Anushasana Parva · Adhyaya 39

The Dissolution of the World and the Presiding Powers

Sanatkumara continues his teaching to Narada. He names the lords of the downward, sideways and upward creations, then describes how at the end of a kalpa the fire of time burns the world and each element dissolves into the next, from earth to water, fire, air, space, mind, egoism and finally Brahma himself. He then lists, for each of the five elements, the organs of action and the mind, intellect and egoism, the spiritual, elemental and divine aspects, and compares the Unmanifest's creating and withdrawing to the sun's rays, the waves and the tortoise. Bhishma closes by naming the reward of hearing it.

Adhyaya 38 All adhyayas Adhyaya 40

सनत्कुमार उवाच · Sanatkumara said

Verse 1 (13.39.1)

अधःस्रोतसि सर्गे च तिर्यक्स्रोतसि चैव हि । एताभ्यामीश्वरं विन्द्यादूर्ध्वस्रोतस्तथैव च ॥

adhaḥsrotasi sarge ca tiryaksrotasi caiva hi | etābhyāmīśvaraṃ vindyādūrdhvasrotastathaiva ca

In the downward-flowing creation and in the sideways-flowing creation, and likewise in the upward-flowing: through these one should know the Lord.

Note on the text: Wikisource row held the speaker heading `सनत्कुमार उवाच (backtick removed) in the verse text; made it the speaker. Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0307-0308).

Verse 2 (13.39.2)

कर्मेन्द्रियाणां पञ्चानामीश्वरो बुद्धिगोचरः । बुद्धीन्द्रियाणामपि तु ईश्वरो मन उच्यते ॥

karmendriyāṇāṃ pañcānāmīśvaro buddhigocaraḥ | buddhīndriyāṇāmapi tu īśvaro mana ucyate

The lord of the five organs of action is the one who ranges in the intellect; of the organs of knowledge, the lord is said to be the mind.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0309-0310).

Verse 3 (13.39.3)

मनसः पञ्चभूतानि सगुणान्याहुरीश्वरम् । भूतानामीश्वरं विद्याद्ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् ॥

manasaḥ pañcabhūtāni saguṇānyāhurīśvaram | bhūtānāmīśvaraṃ vidyādbrahmāṇaṃ parameṣṭhinam

They say that the five elements with their qualities have the mind as their lord; know the lord of the elements to be Brahma, the Supreme Lord.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0311-0312).

Verse 4 (13.39.4)

भवान्हि कुशलश्चैव धर्मेष्वेषु परेषु वै । कालाग्निरह्नः कल्पान्ते जगद्दहति चांशुभिः ॥

bhavānhi kuśalaścaiva dharmeṣveṣu pareṣu vai | kālāgnirahnaḥ kalpānte jagaddahati cāṃśubhiḥ

You are skilled in these supreme dharmas. At the end of the kalpa, the Fire of Time burns the world with its rays by day.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0313-0314).

Verse 5 (13.39.5)

ततः सर्वाणि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च । महाभूतानि दग्धानि स्वां योनिं गमितानि वै ॥

tataḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca | mahābhūtāni dagdhāni svāṃ yoniṃ gamitāni vai

Then all beings, moving and unmoving, and the great elements are burned and returned to their source.

Note on the text: Wikisource स्वां योनिं (CE svayoniṃ) is kept as a variant. Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0315-0316).

Verse 6 (13.39.6)

कूर्मपृष्ठनिभा भूमिर्निर्दग्धकुशकण्टका । निर्वृक्षा निस्तृणा चैव दग्धा कालाग्निना तदा ॥

kūrmapṛṣṭhanibhā bhūmirnirdagdhakuśakaṇṭakā | nirvṛkṣā nistṛṇā caiva dagdhā kālāgninā tadā

The earth, like the back of a tortoise, its kusha grass and thorns burned away, treeless and grassless, is scorched by the fire of time.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0317-0318).

Verse 7 (13.39.7)

जगत्प्रलीनं जगति जगच्चापि प्रलीयते । नष्टगन्धा तदा सूक्ष्मा जलमेवाभवत्तदा ॥

jagatpralīnaṃ jagati jagaccāpi pralīyate | naṣṭagandhā tadā sūkṣmā jalamevābhavattadā

The world, dissolved, merges into the world, and the world itself dissolves. Then, its smell gone, subtle, it became nothing but water.

