Critical Edition
देव उवाच कामं देवापि मां विप्र न विजानन्ति तत्त्वतः त्वत्प्रीत्या तु प्रवक्ष्यामि यथेदं विसृजाम्यहम्
M. N. Dutt: The Deity said: O Brahmana, even the celestials do not know me truly. But as I am pleased with you, I shall tell you how I created the universe.
पितृभक्तोऽसि विप्रर्षे मां चैव शरणं गतः अतो दृष्टोऽस्मि ते साक्षाद्ब्रह्मचर्यं च ते महत्
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana Rishi, you have filial piety and you have also sought my protection; you have also seen me with your eyes and your Brahmacharya is also great.
आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ताः संज्ञानाम कृतं मया तेन नारायणोऽस्म्युक्तो मम तद्ध्ययनं सदा
M. N. Dutt: In days of yore, I called the waters by the name of Nara and because the waters have ever been my Ayana (abode), I am called Narayana.
अहं नारायणो नाम प्रभवः शाश्वतोऽव्ययः विधाता सर्वभूतानां संहर्ता च द्विजोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of Brahmana, I am Narayana, the source of all things, the eternal, the unchangeable; I am the creator of all things and also the destroyer of all.
अहं विष्णुरहं ब्रह्मा शक्रश्चाहं सुराधिपः अहं वैश्रवणो राजा यमः प्रेताधिपस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: I am Vishnu, I am Brahma, I am Indra, the lord of the celestials. I am king Vaisravana (Kubera), I am Yama, the king of the deceased spirits.
अहं शिवश्च सोमश्च कश्यपश्च प्रजापतिः अहं धाता विधाता च यज्ञश्चाहं द्विजोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of Brahmanas, I am Shiva, I am Soma, I am Kashyapa, I am the lord of all treated things; I am Dhata, Vidhata, I am the sacrifice embodied.
अग्निरास्यं क्षितिः पादौ चन्द्रादित्यौ च लोचने सदिशं च नभः कायो वायुर्मनसि मे स्थितः
AI Translation: Agni is the mouth, the earth is the feet, the moon and the sun are the eyes, the sky with the directions is the body, the wind is in my mind.
Supplementary Passages:
3.187.7 After 7ab, N ins.: *938 द्यौर्मूर्धा खं दिशः श्रोत्रे तथापः स्वेदसंभवाः
मया क्रतुशतैरिष्टं बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः यजन्ते वेदविदुषो मां देवयजने स्थितम्
AI Translation: I have performed hundreds of sacrifices, with abundant gifts to the Brahmins. Those who know the Vedas worship me, established in the sacrifice to the gods.
पृथिव्यां क्षत्रियेन्द्राश्च पार्थिवाः स्वर्गकाङ्क्षिणः यजन्ते मां तथा वैश्याः स्वर्गलोकजिगीषवः
AI Translation: The Kshatriya lords of the earth, desiring heaven, Worship me thus, O Brahmanas, desiring heaven.
चतुःसमुद्रपर्यन्तां मेरुमन्दरभूषणाम् शेषो भूत्वाहमेवैतां धारयामि वसुंधराम्
AI Translation: I am the one who, having become Śeṣa, supports this earth, adorned with Meru and Mandara, extending to the four oceans.
वाराहं रूपमास्थाय मयेयं जगती पुरा मज्जमाना जले विप्र वीर्येणासीत्समुद्धृता
AI Translation: Having assumed the form of a boar in the past, I, O Brahman, lifted up this earth which was sinking in the water by my power.
अग्निश्च वडवावक्त्रो भूत्वाहं द्विजसत्तम पिबाम्यपः समाविद्धास्ताश्चैव विसृजाम्यहम्
AI Translation: O best of Brahmanas, I, becoming a cow, drink the water mixed with fire and also discharge it.
ब्रह्म वक्त्रं भुजौ क्षत्रमूरू मे संश्रिता विशः पादौ शूद्रा भजन्ते मे विक्रमेण क्रमेण च
AI Translation: My face is Brahman, my arms are the Kshatriya, my thighs are the Vaishya, and my feet are the Shudra. They serve me by my prowess and by my order.
ऋग्वेदः सामवेदश्च यजुर्वेदोऽप्यथर्वणः मत्तः प्रादुर्भवन्त्येते मामेव प्रविशन्ति च
AI Translation: The Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda, and the Atharva Veda All these originate from me and enter into me.
