Narada Goes to the White Island; the Seven Sages' Treatise and King Uparichara

Verse 1 (12.343.1)

स एवमुक्तो द्विपदां वरिष्ठो । नारायणेनोत्तमपूरुषेण । जगाद वाक्यं द्विपदां वरिष्ठं । नारायणं लोकहिताधिवासम् ॥

sa evamukto dvipadāṃ variṣṭho | nārāyaṇenottamapūruṣeṇa | jagāda vākyaṃ dvipadāṃ variṣṭhaṃ | nārāyaṇaṃ lokahitādhivāsam

Thus addressed by Narayana, the supreme Person, Narada, foremost among two-footed beings, spoke these words to Narayana, who is himself the foremost of the two-footed and the dwelling place of the world's welfare.

Verse 2 (12.343.2)

यदर्थमात्मप्रभवेह जन्म । त्वयोत्तमं धर्मगृहे चतुर्धा । तत्साध्यतां लोकहितार्थमद्य । गच्छामि द्रष्टुं प्रकृतिं तवाद्याम् ॥

yadarthamātmaprabhaveha janma | tvayottamaṃ dharmagṛhe caturdhā | tatsādhyatāṃ lokahitārthamadya | gacchāmi draṣṭuṃ prakṛtiṃ tavādyām

You who arise of your own will, the purpose for which you took this supreme birth in four forms in the house of Dharma, let that be accomplished today for the welfare of the worlds. I go to see your primal form.

Verse 3 (12.343.3)

वेदाः स्वधीता मम लोकनाथ । तप्तं तपो नानृतमुक्तपूर्वम् । पूजां गुरूणां सततं करोमि । परस्य गुह्यं न तु भिन्नपूर्वम् ॥

vedāḥ svadhītā mama lokanātha | taptaṃ tapo nānṛtamuktapūrvam | pūjāṃ gurūṇāṃ satataṃ karomi | parasya guhyaṃ na tu bhinnapūrvam

O lord of the world, I have studied the Vedas well, I have practised austerity, and I have never before spoken a falsehood. I always honour my teachers, and I have never before betrayed another's secret.

Verse 4 (12.343.4)

गुप्तानि चत्वारि यथागमं मे । शत्रौ च मित्रे च समोऽस्मि नित्यम् । तं चादिदेवं सततं प्रपन्न । एकान्तभावेन वृणोम्यजस्रम् ॥

guptāni catvāri yathāgamaṃ me | śatrau ca mitre ca samo'smi nityam | taṃ cādidevaṃ satataṃ prapanna | ekāntabhāvena vṛṇomyajasram

As the scriptures direct, I keep the four organs guarded (hands, feet, belly and generative organ). I am always the same toward enemy and friend. And to that primal God I have ever gone for refuge, choosing him unceasingly with single-minded devotion.

Note on the text: Corrected समोस्मि → समोऽस्मि (missing avagraha in Wikisource) and वृणोभ्यजस्रम् → वृणोम्यजस्रम् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; CE 12.322.4 has vṛṇomy ajasram). Lines = CE 12.322.4a, 4c.

Verse 5 (12.343.5)

एभिर्विशेषैः परिशुद्धसत्वः । कस्मान्न पश्येयमनन्तमीशम् । तत्पारमेष्ठ्यस्य वचो निशम्य । नारायणः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता ॥

ebhirviśeṣaiḥ pariśuddhasatvaḥ | kasmānna paśyeyamanantamīśam | tatpārameṣṭhyasya vaco niśamya | nārāyaṇaḥ śāśvatadharmagoptā

With these qualities my being is wholly purified; why should I not see the infinite Lord? Hearing those words of Brahma's son, Narayana, the guardian of eternal dharma,

Note on the text: Corrected परिशृद्धसत्वः → परिशुद्धसत्वः (misprint in Wikisource; ऋ for उ; CE 12.322.4e has pariśuddhasattvaḥ). Lines = CE 12.322.4e and 5a (Wikisource शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता against CE sātvatadharmagoptā, a variant). Narada's speech ends in line 2; lines 3-4 are narration and the sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 6 (12.343.6)

गच्छेति तं नारदमुक्तबान्स । संपूजयित्वा विधिवत्क्रियाभिः । ततो विसृष्टः परमेष्ठिपुत्रः । सोऽभ्यर्चयित्वा तमृषिं पुराणम् ॥

gaccheti taṃ nāradamuktabānsa | saṃpūjayitvā vidhivatkriyābhiḥ | tato visṛṣṭaḥ parameṣṭhiputraḥ | so'bhyarcayitvā tamṛṣiṃ purāṇam

said to Narada, ‘Go,’ after honouring him with due rites. Then Brahma's son, dismissed, having worshipped that ancient sage,