Note on the text: Corrected नष्टिगन्धा → नष्टगन्धा (misprint in Wikisource; नष्टिगन्धा is not a word; CE naṣṭagandhā). Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0319-0320).

Verse 8 (13.39.8)

ततो मयूखजालेन सूर्यस्त्वापीयते जलम् । रसात्मा लीयते चार्के तथा ब्राह्मणसत्तम ॥

tato mayūkhajālena sūryastvāpīyate jalam | rasātmā līyate cārke tathā brāhmaṇasattama

Then the sun drinks the water with its mass of rays, and the essence, taste, merges in the sun, O best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0321-0322).

Verse 9 (13.39.9)

अन्तरिक्षगतान्भूतान्प्रदहत्यनलस्तदा । अग्निभूतं तदा व्योम भवतीत्यभिचक्षते ॥

antarikṣagatānbhūtānpradahatyanalastadā | agnibhūtaṃ tadā vyoma bhavatītyabhicakṣate

Then fire burns the beings that are in the atmosphere, and the sky becomes, as they say, made of fire.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0323-0324).

Verse 10 (13.39.10)

तं तथा विस्फुरद्वह्निं वायुर्जरयते महान् । महता बलवेगेन आदत्ते तं हि भानुमान् ॥

taṃ tathā visphuradvahniṃ vāyurjarayate mahān | mahatā balavegena ādatte taṃ hi bhānumān

That blazing fire the great wind devours, and the radiant sun takes it in with mighty force and speed.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0325-0326).

Verse 11 (13.39.11)

वायोरपि गुणं स्पर्शमाकाशं ग्रसते यदा । प्रशाम्यति तदा वायुः खं तु तिष्ठति नानदत् ॥

vāyorapi guṇaṃ sparśamākāśaṃ grasate yadā | praśāmyati tadā vāyuḥ khaṃ tu tiṣṭhati nānadat

When space swallows even the wind's quality, touch, the wind is stilled, and space stands without a sound.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0327-0328).

Verse 12 (13.39.12)

तस्य तं निनदं शब्दमादत्ते वै मनस्तदा । स शब्दगुणहीनात्मा तिष्ठते मूर्तिमांस्तु वै ॥

tasya taṃ ninadaṃ śabdamādatte vai manastadā | sa śabdaguṇahīnātmā tiṣṭhate mūrtimāṃstu vai

Then the mind takes up its sound, its resonance; bereft of the quality of sound, it remains, having form.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0329-0330).

Verse 13 (13.39.13)

भुङ्क्ते च स तदा व्योम मनस्तात दिगात्मकम् । व्योमात्मनि विनष्टे तु सङ्कल्पात्मा विवर्धते ॥

bhuṅkte ca sa tadā vyoma manastāta digātmakam | vyomātmani vinaṣṭe tu saṅkalpātmā vivardhate

Then the mind, dear one, whose nature is the directions, consumes space; and when space is destroyed, that whose nature is intention grows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0331-0332).

Verse 14 (13.39.14)

सङ्कल्पात्मानमादत्ते चित्तं वै स्वेन तेजसा । चित्तं ग्रसत्यहङ्कारस्तदा वै मुनिसत्तम ॥

saṅkalpātmānamādatte cittaṃ vai svena tejasā | cittaṃ grasatyahaṅkārastadā vai munisattama

By its own radiance the thinking mind takes up that whose nature is intention; then, best of sages, egoism swallows the thinking mind.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0333-0334).

Verse 15 (13.39.15)

विनष्टे च तदा चित्ते अहङ्कारोऽभवन्महान् । अहङ्कारं तदादत्ते महान्ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः ॥

vinaṣṭe ca tadā citte ahaṅkāro'bhavanmahān | ahaṅkāraṃ tadādatte mahānbrahmā prajāpatiḥ

When the thinking mind is destroyed, the great egoism arises, and then the great Brahma, lord of creatures, takes up the egoism.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0335-0336).