यतयः शान्तिपरमा यतात्मानो मुमुक्षवः कामक्रोधद्वेषमुक्ता निःसङ्गा वीतकल्मषाः
AI Translation: Those who are ascetics, intent on peace, self-controlled, seeking liberation, Free from desire, anger, and hatred, unattached, free from sin,
सत्त्वस्था निरहंकारा नित्यमध्यात्मकोविदाः मामेव सततं विप्राश्चिन्तयन्त उपासते
AI Translation: They are established in the Self, free from ego, always learned in the Self. The Brahmins always meditate on me alone, contemplating.
अहं संवर्तको ज्योतिरहं संवर्तको यमः अहं संवर्तकः सूर्यो अहं संवर्तकोऽनिलः
AI Translation: I am the light of dissolution, I am the Yama of dissolution, I am the Sun of dissolution, I am the wind of dissolution.
तारारूपाणि दृश्यन्ते यान्येतानि नभस्तले मम रूपाण्यथैतानि विद्धि त्वं द्विजसत्तम
AI Translation: These forms that are seen in the sky are my forms. Know them, O best of Brahmins.
रत्नाकराः समुद्राश्च सर्व एव चतुर्दिशम् वसनं शयनं चैव निलयं चैव विद्धि मे
AI Translation: The oceans, the sources of jewels, are all in the four directions. Know that they are my clothing, bed, and abode.
Supplementary Passages:
3.187.19 After 19, B Dn ins.: *939 मयैव सुविभक्तास्ते देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये
कामं क्रोधं च हर्षं च भयं मोहं तथैव च ममैव विद्धि रूपाणि सर्वाण्येतानि सत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O excellent man, know that desire, anger, joy, fear and ignorance are all different forms of myself.
प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा विप्र यत्कृत्वा कर्मशोभनम् सत्यं दानं तपश्चोग्रमहिंसा चैव जन्तुषु
AI Translation: Those who perform good deeds, O Brahmin, attain heaven. Truth, charity, severe austerities, and non-violence towards beings.
मद्विधानेन विहिता मम देहविहारिणः मयाभिभूतविज्ञाना विचेष्टन्ते न कामतः
AI Translation: Those who move in my body, who are created by my rules, whose consciousness is overcome by me, do not move as they wish.
सम्यग्वेदमधीयाना यजन्तो विविधैर्मखैः शान्तात्मानो जितक्रोधाः प्राप्नुवन्ति द्विजातयः
AI Translation: Those who study the Vedas properly, performing various sacrifices, and those who have peaceful minds and controlled anger, O twice-born ones,
प्राप्तुं न शक्यो यो विद्वन्नरैर्दुष्कृतकर्मभिः लोभाभिभूतैः कृपणैरनार्यैरकृतात्मभिः
AI Translation: One who is not able to attain that, O knower of the Vedas, by men with sinful deeds, By the greedy, the miserly, the ignoble, those who have not purified their souls,
तं मां महाफलं विद्धि पदं सुकृतकर्मणः दुष्प्रापं विप्रमूढानां मार्गं योगैर्निषेवितम्
AI Translation: Know me to be the great fruit, the state of one who has performed good deeds, Difficult to attain for the ignorant and deluded, the path to be followed by means of yoga.
Supplementary Passages:
3.187.25 After 25ab, M1 ins.: *940 त्वमेवाप्यं विजानीहि नराणां भावितात्मनाम्
यदा यदा च धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति सत्तम अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्
M. N. Dutt: O excellent man, at those times when virtue and morality decrease in the world) and sin and immorality increase, I create myself.
दैत्या हिंसानुरक्ताश्च अवध्याः सुरसत्तमैः राक्षसाश्चापि लोकेऽस्मिन्यदोत्पत्स्यन्ति दारुणाः
AI Translation: The demons are devoted to violence and cannot be killed by the best of the gods. And the demons who will be born in this world will be terrible.
तदाहं संप्रसूयामि गृहेषु शुभकर्मणाम् प्रविष्टो मानुषं देहं सर्वं प्रशमयाम्यहम्
AI Translation: I am born in the houses of those who perform good deeds. Having entered a human body, I pacify everything.