Note on the text: Wikisource prints 'नारद उवाच' before verse 2 and no further heading until 'युधिष्ठिर उवाच' at verse 13, so this narration stands under Narada's heading on the page; it is third-person narration about Narada (the CE has Bhishma speaking throughout 12.322.1-12), so it is given to Bhishma, the narrator. Lines = CE 12.322.5c and 6a; the CE's star lines 12.322.5b*0801_01-02 (tasmād anujñāṃ mama dehi deva / taṃ vai dṛṣṭvā kṛtakṛtyo bhavāmi) are not on the page.

Verse 7 (12.343.7)

खमुत्पपातोत्तमयोगयुक्त । स्ततोऽधिमेरौ सहसा निलिल्ये । तत्रावतस्थे च मुनिर्मुहूर्त । मेकान्तमासाद्य गिरेः स शृङ्गे ॥

khamutpapātottamayogayukta | stato'dhimerau sahasā nililye | tatrāvatasthe ca munirmuhūrta | mekāntamāsādya gireḥ sa śṛṅge

rose into the sky, endowed with supreme yogic power, and then suddenly alighted on Meru. There the sage stayed for a moment, having found a secluded spot on a peak of the mountain.

Note on the text: Corrected मुर्हुत → मुहूर्त (misprint in Wikisource; letters transposed and the long ū lost; CE 12.322.7a has muhūrtam) and शृङ्क्ते → शृङ्गे (misprint in Wikisource; शृङ्क्ते is not a word; CE has śṛṅge). Lines = CE 12.322.6c and 7a.

Verse 8 (12.343.8)

आलोकयन्नुत्तरपश्चिमेन । ददर्श चाप्यद्भुतमुक्तरूपम् । क्षीरोदधेर्योत्तरतो हि द्वीपः । श्वेतः स नाम्ना प्रथितो विशालः ॥

ālokayannuttarapaścimena | dadarśa cāpyadbhutamuktarūpam | kṣīrodadheryottarato hi dvīpaḥ | śvetaḥ sa nāmnā prathito viśālaḥ

Looking toward the north-west, he saw a marvellous sight of the kind described: to the north of the Milk Ocean lay a great island, renowned by the name of Shveta, the White Island.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.322.7c and 8a (Wikisource ददर्श चाप्यद्भुतमुक्तरूपम् against CE cātyadbhutarūpayuktam, a variant).

Verse 9 (12.343.9)

मेरोः सहस्रैः स हि योजनानां । द्वात्रिंशतोर्ध्वं कविभिर्निरुक्तः । अनिन्द्रियाश्चानशनाश्च तत्र । निष्पन्दहीनाः सुसुगन्धिनस्ते ॥

meroḥ sahasraiḥ sa hi yojanānāṃ | dvātriṃśatordhvaṃ kavibhirniruktaḥ | anindriyāścānaśanāśca tatra | niṣpandahīnāḥ susugandhinaste

The wise declare it to lie thirty-two thousand yojanas above Meru. The people there are without sense organs, without food, without motion, and sweetly fragrant.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.322.8c and 9a.

Verse 10 (12.343.10)

श्वेताः पुमांसो गतसर्वपापा । श्चक्षुर्मुषः पापकृतां नराणाम् । वज्रास्थिकायाः सममानोन्माना । दिव्यावयवरूपाः शुभसारोपेताः ॥

śvetāḥ pumāṃso gatasarvapāpā | ścakṣurmuṣaḥ pāpakṛtāṃ narāṇām | vajrāsthikāyāḥ samamānonmānā | divyāvayavarūpāḥ śubhasāropetāḥ

They are white men, free from every sin, who rob sinful men of their sight. Their bodies and bones are hard as diamond, they are perfectly proportioned in measure and weight, with divine limbs and forms, endowed with excellent strength.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.322.9c and 10a (Wikisource दिव्यावयवरूपाः against CE divyānvayarūpāḥ, a variant).

