि खेचराणि तथैव च अण्डजानि विजानीयात्सर्वांश्चैव सरीसृपान्
AI Translation: All beings that do not move, and those that move in the sky, Should be known as born from eggs, and all reptiles.
संस्वेदाः कृमयः प्रोक्ता जन्तवश्च तथाविधाः जन्म द्वितीयमित्येतज्जघन्यतरमुच्यते
AI Translation: The worms and creatures that are born from sweat are said to be of that kind. This second birth is said to be inferior.
भित्त्वा तु पृथिवीं यानि जायन्ते कालपर्ययात् उद्भिज्जानीति तान्याहुर्भूतानि द्विजसत्तमाः
AI Translation: Those which are born by piercing the earth, by the passage of time, are called uddiija plants, O best of Brahmanas.
द्विपादबहुपादानि तिर्यग्गतिमतीनि च जरायुजानि भूतानि वित्त तान्यपि सत्तमाः
AI Translation: Those with two feet, many feet, or no feet, those that move sideways, Those born from wombs, those beings, O best of men, I have told you.
द्विविधापीह विज्ञेया ब्रह्मयोनिः सनातना तपः कर्म च यत्पुण्यमित्येष विदुषां नयः
AI Translation: The eternal source of Brahman should be known here as twofold: The merit of austerities and rites - this is the way of the wise.
द्विविधं कर्म विज्ञेयमिज्या दानं च यन्मखे जातस्याध्ययनं पुण्यमिति वृद्धानुशासनम्
AI Translation: It is said that there are two kinds of rites: sacrifice and charity. It is said that the study of the Vedas is meritorious for one who is born.
एतद्यो वेद विधिवत्स मुक्तः स्याद्द्विजर्षभाः विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्य इति चैव निबोधत
AI Translation: O best of Brahmins, he who knows this in the proper manner would be liberated. And know that he is liberated from all sins.
आकाशं प्रथमं भूतं श्रोत्रमध्यात्ममुच्यते अधिभूतं तथा शब्दो दिशस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: Space is the first element, and the ear is said to be the internal. The external is sound, and the divine is the directions.
द्वितीयं मारुतो भूतं त्वगध्यात्मं च विश्रुतम् स्प्रष्टव्यमधिभूतं च विद्युत्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The second is the element of wind, known as the skin internally, and as the tangible externally, with lightning as the presiding deity.
तृतीयं ज्योतिरित्याहुश्चक्षुरध्यात्ममुच्यते अधिभूतं ततो रूपं सूर्यस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The third light is said to be the eye, which is described as the inner. The form is the outer, the sun is the divine there.
चतुर्थमापो विज्ञेयं जिह्वा चाध्यात्ममिष्यते अधिभूतं रसश्चात्र सोमस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The fourth is to be known as water, and the tongue is considered to be the internal. The external is taste, and Soma is the deity there.
Supplementary Passages:
14.42.30 B4.5 Dc1 Dn1 D3 ins. after the second occurrence of 30ab: B1-3 after the second occurrence of 39ab: *79 रसोऽधिभूतं विज्ञेयमापस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
पृथिवी पञ्चमं भूतं घ्राणश्चाध्यात्ममिष्यते अधिभूतं तथा गन्धो वायुस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: Earth is the fifth element, and the nose is considered to be the internal. The external is the smell, and the wind is the deity there.
एष पञ्चसु भूतेषु चतुष्टयविधिः स्मृतः अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वं त्रिविधमिन्द्रियम्
AI Translation: This is the rule of the four in the five elements. From this onwards, I shall describe all the three kinds of sense organs.
पादावध्यात्ममित्याहुर्ब्राह्मणास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः अधिभूतं तु गन्तव्यं विष्णुस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The Brahmanas who see the truth say that the feet are the inner self. The supernal is to be gone to, and Vishnu is the presiding deity there.
अवाग्गतिरपानश्च पायुरध्यात्ममिष्यते अधिभूतं विसर्गश्च मित्रस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The anus is considered to be the internal organ of excretion and non-drinking. The external organ of excretion is the discharge, and the deity there is Mitra.
प्रजनः सर्वभूतानामुपस्थोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते अधिभूतं तथा शुक्रं दैवतं च प्रजापतिः
AI Translation: The generative principle of all beings is called the internal organ. The semen is the external organ, and the deity is Prajapati.
हस्तावध्यात्ममित्याहुरध्यात्मविदुषो जनाः अधिभूतं तु कर्माणि शक्रस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The wise say that the hands are the inner self. The outer self is the actions, and Indra is the deity there.
