Narada's Discourse on Dreams

Verse 1 (padma.2.120.1)

कुंजल उवाच । कामोदाख्यं पुरं दिव्यं सर्वदेवसमाकुलम् । सर्वकामसमृद्ध्यर्थमपश्यन्नारदस्ततः

kuṁjala uvāca kāmodākhyaṁ puraṁ divyaṁ sarvadevasamākulam sarvakāmasamṛddhyarthamapaśyannāradastataḥ

Kunjala said: Narada then beheld that divine city named Kamoda, thronged with all the gods, filled with the abundance of every desire.

Verse 2 (padma.2.120.2)

कामोदाया गृहं प्राप्य प्रविवेश द्विजोत्तमः । कामोदां तु ततो दृष्ट्वा सर्वकामसमाकुलाम्

kāmodāyā gṛhaṁ prāpya praviveśa dvijottamaḥ kāmodāṁ tu tato dṛṣṭvā sarvakāmasamākulām

That best of the twice-born, reaching Kamoda's dwelling, entered it; then he beheld Kamoda, surrounded by every delight.

Verse 3 (padma.2.120.3)

तया संपूजितो विप्रः सुवाक्यैः स्वागतादिभिः । दिव्यासने समारूढस्तां पप्रच्छ द्विजोत्तमः

tayā saṁpūjito vipraḥ suvākyaiḥ svāgatādibhiḥ divyāsane samārūḍhastāṁ papraccha dvijottamaḥ

She honored that brahmin with fine words of welcome and the like. Seated upon a divine seat, that best of the twice-born asked her —

Verse 4 (padma.2.120.4)

सुखेन स्थीयते भद्रे विष्णुतेजः समुद्भवे । अनामयं च पप्रच्छ आशीर्भिरभिनंद्य ताम्

sukhena sthīyate bhadre viṣṇutejaḥ samudbhave anāmayaṁ ca papraccha āśīrbhirabhinaṁdya tām

'Auspicious one, born of Vishnu's very splendor, do you dwell in happiness?' And, greeting her with blessings, he asked after her welfare too.

Verse 5 (padma.2.120.5)

कामोदोवाच-। प्रसादाद्भवतां विष्णोः सुखेन वर्तयाम्यहम् । कथयस्व महाप्राज्ञ त्वं प्रश्नोत्तरकारणम्

kāmodovāca- prasādādbhavatāṁ viṣṇoḥ sukhena vartayāmyaham kathayasva mahāprājña tvaṁ praśnottarakāraṇam

Kamoda said: 'By the grace of you all, and of Vishnu, I dwell in happiness. Tell me, greatly wise one, the reason behind this question of yours.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.120.6)

महामोहः समुत्पन्नो ममांगे मुनिपुंगव । व्यापकः सर्वलोकानां ममांगे मतिनाशकः

mahāmohaḥ samutpanno mamāṁge munipuṁgava vyāpakaḥ sarvalokānāṁ mamāṁge matināśakaḥ

'O bull among sages, a great delusion has arisen in my body — pervading every limb of mine, destroying my very understanding.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.120.7)

तस्मान्निद्रा समुत्पन्ना यथा मर्त्येषु वर्तते । सुप्तया तु मया दृष्टः स्वप्नो वै दारुणो मुने

tasmānnidrā samutpannā yathā martyeṣu vartate suptayā tu mayā dṛṣṭaḥ svapno vai dāruṇo mune

'From that came sleep, just as it occurs among mortals. While sleeping, sage, I beheld a terrible dream.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.120.8)

केनाप्युक्तं समेत्यैव पुरतो द्विजसत्तम । अव्यक्तोऽसौ हृषीकेशः संसारं स गमिष्यति

kenāpyuktaṁ sametyaiva purato dvijasattama avyakto'sau hṛṣīkeśaḥ saṁsāraṁ sa gamiṣyati

'O best of the twice-born, someone came before me and said: This unmanifest Hrishikesha shall enter the cycle of samsara.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.120.9)

