Critical Edition
ब्रह्मोवाच भूतानामथ पञ्चानां यथैषामीश्वरं मनः नियमे च विसर्गे च भूतात्मा मन एव च
M. N. Dutt: Since the mind is the ruler of these five elements, for controlling and bringing them forth, the mind, therefore, is the soul of the elements.
अधिष्ठाता मनो नित्यं भूतानां महतां तथा बुद्धिरैश्वर्यमाचष्टे क्षेत्रज्ञः सर्व उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: The mind always presides over the great elements. The understanding proclaims power, and is called the Soul.
इन्द्रियाणि मनो युङ्क्ते सदश्वानिव सारथिः इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिं क्षेत्रज्ञो युञ्जते सदा
M. N. Dutt: The mind yokes the senses, as a charioteer yokes good horses. The senses, the mind, and the understanding are always joined to the Soul.
महाभूतसमायुक्तं बुद्धिसंयमनं रथम् तमारुह्य स भूतात्मा समन्तात्परिधावति
M. N. Dutt: The individual soul, mounting the chariot to which big horses are yoked and which has the understanding for the reins, drives about on all sides.
इन्द्रियग्रामसंयुक्तो मनःसारथिरेव च बुद्धिसंयमनो नित्यं महान्ब्रह्ममयो रथः
M. N. Dutt: With all the senses attached to it (for steeds), with the mind for the charioteer, and the understanding for the eternal reins, exists thc great Brahma car.
एवं यो वेत्ति विद्वान्वै सदा ब्रह्ममयं रथम् स धीरः सर्वलोकेषु न मोहमधिगच्छति
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, that man gifted with learning and wisdom who always understands the Brahmacharin this way, is never possessed by delusion in the midst of all entities.
अव्यक्तादि विशेषान्तं त्रसस्थावरसंकुलम् चन्द्रसूर्यप्रभालोकं ग्रहनक्षत्रमण्डितम्
AI Translation: Filled with the moving and unmoving, from the unmanifest to the specific, Adorned with the spheres of the moon, sun, and stars,
नदीपर्वतजालैश्च सर्वतः परिभूषितम् विविधाभिस्तथाद्भिश्च सततं समलंकृतम्
AI Translation: Adorned on all sides by rivers and mountains, And always adorned by various waters,
आजीवः सर्वभूतानां सर्वप्राणभृतां गतिः एतद्ब्रह्मवनं नित्यं यस्मिंश्चरति क्षेत्रवित्
AI Translation: The life of all beings, the refuge of all living creatures, This is the eternal forest of Brahman, in which the knower of fields dwells.
लोकेऽस्मिन्यानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च तान्येवाग्रे प्रलीयन्ते पश्चाद्भूतकृता गुणाः गुणेभ्यः पञ्चभूतानि एष भूतसमुच्छ्रयः
M. N. Dutt: Whatever exist in this world, mobile and immobile, are the very first to be dissolved away. After this (are dissolved) those qualities which compose all entities.
देवा मनुष्या गन्धर्वाः पिशाचासुरराक्षसाः सर्वे स्वभावतः सृष्टा न क्रियाभ्यो न कारणात्
AI Translation: Gods, men, gandharvas, pisacas, asuras, and rakshasas All are created by nature, not by actions or causes.
एते विश्वकृतो विप्रा जायन्ते ह पुनः पुनः तेभ्यः प्रसूतास्तेष्वेव महाभूतेषु पञ्चसु प्रलीयन्ते यथाकालमूर्मयः सागरे यथा
M. N. Dutt: All that originates from them dissolves, when the time comes, in those very five great elements like billows in the ocean.
विश्वसृग्भ्यस्तु भूतेभ्यो महाभूतानि गच्छति भूतेभ्यश्चापि पञ्चभ्यो मुक्तो गच्छेत्प्रजापतिम्
M. N. Dutt: All the great elements are beyond those elements which form the universe. He who is released from those five clements goes to the highest goal.
प्रजापतिरिदं सर्वं तपसैवासृजत्प्रभुः तथैव वेदानृषयस्तपसा प्रतिपेदिरे
M. N. Dutt: The powerful Prajapati created all this by the mind only. Similarly Rishis attained to the status of celestials by the help of penance.
