Brihaspati Is Angry at Vasu's Sacrifice; the Sages Tell How They Sought to See Narayana

Verse 1 (12.344.1)

ततोऽतीते महाकल्पे उत्पन्नेऽङ्गिरसः सुते । बभूवुर्निर्वृता देवा जाते देवपुरोहिते ॥

tato'tīte mahākalpe utpanne'ṅgirasaḥ sute | babhūvurnirvṛtā devā jāte devapurohite

Then, after the great age had passed and a son was born to Angiras, the gods grew content when the priest of the gods was born.

Verse 2 (12.344.2)

बृहद्ब्रह्म महच्चेति शब्दाः पर्यायवाचकाः । एभिः समन्वितो राजन्गुणैर्विद्वान्बृहस्पतिः ॥

bṛhadbrahma mahacceti śabdāḥ paryāyavācakāḥ | ebhiḥ samanvito rājanguṇairvidvānbṛhaspatiḥ

Brihat, Brahma and Mahat are words with the same meaning. The learned Brihaspati, O king, was endowed with these qualities.

Verse 3 (12.344.3)

तस्य शिष्यो बभूवाग्र्यो राजोपरिचरो वसुः । अधीतवांस्तदा शास्त्रं सम्यक्चित्रशिखण्डिजं ॥

tasya śiṣyo babhūvāgryo rājoparicaro vasuḥ | adhītavāṃstadā śāstraṃ samyakcitraśikhaṇḍijaṃ

His foremost pupil was King Vasu Uparichara, who then studied the treatise born of the Chitrashikhandins, in full.

Verse 4 (12.344.4)

स राजा भावितः पूर्वं दैवेन विधिना वसुः । पालयामास पृथिवीं दिवमाखण्डलो यथा ॥

sa rājā bhāvitaḥ pūrvaṃ daivena vidhinā vasuḥ | pālayāmāsa pṛthivīṃ divamākhaṇḍalo yathā

Having been formed beforehand by the divine ordinance, King Vasu ruled the earth as Indra rules heaven.

Verse 5 (12.344.5)

तस्य यज्ञो महानासीदश्वमेधो महात्मनः । बृहस्पतिरुपाध्यायस्तत्र होता बभूव ह ॥

tasya yajño mahānāsīdaśvamedho mahātmanaḥ | bṛhaspatirupādhyāyastatra hotā babhūva ha

That great-souled king held a great sacrifice, a horse sacrifice, and Brihaspati, his preceptor, became its hotri priest.

Verse 6 (12.344.6)

प्रजापतिसुताश्चात्र सदस्याश्चाभवंस्त्रयः । एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चैव महर्षयः ॥

prajāpatisutāścātra sadasyāścābhavaṃstrayaḥ | ekataśca dvitaścaiva tritaścaiva maharṣayaḥ

Three sons of Prajapati were also members of the assembly there: Ekata, Dvita and Trita, great sages.

Note on the text: Corrected मर्हषयः → महर्षयः (misprint in Wikisource; the letters ह and र are transposed; CE 12.323.6 has maharṣayaḥ).

Verse 7 (12.344.7)

धनुषाख्योऽथ रैभ्यश्च अर्वावसुपरावसू । ऋषिर्मेधातिथिश्चैव ताण्ड्यश्चैव महानृषिः ॥

dhanuṣākhyo'tha raibhyaśca arvāvasuparāvasū | ṛṣirmedhātithiścaiva tāṇḍyaścaiva mahānṛṣiḥ

Dhanusha, Raibhya, Arvavasu and Paravasu, the sage Medhatithi, and the great sage Tandya,

Note on the text: Corrected मोधातिथिः → मेधातिथिः (misprint in Wikisource; the name is Medhatithi; CE 12.323.7 has medhātithiḥ). Wikisource धनुषाख्यः against CE dhanuṣākṣaḥ is a variant and is kept.

Verse 8 (12.344.8)

ऋषिः शान्तिर्महाभागस्तथा वेदशिराश्च यः । ऋषिश्रेष्ठश्च कपिलः शालिहोत्रपिता स्मृतः ॥

ṛṣiḥ śāntirmahābhāgastathā vedaśirāśca yaḥ | ṛṣiśreṣṭhaśca kapilaḥ śālihotrapitā smṛtaḥ

the sage Shanti, of great fortune, and Vedashiras, and Kapila, best of sages, who is remembered as Shalihotra's father,

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Lines = CE 12.323.8a, 8c (Wikisource शान्तिः against CE śaktiḥ, and शालिहोत्रपिता against śālihotrapitāmahaḥ, are variants and are kept).

Verse 9 (12.344.9)

आद्यः कठस्तैत्तिरिश्च वैशंपायनपूर्वजः । कण्वोऽथ देवहोत्रश्च एते षोडश कीर्तिताः ॥

ādyaḥ kaṭhastaittiriśca vaiśaṃpāyanapūrvajaḥ | kaṇvo'tha devahotraśca ete ṣoḍaśa kīrtitāḥ

Katha, the first, Taittiri, the elder of Vaishampayana, Kanva, and Devahotra: these sixteen were named.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Lines = CE 12.323.9a, 9c.

Verse 10 (12.344.10)

संभूताः सर्वसंभारास्तस्मिन्राजन्महाक्रतौ । न तत्र पशुघातोऽभूत्स राजैवं स्थितोऽभवत् ॥

saṃbhūtāḥ sarvasaṃbhārāstasminrājanmahākratau | na tatra paśughāto'bhūtsa rājaivaṃ sthito'bhavat

All the requisites were gathered at that great sacrifice, O king. No animal was killed there, and the king remained firm in this.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.323.9e, line 2 = CE 12.323.10a.

