The Reciter and the King Enter Brahma

Verse 1 (12.198.1)

किमुत्तरं तदा तौ स्म चक्रतुस्तस्य भाषिते । ब्राह्मणो वाऽथवा राजा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

kimuttaraṃ tadā tau sma cakratustasya bhāṣite | brāhmaṇo vā'thavā rājā tanme brūhi pitāmaha

What answer did the two then give to what he had said — the brahmin, or the king? Tell me that, grandfather.

Verse 2 (12.198.2)

अथवा तौ गतौ तत्र यदेतत्कीर्तितं त्वया । संवादो वा तयोः कोऽभूत्किं वा तौ तत्र चक्रतुः ॥

athavā tau gatau tatra yadetatkīrtitaṃ tvayā | saṃvādo vā tayoḥ ko'bhūtkiṃ vā tau tatra cakratuḥ

Or, when the two had gone there, as you have told — what talk passed between them, and what did the two do there?

Verse 3 (12.198.3)

तथेत्येवं प्रतिश्रुत्य धर्मं संपूज्य जापकः । यमं कालं च मृत्युं च स्वर्गं संपूज्य चार्हतः ॥

tathetyevaṃ pratiśrutya dharmaṃ saṃpūjya jāpakaḥ | yamaṃ kālaṃ ca mṛtyuṃ ca svargaṃ saṃpūjya cārhataḥ

Agreeing, “So be it,” the reciter honoured Dharma; he honoured Yama, Time, Death and Heaven, and the worthy ones as well.

Verse 4 (12.198.4)

पूर्वं ये चापरे तत्र समेता ब्राह्मणर्षभाः । सर्वान्संपूज्य शिरसा राजानं सोऽब्रवीद्द्विजः ॥

pūrvaṃ ye cāpare tatra sametā brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ | sarvānsaṃpūjya śirasā rājānaṃ so'bravīddvijaḥ

Having honoured with bowed head all the other eminent brahmins who had gathered there before, the brahmin spoke to the king.

Verse 5 (12.198.5)

फलेनानेन संयुक्तो राजर्षे गच्छ मुख्यताम् । भवता चाभ्यनुज्ञातो जपेयं भूय एव ह ॥

phalenānena saṃyukto rājarṣe gaccha mukhyatām | bhavatā cābhyanujñāto japeyaṃ bhūya eva ha

“O royal sage, you are joined with this fruit; go on to pre-eminence. With your leave, I shall go on reciting yet again.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the brahmin's direct speech to the king (introduced by the last words of verse 4), with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 6 (12.198.6)

वरश्च मम पूर्वं हि दत्तो देव्या महाबल । श्रद्धा ते जपतो नित्यं भवत्विति विशांपते ॥

varaśca mama pūrvaṃ hi datto devyā mahābala | śraddhā te japato nityaṃ bhavatviti viśāṃpate

O mighty one, the Goddess granted me a boon long ago: ‘May you always have faith in your recitation, O lord of men.’”

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the brahmin's direct speech, continuing from verse 5, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 7 (12.198.7)

यद्येवं सफला सिद्धिः श्रद्धा च जपितुं तव । गच्छ विप्र मया सार्धं जापकं फलमाप्नुहि ॥

yadyevaṃ saphalā siddhiḥ śraddhā ca japituṃ tava | gaccha vipra mayā sārdhaṃ jāpakaṃ phalamāpnuhi

“If it is so — if your attainment bears fruit and you still have faith in reciting — then come with me, brahmin, and win the reciter's fruit.”

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: Wikisource सफला against CE aphalā (12.193.7).

Verse 8 (12.198.8)

कृतः प्रयत्नः सुमहान्सर्वेषां सन्निधाविह । सह तुल्यफलावावां गच्छावो यत्र नौ गतिः ॥

kṛtaḥ prayatnaḥ sumahānsarveṣāṃ sannidhāviha | saha tulyaphalāvāvāṃ gacchāvo yatra nau gatiḥ

“A great effort has been made here, in the presence of all. We two, equal in fruit, shall go together to where our destination lies.”