तपसश्चानुपूर्व्येण फलमूलाशिनस्तथा त्रैलोक्यं तपसा सिद्धाः पश्यन्तीह समाहिताः
M. N. Dutt: Likewise, those who have acquired perfection, who capable of the concentration of Yoga, and who live on fruits and roots, likewise perceive the triple world by penance.
ओषधान्यगदादीनी नानाविद्याश्च सर्वशः तपसैव प्रसिध्यन्ति तपोमूलं हि साधनम्
M. N. Dutt: Medicines and herbs and all the various sciences are acquired by means of penance alone, for all acquisition has penance for its were root.
यद्दुरापं दुराम्नायं दुराधर्षं दुरन्वयम् तत्सर्वं तपसा साध्यं तपो हि दुरतिक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever is difficult of acquisition, difficult to learn, difficult to defeat, difficult to pass through, can all be acquired by penance, for penance is irresistible.
सुरापो ब्रह्महा स्तेयी भ्रूणहा गुरुतल्पगः तपसैव सुतप्तेन मुच्यन्ते किल्बिषात्ततः
M. N. Dutt: One who drinks alcoholic liquors, one who kills a Brahmana, one who steals, one who destroys a foe us, one who violates one's preceptor's bed, becomes cleansed of such sin by penance well performed.
मनुष्याः पितरो देवाः पशवो मृगपक्षिणः यानि चान्यानि भूतानि त्रसानि स्थावराणि च
AI Translation: Humans, ancestors, gods, animals, deer, birds, and all other beings, whether moving or stationary,
तपःपरायणा नित्यं सिध्यन्ते तपसा सदा तथैव तपसा देवा महाभागा दिवं गताः
AI Translation: Those who are always devoted to austerities always succeed through austerities. Similarly, the greatly fortunate gods went to heaven through austerities.
आशीर्युक्तानि कर्माणि कुर्वते ये त्वतन्द्रिताः अहंकारसमायुक्तास्ते सकाशे प्रजापतेः
M. N. Dutt: Those who without idleness perforın deeds with expectation, being full of egoism, approach the presence of Prajapati.
ध्यानयोगेन शुद्धेन निर्ममा निरहंकृताः प्राप्नुवन्ति महात्मानो महान्तं लोकमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Those great ones, however, who are devoid of mineness and freed from egoism through the pure contemplation of Yoga, acquire the great and highest regions.
ध्यानयोगादुपागम्य प्रसन्नमतयः सदा सुखोपचयमव्यक्तं प्रविशन्त्यात्मवत्तया
M. N. Dutt: Those who understand best the self, having acquired Yoga contemplation and having their minds always cheerful, into the unmanifest accumulation of happiness.
ध्यानयोगादुपागम्य निर्ममा निरहंकृताः अव्यक्तं प्रविशन्तीह महान्तं लोकमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Those persons who are freed from egoism and who are re-born after having attained to the fullness of Yoga contemplation, enter into the highest region reserved for the great, viz., the Unmanifest.
अव्यक्तादेव संभूतः समयज्ञो गतः पुनः तमोरजोभ्यां निर्मुक्तः सत्त्वमास्थाय केवलम्
AI Translation: From the unmanifest he was born, the knower of time, and again he has gone. Freed from darkness and passion, he has resorted to sattva alone.
विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वं त्यजति निष्कलः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तं विद्याद्यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्
AI Translation: He is free from all sins, he abandons everything, he is without parts. Know him as the knower of the field. He who knows him is the knower of the Vedas.
चित्तं चित्तादुपागम्य मुनिरासीत संयतः यच्चित्तस्तन्मना भूत्वा गुह्यमेतत्सनातनम्
M. N. Dutt: Attaining pure knowledge from (restraining) the mind, the ascetic should sit self-controlled. One necessarily becomes that on which one's mind is set. This is an eternal mystery.