Verse 11 (12.344.11)

अहिंस्रः शुचिरक्षुद्रो निराशीः कर्मसंस्तुतः । आरण्यकपदोद्भूता भागास्तत्रोपकल्पिताः ॥

ahiṃsraḥ śucirakṣudro nirāśīḥ karmasaṃstutaḥ | āraṇyakapadodbhūtā bhāgāstatropakalpitāḥ

He was non-violent, pure, generous, free from desire, and praised for his rites. The portions there were prepared from the forest-grown offerings.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Lines = CE 12.323.10c, 10e (Wikisource आरण्यकपदोद्भूताः against CE āraṇyakapadodgītāḥ is a variant and is kept).

Verse 12 (12.344.12)

प्रीतस्ततोऽस्य भगवान्देवदेवः पुरातनः । साक्षात्तं दर्शयामास सोऽदृश्योऽन्येन केनचित् ॥

prītastato'sya bhagavāndevadevaḥ purātanaḥ | sākṣāttaṃ darśayāmāsa so'dṛśyo'nyena kenacit

Then the Lord, the ancient God of gods, was pleased with him and showed himself in person, though he was invisible to anyone else.

Note on the text: Corrected सोदृश्यः → सोऽदृश्यः (missing avagraha in Wikisource, which as printed would mean 'he was visible'; CE 12.323.11 has so 'dṛśyo 'nyena).

Verse 13 (12.344.13)

स्वयं भागमुपाघ्राय पुरोडाशं गृहीतवान् । अदृश्येन हृतो भागो देवेन हरिमेधसा ॥

svayaṃ bhāgamupāghrāya puroḍāśaṃ gṛhītavān | adṛśyena hṛto bhāgo devena harimedhasā

He himself smelled his portion and took the sacrificial cake. The portion was carried off by the invisible God of keen mind.

Verse 14 (12.344.14)

बृहस्पतिस्ततः क्रुद्धः स्रुचमुद्यम्य वेगितः । आकाशं घ्नन्स्रुचः पातै रोषादश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ॥

bṛhaspatistataḥ kruddhaḥ srucamudyamya vegitaḥ | ākāśaṃ ghnansrucaḥ pātai roṣādaśrūṇyavartayat

Then Brihaspati, angered, raised his ladle in his haste, and striking the sky with blows of the ladle, shed tears of wrath.

Note on the text: Wikisource स्रुचम् against CE sruvam (both are words for the sacrificial ladle) is a variant and is kept.

Verse 15 (12.344.15)

उवाच चोपरिचरं मया भागोऽयमुद्यतः । ग्राह्यः स्वयं हि देवेन मत्प्रत्यक्षं न संशयः ॥

uvāca coparicaraṃ mayā bhāgo'yamudyataḥ | grāhyaḥ svayaṃ hi devena matpratyakṣaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

And he said to Uparichara: ‘I offered this portion; the God ought to have received it himself before my eyes; there is no doubt.

Note on the text: Line 1 is narration (Bhishma); the quoted speech begins in line 1 (मया भागोऽयमुद्यतः) and is Brihaspati's, continuing through the whole of verse 16. Verse 15 is mixed, so it stays with the narrator.

Verse 16 (12.344.16)

उद्यता यज्ञभागा हि साक्षात्प्राप्ताः सुरैरिह । किमर्थमिह न प्राप्तो दर्शनं मे हरिर्नृप ॥

udyatā yajñabhāgā hi sākṣātprāptāḥ surairiha | kimarthamiha na prāpto darśanaṃ me harirnṛpa

The sacrificial portions I offered have been received here in person by the gods. Why has Hari not come to my sight, O king?’

Note on the text: Brihaspati's speech fills the whole verse, so it is given to him (no heading is printed); the page's heading 'भीष्म उवाच' (12-344-17x) follows in the next verse.

Verse 17 (12.344.17)

ततः स तं समुद्भूतं भूमिपालो महान्वसुः । प्रसादयामास मुनिं सदस्यास्ते च सर्वशः ॥

tataḥ sa taṃ samudbhūtaṃ bhūmipālo mahānvasuḥ | prasādayāmāsa muniṃ sadasyāste ca sarvaśaḥ

Then King Vasu the Great, and all the members of the assembly with him, sought to appease the sage who had thus flared up.

Verse 18 (12.344.18)

हुतं त्वयावदानीह पुरोडाशस्य यावती । गृहीता देवदेवेन मत्प्रत्यक्षं न संशयः ॥

hutaṃ tvayāvadānīha puroḍāśasya yāvatī | gṛhītā devadevena matpratyakṣaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Of the sacrificial cake that you offered, as much as the portion cut off was taken by the God of gods before my very eyes; there is no doubt.’

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star passage 12.323.16d*0806_01-02 (hutaṃ tvayāvadānīha puroḍāśasya yāvatī / gṛhītā devadevena matpratyakṣaṃ na saṃśayaḥ), which the CE prefaces (*0806_00) with 'uparicaravasur uvāca'. Wikisource prints it under Bhishma's heading (12-344-17x), but it is Vasu's speech and is given to him. Corrected हुतस्त्वया वदानीह → हुतं त्वयावदानीह (misprint in Wikisource; वदानी is not a word and हुतस् does not agree with the feminine यावती; CE star line has hutaṃ tvayāvadānīha). Removed a stray backtick opening the line.