तदा प्रभृति दुःखेन व्यापिताहं महामते । तन्मे त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि भवाञ्ज्ञानवतां वरः

tadā prabhṛti duḥkhena vyāpitāhaṁ mahāmate tanme tvaṁ kāraṇaṁ brūhi bhavāñjñānavatāṁ varaḥ

'Since then, wise one, I have been overwhelmed with sorrow. You, finest among the knowing, tell me the reason for it.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.120.10)

नारद उवाच । वातिकः पैत्तिकश्चैव कफजः सान्निपातिकः । स्वप्नः प्रवर्तते भद्रे मानवेषु न संशयः

nārada uvāca vātikaḥ paittikaścaiva kaphajaḥ sānnipātikaḥ svapnaḥ pravartate bhadre mānaveṣu na saṁśayaḥ

Narada said: 'Vātika, paittika, kaphaja and sānnipātika — auspicious one, such are the dreams that occur among mortals, without doubt.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.120.11)

न जायते च देवेषु स्वप्नो निद्रा च सुंदरि । आदित्योदयवेलायां दृश्यते स्वप्न उत्तमः

na jāyate ca deveṣu svapno nidrā ca suṁdari ādityodayavelāyāṁ dṛśyate svapna uttamaḥ

'Among the gods, beautiful one, neither dream nor sleep ever occurs. The dream that is seen at the hour of sunrise is the excellent one.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.120.12)

सत्स्वप्नो मानवानां हि पुण्यस्य फलदायकः । अन्यदेवं प्रवक्ष्यामि स्वप्नस्य कारणं शुभे

satsvapno mānavānāṁ hi puṇyasya phaladāyakaḥ anyadevaṁ pravakṣyāmi svapnasya kāraṇaṁ śubhe

'A true dream, for mortals, is the bestower of the fruit of merit. Now I shall tell you something more — the cause of dreaming, auspicious one.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.120.13)

महावातांदोलनैश्च चलंत्यापो वरानने । त्रुटंत्यंबुकणाः सूक्ष्मास्तस्मादुदकसंचयात्

mahāvātāṁdolanaiśca calaṁtyāpo varānane truṭaṁtyaṁbukaṇāḥ sūkṣmāstasmādudakasaṁcayāt

'Fair one, by the churning of great winds, water is stirred; from that mass of water, fine droplets break off and scatter,'

Verse 14 (padma.2.120.14)

बहिरेव पतंत्येते निर्मलांबुकणाः शुभे । पुनर्लयं प्रयांत्येते दृश्यादृश्या भवंति वै

bahireva pataṁtyete nirmalāṁbukaṇāḥ śubhe punarlayaṁ prayāṁtyete dṛśyādṛśyā bhavaṁti vai

'auspicious one, those pure droplets fall outward; then they dissolve away again, now visible, now invisible.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.120.15)

तद्वत्स्वप्नस्य वै भावः कथ्यते शृणु भामिनि । आत्मा शुद्धो विरक्तस्तु रागद्वेषविवर्जितः

tadvatsvapnasya vai bhāvaḥ kathyate śṛṇu bhāmini ātmā śuddho viraktastu rāgadveṣavivarjitaḥ

'Just so, lovely one, is the nature of a dream to be understood — hear it. The Self is pure, detached, free of attachment and aversion,'

Verse 16 (padma.2.120.16)

पंचभूतात्मकानां च मुषित्वैव सुनिश्चलः । षड्विंशतिसु तत्वानां मध्ये चैष विराजते

paṁcabhūtātmakānāṁ ca muṣitvaiva suniścalaḥ ṣaḍviṁśatisu tatvānāṁ madhye caiṣa virājate

'utterly still, as if it had stolen itself away from the five great elements; amid the twenty-six principles, it alone abides.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.120.17)

शुद्धात्मा केवलो नित्यः प्रकृतेः संगतिं गतः । तद्भावैर्वायुरूपैश्च चलते स्थानतो यदा