Verse 11 (12.343.11)

छत्राकृतिशीर्षा मेघौघनिनादाः । सममुष्कचतुष्का राजीवच्छदपादाः । षष्ट्या दन्तैर्युक्ताः शुक्लैरष्टाभिर्दंष्ट्राभिर्ये । जिह्वाभिर्ये विश्ववक्रं लेलिह्यन्ते सूर्यप्रख्यम् ॥

chatrākṛtiśīrṣā meghaughaninādāḥ | samamuṣkacatuṣkā rājīvacchadapādāḥ | ṣaṣṭyā dantairyuktāḥ śuklairaṣṭābhirdaṃṣṭrābhirye | jihvābhirye viśvavakraṃ lelihyante sūryaprakhyam

Their heads are shaped like parasols and their voices rumble like masses of thunderclouds; the fourfold joints of their bodies are evenly matched, and their feet are like lotus petals. They have sixty white teeth and eight tusks, and with their tongues they keep licking the sun-bright face of the universe.

Note on the text: Corrected षष्ठ्या → षष्ट्या (misprint in Wikisource; 'by sixty' is षष्टि; CE 12.322.11a has ṣaṣṭyā) and divided विश्ववक्रंलेलिह्यन्ते → विश्ववक्रं लेलिह्यन्ते (run-together words). Four lines = CE 12.322.10c, 11a and 11c (Wikisource सममुष्कचतुष्का राजीवच्छदपादाः against CE satpuṣkaracatuṣkā rājīvaśatapādāḥ, a variant).

Verse 12 (12.343.12)

भक्त्या देवं विश्वोत्पन्नं यस्मात्सर्वे लोकाः सूताः । वेदा धर्मा मुनयः शान्ता देवाः सर्वे तस्य विसर्गाः ॥

bhaktyā devaṃ viśvotpannaṃ yasmātsarve lokāḥ sūtāḥ | vedā dharmā munayaḥ śāntā devāḥ sarve tasya visargāḥ

They are devoted to the God from whom the universe arose, from whom all the worlds were born. The Vedas, the dharmas, the tranquil sages and all the gods are his emanations.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.322.12): Wikisource has lost this verse and prints in its place only the fragment 'सर्वे तस्य निसर्ग इति' (an echo of the page's commentary on 12-343-12), leaving a numbering gap at 12 (12-343-11 is followed directly by 12-343-13). Text is CE 12.322.12a, 12c in the CE's words exactly (bhaktyā devaṃ viśvotpannaṃ yasmāt sarve lokāḥ sūtāḥ / vedā dharmā munayaḥ śāntā devāḥ sarve tasya visargāḥ). Wikisource prints 'नारद उवाच' before verse 2 and no further heading until 'युधिष्ठिर उवाच' at verse 13, so this narration stands under Narada's heading on the page; it is third-person narration about Narada (the CE has Bhishma speaking throughout 12.322.1-12), so it is given to Bhishma, the narrator.

Verse 13 (12.343.13)

अनिन्द्रिया निराहारा अनिष्पन्दाः सुगन्धिनः । कथं ते पुरुषा जाताः का तेषां गतिरुत्तमा ॥

anindriyā nirāhārā aniṣpandāḥ sugandhinaḥ | kathaṃ te puruṣā jātāḥ kā teṣāṃ gatiruttamā

How did those men come to be, without sense organs, without food, motionless, yet fragrant? And what is their highest destination?

Verse 14 (12.343.14)

ये च मुक्ता भवन्तीह नरा भरतसत्तम । तेषां लक्षणमेतद्धि तच्छ्वेतद्वीपवासिनाम् ॥

ye ca muktā bhavantīha narā bharatasattama | teṣāṃ lakṣaṇametaddhi tacchvetadvīpavāsinām

O best of the Bharatas, the men in this world who become liberated: this, I take it, is their mark, the very mark of the dwellers on the White Island.

Note on the text: Corrected तच्छ्वेतद्द्वीपवासिनाम् → तच्छ्वेतद्वीपवासिनाम् (misprint in Wikisource; doubled द; CE 12.322.14 has yac chvetadvīpavāsinām).

Verse 15 (12.343.15)

तस्मान्मे संशयं छिन्धि परं कौतूहलं हि मे । त्वं हि सर्वकथारामस्त्वां चैवोपाश्रिता वयम् ॥

tasmānme saṃśayaṃ chindhi paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me | tvaṃ hi sarvakathārāmastvāṃ caivopāśritā vayam

Therefore cut away my doubt, for my curiosity is very great. You are the delight of every tale, and we have taken refuge in you.