Verse 9 (12.198.9)

व्यवसायं तयोस्तत्र विदित्वा त्रिदशेश्वरः । सह देवैरुपययौ लोकपालैस्तथैव च ॥

vyavasāyaṃ tayostatra viditvā tridaśeśvaraḥ | saha devairupayayau lokapālaistathaiva ca

Knowing the resolve of the two, the lord of the gods came there with the gods and with the guardians of the world.

Verse 10 (12.198.10)

साध्याश्च विश्वे मरुतो वाक्यानि सुमहान्ति च । नद्यः शैलाः समुद्राश्च तीर्थानि विविधानि च ॥

sādhyāśca viśve maruto vākyāni sumahānti ca | nadyaḥ śailāḥ samudrāśca tīrthāni vividhāni ca

The Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas and the Maruts came, and mighty sacred utterances; rivers, mountains, oceans, and sacred waters of many kinds;

Note on the text: वाक्यानि is a recension variant, kept (CE jyotīṃṣi).

Verse 11 (12.198.11)

तपांसि संयोगविधिर्वेदास्तोभाः सरस्वती । नारदः पर्वतश्चैव विश्वावसुर्हहाहुहूः ॥

tapāṃsi saṃyogavidhirvedāstobhāḥ sarasvatī | nāradaḥ parvataścaiva viśvāvasurhahāhuhūḥ

austerities, the rite of union, the Vedas, the chant-syllables, and Sarasvati; Narada and Parvata, Vishvavasu, Haha and Huhu;

Verse 12 (12.198.12)

गन्धर्वश्चित्रसेनश्च परिवारगणैर्युतः । नागाः सिद्धाश्च मुनयो देवदेवः प्रजापतिः ॥

gandharvaścitrasenaśca parivāragaṇairyutaḥ | nāgāḥ siddhāśca munayo devadevaḥ prajāpatiḥ

the Gandharva Chitrasena with his retinue; the nagas, the siddhas and the sages; and the God of gods, the Prajapati.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the first two lines of the three-line CE verse 12.193.12 (a, c); its third line (viṣṇuḥ sahasraśīrṣaś ca …) stands in Wikisource verse 13.

Verse 13 (12.198.13)

आजगाम च देवेशो ब्रह्मा वेदमयोऽव्ययः । विष्णुः सहस्रशीर्षश्च देवोऽचिन्त्यः समागमत् । अवाद्यन्तान्तरिक्षे च भेर्यस्तूर्याणि वा विभो ॥

ājagāma ca deveśo brahmā vedamayo'vyayaḥ | viṣṇuḥ sahasraśīrṣaśca devo'cintyaḥ samāgamat | avādyantāntarikṣe ca bheryastūryāṇi vā vibho

The lord of the gods, Brahma himself, made of the Vedas and imperishable, came too; and Vishnu of the thousand heads, the unthinkable god, came also. In the sky, O mighty king, drums and trumpets sounded.

Note on the text: Removed the backticks and quote mark Wikisource prints around line 1 and fixed its daṇḍa. Line 1 is the CE star line 12.193.12d*0530_01 (ājagāma ca deveśo brahmā vedamayo 'vyayaḥ), not in the CE's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); line 2 is CE 12.193.12e; line 3 is a variant of CE 12.193.13a (Wikisource वा विभो for CE cābhibho), kept.

Verse 14 (12.198.14)

पुष्पवर्षाणि दिव्यानि तत्र तेषां महात्मनाम् । ननृतुश्चाप्सरः सङ्घास्तत्रतत्र समन्ततः ॥

puṣpavarṣāṇi divyāni tatra teṣāṃ mahātmanām | nanṛtuścāpsaraḥ saṅghāstatratatra samantataḥ

Divine showers of flowers fell there on those great souls, and throngs of apsarases danced here and there on every side.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 12.193.13c and 13e (13a, the first line of that three-line verse, is the last line of Wikisource verse 13).