Verse 19 (12.344.19)

इत्येवमुक्ते वसुना सरोषश्चाब्रवीद्गुरुः । न यजेयमहं चात्र परिभूतस्त्वया नृप ॥

ityevamukte vasunā saroṣaścābravīdguruḥ | na yajeyamahaṃ cātra paribhūtastvayā nṛpa

When Vasu had spoken thus, the preceptor, angry, replied: ‘I will not officiate at this sacrifice, for I have been slighted by you, O king.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star passage 12.323.16d*0806_03-04 (ity evam ukto vasunā saroṣaś cābravīd guruḥ / na yajeyam ahaṃ cātra paribhūtas tvayānagha; Wikisource नृप against CE anagha). Line 1 is narration (Bhishma); in line 2 Brihaspati speaks, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 20 (12.344.20)

त्वया पशुर्वारितश्च कृतः पिष्टमयः पशुः । त्वं देवं पश्यसे नित्यं न पश्येयमहं कथम् ॥

tvayā paśurvāritaśca kṛtaḥ piṣṭamayaḥ paśuḥ | tvaṃ devaṃ paśyase nityaṃ na paśyeyamahaṃ katham

You have forbidden the animal and made an animal of flour. You see the god always; how is it that I should not see him?’

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star passage 12.323.16d*0806_05-06 (tvayā paśur vāritaś ca kṛtaḥ piṣṭamayaḥ paśuḥ / tvaṃ devaṃ paśyase nityaṃ na paśyeyam ahaṃ katham). Printed under Bhishma's heading (12-344-17x) but the verse is Brihaspati's speech and is given to him. (In the CE the marker 'vasur uvāca' stands before line 2; on the page the speaker-change heading comes only at verse 21.)

Verse 21 (12.344.21)

पशुहिंसा वारिता च यजुर्वेदादिमन्त्रतः । अहं न वारये हिंसां द्रक्ष्याम्येकान्तिको हरिम् । तस्मात्कोपो न कर्तव्यो भवता गुरुणा मयि ॥

paśuhiṃsā vāritā ca yajurvedādimantrataḥ | ahaṃ na vāraye hiṃsāṃ drakṣyāmyekāntiko harim | tasmātkopo na kartavyo bhavatā guruṇā mayi

The killing of animals is forbidden by the mantras of the Yajurveda and the other texts; I do not forbid violence of my own accord. As a single-minded devotee, I shall see Hari. Therefore you, my teacher, should not be angry with me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: the three lines are the CE star passage 12.323.16d*0806_07-09 (paśuhiṃsā vāritā ca yajurvedādimantrataḥ / ahaṃ na vāraye hiṃsāṃ drakṣyāmy ekāntiko harim / tasmāt kopo na kartavyo bhavatā guruṇā mayi). The CE inserts a marker 'bhīṣma uvāca' before line 3; the page gives the whole verse to Vasu under its heading 'वसुरुवाच' (12-344-21x), and that is kept.

Verse 22 (12.344.22)

वसुमेवं ब्रुवाणं तु क्रुद्ध एव बृहस्पतिः । उवाच ऋत्विजश्चैव किं नः कर्मेति वारयन् ॥

vasumevaṃ bruvāṇaṃ tu kruddha eva bṛhaspatiḥ | uvāca ṛtvijaścaiva kiṃ naḥ karmeti vārayan

As Vasu spoke thus, Brihaspati, still angry, said to the priests as well, stopping them: ‘What business have we with this rite?’

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star passage 12.323.16d*0806_10-11 (vasum evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ tu kruddha eva bṛhaspatiḥ / uvāca ṛtvijaś caiva kiṃ naḥ karmeti vārayan). Printed on the page under Vasu's heading, but it is narration and is given to Bhishma.

Verse 23 (12.344.23)

अथैकतो द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चैव महर्षयः । ऊचुश्चैनमसंभ्रान्ता न रोषं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

athaikato dvitaścaiva tritaścaiva maharṣayaḥ | ūcuścainamasaṃbhrāntā na roṣaṃ kartumarhasi

Then the great sages Ekata, Dvita and Trita, unflustered, said to him: ‘You ought not to be angry.

Note on the text: Removed a stray apostrophe and extra danda printed after line 1. Line 1 is the CE star line 12.323.16d*0806_12 (athaikato dvitaś caiva tritaś caiva maharṣayaḥ); line 2 is CE 12.323.17a. Narration (printed on the page under Vasu's heading).

Verse 24 (12.344.24)

शृणु त्वं वचनं पुत्र अस्माभिः समुदाहृतम् । नैष धर्मः कृतयुगे यत्त्वं रोषमिहाहिथाः ॥

śṛṇu tvaṃ vacanaṃ putra asmābhiḥ samudāhṛtam | naiṣa dharmaḥ kṛtayuge yattvaṃ roṣamihāhithāḥ

Listen, son, to the words we have spoken. It is not dharma in the Krita age that you should harbour anger here.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick and apostrophe and an extra danda in line 1. Line 1 is the CE star line 12.323.17b*0807_01 (śṛṇu tvaṃ vacanaṃ putra asmābhiḥ samudāhṛtam); line 2 is CE 12.323.17c (Wikisource रोषमिहाहिथाः against CE roṣam acīkṛthāḥ is kept as printed). The speech of Ekata, Dvita and Trita fills this verse and continues to verse 29; the CE heads it 'ekatadvitatritā ūcuḥ' (12.323.19), and no heading is printed on the page. Their account of the bodiless voice (31-34) and of the White Island (35-56) is all within their speech.