Verse 16 (12.343.16)

विस्तीर्णैषा कथा राजञ्श्रुता मे पितृसन्निधौ । यैषा तव हि वक्तव्या कथासारो हि सा मता ॥

vistīrṇaiṣā kathā rājañśrutā me pitṛsannidhau | yaiṣā tava hi vaktavyā kathāsāro hi sā matā

This is a long tale, O king, which I heard in my father's presence. It is the very tale that must be told to you, for it is held to be the essence of all tales.

Verse 17 (12.343.17)

शन्तनोः कथयामास नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । राज्ञा पृष्टः पुरा प्राह तत्राहं श्रुतवान्पुरा ॥

śantanoḥ kathayāmāsa nārado munisattamaḥ | rājñā pṛṣṭaḥ purā prāha tatrāhaṃ śrutavānpurā

The sage Narada, best of the munis, told it to Shantanu. Questioned by the king long ago, he related it, and I heard it there at that time.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: these two lines are the CE star passage 12.322.16d*0802_01-02 (śaṃtanoḥ kathayām āsa nārado munisattamaḥ / rājñā pṛṣṭaḥ purā prāha tatrāhaṃ śrutavān purā). Removed a stray apostrophe printed after the verse's last word.

Verse 18 (12.343.18)

राजोपरिचरो नाम बभूवाधिपतिर्भुवः । आखण्डलसखः ख्यातो भक्तो नारायणं हरिं ॥

rājoparicaro nāma babhūvādhipatirbhuvaḥ | ākhaṇḍalasakhaḥ khyāto bhakto nārāyaṇaṃ hariṃ

There was a king named Uparichara, lord of the earth, famed as Indra's friend, a devotee of Narayana Hari.

Note on the text: Wikisource's आखण्‍डल carries an invisible zero-width joiner inside the conjunct; removed it, the word unchanged (आखण्डल). Lines = CE 12.322.17a, 17c.

Verse 19 (12.343.19)

धार्मिको नित्यभक्तश्च पितुर्नित्यमतन्द्रितः । साम्राज्यं तेन संप्राप्तं नारायणवरात्पुरा ॥

dhārmiko nityabhaktaśca piturnityamatandritaḥ | sāmrājyaṃ tena saṃprāptaṃ nārāyaṇavarātpurā

He was righteous, ever devoted, and tirelessly attentive to his father. Long before, he had obtained imperial sovereignty by Narayana's boon.

Verse 20 (12.343.20)

सात्वतं विधिमास्थाय प्राक्सूर्यमुखनिःसृतम् । पूजयामास देवेशं तच्छेषेण पितामहान् ॥

sātvataṃ vidhimāsthāya prāksūryamukhaniḥsṛtam | pūjayāmāsa deveśaṃ taccheṣeṇa pitāmahān

Following the Satvata rite, which long ago issued from the mouth of the Sun, he worshipped the Lord of the gods, and with what remained of that offering he honoured the forefathers.

Verse 21 (12.343.21)

पितृशेषेण विप्रांश्च संविभज्याश्रितांश्च सः । शेषान्नभुक्सत्यपरः सर्वभूतेष्वहिंसकः ॥

pitṛśeṣeṇa viprāṃśca saṃvibhajyāśritāṃśca saḥ | śeṣānnabhuksatyaparaḥ sarvabhūteṣvahiṃsakaḥ

With what remained after the forefathers' share, he divided food among brahmins and dependants, and himself ate only what was left, true to his word and harming no creature.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.322.20a, 20c.

Verse 22 (12.343.22)

सर्वभावेन भक्तः स देवदेवं जनार्दनम् । अनादिमध्यनिधनं लोककर्तारमव्ययम् ॥

sarvabhāvena bhaktaḥ sa devadevaṃ janārdanam | anādimadhyanidhanaṃ lokakartāramavyayam

With his whole being he was devoted to Janardana, the God of gods, who has no beginning, middle or end, the maker of the worlds, the imperishable.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.322.20e; line 2 is the CE star line 12.322.20f*0803_01 (anādimadhyanidhanaṃ lokakartāram avyayam).

Verse 23 (12.343.23)

तस्य नारायणे भक्तिं वहतोऽमित्रकर्शिनः । एकशय्यासनं देवो दत्तवान्देवराट् स्वयम् ॥

tasya nārāyaṇe bhaktiṃ vahato'mitrakarśinaḥ | ekaśayyāsanaṃ devo dattavāndevarāṭ svayam

As that destroyer of enemies bore such devotion to Narayana, the god who is king of the gods gave him, of his own accord, a place on his own couch and seat.

