The Creation by Brahma and Vishnu

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.13.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । भवता कथिता सृष्टिर्भवस्य परमात्मनः । चतुर्मुखमुखात्तस्य संशयो नः प्रजायते

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | bhavatā kathitā sṛṣṭirbhavasya paramātmanaḥ | caturmukhamukhāttasya saṁśayo naḥ prajāyate

The sages said: You have narrated to us the creation of Bhava, the Supreme Self, as heard from the mouth of the Four-faced One; but a doubt arises in us regarding this.

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.13.2)

देवश्रेष्ठो विरूपाक्षो दीप्तः शूलधरो हरः । कालात्मा भगवान् रुद्रः कपर्दी नीललोहितः

devaśreṣṭho virūpākṣo dīptaḥ śūladharo haraḥ | kālātmā bhagavān rudraḥ kapardī nīlalohitaḥ

The best of gods, the odd-eyed one, the blazing one, the trident-bearer, Hara; the Blessed Rudra whose very self is Time, matted-locked, of blue-red hue --

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.13.3)

सब्रह्मकमिमं लोकं सविष्णुमपि पावकम् । यः संहरति सङ्क्रुद्धो युगान्ते समुपस्थिते

sabrahmakamimaṁ lokaṁ saviṣṇumapi pāvakam | yaḥ saṁharati saṅkruddho yugānte samupasthite

-- who, enraged, destroys this world together with Brahma, with Vishnu, and with fire, when the end of the age has arrived;

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.13.4)

यस्य ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च प्रणामं कुरुतो भयात् । लोकसङ्कोचकस्यास्य यस्य तौ वशवर्तिनौ

yasya brahmā ca viṣṇuśca praṇāmaṁ kuruto bhayāt | lokasaṅkocakasyāsya yasya tau vaśavartinau

-- to whom Brahma and Vishnu both bow in fear, who withdraws the worlds, and to whom both of them are subject;

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.13.5)

योऽयं देवः स्वकादङ्गाद् ब्रह्मविष्णू पुरासृजत् । स एव हि तयोर्नित्यं योगक्षेमकरः प्रभुः

yo'yaṁ devaḥ svakādaṅgād brahmaviṣṇū purāsṛjat | sa eva hi tayornityaṁ yogakṣemakaraḥ prabhuḥ

-- this god who anciently created Brahma and Vishnu from his own body -- he indeed is eternally the Lord who secures their welfare and prosperity;

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.13.6)

स कथं भगवान् रुद्र आदिदेवः पुरातनः । पुत्रत्वमगमच्छम्भुर्ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः

sa kathaṁ bhagavān rudra ādidevaḥ purātanaḥ | putratvamagamacchambhurbrahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ

-- how then did that Blessed Rudra, the primal, ancient God, Shambhu, come to be regarded as a son of Brahma, who is born of the Unmanifest?

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.13.7)

प्रजापतिश्च विष्णुश्च रुद्रस्यैतौ परस्परम् । सृष्टौ परस्परस्याङ्गादिति प्रागपि शुश्रुम

prajāpatiśca viṣṇuśca rudrasyaitau parasparam | sṛṣṭau parasparasyāṅgāditi prāgapi śuśruma

We have also heard before that Prajapati and Vishnu, along with Rudra, are mutually created from one another's body.

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.13.8)

कथं पुनरशेषाणां भूतानां हेतुभूतयोः । गुणप्रधानभावेन प्रादुर्भावः परस्परात्

kathaṁ punaraśeṣāṇāṁ bhūtānāṁ hetubhūtayoḥ | guṇapradhānabhāvena prādurbhāvaḥ parasparāt

How, again, can the appearance of these two, who are the cause of all beings, arise from one another, in the relation of the qualified and the principal?