Verse 16 (13.39.16)

अभिमाने विनष्टे तु महान्ब्रह्मा विराजते । तं तदा त्रिषु लोकेषु मूर्तिष्वेवाग्रमूर्तिजम् ॥

abhimāne vinaṣṭe tu mahānbrahmā virājate | taṃ tadā triṣu lokeṣu mūrtiṣvevāgramūrtijam

When self-conceit is destroyed, the great Brahma shines forth; him, then, in the three worlds, born as the first form among forms.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0337-0338).

Verse 17 (13.39.17)

येन विश्वमिदं कृत्स्नं निर्मितं वै गुणार्थिना । मूर्तं जलेचरमपि व्यवसायगुणात्मकम् । ग्रसिष्णुर्भगवान्ब्रह्मा व्यक्ताव्यक्तमसंशयम् ॥

yena viśvamidaṃ kṛtsnaṃ nirmitaṃ vai guṇārthinā | mūrtaṃ jalecaramapi vyavasāyaguṇātmakam | grasiṣṇurbhagavānbrahmā vyaktāvyaktamasaṃśayam

By whom this whole universe was made for the sake of the qualities, the embodied one who moves in the waters, whose nature is resolve, the blessed Brahma who will swallow the manifest and the unmanifest, without doubt.

Note on the text: Wikisource मूर्तं जलेचरमपि … व्यक्ताव्यक्तमसंशयम् (CE mūrtiṃ jaleśvaram api … asaṃśayaḥ) is kept as a variant. Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0339-0341).

Verse 18 (13.39.18)

एषोऽव्ययस्य प्रलयो मया ते परिकीर्तितः । अध्यात्ममधिभूतं च अधिदैवं च श्रूयताम् ॥

eṣo'vyayasya pralayo mayā te parikīrtitaḥ | adhyātmamadhibhūtaṃ ca adhidaivaṃ ca śrūyatām

Thus I have told you the dissolution of the Imperishable. Now hear of the spiritual, the elemental and the divine.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0342-0343).

Verse 19 (13.39.19)

आकाशं प्रथमं भूतं श्रोत्रमध्यात्मं शब्दोधिभूतं दिशोधिदैवतं ॥

ākāśaṃ prathamaṃ bhūtaṃ śrotramadhyātmaṃ śabdodhibhūtaṃ diśodhidaivataṃ

Space is the first element; the ear is its spiritual aspect, sound the elemental, and the directions the divine.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0344-0347 (the prose block, whose lines are printed in scrambled order with the numerals 1-9 marking the items; this item corresponds to the matching clause there)).

Verse 20 (13.39.20)

वायुर्द्वितीयं भूतं त्वगध्यात्मं स्पर्शोधिभूतं विद्युदधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

vāyurdvitīyaṃ bhūtaṃ tvagadhyātmaṃ sparśodhibhūtaṃ vidyudadhidaivataṃ syāt

Air is the second element; the skin is its spiritual aspect, touch the elemental, and lightning the divine.

Verse 21 (13.39.21)

ज्योतिस्तृतीयं भूतं चक्षुरध्यात्मं रूपमधिभूतं सूर्योधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

jyotistṛtīyaṃ bhūtaṃ cakṣuradhyātmaṃ rūpamadhibhūtaṃ sūryodhidaivataṃ syāt

Fire is the third element; the eye is its spiritual aspect, form the elemental, and the sun the divine.

Verse 22 (13.39.22)

आपश्चतुर्थं भूतं जिह्वाध्यात्मं रसोधिभूतं वरुणोधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

āpaścaturthaṃ bhūtaṃ jihvādhyātmaṃ rasodhibhūtaṃ varuṇodhidaivataṃ syāt

Water is the fourth element; the tongue is its spiritual aspect, taste the elemental, and Varuna the divine.

Verse 23 (13.39.23)

पृथिवी पञ्चमं भूतं ध्राणमध्यात्मं गन्धोधिभूतं वायुरधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

pṛthivī pañcamaṃ bhūtaṃ dhrāṇamadhyātmaṃ gandhodhibhūtaṃ vāyuradhidaivataṃ syāt

Earth is the fifth element; the nose is its spiritual aspect, smell the elemental, and the wind-god the divine.