Verse 24 (12.343.24)

आत्मराज्यं धनं चैव कलत्रं वाहनं तथा । यत्तद्भागवतं सर्वमिति तत्प्रेषितं सदा ॥

ātmarājyaṃ dhanaṃ caiva kalatraṃ vāhanaṃ tathā | yattadbhāgavataṃ sarvamiti tatpreṣitaṃ sadā

His own kingdom, wealth, wives and vehicles: all that he held to be the Lord's, and so he always offered it up.

Verse 25 (12.343.25)

काम्यनैमित्तिका राजन्यज्ञियाः परमक्रियाः । सर्वाः सात्वतमास्थाय विधिं चक्रे समाहितः ॥

kāmyanaimittikā rājanyajñiyāḥ paramakriyāḥ | sarvāḥ sātvatamāsthāya vidhiṃ cakre samāhitaḥ

O king, all the supreme rites, those done for the fulfilment of desires and those prescribed for particular occasions, he performed with a collected mind, following the Satvata rule.

Verse 26 (12.343.26)

पाञ्चरात्रविदो मुख्यास्तस्य गेहे महात्मनः । वरान्नं भगवत्प्रोक्तं भुञ्जते वाऽग्रभोजनम् ॥

pāñcarātravido mukhyāstasya gehe mahātmanaḥ | varānnaṃ bhagavatproktaṃ bhuñjate vā'grabhojanam

In that great-souled king's house the foremost knowers of the Pancharatra ate the choicest food, as declared by the Lord, taking it as the first meal.

Verse 27 (12.343.27)

तस्य प्रशासतो राज्यं धर्मेणामित्रघातिनः । नानृता वाक्समभवन्मनो दुष्टं न चाभवत् । न च कायेन कृतवान्स पापं परमण्वपि ॥

tasya praśāsato rājyaṃ dharmeṇāmitraghātinaḥ | nānṛtā vāksamabhavanmano duṣṭaṃ na cābhavat | na ca kāyena kṛtavānsa pāpaṃ paramaṇvapi

While that slayer of enemies ruled his kingdom with dharma, no falsehood came from his speech, no evil arose in his mind, and with his body he committed not even the slightest sin.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page: CE 12.322.25a, 25c, 25e.

Verse 28 (12.343.28)

ये हि ते ऋषयः ख्याताः सप्त चित्रशिखण्डिनः । तैरेकमतिभिर्भूत्वा यत्प्रोक्तं शास्त्रमुत्तमम् ॥

ye hi te ṛṣayaḥ khyātāḥ sapta citraśikhaṇḍinaḥ | tairekamatibhirbhūtvā yatproktaṃ śāstramuttamam

Those famed seven sages, the Chitrashikhandins, becoming of one mind, composed a supreme treatise.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.322.26a, 26c (Wikisource ऋषयः against CE munayaḥ, a variant).

Verse 29 (12.343.29)

वेदैश्चतुर्भिः समितं कृतं मेरौ महागिरौ । आस्यैः सप्तभिरुद्गीर्णं लोकधर्ममनुत्तमम् ॥

vedaiścaturbhiḥ samitaṃ kṛtaṃ merau mahāgirau | āsyaiḥ saptabhirudgīrṇaṃ lokadharmamanuttamam

that treatise, equal to the four Vedas, was made on the great mountain Meru; uttered by seven mouths, it is the unsurpassed dharma of the world.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: these two lines are the CE star passage 12.322.26d*0804_01-02 (vedaiś caturbhiḥ samitaṃ kṛtaṃ merau mahāgirau / āsyaiḥ saptabhir udgīrṇaṃ lokadharmam anuttamam). The page's own note records सहितम् for समितम् as a variant.

Verse 30 (12.343.30)

मरीचिरत्र्यङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः । वसिष्ठश्च महातेजास्ते हि चित्रशिखण्डिनः ॥

marīciratryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ | vasiṣṭhaśca mahātejāste hi citraśikhaṇḍinaḥ

Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and the greatly radiant Vasishtha: these are the Chitrashikhandins.

Verse 31 (12.343.31)

सप्त प्रकृतयो ह्येतास्तथा स्वायंभुवोऽष्टमः । एताभिर्धार्यते लोकस्ताभ्यः शास्त्रं विनिःसृतं ॥

sapta prakṛtayo hyetāstathā svāyaṃbhuvo'ṣṭamaḥ | etābhirdhāryate lokastābhyaḥ śāstraṃ viniḥsṛtaṃ

These are the seven Prakritis, and Svayambhuva Manu is the eighth. By them the world is upheld, and from them the treatise came forth.