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.13.9)

नापृष्टं भवता किञ्चिन्नाश्रुतं च कथञ्चन । भगवच्छिष्यभूतेन भवता सकलं स्मृतम्

nāpṛṣṭaṁ bhavatā kiñcinnāśrutaṁ ca kathañcana | bhagavacchiṣyabhūtena bhavatā sakalaṁ smṛtam

There is nothing you have not asked, nothing you have not in some way heard; being a disciple of the Blessed One, you remember everything.

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.13.10)

तत्त्वं वद यथा ब्रह्मा मुनीनामवदद्विभुः । वयं श्रद्धालवस्तात श्रोतुमीश्वरसद्यशः

tattvaṁ vada yathā brahmā munīnāmavadadvibhuḥ | vayaṁ śraddhālavastāta śrotumīśvarasadyaśaḥ

Therefore tell us the truth, just as the mighty Brahma told it to the sages. We are eager, dear one, to hear of the Lord's true glory.

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.13.11)

वायुरुवाच । स्थाने पृष्टमिदं विप्रा भवद्भिः प्रश्नकोविदैः । इदमेव पुरा पृष्टो मम प्राह पितामहः

vāyuruvāca | sthāne pṛṣṭamidaṁ viprā bhavadbhiḥ praśnakovidaiḥ | idameva purā pṛṣṭo mama prāha pitāmahaḥ

Vayu said: This is indeed a fitting question, O Brahmins skilled in inquiry. I too once asked this very thing, and the Grandsire told it to me.

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.13.12)

तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा रुद्रसमुद्भवः । यथा च पुनरुत्पत्तिर्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः परस्परम्

tadahaṁ sampravakṣyāmi yathā rudrasamudbhavaḥ | yathā ca punarutpattirbrahmaviṣṇvoḥ parasparam

That I shall now relate to you -- how Rudra came into being, and how, again, the mutual origination of Brahma and Vishnu proceeds.

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.13.13)

त्रयस्ते कारणात्मानो जाताः साक्षान्महेश्वरात् । चराचरस्य विश्वस्य सर्गस्थित्यन्तहेतवः

trayaste kāraṇātmāno jātāḥ sākṣānmaheśvarāt | carācarasya viśvasya sargasthityantahetavaḥ

These three, whose very nature is causal, were born directly from Maheshvara -- the causes of the creation, preservation, and end of the whole moving and unmoving universe.

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.13.14)

परमैश्वर्यसंयुक्ताः परमेश्वरभाविताः । तच्छक्त्याधिष्ठिता नित्यं तत्कार्यकरणक्षमाः

paramaiśvaryasaṁyuktāḥ parameśvarabhāvitāḥ | tacchaktyādhiṣṭhitā nityaṁ tatkāryakaraṇakṣamāḥ

Endowed with supreme sovereignty, pervaded by the Supreme Lord, ever established by His power, and capable of accomplishing His work.

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.13.15)

पित्रा नियमिताः पूर्वं त्रयोऽपि त्रिषु कर्मसु । ब्रह्मा सर्गे हरिस्त्राणे रुद्रः संहरणे तथा

pitrā niyamitāḥ pūrvaṁ trayo'pi triṣu karmasu | brahmā sarge haristrāṇe rudraḥ saṁharaṇe tathā

All three were, at the outset, appointed by their father to the three functions: Brahma to creation, Hari to preservation, and Rudra likewise to destruction.

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.13.16)

तथाप्यन्योऽन्यमात्सर्यादन्योऽन्यातिशयाशिनः । तपसा तोषयित्वा स्वं पितरं परमेश्वरम्

tathāpyanyo'nyamātsaryādanyo'nyātiśayāśinaḥ | tapasā toṣayitvā svaṁ pitaraṁ parameśvaram

Nevertheless, out of mutual jealousy, each desiring superiority over the other -- having pleased their father, the Supreme Lord, through austerity --

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.13.17)