śuddhātmā kevalo nityaḥ prakṛteḥ saṁgatiṁ gataḥ tadbhāvairvāyurūpaiśca calate sthānato yadā

'The pure Self alone, eternal, having entered into association with prakriti — when, through its own modes taking the form of wind, it moves from its place,'

Verse 18 (padma.2.120.18)

आत्मनस्तेजसश्चैव प्रतितेजः प्रजायते । अंतरात्मा शुभं नाम तस्य एव प्रकथ्यते

ātmanastejasaścaiva pratitejaḥ prajāyate aṁtarātmā śubhaṁ nāma tasya eva prakathyate

'— then, from the very splendor of the Self, a reflected splendor is produced. That alone is called by the name antaratman, the inner self.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.120.19)

पयसश्च यथा भिन्ना भवंत्यंबुकणाः शुभे । आत्मनस्तु तथा तेज अंतरात्मा प्रकथ्यते

payasaśca yathā bhinnā bhavaṁtyaṁbukaṇāḥ śubhe ātmanastu tathā teja aṁtarātmā prakathyate

'Just as, auspicious one, separate droplets form from water, so too is that splendor of the Self called the inner self.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.120.20)

स हि पृथ्वी स वै वायुः स चाप्याकाश एव हि । स वै तोयं स दीप्येत एते पंच पुरा कृताः

sa hi pṛthvī sa vai vāyuḥ sa cāpyākāśa eva hi sa vai toyaṁ sa dīpyeta ete paṁca purā kṛtāḥ

'It is earth, it is wind itself, and it is space as well; it is water, and it too becomes fire — these five were fashioned first,'

Verse 21 (padma.2.120.21)

आत्मनस्तेजसो भूता मलरूपा महात्मनः । तस्यापि संगतिं प्राप्ता एकत्वं हि प्रयांति ते

ātmanastejaso bhūtā malarūpā mahātmanaḥ tasyāpi saṁgatiṁ prāptā ekatvaṁ hi prayāṁti te

'as forms of impurity born of the splendor of the great-souled Self. Having entered into union with it too, they attain a kind of oneness.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.120.22)

स्वात्मभावप्रदोषेण नाशयंति वरानने । तत्पिंडमन्यमिच्छंति वारं वारं वरानने

svātmabhāvapradoṣeṇa nāśayaṁti varānane tatpiṁḍamanyamicchaṁti vāraṁ vāraṁ varānane

'Fair one, by the fault of their own inherent nature they perish; and, fair one, again and again they long for yet another body.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.120.23)

तेषां क्रीडाविहारोयं सृष्टिसंबंधकारणम् । उदकस्य तरंगस्तु जायते च विलीयते

teṣāṁ krīḍāvihāroyaṁ sṛṣṭisaṁbaṁdhakāraṇam udakasya taraṁgastu jāyate ca vilīyate

'This very play and wandering of theirs is the cause of the bond of creation. Just as a wave of water rises and dissolves away,'

Verse 24 (padma.2.120.24)

पुनर्भूतिः पुनर्हानिस्तादृशस्य पुनः पुनः । अपां रूपस्य दृष्टांतं तद्वदेषां न संशयः

punarbhūtiḥ punarhānistādṛśasya punaḥ punaḥ apāṁ rūpasya dṛṣṭāṁtaṁ tadvadeṣāṁ na saṁśayaḥ

'again arising, again perishing, thus over and over — this example of water's own form applies to them just the same, without doubt.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.120.25)

आत्मा न नश्यते देवि तेजो वायुर्न नश्यति । न नश्यतो धराकाशौ न नश्यंत्याप एव च

ātmā na naśyate devi tejo vāyurna naśyati na naśyato dharākāśau na naśyaṁtyāpa eva ca

'Goddess, the Self does not perish; splendor and wind do not perish; earth and space do not perish; and water too does not perish.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.120.26)