Verse 15 (12.198.15)

अथ स्वर्गस्तथा रूपी ब्राह्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । संसिद्धस्त्वं महाभाग त्वं च सिद्धस्तथा नृप ॥

atha svargastathā rūpī brāhmaṇaṃ vākyamabravīt | saṃsiddhastvaṃ mahābhāga tvaṃ ca siddhastathā nṛpa

Then Heaven itself, taking bodily form, spoke to the brahmin: “You are perfected, O fortunate one; and you, O king, are likewise perfected.”

Note on the text: Line 1 is narration and line 2 is Heaven's speech; the verse stays with Bhishma, the narrator.

Verse 16 (12.198.16)

अथ तौ सहितौ राजन्नन्योन्यस्य विधानतः । विषयप्रतिसंहारमुभावेव प्रचक्रतुः ॥

atha tau sahitau rājannanyonyasya vidhānataḥ | viṣayapratisaṃhāramubhāveva pracakratuḥ

Then the two, together, following each other's method, both withdrew the senses from their objects.

Verse 17 (12.198.17)

प्राणापानौ तथोदानं समानं व्यानमेव च । एवं तौ मनसि स्थाप्य दधतुः प्राणयोर्मनः ॥

prāṇāpānau tathodānaṃ samānaṃ vyānameva ca | evaṃ tau manasi sthāpya dadhatuḥ prāṇayormanaḥ

Fixing in the mind the prana, apana, udana, samana and vyana, they held the mind steady upon the vital breaths.

Verse 18 (12.198.18)

उपस्थितकृतौ तौ च नासिकाग्रमधो भ्रुवोः । भ्रुकुट्याक्ष्णोश्च मनसा शनैर्धारयतस्तदा ॥

upasthitakṛtau tau ca nāsikāgramadho bhruvoḥ | bhrukuṭyākṣṇośca manasā śanairdhārayatastadā

Both made ready, they slowly held the mind at the tip of the nose, below the brows, and at the knit of the brows and the eyes.

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: Wikisource भ्रुकुट्याक्ष्णोश्च (the page's footnote cites नेत्राग्रैश्चैव मनसा) against CE kuṅkuṇyāṃ caiva manasā; likewise धारयतस्तदा for CE dhārayataḥ sma tau.

Verse 19 (12.198.19)

निश्चेष्टाभ्यां शरीराभ्यां स्थिरदृष्टी समाहितौ । जितासनौ समाधाय मूर्धन्यात्मानमेव च ॥

niśceṣṭābhyāṃ śarīrābhyāṃ sthiradṛṣṭī samāhitau | jitāsanau samādhāya mūrdhanyātmānameva ca

With motionless bodies, steady gaze and collected minds, their postures mastered, they fixed the self at the crown of the head.

Note on the text: Corrected र्मूर्धन्यात्मानम् → मूर्धन्यात्मानम् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र् before मूर्धनि; the critical edition reads tathādhāya mūrdhany ātmānam eva ca, where Wikisource has समाधाय for tathādhāya, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 20 (12.198.20)

तालुदेशमथोद्दाल्य ब्राह्मणस्य महात्मनः । ज्योतिर्ज्वाला सुमहती जगाम त्रिदिवं तदा ॥

tāludeśamathoddālya brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | jyotirjvālā sumahatī jagāma tridivaṃ tadā

Bursting open the region of the palate of the great-souled brahmin, a mighty blaze of light went up to heaven.

Verse 21 (12.198.21)

हाहाकारस्तथा दिक्षु सर्वासु सुमहानभूत् । तज्ज्योतिः स्तूयमानं स्म ब्रह्माणं प्राविशत्तदा ॥

hāhākārastathā dikṣu sarvāsu sumahānabhūt | tajjyotiḥ stūyamānaṃ sma brahmāṇaṃ prāviśattadā

Then a great cry of “Ha!” went up in all directions; and that light, as it was praised, entered Brahma.