Verse 25 (12.344.25)

अरोषणो ह्यसौ देवो यस्य भागोऽयमुद्यतः । न शक्यः स त्वया द्रष्टुमस्माभिर्वा बृहस्पते । यस्य प्रसादं कुरुते स वै तं द्रष्टुमर्हति ॥

aroṣaṇo hyasau devo yasya bhāgo'yamudyataḥ | na śakyaḥ sa tvayā draṣṭumasmābhirvā bṛhaspate | yasya prasādaṃ kurute sa vai taṃ draṣṭumarhati

That God, whose portion has been offered, is free from anger. He cannot be seen by you, Brihaspati, nor by us; only the one on whom he bestows his favour is fit to see him.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page: CE 12.323.18a, 18c, 18e.

Verse 26 (12.344.26)

वयं हि ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा मानसाः परिकीर्तिताः । गता निःश्रेयसार्थं हि कदाचिद्दिशमुत्तराम् ॥

vayaṃ hi brahmaṇaḥ putrā mānasāḥ parikīrtitāḥ | gatā niḥśreyasārthaṃ hi kadāciddiśamuttarām

We are known as the mind-born sons of Brahma. Once, in search of the highest good, we went to the northern quarter.

Verse 27 (12.344.27)

तप्त्वा वर्षसहस्राणि चत्वारि तप उत्तमम् । एकपादा स्थिताः सम्यक्काष्ठभूताः समाहिताः ॥

taptvā varṣasahasrāṇi catvāri tapa uttamam | ekapādā sthitāḥ samyakkāṣṭhabhūtāḥ samāhitāḥ

There we practised excellent austerity for four thousand years, standing on one foot, like pieces of wood, with minds collected.

Verse 28 (12.344.28)

मेरोरुत्तरभागे तु क्षीरोदस्यानुकूलतः । स देशो यत्र नस्तप्तं तपः परमदारुणम् ॥

meroruttarabhāge tu kṣīrodasyānukūlataḥ | sa deśo yatra nastaptaṃ tapaḥ paramadāruṇam

North of Meru, beside the Milk Ocean, is the place where we practised that most fearsome austerity.

Verse 29 (12.344.29)

वरेण्यं वरदं तं वै देवदेवं सनातनम् । कथं पश्येमहि वयं देवं नारायणं त्विति ॥

vareṇyaṃ varadaṃ taṃ vai devadevaṃ sanātanam | kathaṃ paśyemahi vayaṃ devaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ tviti

We thought: ‘How may we see that choicest of gods, the giver of boons, the eternal God of gods, the god Narayana?’

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE star line 12.323.21f*0809_01 (vareṇyaṃ varadaṃ taṃ vai devadevaṃ sanātanam), printed here before CE 12.323.21e (line 2); the order on the page is kept.

Verse 30 (12.344.30)

अथ व्रतस्यावभृथे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी । स्निग्धगम्भीरया वाचा प्रहर्षणकरी विभो ॥

atha vratasyāvabhṛthe vāguvācāśarīriṇī | snigdhagambhīrayā vācā praharṣaṇakarī vibho

Then, at the close of the vow, a bodiless voice spoke, in a gentle, deep tone that brought great joy, O mighty one.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.323.22a; line 2 is the CE star line 12.323.22b*0810_01 (snigdhagambhīrayā vācā praharṣaṇakarī vibho).

Verse 31 (12.344.31)

सुतप्तं वस्तपो विप्राः प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना । यूयं जिज्ञासवो भक्ताः कथं द्रक्ष्यथ तं विभुम् ॥

sutaptaṃ vastapo viprāḥ prasannenāntarātmanā | yūyaṃ jijñāsavo bhaktāḥ kathaṃ drakṣyatha taṃ vibhum

‘Your austerity was well performed, brahmins, and with a gracious inner mind. You are eager to know and are devoted; how will you see that all-pervading One?

Note on the text: The Voice's words run from line 1 of this verse through verse 34 and fill the verses, so they are given to the Bodiless Voice. Lines = CE 12.323.22c and 23a (Wikisource कथं द्रक्ष्यथ तं विभुम् against CE prabhum; the page's note records प्रभुम् as a variant).

Verse 32 (12.344.32)

क्षीरोदधेरुत्तरतः श्वेतद्वीपो महाप्रभः । तत्र नारायणपरा मानवाश्चन्द्रवर्चसः ॥

kṣīrodadheruttarataḥ śvetadvīpo mahāprabhaḥ | tatra nārāyaṇaparā mānavāścandravarcasaḥ

North of the Milk Ocean lies the radiant White Island. There live men wholly devoted to Narayana, bright as the moon.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.23c and 24a.

Verse 33 (12.344.33)

एकान्तभावोपगतास्ते भक्ताः पुरुषोत्तमम् । ते सहस्रार्चिषं देवं प्रविशन्ति सनातनम् ॥

ekāntabhāvopagatāste bhaktāḥ puruṣottamam | te sahasrārciṣaṃ devaṃ praviśanti sanātanam

Those devotees, having attained single-minded devotion to the Supreme Person, enter the eternal God of a thousand rays.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.24c and 25a.