Note on the text: Corrected ताभ्याः → ताभ्यः (misprint in Wikisource; the ablative plural is ताभ्यः; CE 12.322.28 has tābhyaḥ).

Verse 32 (12.343.32)

एकाग्रमनसो दान्ता मुनयः संयमे रताः । भूतभव्यभविष्यज्ञाः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः ॥

ekāgramanaso dāntā munayaḥ saṃyame ratāḥ | bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyajñāḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇāḥ

Those sages were single-minded, self-controlled and devoted to restraint, knowers of past, present and future, intent on truth and dharma.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.322.29a; line 2 is the CE star line 12.322.29b*0805_01 (bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyajñāḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇāḥ).

Verse 33 (12.343.33)

इदं श्रेय इदं ब्रह्म इदं हितमनुत्तमम् । लोकान्संचिन्त्य मनसा ततः शास्त्रं प्रचक्रिरे ॥

idaṃ śreya idaṃ brahma idaṃ hitamanuttamam | lokānsaṃcintya manasā tataḥ śāstraṃ pracakrire

‘This is the good, this is Brahman, this is the highest welfare.’ Reflecting thus in their minds on the worlds, they then composed the treatise.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.322.29c, 29e.

Verse 34 (12.343.34)

तत्र धर्मार्थकामा हि मोक्षः पश्चाच्च कीर्तितः । मर्यादा विविधाश्चैव दिवि भूमौ च संस्थिताः ॥

tatra dharmārthakāmā hi mokṣaḥ paścācca kīrtitaḥ | maryādā vividhāścaiva divi bhūmau ca saṃsthitāḥ

In it dharma, artha and kama are taught, and liberation is named last; and the various rules of conduct established in heaven and on earth are set out.

Verse 35 (12.343.35)

आराध्य तपसा देवं हरिं नारायणं प्रभुम् । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं वै सर्वे ते ऋषिभिः सह ॥

ārādhya tapasā devaṃ hariṃ nārāyaṇaṃ prabhum | divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ vai sarve te ṛṣibhiḥ saha

Having propitiated the god Hari Narayana, the Lord, with austerity for a divine thousand years, all of them, together with the sages,

Verse 36 (12.343.36)

नारायणानुशिष्टा हि तदा देवी सरस्वती । विवेश तानृषीन्सर्वाँल्लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥

nārāyaṇānuśiṣṭā hi tadā devī sarasvatī | viveśa tānṛṣīnsarvām̐llokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

were then instructed by Narayana, and the goddess Sarasvati entered all those sages, out of desire for the welfare of the worlds.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वाल्लोँकानां → सर्वाँल्लोकानां (misprint in Wikisource; the chandrabindu of the sandhi सर्वान्+लोकानां belongs on सर्वाँ, not on लो; CE 12.322.32 has sarvāṃl lokānāṃ).

Verse 37 (12.343.37)

ततः प्रवर्तिता सम्यक्तपोविद्भिर्द्विजातिभिः । शब्दे चार्थे च हेतौ च एषा प्रथमसर्गजा ॥

tataḥ pravartitā samyaktapovidbhirdvijātibhiḥ | śabde cārthe ca hetau ca eṣā prathamasargajā

Then it was properly set going by those twice-born skilled in austerity, in word, in meaning and in reasoning. This is the scripture born of the first creation.

Verse 38 (12.343.38)

आदावेव हि तच्छास्त्रमोंकारस्वरपूजितम् । ऋषिभिः श्रावितं तत्र यत्र कारुणिकोह्यसौ ॥

ādāveva hi tacchāstramoṃkārasvarapūjitam | ṛṣibhiḥ śrāvitaṃ tatra yatra kāruṇikohyasau

At the very beginning that treatise, honoured with the sound of Om, was recited by the sages in the place where the compassionate One is present.

Verse 39 (12.343.39)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवाननिर्दिष्टशरीरगः । ऋषीनुवाच तान्सर्वानदृश्यः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥

tataḥ prasanno bhagavānanirdiṣṭaśarīragaḥ | ṛṣīnuvāca tānsarvānadṛśyaḥ puruṣottamaḥ

Then the pleased Lord, whose body cannot be pointed out, the invisible Purushottama, spoke to all those sages.