Verse 24 (13.39.24)

पाञ्चभौतिकमेतच्चतुष्टयं वर्णितम्। अत ऊर्ध्वमिन्द्रियमनुवर्णयिष्यामः ॥

pāñcabhautikametaccatuṣṭayaṃ varṇitam | ata ūrdhvamindriyamanuvarṇayiṣyāmaḥ

This fourfold account of the five elements has been described. Beyond this we shall describe the organs.

Verse 25 (13.39.25)

पादावध्यात्मं गन्तव्यमधिभूतं विष्णुरधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

pādāvadhyātmaṃ gantavyamadhibhūtaṃ viṣṇuradhidaivataṃ syāt

The feet are the spiritual aspect, what is to be walked to the elemental, and Vishnu the divine.

Verse 26 (13.39.26)

हस्तावध्यात्मं कर्तव्यमधिभूतमिन्द्रोऽधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

hastāvadhyātmaṃ kartavyamadhibhūtamindro'dhidaivataṃ syāt

The hands are the spiritual aspect, what is to be done the elemental, and Indra the divine.

Verse 27 (13.39.27)

पायुरध्यात्मं विसर्गोऽधिभूतं मित्रोऽधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

pāyuradhyātmaṃ visargo'dhibhūtaṃ mitro'dhidaivataṃ syāt

The excretory organ is the spiritual aspect, evacuation the elemental, and Mitra the divine.

Verse 28 (13.39.28)

उपस्थोऽध्यात्ममानन्दोऽधिभूतं प्रजापतिरधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

upastho'dhyātmamānando'dhibhūtaṃ prajāpatiradhidaivataṃ syāt

The generative organ is the spiritual aspect, delight the elemental, and Prajapati the divine.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रजापतिरवधिदैवतं → प्रजापतिरधिदैवतं (misprint in Wikisource; extra व; the formula is अधिदैवतं, as in the neighbouring verses). Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0344-0347 (the prose block, whose lines are printed in scrambled order with the numerals 1-9 marking the items; this item corresponds to the matching clause there)).

Verse 29 (13.39.29)

वागध्यात्मं वक्तव्यमधिभूतमग्निरधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

vāgadhyātmaṃ vaktavyamadhibhūtamagniradhidaivataṃ syāt

Speech is the spiritual aspect, what is to be spoken the elemental, and Agni the divine.

Verse 30 (13.39.30)

मनोऽध्यात्मं मन्तव्यमधिभूतं चन्द्रमा अधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

mano'dhyātmaṃ mantavyamadhibhūtaṃ candramā adhidaivataṃ syāt

The mind is the spiritual aspect, what is to be thought the elemental, and the Moon the divine.

Verse 31 (13.39.31)

अहङ्कारोऽध्यात्ममभिमानोऽधिभूतं विरिञ्चोऽधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

ahaṅkāro'dhyātmamabhimāno'dhibhūtaṃ viriñco'dhidaivataṃ syāt

Egoism is the spiritual aspect, self-conceit the elemental, and Virinchi the divine.

Verse 32 (13.39.32)

बुद्धिरध्यात्मं व्यवसायोऽधिभूतं ब्रह्माधिदैवतं स्यात् ॥

buddhiradhyātmaṃ vyavasāyo'dhibhūtaṃ brahmādhidaivataṃ syāt

The intellect is the spiritual aspect, resolve the elemental, and Brahma the divine.

Verse 33 (13.39.33)

एवमव्यक्तो भगवान्सकृत्कृत्स्नान्कुरुते सम्हरते च। कस्मात्क्रीडार्थम् ॥

evamavyakto bhagavānsakṛtkṛtsnānkurute samharate ca | kasmātkrīḍārtham

Thus the blessed Unmanifest brings forth all things at once and draws them back. Why? For play.

Verse 34 (13.39.34)

यथाऽऽदित्योऽंशुजालं क्षिपति सम्हरते च एवमव्यक्तो गुणान्सृजति सम्हरते च ॥

yathā''dityo'ṃśujālaṃ kṣipati samharate ca evamavyakto guṇānsṛjati samharate ca

As the sun sends out its mass of rays and draws them back, so the Unmanifest puts forth the qualities and draws them back.