Verse 34 (12.344.34)

अनिन्द्रिया निराहारा अनिष्पन्दाः सुगन्धिनः । एकान्तिनस्ते पुरुषाः श्वेतद्वीपनिवासिनः । गच्छध्वं तत्र मुनयस्तत्रात्मा मे प्रकाशितः ॥

anindriyā nirāhārā aniṣpandāḥ sugandhinaḥ | ekāntinaste puruṣāḥ śvetadvīpanivāsinaḥ | gacchadhvaṃ tatra munayastatrātmā me prakāśitaḥ

Without sense organs, without food, motionless, fragrant: such are those single-minded men, the dwellers on the White Island. Go there, sages; there my Self has been revealed.’

Note on the text: Removed a stray Latin letter 'a' printed at the start of line 3 (the page's line-marker) in Wikisource. Lines = CE 12.323.25c, 26a and 26c (Wikisource अनिन्द्रिया against CE atīndriyā; the page's note records अतीन्द्रिया as a variant).

Verse 35 (12.344.35)

अथ श्रुत्वा वयं सर्वे वाचं तामशरीरिणीम् । यथाख्यातेन मार्गेण तं देशं प्रविशेमहि ॥

atha śrutvā vayaṃ sarve vācaṃ tāmaśarīriṇīm | yathākhyātena mārgeṇa taṃ deśaṃ praviśemahi

Hearing that bodiless voice, we all entered that region by the path as it had been described.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.27a, 27c (Wikisource तं देशं प्रविशेमहि against CE taṃ deśaṃ pratipedire; the optative प्रविशेमहि is kept as printed).

Verse 36 (12.344.36)

प्राप्य श्वेतं महाद्वीपं तच्चित्तास्तद्दिदृक्षवः । सहसा हि गताः सर्वे तेजसा तस्य मोहिताः ॥

prāpya śvetaṃ mahādvīpaṃ taccittāstaddidṛkṣavaḥ | sahasā hi gatāḥ sarve tejasā tasya mohitāḥ

Having reached the great White Island, with our minds fixed on him and eager to see him, we all pressed suddenly forward, but were bewildered by his radiance.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick, a doubled danda and a closing apostrophe in line 2. Line 1 = CE 12.323.28a; line 2 is the CE star line 12.323.28b*0811_01 (sahasābhihatāḥ sarve tejasā tasya mohitāḥ; Wikisource सहसा हि गताः).

Verse 37 (12.344.37)

ततोऽस्मद्दृष्टिविषयस्तदा प्रतिहतोऽभवत् । न च पश्याम पुरुषं तत्तेजोहतदर्शनाः ॥

tato'smaddṛṣṭiviṣayastadā pratihato'bhavat | na ca paśyāma puruṣaṃ tattejohatadarśanāḥ

Then the range of our sight was struck down, and we could not see that Person, our vision robbed by his splendour.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.28c and 29a.

Verse 38 (12.344.38)

ततो नः प्रादुरभवद्विज्ञानं देवयोगजम् । न किलातप्ततपसा शक्यते द्रष्टुमञ्जसा ॥

tato naḥ prādurabhavadvijñānaṃ devayogajam | na kilātaptatapasā śakyate draṣṭumañjasā

Then a knowledge born of divine contact arose in us: ‘One who has not practised intense austerity cannot easily see him.’

Note on the text: Corrected द्रष्टमञ्जसा → द्रष्टुमञ्जसा (misprint in Wikisource; the infinitive द्रष्टुम् has lost its vowel sign; CE 12.323.30a has draṣṭum añjasā). Lines = CE 12.323.29c and 30a.

Verse 39 (12.344.39)

ततः पुनर्वर्षशतं तप्त्वा तात्कालिकं महत् । व्रतावसाने च शुभान्नरान्ददृशिमो वयम् ॥

tataḥ punarvarṣaśataṃ taptvā tātkālikaṃ mahat | vratāvasāne ca śubhānnarāndadṛśimo vayam

Then, having practised for another hundred years an austerity suited to that time, at the end of the vow we saw those auspicious men,

Note on the text: Corrected ददृशिमो वमय् → ददृशिमो वयम् (misprint in Wikisource; वमय् is not a word and the letters म and य are transposed; CE 12.323.31a has dadṛśire vayam). Lines = CE 12.323.30c and 31a.

Verse 40 (12.344.40)

श्वेतांश्चन्द्रप्रतीकाशान्सर्वलक्षणलक्षितान् । नित्याञ्जलिकृतान्ब्रह्म जपतः प्रागुदङ्मुखान् ॥

śvetāṃścandrapratīkāśānsarvalakṣaṇalakṣitān | nityāñjalikṛtānbrahma japataḥ prāgudaṅmukhān

white, shining like the moon, marked with every auspicious sign, hands ever joined, silently reciting Brahman, facing the north-east.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रागुदङ्भुखान् → प्रागुदङ्मुखान् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; CE 12.323.32a has prāgudaṅmukhān). Lines = CE 12.323.31c and 32a.

Verse 41 (12.344.41)

मानसो नाम स जपो जप्यते तैर्महात्मभिः । तेनैकाग्रमनस्त्वेन प्रीतो भवति वै हरिः ॥

mānaso nāma sa japo japyate tairmahātmabhiḥ | tenaikāgramanastvena prīto bhavati vai hariḥ

The recitation those great souls make is called the mental one. By their single-pointedness of mind Hari is pleased.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.32c and 32e.