Verse 40 (12.343.40)

कृतं शतसहस्रं हि श्लोकानां हितमुत्तमम् । लोकतन्त्रस्य कृत्स्नस्य यस्माद्धर्मः प्रवर्तते ॥

kṛtaṃ śatasahasraṃ hi ślokānāṃ hitamuttamam | lokatantrasya kṛtsnasya yasmāddharmaḥ pravartate

A hundred thousand verses have been composed, beneficial and supreme, for the whole order of the world, from which dharma proceeds.

Note on the text: Narayana's speech runs from this verse through verse 52 without a printed heading and fills whole verses, so it is given to him.

Verse 41 (12.343.41)

प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च यस्मादेतद्भविष्यति । यजुर्ऋक्सामभिर्जुष्टमथर्वाङ्गिरसैस्तथा ॥

pravṛttau ca nivṛttau ca yasmādetadbhaviṣyati | yajurṛksāmabhirjuṣṭamatharvāṅgirasaistathā

Since this will guide both the path of action and the path of renunciation, it is also approved by the Yajus, the Rik and the Sama, and likewise by the Atharvans and Angirases.

Verse 42 (12.343.42)

यथाप्रमाणं हि मया कृतो ब्रह्म प्रसादतः । रुद्रश्च क्रोधजो विप्रा यूयं प्रकृतयस्तथा ॥

yathāpramāṇaṃ hi mayā kṛto brahma prasādataḥ | rudraśca krodhajo viprā yūyaṃ prakṛtayastathā

By my favour I have made Brahma, born of grace, and Rudra, born of anger, authorities in their offices, O brahmins, and you, the Prakritis, likewise.

Note on the text: Corrected हिं → हि (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; CE 12.322.38 has hi).

Verse 43 (12.343.43)

सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ वायुर्भूमिरापोऽग्निरेव च । सर्वे च नक्षत्रगणा यच्च भूताभिशब्दितम् ॥

sūryācandramasau vāyurbhūmirāpo'gnireva ca | sarve ca nakṣatragaṇā yacca bhūtābhiśabditam

The sun and moon, the wind, the earth, the waters and fire, all the hosts of stars, and whatever is called a being,

Verse 44 (12.343.44)

अधिकारेषु वर्तन्ते यथास्वं ब्रह्मवादिनः । सर्वे प्रमाणं हि यथा तथा तच्छास्त्रमुत्तमम् ॥

adhikāreṣu vartante yathāsvaṃ brahmavādinaḥ | sarve pramāṇaṃ hi yathā tathā tacchāstramuttamam

and the expounders of Brahman, all abide in their own offices. As all these are authoritative, so is that supreme treatise.

Verse 45 (12.343.45)

भविष्यति प्रमाणं वै एतन्मदनुशासनम् । तस्मात्प्रवक्ष्यते धर्मान्मनुः स्वायंभुवः स्वयम् ॥

bhaviṣyati pramāṇaṃ vai etanmadanuśāsanam | tasmātpravakṣyate dharmānmanuḥ svāyaṃbhuvaḥ svayam

This instruction of mine will be authoritative. Therefore Manu Svayambhuva himself will teach the dharmas.

Verse 46 (12.343.46)

उशना बृहस्पतिश्चैव यदोत्पन्नौ भविष्यतः । तदा प्रवक्ष्यतः शास्त्रं युष्मन्मतिभिरुद्धृतम् ॥

uśanā bṛhaspatiścaiva yadotpannau bhaviṣyataḥ | tadā pravakṣyataḥ śāstraṃ yuṣmanmatibhiruddhṛtam

When Ushanas and Brihaspati are born, they will teach a treatise drawn from your minds.

Verse 47 (12.343.47)

स्वायंभुवेषु धर्मेषु शास्त्रे चोशनसा कृते । बृहस्पतिमते चैव लोकेषु प्रतिचारिते ॥

svāyaṃbhuveṣu dharmeṣu śāstre cośanasā kṛte | bṛhaspatimate caiva lokeṣu praticārite

When the dharmas of Svayambhuva, the treatise made by Ushanas, and the doctrine of Brihaspati have been circulated in the worlds,

Verse 48 (12.343.48)