लब्ध्वा सर्वात्मना तस्य प्रसादात्परमेष्ठिनः । ब्रह्मनारायणौ पूर्वं रुद्रः कल्पान्तरेऽसृजत्

labdhvā sarvātmanā tasya prasādātparameṣṭhinaḥ | brahmanārāyaṇau pūrvaṁ rudraḥ kalpāntare'sṛjat

-- having obtained, by the grace of that Supreme Lord, the power of all-souled creation, in a former kalpa Rudra created Brahma and Narayana.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.13.18)

कल्पान्तरे पुनर्ब्रह्मा रुद्रविष्णू जगन्मयः । विष्णुश्च भगवान् रुद्रं ब्रह्माणमसृजत्पुनः

kalpāntare punarbrahmā rudraviṣṇū jaganmayaḥ | viṣṇuśca bhagavān rudraṁ brahmāṇamasṛjatpunaḥ

In another kalpa, Brahma, whose very self is the universe, created Rudra and Vishnu; and the blessed Vishnu, in turn, created Rudra and Brahma.

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.13.19)

नारायणं पुनर्ब्रह्मा ब्रह्माणं च पुनर्भवः । एवं कल्पेषु कल्पेषु ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः

nārāyaṇaṁ punarbrahmā brahmāṇaṁ ca punarbhavaḥ | evaṁ kalpeṣu kalpeṣu brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ

Then Brahma created Narayana again, and Bhava created Brahma again. Thus, in kalpa after kalpa, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara --

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.13.20)

परस्परेण जायन्ते परस्परहितैषिणः । तत्तत्कल्पान्तवृत्तान्तमधिकृत्य महर्षिभिः

paraspareṇa jāyante parasparahitaiṣiṇaḥ | tattatkalpāntavṛttāntamadhikṛtya maharṣibhiḥ

-- are born from one another, each wishing well for the other. Taking up the account of each such kalpa's happenings, the great sages --

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.13.21)

प्रभावः कथ्यते तेषां परस्परसमुद्भवात् । शृणु तेषां कथां चित्रां पुण्यां पापप्रमोचिनीम्

prabhāvaḥ kathyate teṣāṁ parasparasamudbhavāt | śṛṇu teṣāṁ kathāṁ citrāṁ puṇyāṁ pāpapramocinīm

-- tell of their glory, arising from their mutual origination. Hear now their wondrous story, meritorious and freeing from sin.

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.13.22)

कल्पे तत्पुरुषे वृत्तां ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः । पुरा नारायणो नाम कल्पे वै मेघवाहने

kalpe tatpuruṣe vṛttāṁ brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ | purā nārāyaṇo nāma kalpe vai meghavāhane

This occurred in the Tatpurusha Kalpa of Brahma the Supreme. Formerly, in the Kalpa named Meghavahana, one named Narayana --

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.13.23)

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु मेघो भूत्वावहद्धराम् । तस्य भावं समालक्ष्य विष्णोर्विश्वजगद्गुरुः

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu megho bhūtvāvahaddharām | tasya bhāvaṁ samālakṣya viṣṇorviśvajagadguruḥ

-- having become a cloud, bore up the Earth for a thousand divine years. Observing the disposition of Vishnu, the Guru of the whole universe --

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.13.24)

सर्वः सर्वात्मभावेन प्रददौ शक्तिमव्ययाम् । शक्तिं लब्ध्वा तु सर्वात्मा शिवात्सर्वेश्वरात्तदा

sarvaḥ sarvātmabhāvena pradadau śaktimavyayām | śaktiṁ labdhvā tu sarvātmā śivātsarveśvarāttadā

-- the All-Souled Shiva, with his whole being, granted him the imperishable Shakti. Having obtained that Shakti from Shiva, the Lord of all, the All-Souled Vishnu then --

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.13.25)

ससर्ज भगावन् विष्णुर्विश्वं विश्वसृजा सह । विष्णोस्तद्वैभवं दृष्ट्वा सृष्टस्तेन पितामहः

sasarja bhagāvan viṣṇurviśvaṁ viśvasṛjā saha | viṣṇostadvaibhavaṁ dṛṣṭvā sṛṣṭastena pitāmahaḥ