Verse 42 (12.344.42)

याऽभवन्मुनिशार्दूल भाः सूर्यस्य युगक्षये । एकैकस्य प्रभा तादृक्साऽभवन्मानवस्य ह ॥

yā'bhavanmuniśārdūla bhāḥ sūryasya yugakṣaye | ekaikasya prabhā tādṛksā'bhavanmānavasya ha

O tiger among sages, the light that the sun gives at the end of a yuga: such was the radiance of each single man there.

Note on the text: Wikisource याऽभवन् / साऽभवन् against CE bhaven / sābhavan is a variant and is kept.

Verse 43 (12.344.43)

तेजोनिवासः स द्वीप इति वै मेनिरे वयम् । न तत्राभ्यधिकः कश्चित्सर्वे ते समतेजसः ॥

tejonivāsaḥ sa dvīpa iti vai menire vayam | na tatrābhyadhikaḥ kaścitsarve te samatejasaḥ

We took that island to be the abode of radiance. No one there was greater than another; all were equal in splendour.

Verse 44 (12.344.44)

अथ सूर्यसहस्रस्य प्रभां युगपदुत्थिताम् । सहसा दृष्टवन्तः स्म पुनरेव बृहस्पते ॥

atha sūryasahasrasya prabhāṃ yugapadutthitām | sahasā dṛṣṭavantaḥ sma punareva bṛhaspate

Then, O Brihaspati, we suddenly saw once more the radiance of a thousand suns rising at one instant.

Verse 45 (12.344.45)

सहिताश्चाभ्यधावन्त ततस्ते मानवा द्रुतम् । कृताञ्जलिपुटा हृष्टा नम इत्येव वादिनः ॥

sahitāścābhyadhāvanta tataste mānavā drutam | kṛtāñjalipuṭā hṛṣṭā nama ityeva vādinaḥ

Then those men ran forward together swiftly, joyful, with palms joined, saying only ‘Homage!’

Note on the text: Corrected कृताञ्जलिपुष्टा → कृताञ्जलिपुटा (misprint in Wikisource; ष्ट for ट; CE 12.323.36c has kṛtāñjalipuṭā).

Verse 46 (12.344.46)

ततो हि वदतां तेषामश्रौष्म विपुलं ध्वनिम् । बलिः किलोपह्रियते तस्य देवस्य तैर्नरैः ॥

tato hi vadatāṃ teṣāmaśrauṣma vipulaṃ dhvanim | baliḥ kilopahriyate tasya devasya tairnaraiḥ

As they spoke, we heard a great sound: an offering was being made to that God by those men.

Verse 47 (12.344.47)

वयं तु तेजसा तस्य सहसा हृतचेतसः । न किंचिदपि पश्यामो हतचक्षुर्बलेन्द्रियाः ॥

vayaṃ tu tejasā tasya sahasā hṛtacetasaḥ | na kiṃcidapi paśyāmo hatacakṣurbalendriyāḥ

But our minds were suddenly seized by his radiance, and we could see nothing at all, our sight, strength and senses struck down.

Note on the text: Wikisource हतचक्षुर्बलेन्द्रियाः against CE hṛtadṛṣṭibalendriyāḥ is a variant and is kept.

Verse 48 (12.344.48)

एकस्तु शब्दो विततः श्रुतोऽस्माभिरुदीरितः । आकाशं पूरयन्सर्वं शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितः ॥

ekastu śabdo vitataḥ śruto'smābhirudīritaḥ | ākāśaṃ pūrayansarvaṃ śikṣākṣarasamanvitaḥ

One sound only we heard, uttered and spreading wide, filling the whole sky, perfect in the syllables prescribed by phonetics.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening line 2. Line 1 = CE 12.323.39a (Wikisource विततः against CE avirataḥ, a variant); line 2 is the CE star line 12.323.39b*0812_01 (ākāśaṃ pūrayan sarvaṃ śikṣākṣarasamanvitaḥ).

Verse 49 (12.344.49)

जितं ते पुण्डरीकाक्ष नमस्ते विश्वभावन । नमस्तेऽस्तु हृषीकेश महापुरुष पूर्वज । इति शब्दः श्रुतोऽस्माभिः शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितः ॥

jitaṃ te puṇḍarīkākṣa namaste viśvabhāvana | namaste'stu hṛṣīkeśa mahāpuruṣa pūrvaja | iti śabdaḥ śruto'smābhiḥ śikṣākṣarasamanvitaḥ

‘Victory to you, lotus-eyed one! Homage to you, creator of the universe! Homage to you, Hrishikesha, Great Person, firstborn!’ This sound, perfect in the syllables of phonetics, we heard.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page: CE 12.323.39c, 40a, 40c (Wikisource's last line शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितः against CE śikṣākṣarasamīritaḥ is a variant and is kept). Lines 1-2 are the cry heard (the worshippers' speech) and line 3 is narration, so the verse stays with those who heard it.

Verse 50 (12.344.50)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वायुः सर्वगन्धवहः शुचिः । दिव्यान्युवाह पुष्पाणि कर्मण्याश्चौषधीस्तथा ॥

etasminnantare vāyuḥ sarvagandhavahaḥ śuciḥ | divyānyuvāha puṣpāṇi karmaṇyāścauṣadhīstathā

Meanwhile a pure wind, carrying all fragrances, brought divine flowers and herbs fit for rites.