पंचैव आत्मना सार्द्धं प्रभवंति प्रयांति च । आत्मादयो ह्यमी भद्रे नित्यरूपा न संशयः

paṁcaiva ātmanā sārddhaṁ prabhavaṁti prayāṁti ca ātmādayo hyamī bhadre nityarūpā na saṁśayaḥ

'These five, together with the Self, arise and part; auspicious one, the Self and these others are all eternal in form, without doubt.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.120.27)

पिंड एव प्रणश्येत तेषां संजात एव च । विषयाणां सुदोषैः स रागद्वेषादिभिर्हतः

piṁḍa eva praṇaśyeta teṣāṁ saṁjāta eva ca viṣayāṇāṁ sudoṣaiḥ sa rāgadveṣādibhirhataḥ

'It is only the body that perishes, once it has arisen from them — struck down by the grave faults of the objects of sense, by attachment, aversion, and the like.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.120.28)

प्राणाः प्रयांति वै पिंडात्पंचपंचात्मका द्विज । पिंडांते वसते आत्मा प्रतिरूपस्तु तस्य च

prāṇāḥ prayāṁti vai piṁḍātpaṁcapaṁcātmakā dvija piṁḍāṁte vasate ātmā pratirūpastu tasya ca

'The vital breaths, brahmin, formed of the five elements each fivefold, depart from the body. At the body's end, the Self abides there, in its own reflected form.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.120.29)

अंतरात्मा यथा चाग्नेः स्फुलिंगस्तु प्रकाशते । तथा प्रकाशमायाति दृश्यादृश्यः प्रजायते

aṁtarātmā yathā cāgneḥ sphuliṁgastu prakāśate tathā prakāśamāyāti dṛśyādṛśyaḥ prajāyate

'As a spark shines forth from fire, so too does the inner self come to shine — now visible, now invisible, such it becomes.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.120.30)

शुद्धात्मा च परं ब्रह्म सदा जागर्ति नित्यशः । अंतरात्मा प्रबद्धस्तु प्रकृतेश्च महागुणैः

śuddhātmā ca paraṁ brahma sadā jāgarti nityaśaḥ aṁtarātmā prabaddhastu prakṛteśca mahāguṇaiḥ

'The pure Self alone is the supreme Brahman, ever wakeful at all times; but the inner self remains bound by the great qualities of prakriti.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.120.31)

अन्नाहारेण संपुष्टैरंतरात्मा सुखं व्रजेत् । सुसुखाज्जायते मोहस्तस्मान्मनः प्रमुह्यति

annāhāreṇa saṁpuṣṭairaṁtarātmā sukhaṁ vrajet susukhājjāyate mohastasmānmanaḥ pramuhyati

'Nourished by food and drink, the inner self proceeds toward pleasure; from excessive pleasure delusion arises, and from that the mind becomes deluded.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.120.32)

पश्चात्संजायते निद्रा तामसी लयवर्द्धिनी । नाडीमार्गेण यः सूर्यो मेरुमुल्लंघ्य गच्छति

paścātsaṁjāyate nidrā tāmasī layavarddhinī nāḍīmārgeṇa yaḥ sūryo merumullaṁghya gacchati

'After that, tamasic sleep arises, increasing dissolution. When the sun, moving by the path of the subtle channel, passes beyond Meru and goes on,'

Verse 33 (padma.2.120.33)

तदा रात्रिः प्रजायेत यावन्नोदयते रविः । विषयांधकारैर्मुक्तस्तु अंतरात्मा प्रकाशते

tadā rātriḥ prajāyeta yāvannodayate raviḥ viṣayāṁdhakārairmuktastu aṁtarātmā prakāśate

'— then night comes into being, until the sun rises once more. Freed from the darkness of sense-objects, the inner self shines forth.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.120.34)