Note on the text: Corrected यथाऽऽदित्योंऽशुजालं → यथाऽऽदित्योऽंशुजालं (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara and avagraha transposed; CE yathādityo 'ṃśujālaṃ). Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0344-0347 (the prose block, whose lines are printed in scrambled order with the numerals 1-9 marking the items; this item corresponds to the matching clause there)).

Verse 35 (13.39.35)

यथाऽर्णवादूर्मिमालानिचयश्चोर्ध्वमुत्तिष्ठते सम्हरते च । यथा चान्तरिक्षादभ्रमाकाशमुत्तिष्ठति स्तनितगर्जितोन्मिश्रं तद्वत्तत्रैव प्रणाशात् । एवमव्यक्तो गुणान्सृजति सम्हरति च ॥

yathā'rṇavādūrmimālānicayaścordhvamuttiṣṭhate samharate ca | yathā cāntarikṣādabhramākāśamuttiṣṭhati stanitagarjitonmiśraṃ tadvattatraiva praṇāśāt | evamavyakto guṇānsṛjati samharati ca

As a mass of waves rises up from the ocean and is drawn back, and as a cloud rises from the atmosphere into the sky, mingled with thunder and roaring, and vanishes right there, so the Unmanifest puts forth the qualities and draws them back.

Note on the text: Wikisource अभ्रमाकाशम् (CE abhrakośam) is kept as a variant. Corrected मालानिच यश्चोर्ध्व → मालानिचयश्चोर्ध्व (misprint in Wikisource; word wrongly split; CE ūrmimālānicayaś cordhvam). Corrected प्राणशत् → प्रणाशात् (misprint in Wikisource; प्राणशत् is not a word; CE praṇāśāt). Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0344-0347 (the prose block, whose lines are printed in scrambled order with the numerals 1-9 marking the items; this item corresponds to the matching clause there)).

Verse 36 (13.39.36)

यथा कूर्मोऽङ्गानि कामात्प्रसारयते पुनश्च प्रवेशयति एवमव्यक्तो भगवान्लोकान्प्रकाशयति प्रवेशयते च ॥

yathā kūrmo'ṅgāni kāmātprasārayate punaśca praveśayati evamavyakto bhagavānlokānprakāśayati praveśayate ca

As a tortoise at will extends its limbs and draws them in again, so the blessed Unmanifest reveals the worlds and draws them in.

Verse 37 (13.39.37)

एवं चेतनश्च भगवान्पञ्चविंशः शुचिस्तेनाधिष्ठिता प्रकृतिश्चेतयति नित्यं सहधर्मा च। भगवतोऽव्यक्तस्य क्रियावतोक्रियावतश्च प्रकृतिः क्रियावानजरामरः क्षेत्रज्ञो नारायणाख्यः पुरुषः ॥

evaṃ cetanaśca bhagavānpañcaviṃśaḥ śucistenādhiṣṭhitā prakṛtiścetayati nityaṃ sahadharmā ca | bhagavato'vyaktasya kriyāvatokriyāvataśca prakṛtiḥ kriyāvānajarāmaraḥ kṣetrajño nārāyaṇākhyaḥ puruṣaḥ

So the conscious Lord, the twenty-fifth, the pure one, presides; and Prakriti, presided over by him, ever stirs into awareness along with her own nature. Prakriti belongs to the blessed Unmanifest, who is both active and inactive; Prakriti is the active one, and the Knower of the Field, ageless and deathless, is the Purusha called Narayana.

भीष्म उवाच · Bhishma said

Verse 38 (13.39.38)

इत्येतन्नारदायोक्तं कुमारेण च धीमता । एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्विजो राजन्सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत् ॥

ityetannāradāyoktaṃ kumāreṇa ca dhīmatā | etacchrutvā dvijo rājansarvayajñaphalaṃ labhet

This is what was told to Narada by the wise Kumara. A brahmin who hears this, O king, obtains the fruit of all sacrifices.

Note on the text: Removed the stray quotation mark and doubled danda printed after लभेत् (page: लभेत्।।'). Speaker heading भीष्म उवाच (13-39-38x) on the page. Not in the critical edition text proper; found as Appendix I, No. 3 (the passage printed after 13.13.6d, lines 13.13.6d@003_0348-0349).

Adhyaya 38 All adhyayas Adhyaya 40