Verse 51 (12.344.51)

तैरिष्टः पञ्चकालज्ञैर्हरिरेकान्तिभिर्नरैः । भक्त्या परमया युक्तैर्मनोवाक्कर्मभिस्तदा ॥

tairiṣṭaḥ pañcakālajñairharirekāntibhirnaraiḥ | bhaktyā paramayā yuktairmanovākkarmabhistadā

Hari was then worshipped by those single-minded men, who know the five times of worship, with supreme devotion, in mind, speech and action.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.323.42a; line 2 is the CE star line 12.323.42b*0813_01 (bhaktyā paramayā yuktair manovākkarmabhis tadā).

Verse 52 (12.344.52)

नूनं तत्रागतो देवो यथा तैर्वागुदीरिता । वयं त्वेनं न पश्यामो मोहितास्तस्य मायया ॥

nūnaṃ tatrāgato devo yathā tairvāgudīritā | vayaṃ tvenaṃ na paśyāmo mohitāstasya māyayā

‘Surely the God has come there, as their uttered words showed.’ But we, bewildered by his illusion, could not see him.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.42c, 42e.

Verse 53 (12.344.53)

मारुते सन्निवृत्ते च बलौ च प्रतिपादिते । चिन्ताव्याकुलितात्मानो जाताः स्मोऽङ्गिरसां वर ॥

mārute sannivṛtte ca balau ca pratipādite | cintāvyākulitātmāno jātāḥ smo'ṅgirasāṃ vara

When the wind had ceased and the offering had been made, we were overcome with anxious thought, O best of the Angirases.

Note on the text: Corrected स्मोङ्गिसांवर → स्मोऽङ्गिरसां वर (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable रसां is lost and the avagraha and word-space missing; CE 12.323.43 has smo 'ṅgirasāṃ vara).

Verse 54 (12.344.54)

मानवानां सहस्रेषु तेषु वै शुद्धयोनिषु । अस्मान्न कश्चिन्मनसा चक्षुषा वाऽप्यपूजयत् ॥

mānavānāṃ sahasreṣu teṣu vai śuddhayoniṣu | asmānna kaścinmanasā cakṣuṣā vā'pyapūjayat

Among those thousands of men of pure birth, no one honoured us, whether in thought or with a glance.

Verse 55 (12.344.55)

तेऽपि स्वस्था मुनिगणा एकभावमनुव्रताः । नास्मासु दधिरे भावं ब्रह्मभावमनुष्ठिताः ॥

te'pi svasthā munigaṇā ekabhāvamanuvratāḥ | nāsmāsu dadhire bhāvaṃ brahmabhāvamanuṣṭhitāḥ

Those hosts of sages too, composed and devoted to the single-minded state, abiding in the state of Brahman, showed no regard for us.

Note on the text: Joined the words एक भावमनुव्रताः → एकभावमनुव्रताः (run-together compound split by a space in Wikisource; CE 12.323.45 has ekabhāvam).

Verse 56 (12.344.56)

ततोऽस्मान्सुपरिश्रान्तांस्तपसा चातिकर्शितान् । उवाच स्वस्थं किमपि भूतं तत्राशरीरकम् ॥

tato'smānsupariśrāntāṃstapasā cātikarśitān | uvāca svasthaṃ kimapi bhūtaṃ tatrāśarīrakam

Then, as we were utterly weary and worn thin by austerity, a certain bodiless being there spoke to us calmly.

Note on the text: Wikisource स्वस्थम् against CE khastham is a variant and is kept.

Verse 57 (12.344.57)

दृष्टा वः पुरुषाः श्वेताः सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जिताः । दृष्टो भवति देवेश एभिर्दृष्टैर्द्विजोत्तमैः ॥

dṛṣṭā vaḥ puruṣāḥ śvetāḥ sarvendriyavivarjitāḥ | dṛṣṭo bhavati deveśa ebhirdṛṣṭairdvijottamaiḥ

‘You have seen the white men, devoid of all the senses. By seeing these best of brahmins, the Lord of gods is as good as seen.

Note on the text: Printed under the heading 'देव उवाच' (12-344-57x); the speaker is the bodiless being of verse 56, and the heading is kept as printed. The speech runs through verse 61.

Verse 58 (12.344.58)

गच्छध्वं मुनयः सर्वे यथागतमितोऽचिरात् । न स शक्यस्त्वभक्तेन द्रष्टुं देवः कथंचन ॥

gacchadhvaṃ munayaḥ sarve yathāgatamito'cirāt | na sa śakyastvabhaktena draṣṭuṃ devaḥ kathaṃcana

Go back, sages, all of you, by the way you came, without delay. That God can by no means be seen by one who lacks devotion.

Verse 59 (12.344.59)

कामं कालेन महता एकान्तित्वमुपागतैः । शक्यो द्रष्टुं स भगवान्प्रभामण्डलदुर्दृशः ॥

kāmaṃ kālena mahatā ekāntitvamupāgataiḥ | śakyo draṣṭuṃ sa bhagavānprabhāmaṇḍaladurdṛśaḥ

Only after a very long time, by those who have reached single-minded devotion, can that Lord, hard to behold within the circle of his radiance, be seen.

Verse 60 (12.344.60)

महत्कार्यं च कर्तव्यं युष्माभिर्द्विजसत्तमाः । इतः कृतयुगेऽतीते विपर्यासं गतेऽपि च ॥

mahatkāryaṃ ca kartavyaṃ yuṣmābhirdvijasattamāḥ | itaḥ kṛtayuge'tīte viparyāsaṃ gate'pi ca

A great task must be done by you, best of brahmins. After this Krita age has passed and gone into reversal,

Verse 61 (12.344.61)

वैवस्वतेऽन्तरे विप्राः प्राप्ते त्रेतायुगे पुनः । सुराणां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं सहाया वै भविष्यथ ॥

vaivasvate'ntare viprāḥ prāpte tretāyuge punaḥ | surāṇāṃ kāryasiddhyarthaṃ sahāyā vai bhaviṣyatha

in the Vaivasvata interval, when the Treta age has come again, you will be helpers for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose.’