वैश्वदेवी मनःपूर्वा वागध्यात्ममिहोच्यते वक्तव्यमधिभूतं च वह्निस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The Vaishvadevi is preceded by the mind and is said to be the inner speech. The adhibhuta is to be spoken of, and the fire is the adhidevata there.
अध्यात्मं मन इत्याहुः पञ्चभूतानुचारकम् अधिभूतं च मन्तव्यं चन्द्रमाश्चाधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The mind is said to be internal, following the five elements. The moon is to be considered as the external and the divine.
Supplementary Passages:
14.42.38 B1.2.4.5 ins. after the second occurrence of 38: B1.2 (also) after the first occurrence of 38b: B3 after the first occurrence of 38: D (except D1) after 38: *80 अहंकारस्तथाध्यात्मं सर्वसंसारकारकम् अभिमानोऽधिभूतं च रुद्रस्तत्राधिदैवतम्
अध्यात्मं बुद्धिरित्याहुः षडिन्द्रियविचारिणी अधिभूतं तु विज्ञेयं ब्रह्मा तत्राधिदैवतम्
AI Translation: The intellect is said to be internal, investigating the six senses. The external should be known as Brahma, the deity there.
यथावदध्यात्मविधिरेष वः कीर्तितो मया ज्ञानमस्य हि धर्मज्ञाः प्राप्तं बुद्धिमतामिह
AI Translation: Thus have I declared to you the rules of self-knowledge. For the wise, this knowledge has been attained here.
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थाश्च महाभूतानि पञ्च च सर्वाण्येतानि संधाय मनसा संप्रधारयेत्
M. N. Dutt: You Rishis knowing all duties, a knowledge of this is gained by those who are considered as persons, viz., the senses, the objects of the senses, and the five great elements, one should keep them in the mind.
क्षीणे मनसि सर्वस्मिन्न जन्मसुखमिष्यते ज्ञानसंपन्नसत्त्वानां तत्सुखं विदुषां मतम्
M. N. Dutt: When everything is immersed in the mind, one no longer regards highly the pleasures of life. Learned men, whose understandings are furnished with knowledge, consider that as true happiness.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि सूक्ष्मभावकरीं शिवाम् निवृत्तिं सर्वभूतेषु मृदुना दारुणेन वा
M. N. Dutt: I shall, after this, tell you of renunciation about all entities by means gentle and hard, which produces attachment to subtle topics and which is fraught with auspiciousness.
गुणागुणमनासङ्गमेकचर्यमनन्तरम् एतद्ब्राह्मणतो वृत्तमाहुरेकपदं सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: That conduct which consists in treating the qualities as not qualities, which is shorn of attachment, which is living alone, which does not recognise distinctions, and which is full of Brahma, is the root of all happiness.
विद्वान्कूर्म इवाङ्गानि कामान्संहृत्य सर्वशः विरजाः सर्वतो मुक्तो यो नरः स सुखी सदा
M. N. Dutt: The learned man who takes all desires himself from all sides like thc tortoise withdrawing all its limbs, who is devoid of passion, and who is freed from everything, becoming always happy.
कामानात्मनि संयम्य क्षीणतृष्णः समाहितः सर्वभूतसुहृन्मैत्रो ब्रह्मभूयं स गच्छति
M. N. Dutt: Controlling all desires within the soul, killing his thirst, concentrated in mediation, and becoming the friend of good heart towards all creatures, he succeeds in becoming fit for assimilation with Brahma.
इन्द्रियाणां निरोधेन सर्वेषां विषयैषिणाम् मुनेर्जनपदत्यागादध्यात्माग्निः समिध्यते
M. N. Dutt: Through suppression of all the senses which always hanker after their objects, and abandonment of inhabited places, the spiritual fire blazes forth in the man of contemplation.
यथाग्निरिन्धनैरिद्धो महाज्योतिः प्रकाशते तथेन्द्रियनिरोधेन महानात्मा प्रकाशते
M. N. Dutt: As a fire, fed with fuel, becomes bright on account of the burning flames it puts forth, so, on account of the repression of the senses, the great soul puts forth its effulgence.
यदा पश्यति भूतानि प्रसन्नात्मात्मनो हृदि स्वयंयोनिस्तदा सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्ममाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: When one with a tranquil soul sees all entities in his own heart, then, lighted by his own effulgence, one attains to that which is subtler than the subtle and which is peerless in excellence.