भावैस्तत्त्वात्मकानां तु पंचतत्त्वैः प्रपोषितैः । पूर्वजन्मस्थितैः पिंडैरंतरात्मा प्रगृह्यते

bhāvaistattvātmakānāṁ tu paṁcatattvaiḥ prapoṣitaiḥ pūrvajanmasthitaiḥ piṁḍairaṁtarātmā pragṛhyate

'Through the feelings inherent in the essential principles, nourished by the five elements, by bodies rooted in former births, the inner self is carried along.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.120.35)

स यास्यति च वै स्थानमुच्चावचं महामते । संसार अंतरात्मा वै दोषैर्बद्धः प्रणीयते

sa yāsyati ca vai sthānamuccāvacaṁ mahāmate saṁsāra aṁtarātmā vai doṣairbaddhaḥ praṇīyate

'O wise one, it goes to some place, high or low; bound by faults, that inner self is driven onward through samsara.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.120.36)

कायं रक्षति जीवात्मा पश्चात्तिष्ठति मध्यगः । उदानः स्फुरते तीव्रस्तस्माच्छब्दः प्रजायते

kāyaṁ rakṣati jīvātmā paścāttiṣṭhati madhyagaḥ udānaḥ sphurate tīvrastasmācchabdaḥ prajāyate

'The individual soul guards the body, then remains stationed within, at its center. The udana breath vibrates intensely, and from it a sound arises.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.120.37)

शुष्का भस्त्रा यथा श्वासं कुरुते वायुपूरिता । तद्वच्छब्दवशाच्छ्वासमुदानः कुरुते बलात्

śuṣkā bhastrā yathā śvāsaṁ kurute vāyupūritā tadvacchabdavaśācchvāsamudānaḥ kurute balāt

'As a dry bellows, filled with air, produces a hissing breath, so too, by force of that sound, the udana produces the breath.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.120.38)

आत्मनस्तु प्रभावेण उदानो बलवान्भवेत् । एवं कायः प्रमुग्धस्तु मृतकल्पः प्रजायते

ātmanastu prabhāveṇa udāno balavānbhavet evaṁ kāyaḥ pramugdhastu mṛtakalpaḥ prajāyate

'By the power of the Self, the udana becomes strong. Thus the body, overcome, becomes as if dead.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.120.39)

ततो निद्रा महामाया तस्यांगेषु प्रयाति सा । हृदि कंठे तथा चास्ये नासिकाग्रे प्रतिष्ठति

tato nidrā mahāmāyā tasyāṁgeṣu prayāti sā hṛdi kaṁṭhe tathā cāsye nāsikāgre pratiṣṭhati

'Then sleep, the great illusion, spreads through its limbs — it settles in the heart, in the throat, in the mouth, and at the tip of the nose.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.120.40)

बाहू संकुच्य संतिष्ठेद्धृद्गतो नाभिमंडले । आत्मनस्तु प्रभावाच्च उदानो नाम मारुतः

bāhū saṁkucya saṁtiṣṭheddhṛdgato nābhimaṁḍale ātmanastu prabhāvācca udāno nāma mārutaḥ

'The arms contract and grow still; settled in the heart, it comes to rest in the circle of the navel. By the power of the Self, the wind called udana —'

Verse 41 (padma.2.120.41)

प्रजायते महातीव्रा बलरोधं करोति सः । यथा रज्ज्वा प्रबद्धस्तु दारु कीलधरः स्थितः

prajāyate mahātīvrā balarodhaṁ karoti saḥ yathā rajjvā prabaddhastu dāru kīladharaḥ sthitaḥ

'— arises, most intense, and it restrains the body's strength — as a piece of wood, bound fast by a rope, held still by a peg, remains motionless,'

Verse 42 (padma.2.120.42)

तथा चात्मासु संलग्नः प्राणवायुर्न संशयः । अंतरात्मप्रसक्तस्तु प्राणवायुः शुभानने

tathā cātmāsu saṁlagnaḥ prāṇavāyurna saṁśayaḥ aṁtarātmaprasaktastu prāṇavāyuḥ śubhānane