Verse 22 (12.198.22)

ततः स्वागतमित्याह तत्तेजः प्रपितामहः । प्रादेशमात्रं पुरुषं प्रत्युद्गम्य विशांपते ॥

tataḥ svāgatamityāha tattejaḥ prapitāmahaḥ | prādeśamātraṃ puruṣaṃ pratyudgamya viśāṃpate

Then the Great-grandfather said to that radiance, “Welcome!”, going out, O lord of the people, to meet the span-sized Person.

Verse 23 (12.198.23)

भूयश्चैवापरं प्राह वचनं मधुरं स्मयन् । जापकैस्तुल्यफलता योगानां नात्र संशयः ॥

bhūyaścaivāparaṃ prāha vacanaṃ madhuraṃ smayan | jāpakaistulyaphalatā yogānāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ

And he said again, smiling, in sweet words: “There is no doubt that yogins win the same fruit as reciters.”

Note on the text: Line 1 is narration and line 2 is Brahma's speech; the verse stays with Bhishma, the narrator.

Verse 24 (12.198.24)

योगस्य तावदेतेभ्यः प्रत्यक्षं फलदर्शनम् । जापकानां विशिष्टं तु प्रत्युत्थानं समाहितम् ॥

yogasya tāvadetebhyaḥ pratyakṣaṃ phaladarśanam | jāpakānāṃ viśiṣṭaṃ tu pratyutthānaṃ samāhitam

“The fruit of yoga is seen directly in these assembled here; but for reciters the rising to greet them is a special, prescribed honour.”

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Brahma's direct speech, continuing from verse 23, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the input carried भीष्म). Rendered as the page's footnote (12-198-24) glosses एतेभ्यः and समाहितम्. Recension variants, kept: Wikisource प्रत्यक्षं फलदर्शनम् and समाहितम् against CE phalaṃ pratyakṣadarśanam and samādhikam.

Verse 25 (12.198.25)

उष्यतां मयि चेत्युक्त्वा व्याददे स ततो मुखम् । अथास्यं प्रविवेशास्य ब्राह्मणो विगतज्वरः ॥

uṣyatāṃ mayi cetyuktvā vyādade sa tato mukham | athāsyaṃ praviveśāsya brāhmaṇo vigatajvaraḥ

Saying, “Dwell in me,” he opened his mouth; and the brahmin, free of all distress, entered into it.

Note on the text: The first half of line 1 is Brahma's speech and the rest is narration; the verse stays with Bhishma, the narrator. Recension variant, kept: Wikisource व्याददे स ततो मुखम् against CE acetayat sa tataḥ punaḥ.

Verse 26 (12.198.26)

राजाऽप्येतेन विधिना भगवन्तं पितामहम् । यथैव द्विजशार्दूलस्तथैव प्राविशत्तदा ॥

rājā'pyetena vidhinā bhagavantaṃ pitāmaham | yathaiva dvijaśārdūlastathaiva prāviśattadā

The king too, by the same method, entered the revered Grandsire, just as the best of brahmins had done.

Verse 27 (12.198.27)

स्वयंभुवमथो देवा अभिवाद्य ततोऽब्रुवन् ॥

svayaṃbhuvamatho devā abhivādya tato'bruvan

Then the gods, saluting Svayambhu, said:

Note on the text: One-line verse, as on the page (labelled 12-198-27a): the first line of the couplet CE 12.193.26a; its second line (jāpakārtham ayaṃ yatnaḥ …) opens Wikisource verse 28.