Verse 62 (12.344.62)

ततस्तदद्भुतं वाक्यं निशम्यैवामृतोपमम् । तस्य प्रसादात्प्राप्ताः स्मो देशमीप्सितमञ्जसा ॥

tatastadadbhutaṃ vākyaṃ niśamyaivāmṛtopamam | tasya prasādātprāptāḥ smo deśamīpsitamañjasā

Hearing that wondrous word, like nectar, we reached by his grace the region we desired, without difficulty.

Note on the text: Corrected ईप्सिंतम् → ईप्सितम् (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; CE 12.323.52c has īpsitam). Wikisource निशम्यैवामृतोपमम् against CE niśamyaivaṃ sma somapa is a variant and is kept.

Verse 63 (12.344.63)

एवं सुतपसा चैव हव्यकव्यैस्तथैव च । देवोऽस्माभिर्न दृष्टः स कथं त्वं द्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥

evaṃ sutapasā caiva havyakavyaistathaiva ca | devo'smābhirna dṛṣṭaḥ sa kathaṃ tvaṃ draṣṭumarhasi

Thus, even with such austerity and with offerings to gods and ancestors, we did not see that God. How then can you hope to see him?

Note on the text: Corrected हव्यकव्यस्तैथैव → हव्यकव्यैस्तथैव (misprint in Wikisource; the instrumental ending and the vowel are displaced; CE 12.323.53c has havyakavyais tathaiva).

Verse 64 (12.344.64)

नारायणो महद्भूतं विश्वसृग्घव्यकव्यभुक् । अनादिनिधनोऽव्यक्तो देवदानवपूजितः ॥

nārāyaṇo mahadbhūtaṃ viśvasṛgghavyakavyabhuk | anādinidhano'vyakto devadānavapūjitaḥ

Narayana is the great Being, maker of the universe, enjoyer of havya and kavya, without beginning or end, unmanifest, worshipped by gods and demons.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.323.53e; line 2 is the CE star line 12.323.53f*0814_01 (anādinidhano 'vyakto devadānavapūjitaḥ).

Verse 65 (12.344.65)

एवमेकतवाक्येन द्वितत्रितमतेन च । अनुनीतः सदस्यैश्च बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः । समापयत्ततो यज्ञं दैवतं समपूजयत् ॥

evamekatavākyena dvitatritamatena ca | anunītaḥ sadasyaiśca bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ | samāpayattato yajñaṃ daivataṃ samapūjayat

Thus appeased by the unanimous word of Ekata, by the opinion of Dvita and Trita, and by the members of the assembly, Brihaspati of noble mind brought the sacrifice to completion and worshipped the deity.

Note on the text: The CE has the heading 'bhīṣma uvāca' before this verse (12.323.54); the page prints none, and the narrator is given for verses 65-69. Three-line verse: CE 12.323.54a, 54c, 54e (Wikisource's last line समापयत्ततो यज्ञं against CE samānīya tato yajñaṃ is a variant and is kept).

Verse 66 (12.344.66)

समाप्तयज्ञो राजाऽपि प्रजां पालितवान्वसुः । ब्रह्मशापाद्दिवो भ्रष्टः प्रविवेश महीं ततः ॥

samāptayajño rājā'pi prajāṃ pālitavānvasuḥ | brahmaśāpāddivo bhraṣṭaḥ praviveśa mahīṃ tataḥ

King Vasu, his sacrifice completed, went on protecting his people; but by a brahmin's curse he fell from heaven and entered the earth.

Verse 67 (12.344.67)

स राजा राजशार्दूल सत्यधर्मपरायणः । अन्तर्भूमिगतश्चैव सततं धर्मवत्सलः ॥

sa rājā rājaśārdūla satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ | antarbhūmigataścaiva satataṃ dharmavatsalaḥ

O tiger among kings, that king, ever devoted to truth and dharma, though gone beneath the earth, was always fond of dharma.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE star line 12.323.55d*0815_01 (sa rājā rājaśārdūla satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ); line 2 = CE 12.323.56a.

Verse 68 (12.344.68)

नारायणपरो भूत्वा नारायणजपं जपन् । तस्यैव च प्रसादेन पुनरेवोत्थितस्तु सः ॥

nārāyaṇaparo bhūtvā nārāyaṇajapaṃ japan | tasyaiva ca prasādena punarevotthitastu saḥ

Devoted to Narayana, reciting the japa of Narayana, by his grace he rose up again.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.56c, 57a (Wikisource नारायणजपं जपन् against CE nārāyaṇapadaṃ jagau is a variant and is kept).

Verse 69 (12.344.69)

महीतलाद्गतः स्थानं ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरम् । परां गतिमनुप्राप्त इति नैष्ठिकमञ्जसा ॥

mahītalādgataḥ sthānaṃ brahmaṇaḥ samanantaram | parāṃ gatimanuprāpta iti naiṣṭhikamañjasā

Leaving the surface of the earth, he went to Brahma's abode close by; thus, it is said, he easily gained the supreme goal of the steadfast.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.323.57c, 57e.