'— just so, without doubt, does the breath of life remain bound within the selves. Fair-faced one, that breath of life, attached to the inner self,'

Verse 43 (padma.2.120.43)

बुद्धिवद्रोहितो भद्रे अंतरात्मा प्रधावति । पूर्वजन्मार्जितान्वासान्स्मृत्वा तत्र प्रधावति

buddhivadrohito bhadre aṁtarātmā pradhāvati pūrvajanmārjitānvāsānsmṛtvā tatra pradhāvati

'auspicious one, driven along as if by the intellect, the inner self runs forth — remembering the impressions gathered in former births, it runs there.'

Verse 44 (padma.2.120.44)

तत्र संस्थो महाप्राज्ञः स्वेच्छया रमते पुनः । एवं नानाविधान्स्वप्नानंतरात्मा प्रपश्यति

tatra saṁstho mahāprājñaḥ svecchayā ramate punaḥ evaṁ nānāvidhānsvapnānaṁtarātmā prapaśyati

'Established there, that greatly wise one wanders again at its own will. Thus the inner self beholds dreams of manifold kinds.'

Verse 45 (padma.2.120.45)

उत्तमांश्च विरुद्धांश्च कर्मयुक्तान्प्रपश्यति । गिरींस्तथा सुदुर्गांश्च उच्चावचान्प्रपश्यति

uttamāṁśca viruddhāṁśca karmayuktānprapaśyati girīṁstathā sudurgāṁśca uccāvacānprapaśyati

'It beholds excellent dreams and contrary ones alike, joined with karma; it beholds too mountains and impassable places, both high and low.'

Verse 46 (padma.2.120.46)

तदेव वातिकं विद्धि कफवत्तद्वदाम्यहम् । जलं नदीं तडागं च पयः स्थानानि पश्यति

tadeva vātikaṁ viddhi kaphavattadvadāmyaham jalaṁ nadīṁ taḍāgaṁ ca payaḥ sthānāni paśyati

'Know that to be the vātika, wind-caused dream; now I shall tell you also of the kaphaja, phlegm-caused one — in it one sees water, a river, a pond, and places of milk,'

Verse 47 (padma.2.120.47)

अग्निं च पश्यते देवि बहुकांचनमुत्तमम् । तदेव पैत्तिकं विद्धि भाव्यं चैव वदाम्यहम्

agniṁ ca paśyate devi bahukāṁcanamuttamam tadeva paittikaṁ viddhi bhāvyaṁ caiva vadāmyaham

'And, goddess, fire is seen, and abundant fine gold too — know that to be the paittika, bile-caused one; and what is yet to come, that too I shall tell you.'

Verse 48 (padma.2.120.48)

प्रभाते दृश्यते स्वप्नो भव्यो वाभव्य एव च । कर्मयुक्तो वरारोहे लाभालाभप्रकाशकः

prabhāte dṛśyate svapno bhavyo vābhavya eva ca karmayukto varārohe lābhālābhaprakāśakaḥ

'The dream seen at the hour of dawn may be auspicious, or it may be inauspicious; fair one, joined with karma, it reveals gain or loss.'

Verse 49 (padma.2.120.49)

स्वप्नस्यापि अवस्था मे कथिता वरवर्णिनि । तद्भाव्यंचवरारोहेविष्णोश्चैवभविष्यति

svapnasyāpi avasthā me kathitā varavarṇini tadbhāvyaṁcavarāroheviṣṇoścaivabhaviṣyati

'Fair one, these states of dreaming have I now told you. And, fair one, that which is destined concerning Vishnu shall indeed come to pass.'

Verse 50 (padma.2.120.50)

तन्निमित्तं त्वया दृष्टो दुःस्वप्नः स तु प्रेक्षितः

tannimittaṁ tvayā dṛṣṭo duḥsvapnaḥ sa tu prekṣitaḥ

'For that very reason did you behold that ill-omened dream, the very one you witnessed.'