Verse 28 (12.198.28)

जापकार्थमयं यत्नो यदर्थं वयमागताः । कृतपूजाविमौ तुल्यौ त्वया तुल्यफलान्वितौ ॥

jāpakārthamayaṃ yatno yadarthaṃ vayamāgatāḥ | kṛtapūjāvimau tulyau tvayā tulyaphalānvitau

“This effort was for the sake of the reciter, and it is for this that we have come. These two, honoured by you, are equal and joined with equal fruit.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the gods' direct speech to Brahma (verse 27 introduces it), with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the input carried भीष्म). Lines are CE 12.193.26c and 27a (CE 27a differs in kṛtapūjāv imau tulyaṃ tvayā tulyaphalāv imau against Wikisource कृतपूजाविमौ तुल्यौ त्वया तुल्यफलान्वितौ, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 29 (12.198.29)

योगजापकयोस्तुल्यं फलं सुमहदद्य वै । सर्वांल्लोकानतिक्रम्य गच्छेतां यत्र वाञ्छितम् ॥

yogajāpakayostulyaṃ phalaṃ sumahadadya vai | sarvāṃllokānatikramya gacchetāṃ yatra vāñchitam

Today the fruit of yoga and of recitation has been seen to be very great and the same. Passing beyond all the worlds, let the two go wherever they wish.”

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the gods' direct speech, continuing from verse 28, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the input carried भीष्म). Lines are CE 12.193.27c and 27e.

Verse 30 (12.198.30)

महास्मृतिं पठेद्यस्तु तथैवानुस्मृतिं शुभाम् । तावप्येतेन विधिना गच्छेतां मत्सलोकताम् ॥

mahāsmṛtiṃ paṭhedyastu tathaivānusmṛtiṃ śubhām | tāvapyetena vidhinā gacchetāṃ matsalokatām

“Whoever recites the Mahasmriti, and likewise the auspicious Anusmriti — those two also, by this same method, may reach my own world.

Verse 31 (12.198.31)

यश्च योगे भवेद्भक्तः सोऽपि नास्त्यत्र संशयः । विधिनानेन देहान्ते मम लोकानवाप्नुयात् । साधये गम्यतां चैव यथा स्थानानि सिद्धये ॥

yaśca yoge bhavedbhaktaḥ so'pi nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ | vidhinānena dehānte mama lokānavāpnuyāt | sādhaye gamyatāṃ caiva yathā sthānāni siddhaye

And whoever is devoted to yoga — of this there is no doubt — will by this same method reach my worlds at the end of his body. I shall see it done; and now go, each to his own place, for your fulfilment.”

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: Wikisource साधये गम्यतां चैव यथा स्थानानि सिद्धये against CE gamyatāṃ sādhayiṣyāmi yathāsthānāni siddhaye (CE 29e).

Verse 32 (12.198.32)

इत्युक्त्वा स तदा देवस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । आमन्त्र्य च ततो देवा ययुः स्वंस्वं निवेशनम् ॥

ityuktvā sa tadā devastatraivāntaradhīyata | āmantrya ca tato devā yayuḥ svaṃsvaṃ niveśanam

Having spoken, the god vanished on the spot; and the gods, taking leave of him, went each to his own abode.

Verse 33 (12.198.33)

ते च सर्वे महात्मानो धर्मं सत्कृत्य तत्र वै । पृष्ठतोऽनुययू राजन्सर्वे सुप्रीतचेतसः ॥

te ca sarve mahātmāno dharmaṃ satkṛtya tatra vai | pṛṣṭhato'nuyayū rājansarve suprītacetasaḥ

And all those great souls, honouring Dharma there, followed behind him, O king, all with glad hearts.

Verse 34 (12.198.34)

एतत्फलं जापकानां गतिश्चैषा प्रकीर्तिता । यथाश्रुतं महाराज किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥

etatphalaṃ jāpakānāṃ gatiścaiṣā prakīrtitā | yathāśrutaṃ mahārāja kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Thus the fruit of the reciters and their destination have been told, as I heard it, O great king. What more do you wish to hear?