सृष्ट्वा देवमनुष्यांश्च गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसान् स्थावराणि च भूतानि संहराम्यात्ममायया
M. N. Dutt: By my own Maya I create the celestials, the men, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas and all the mobile and immobile things. And I again destroy them all (when the time comes).
कर्मकाले पुनर्देहमनुचिन्त्य सृजाम्यहम् प्रविश्य मानुषं देहं मर्यादाबन्धकारणात्
M. N. Dutt: For the preservation of virtue and morality I assume a human form and when the times come I assumes form that are inconceivable.
श्वेतः कृतयुगे वर्णः पीतस्त्रेतायुगे मम रक्तो द्वापरमासाद्य कृष्णः कलियुगे तथा
M. N. Dutt: In the Satya Yuga I become white, in the Treta Yuga I become yellow, in the Dvapara I become red and in the Kali Yuga I become black.
त्रयो भागा ह्यधर्मस्य तस्मिन्काले भवन्त्युत अन्तकाले च संप्राप्ते कालो भूत्वातिदारुणः त्रैलोक्यं नाशयाम्येकः कृत्स्नं स्थावरजङ्गमम्
M. N. Dutt: In that Kali Yuga, the virtue remains only three fourths. When the end of Kali Yuga comes, I assume the fearful form of death and destroy all the three worlds with all their mobile and immobile creatures. I then cover the universe with three steps. I am the soul of the world, I am the source of all happiness.
Supplementary Passages:
3.187.32 After 32ab, S ins.: *941 यदा भवति मे वर्णः कृष्णो वै मुनिसत्तम
अहं त्रिवर्त्मा सर्वात्मा सर्वलोकसुखावहः अभिभूः सर्वगोऽनन्तो हृषीकेश उरुक्रमः
AI Translation: I am the three-fold path, the universal soul, the bestower of happiness to all worlds, The overlord, the all-pervading, the infinite, the lord of
कालचक्रं नयाम्येको ब्रह्मन्नहमरूपि वै शमनं सर्वभूतानां सर्वलोककृतोद्यमम्
AI Translation: I am the sole controller of the wheel of time, O Brahman, I am the formless one. I am the pacifier of all beings, the one who has undertaken all the efforts for
Supplementary Passages:
3.187.34 Ś1 K D1-3.5 ins. after 34: B Dc Dn D4.6, after 35: *942 सर्वलोके च मां भक्ताः पूजयन्ति च सर्वशः
एवं प्रणिहितः सम्यङ्मयात्मा मुनिसत्तम सर्वभूतेषु विप्रेन्द्र न च मां वेत्ति कश्चन
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of Rishis, I am the destroyer of all creatures and I am also the cause of all efforts of all creatures. My soul completely pervades all creatures. O chief of Brahmanas, none knows me.
यच्च किंचित्त्वया प्राप्तं मयि क्लेशात्मकं द्विज सुखोदयाय तत्सर्वं श्रेयसे च तवानघ
AI Translation: Whatever suffering you have experienced on my account, O Brāhmaṇa, all that, O sinless one, has been for your happiness and welfare.
यच्च किंचित्त्वया लोके दृष्टं स्थावरजङ्गमम् विहितः सर्वथैवासौ ममात्मा मुनिसत्तम
AI Translation: Whatever is seen in the world, whether moving or unmoving, It is all my Self, O best of sages.
अर्धं मम शरीरस्य सर्वलोकपितामहः अहं नारायणो नाम शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः
AI Translation: The grandfather of all the worlds has taken half of my body. I am known as Narayana, the holder of the conch, discus, and mace.
यावद्युगानां विप्रर्षे सहस्रपरिवर्तनम् तावत्स्वपिमि विश्वात्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः
AI Translation: For as many thousands of yugas as there are, O brahmin sage, For that long I sleep, the all-pervading soul, the grandfather of all worlds.
एवं सर्वमहं कालमिहासे मुनिसत्तम अशिशुः शिशुरूपेण यावद्ब्रह्मा न बुध्यते
AI Translation: Thus, O best of sages, I have spent all this time here. Until Brahma does not know, I have been a child in the form of a child.
मया च विप्र दत्तोऽयं वरस्ते ब्रह्मरूपिणा असकृत्परितुष्टेन विप्रर्षिगणपूजित
AI Translation: And this boon has been given to you by me, O Brāhman, in the form of Brahmā, by one who is repeatedly satisfied, and worshipped by hosts of Brāhman
सर्वमेकार्णवं दृष्ट्वा नष्टं स्थावरजङ्गमम् विक्लवोऽसि मया ज्ञातस्ततस्ते दर्शितं जगत्
AI Translation: Seeing the entire world as a single ocean, with the immobile and mobile creatures destroyed, you were distressed. I knew that, and so I showed you the world.