अव्यक्तादि विशेषान्तमविद्यालक्षणं स्मृतम् निबोधत यथा हीदं गुणैर्लक्षणमित्युत
M. N. Dutt: That which has the unmanifest for its beginning and gross qualities for its end, has been said to have Ne-science for its mark. But do you understand that whose nature is shorn of qualities.
द्व्यक्षरस्तु भवेन्मृत्युस्त्र्यक्षरं ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् ममेति च भवेन्मृत्युर्न ममेति च शाश्वतम्
M. N. Dutt: Of two syllables is Mrityu (death); of three syllable is the eternal Brahma Mineness is death, and the opposite of mineness is the eternal.
कर्म केचित्प्रशंसन्ति मन्दबुद्धितरा नराः ये तु बुद्धा महात्मानो न प्रशंसन्ति कर्म ते
M. N. Dutt: Some who led by bad understanding speak highly of action. Those, however, who are numbered among the great ancients never speak highly of action.
कर्मणा जायते जन्तुर्मूर्तिमान्षोडशात्मकः पुरुषं सृजतेऽविद्या अग्राह्यममृताशिनम्
M. N. Dutt: By action is a creature born with body which is made up of the sixteen. (True) Knowledge swallows up Purusha. This is what is highly acceptable to eaters of ambrosia.
तस्मात्कर्मसु निःस्नेहा ये केचित्पारदर्शिनः विद्यामयोऽयं पुरुषो न तु कर्ममयः स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, those whose vision extends to the other end have no attachment to actions. This Purusha, however is full of knowledge and not full of action.
Supplementary Passages:
14.50.32 After 32, Dn1 D4-6 ins.: *91 य एवममृतं नित्यमग्राह्यं शश्वदक्षरम् वश्यात्मानमसंश्लिष्टं यो वेद न मृतो भवेत्
अपूर्वममृतं नित्यं य एनमविचारिणम् य एनं विन्दतेऽऽत्मानमग्राह्यममृताशिनम् अग्राह्योऽमृतो भवति य एभिः कारणैर्ध्रुवः
M. N. Dutt: He who thus understands the Soul to which there is nothing prior, which is uncreated, immutable, unconquered, and incomprehensible even to those who are eaters of nectar, certainly becomes himself incomprehensible and immortal through these means.
अपोह्य सर्वसंकल्पान्संयम्यात्मानमात्मनि स तद्ब्रह्म शुभं वेत्ति यस्माद्भूयो न विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: Removing all impressions and controlling the soul in the soul, he understands that auspicious Brahma than which nothing greater exists.
प्रसादेनैव सत्त्वस्य प्रसादं समवाप्नुयात् लक्षणं हि प्रसादस्य यथा स्यात्स्वप्नदर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: Upon the understanding becoming clear, he succeeds in acquiring tranquillity. The mark of tranquillity is like that what takes place in a dream.
गतिरेषा तु मुक्तानां ये ज्ञानपरिनिष्ठिताः प्रवृत्तयश्च याः सर्वाः पश्यन्ति परिणामजाः
M. N. Dutt: This is the end of those liberated ones who are intent on knowledge. They sees all those movements which are born of successive developments.
एषा गतिरसक्तानामेष धर्मः सनातनः एषा ज्ञानवतां प्राप्तिरेतद्वृत्तमनिन्दितम्
M. N. Dutt: This is the end of those who are unattached to the world. This is the eternal practice. This is the acquisition of men of knowledge. This is the uncensured made of conduct.
Supplementary Passages:
14.50.37 After 37, G3 ins.: *92 निःसङ्गेनैव तत्सर्वं निराशीपादलोपनात्
समेन सर्वभूतेषु निःस्पृहेण निराशिषा शक्या गतिरियं गन्तुं सर्वत्र समदर्शिना
M. N. Dutt: This end is capable of being attained by one who is alike to all creatures, who is without attachment, who is without expectations, and who looks equally on all things.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं मया विप्रर्षिसत्तमाः एवमाचरत क्षिप्रं ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यथ
M. N. Dutt: I have now described everything to you, O foremost of twice-born Rishis! Do you act thus immediately, you will then acquire success.