युष्मत्कृतमिदं शास्त्रं प्रजापालो वसुस्ततः । बृहस्पतिसकाशाद्वै प्राप्स्यते द्विजसत्तमाः ॥

yuṣmatkṛtamidaṃ śāstraṃ prajāpālo vasustataḥ | bṛhaspatisakāśādvai prāpsyate dvijasattamāḥ

then King Vasu, protector of his people, will obtain this treatise made by you from Brihaspati, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 49 (12.343.49)

स हि मद्भावनिरतो मद्भक्तश्च भविष्यति । तेन शास्त्रेण लोकेषु क्रियाः सर्वाः करिष्यति ॥

sa hi madbhāvanirato madbhaktaśca bhaviṣyati | tena śāstreṇa lokeṣu kriyāḥ sarvāḥ kariṣyati

He will be devoted to me and will be my devotee, and by that treatise he will perform all rites in the worlds.

Verse 50 (12.343.50)

एतद्धि युष्मच्छास्त्राणां शास्त्रमुत्तमसंज्ञितम् । एतदर्थ्यं च धर्म्यं च रहस्यं चैतदुत्तमम् ॥

etaddhi yuṣmacchāstrāṇāṃ śāstramuttamasaṃjñitam | etadarthyaṃ ca dharmyaṃ ca rahasyaṃ caitaduttamam

This, of all your treatises, is called the best; it is meaningful and righteous, and it is the highest secret.

Verse 51 (12.343.51)

अस्य प्रवर्तनाच्चैव प्रजावन्तो भविष्यथ । स च राजश्रिया युक्तो भविष्यति महान्वसुः ॥

asya pravartanāccaiva prajāvanto bhaviṣyatha | sa ca rājaśriyā yukto bhaviṣyati mahānvasuḥ

By its propagation you will have progeny, and Vasu will become great, endowed with royal splendour.

Verse 52 (12.343.52)

संस्थिते तु नृपे तस्मिञ्शास्त्रमेतत्सनातनम् । अन्तर्धास्यति तत्सर्वमेतद्वः कथितं मया ॥

saṃsthite tu nṛpe tasmiñśāstrametatsanātanam | antardhāsyati tatsarvametadvaḥ kathitaṃ mayā

When that king passes away, this eternal treatise will vanish. All this I have told you.

Verse 53 (12.343.53)

एतावदुक्त्वा वचनमदृश्यः पुरुषोत्तमः । विसृज्य तानृषीन्सर्वान्कामपि प्रसृतो दिशम् ॥

etāvaduktvā vacanamadṛśyaḥ puruṣottamaḥ | visṛjya tānṛṣīnsarvānkāmapi prasṛto diśam

Having said this much, the invisible Purushottama dismissed all the sages and departed toward some quarter.

Verse 54 (12.343.54)

ततस्ते लोकपितरः सर्वलोकार्थचिन्तकाः । प्रावर्तयन्त तच्छास्त्रं धर्मयोनिं सनातनम् ॥

tataste lokapitaraḥ sarvalokārthacintakāḥ | prāvartayanta tacchāstraṃ dharmayoniṃ sanātanam

Then those fathers of the world, who thought of the good of all the worlds, set going that eternal treatise, the source of dharma.

Verse 55 (12.343.55)

उत्पन्नेऽङ्गिरसे चैव युगे प्रथमकल्पिते । साङ्गोपनिषदं शास्त्रं स्थापयित्वा बृहस्पतौ ॥

utpanne'ṅgirase caiva yuge prathamakalpite | sāṅgopaniṣadaṃ śāstraṃ sthāpayitvā bṛhaspatau

When Angiras was born, in the first-arranged age, having entrusted the treatise, with its limbs and Upanishads, to Brihaspati,

Verse 56 (12.343.56)

जग्मुर्यथेप्सितं देशं तपसे कृतनिश्चयाः । धारणात्सर्वलोकानां सर्वधर्मप्रवर्तकाः ॥

jagmuryathepsitaṃ deśaṃ tapase kṛtaniścayāḥ | dhāraṇātsarvalokānāṃ sarvadharmapravartakāḥ

they went to the place they wished, resolved on austerity, those who set going every dharma through their upholding of all the worlds.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.322.52): Wikisource prints only a single, conflated line here (जग्मुर्यथेप्सितं सर्वलोकानां सर्वधर्मप्रवर्तकाः, which joins the first half of 52a to the last words of 52c). Replaced by the CE's two lines exactly (jagmur yathepsitaṃ deśaṃ tapase kṛtaniścayāḥ / dhāraṇāt sarvalokānāṃ sarvadharmapravartakāḥ).