अभ्यन्तरं शरीरस्य प्रविष्टोऽसि यदा मम दृष्ट्वा लोकं समस्तं च विस्मितो नावबुध्यसे
AI Translation: When you have entered inside my body, seeing the entire world, you are amazed and do not understand.
ततोऽसि वक्त्राद्विप्रर्षे द्रुतं निःसारितो मया आख्यातस्ते मया चात्मा दुर्ज्ञेयोऽपि सुरासुरैः
AI Translation: Then, O Brāhmaṇa sage, the sword was quickly thrown out of my mouth by me. My self, which is difficult to be known even by gods and demons, has been told
यावत्स भगवान्ब्रह्मा न बुध्यति महातपाः तावत्त्वमिह विप्रर्षे विश्रब्धश्चर वै सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana Rishi, till then, live here happily and trustfully.
ततो विबुद्धे तस्मिंस्तु सर्वलोकपितामहे एकीभूतो हि स्रक्ष्यामि शरीराद्द्विजसत्तम
AI Translation: Then, when that grandfather of the entire world has awakened, I will create, having become one, from my body, O best of twice-born.
आकाशं पृथिवीं ज्योतिर्वायुं सलिलमेव च लोके यच्च भवेच्छेषमिह स्थावरजङ्गमम्
AI Translation: The sky, the earth, the light, the wind, the water, and whatever else there is in the world, whether stationary or moving.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हितस्तात स देवः परमाद्भुतः प्रजाश्चेमाः प्रपश्यामि विचित्रा बहुधाकृताः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : O child, having said this that greatly wonderful deity disappeared. I then saw this varied and wonderful creation start into life.
एतद्दृष्टं मया राजंस्तस्मिन्प्राप्ते युगक्षये आश्चर्यं भरतश्रेष्ठ सर्वधर्मभृतां वर
M. N. Dutt: O king, O best of the Bharata race, O foremost of all virtuous men, I saw all this wonderful sight at the end of the Yuga.
Supplementary Passages:
3.187.49 After 49, B1 ins.: *943 सूतात्मानं समाहृत चतुर्द्दशविधानतः परमात्मानमाविश्य सुपित्यमित्तधी * *
यः स देवो मया दृष्टः पुरा पद्मनिभेक्षणः स एष पुरुषव्याघ्र संबन्धी ते जनार्दनः
M. N. Dutt: The lotus-eyed deity whom I saw in days of yore, that foremost of beings is Janardana (Krishna) who has now become your relative.
अस्यैव वरदानाद्धि स्मृतिर्न प्रजहाति माम् दीर्घमायुश्च कौन्तेय स्वच्छन्दमरणं तथा
M. N. Dutt: O son of Kunti, in consequence of the boon bestowed upon me by that deity O my child, memory does not fail, that the period of my life is long and that death itself is under my control.
स एष कृष्णो वार्ष्णेयः पुराणपुरुषो विभुः आस्ते हरिरचिन्त्यात्मा क्रीडन्निव महाभुजः
M. N. Dutt: That deity is Krishna, the descendant of Vrishni, the ancient supreme lord, the inconceivable Hari, the mighty-armed hero, who seems to sport (in the world).
एष धाता विधाता च संहर्ता चैव सात्वतः श्रीवत्सवक्षा गोविन्दः प्रजापतिपतिः प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: He is Dhata, Vidhata, the destroyer of all, the Eternal, the hearer of Srivatsa mark on his breast, he is Govinda, the lord of all creatures, the highest of the high.
दृष्ट्वेमं वृष्णिशार्दूलं स्मृतिर्मामियमागता आदिदेवमजं विष्णुं पुरुषं पीतवाससम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the chief of the Vrishnis, this Primeval Deity, this victorious God, wearing the yellow robe, my recollections come back to me.
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां पिता माता च माधवः गच्छध्वमेनं शरणं शरण्यं कौरवर्षभाः
M. N. Dutt: This descendant of Madhu (Krishna) is the father and mother of all creatures, O foremost of the Kurus, take refuge in this great protector.