गुरुरुवाच इत्युक्तास्ते तु मुनयो ब्रह्मणा गुरुणा तथा कृतवन्तो महात्मानस्ततो लोकानवाप्नुवन्
M. N. Dutt: The Preceptor said, Thus addressed by the preceptor Brahman, those great sages acted accordingly and then attained to many happy regions.
त्वमप्येतन्महाभाग यथोक्तं ब्रह्मणो वचः सम्यगाचर शुद्धात्मंस्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Do you also, O blessed one, duly act according to the words of Brahman as described by me, O you of pure soul. You will then acquire success.
वासुदेव उवाच इत्युक्तः स तदा शिष्यो गुरुणा धर्ममुत्तमम् चकार सर्वं कौन्तेय ततो मोक्षमवाप्तवान्
M. N. Dutt: Thus instructed in the principles of high religion by the preceptor, the pupil. O son of Kunti, did everything accordingly and then attained to Liberation.
कृतकृत्यश्च स तदा शिष्यः कुरुकुलोद्वह तत्पदं समनुप्राप्तो यत्र गत्वा न शोचति
M. N. Dutt: Having done all that he should have done, the pupil, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, attained to that seat going where one has not to grieve.
अर्जुन उवाच को न्वसौ ब्राह्मणः कृष्ण कश्च शिष्यो जनार्दन श्रोतव्यं चेन्मयैतद्वै तत्त्वमाचक्ष्व मे विभो
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said Who, indeed, was was that Brahmana, O Krishna, and who the pupil, O Janardana! Truly, if am worthy of hearing it, do you then tell me, O Lord!
वासुदेव उवाच अहं गुरुर्महाबाहो मनः शिष्यं च विद्धि मे त्वत्प्रीत्या गुह्यमेतच्च कथितं मे धनंजय
M. N. Dutt: I am the preceptor, O mighty armed one, and know that the inind is my pupil. Through my affection for you. O Dhananjaya, I have described this mystery to you.
मयि चेदस्ति ते प्रीतिर्नित्यं कुरुकुलोद्वह अध्यात्ममेतच्छ्रुत्वा त्वं सम्यगाचर सुव्रत
M. N. Dutt: If you have any love for me, O perpetuator of Kuru family, do you then, after having heard these instructions about the Soul, always act only, O you of excellent vows.
ततस्त्वं सम्यगाचीर्णे धर्मेऽस्मिन्कुरुनन्दन सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा मोक्षं प्राप्स्यसि केवलम्
M. N. Dutt: Then when this religion has been duly practised, O destroyer of foes, you will become freed from all your sins and attain to perfect liberation.
पूर्वमप्येतदेवोक्तं युद्धकाल उपस्थिते मया तव महाबाहो तस्मादत्र मनः कुरु
M. N. Dutt: Formerly, when the hour of battle came, this very religion, O you of mighty-arins, was described by me. Do you, therefore, set your mind on it.
मया तु भरतश्रेष्ठ चिरदृष्टः पिता विभो तमहं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि संमते तव फल्गुन
M. N. Dutt: And now, O chief of Bharata's race, it is long since that I saw the lord my father. I wish to see him again, with your leave, O Phalguna.
वैशंपायन उवाच इत्युक्तवचनं कृष्णं प्रत्युवाच धनंजयः गच्छावो नगरं कृष्ण गजसाह्वयमद्य वै
M. N. Dutt: Dhananjaya replied to Krishna who had said so. We shall go today from this town to Hastinapur.
Supplementary Passages:
14.50.50 After 50b, T G M4 (inf. lin. sec. m.) ins.: *93 यदिष्टं कुरु सर्वस्यापीश्वरोऽस्मान्प्रपालय नमस्ते सर्वलोकात्मन्नारायण परात्पर मनोमलात्तपोऽशक्यं कर्म चाविद्यया हतम् दानमप्यर्थदोषेण नाम तस्मात्कलौ स्मरेत् यदि गन्तुं कृता बुद्धिर्वासुदेव नमोऽस्तु ते
समेत्य तत्र राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् समनुज्ञाप्य दुर्धर्षं स्वां पुरीं यातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Meeting king Yudhishthira of virtuous soul there, and informing him you shall then go to your own city.