Supplementary Passages:
14.42.49 After 49b, B1.2 ins.: *81 एतदेव हि लोकेऽस्मिन्मनो हृदि समाश्रितम्
अग्नी रूपं पयः स्रोतो वायुः स्पर्शनमेव च मही पङ्कधरं घोरमाकाशं श्रवणं तथा
AI Translation: Fire is form, water is the stream, wind is touch, Earth is the bearer of mud, the terrible one, space is hearing.
Supplementary Passages:
14.42.50 After 50, T G ins.: *82 दृश्यमादित्यमेवाहुरध्यात्मविदुषो जनाः
रागशोकसमाविष्टं पञ्चस्रोतःसमावृतम् पञ्चभूतसमायुक्तं नवद्वारं द्विदैवतम्
AI Translation: Filled with passion and sorrow, covered by the five streams, Endowed with the five elements, with nine doors, with two deities,
रजस्वलमथादृश्यं त्रिगुणं च त्रिधातुकम् संसर्गाभिरतं मूढं शरीरमिति धारणा
AI Translation: It is passionate, invisible, threefold, and of three elements. It is attached to association, deluded, and called the body.
दुश्चरं जीवलोकेऽस्मिन्सत्त्वं प्रति समाश्रितम् एतदेव हि लोकेऽस्मिन्कालचक्रं प्रवर्तते
AI Translation: This is the wheel of time that turns in this world.
एतन्महार्णवं घोरमगाधं मोहसंज्ञितम् विसृजेत्संक्षिपेच्चैव बोधयेत्सामरं जगत्
AI Translation: This great ocean, terrible, unfathomable, called delusion, He would release and contract, and awaken the world with the gods.
कामक्रोधौ भयं मोहमभिद्रोहमथानृतम् इन्द्रियाणां निरोधेन स तांस्त्यजति दुस्त्यजान्
M. N. Dutt: By controlling the senses, one renounces lust, anger, fear, cupidity, enmity, and falsehood, which are cternal and, therefore, highly difficult to renounce.
यस्यैते निर्जिता लोके त्रिगुणाः पञ्च धातवः व्योम्नि तस्य परं स्थानमनन्तमथ लक्ष्यते
M. N. Dutt: He who has controlled these in this world, viz., the three qualities and the five elements of the body, has the Highest for his seat in the celestial region. By him is Infinity attained.
कामकूलामपारान्तां मनःस्रोतोभयावहाम् नदीं दुर्गह्रदां तीर्णः कामक्रोधावुभौ जयेत्
AI Translation: The river of desire, with its banks of passion, its unfathomable depth, its two currents of mind and body, its dangerous whirlpools, has been crossed. One should conquer both
Supplementary Passages:
14.42.57 For 57ab, B Dc1 Dn1 D2.3.5.6 ins.: *83 पञ्चेन्द्रियमहाकूलां मनोवेगमहोदकाम्
स सर्वदोषनिर्मुक्तस्ततः पश्यति यत्परम् मनो मनसि संधाय पश्यत्यात्मानमात्मनि
M. N. Dutt: Such a man, freed from all faults, then sces the Highest, concentrating the mind within the mind and sceing self in self.
सर्ववित्सर्वभूतेषु वीक्षत्यात्मानमात्मनि एकधा बहुधा चैव विकुर्वाणस्ततस्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Understanding all things, he sees his self, with self, in all creatures, sometimes as one and sometimes as various, changing form from time to time.
ध्रुवं पश्यति रूपाणि दीपाद्दीपशतं यथा स वै विष्णुश्च मित्रश्च वरुणोऽग्निः प्रजापतिः
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, he can perceive numerous bodies like a hundred lights from one light. Indeed, he is Vishnu and Mitra, and Varuna and Agni, and Prajapati.
स हि धाता विधाता च स प्रभुः सर्वतोमुखः हृदयं सर्वभूतानां महानात्मा प्रकाशते
M. N. Dutt: He is the Creator and the ordainer; he is the powerful Lord, with faces turned in all directions. In him, the heart of all creatures, the great soul, becomes resplendent.
तं विप्रसंघाश्च सुरासुराश्च; यक्षाः पिशाचाः पितरो वयांसि रक्षोगणा भूतगणाश्च सर्वे; महर्षयश्चैव सदा स्तुवन्ति
M. N. Dutt: All the learned Brahmanas, celestials, Asuras, Yakshas, Pishachas, the departed manes, birds, Rakshasas, goblins, and all the great Rishis, laud Him.