-- the blessed Vishnu created the universe, together with the Creator of the universe. Seeing that glory of Vishnu's, the Grandsire, himself created by him --

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.13.26)

ईर्ष्यया परया ग्रस्तः प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् । गच्छ विष्णो मया ज्ञातं तव सर्गस्य कारणम् । आवयोरधिकश्चास्ति स रुद्रो नात्र संशयः

īrṣyayā parayā grastaḥ prahasannidamabravīt | gaccha viṣṇo mayā jñātaṁ tava sargasya kāraṇam | āvayoradhikaścāsti sa rudro nātra saṁśayaḥ

-- overcome by extreme envy, laughing, said this: 'Go, Vishnu! I have understood the cause of your creation. That Rudra is superior to both of us -- there is no doubt of this.'

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.13.27)

तस्य देवाधिदेवस्य प्रसादात्परमेष्ठिनः । स्रष्टा त्वं भगवानाद्यः पालकः परमार्थतः

tasya devādhidevasya prasādātparameṣṭhinaḥ | sraṣṭā tvaṁ bhagavānādyaḥ pālakaḥ paramārthataḥ

'You are the creator, the blessed primal one, by the grace of that God of gods, the Supreme; but in ultimate reality, you are only the preserver.'

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.13.28)

अहं च तपसाराध्य रुद्रं त्रिदशनायकम् । त्वया सह जगत्सर्वं स्रक्ष्याम्यत्र न संशयः

ahaṁ ca tapasārādhya rudraṁ tridaśanāyakam | tvayā saha jagatsarvaṁ srakṣyāmyatra na saṁśayaḥ

'And I, having propitiated Rudra, the Leader of the thirty gods, through austerity, shall create the entire world together with you -- there is no doubt of this.'

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.13.29)

एवं विष्णुमुपालभ्य भगवानब्जसम्भवः । एवं विज्ञापयामास तपसा प्राप्य शङ्करम्

evaṁ viṣṇumupālabhya bhagavānabjasambhavaḥ | evaṁ vijñāpayāmāsa tapasā prāpya śaṅkaram

Having thus reproached Vishnu, the blessed Lotus-born One, having attained Shankara through austerity, made this entreaty to him --

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.13.30)

भगवन् देवदेवेश विश्वेश्वर महेश्वर । तव वामाङ्गजो विष्णुर्दक्षिणाङ्गभवो ह्यहम्

bhagavan devadeveśa viśveśvara maheśvara | tava vāmāṅgajo viṣṇurdakṣiṇāṅgabhavo hyaham

'O blessed one, Lord of the gods, Lord of the universe, Maheshvara! Vishnu was born from your left side, and I was born from your right side.'

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.13.31)

मया सह जगत्सर्वं तथाप्यसृजदच्युतः । स मत्सरादुपालब्धस्त्वदाश्रयबलान्मया

mayā saha jagatsarvaṁ tathāpyasṛjadacyutaḥ | sa matsarādupālabdhastvadāśrayabalānmayā

'Yet the Unfallen One created the whole world together with me alone, without equal regard. On the strength of my recourse to you, I reproached him out of envy.'

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.13.32)

मद्भावान्नाधिकस्तेऽतिभावस्त्वयि महेश्वरे । त्वत्त एव समुत्पत्तिरावयोः सदृशी यतः

madbhāvānnādhikaste'tibhāvastvayi maheśvare | tvatta eva samutpattirāvayoḥ sadṛśī yataḥ

'His devotion to you, Maheshvara, is no greater than my own -- since our origination, alike, is from you alone.'

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.13.33)

तस्य भक्त्या यथापूर्वं प्रसादं कृतवानसि । तथा ममापि तत्सर्वं दातुमर्हसि शङ्कर

tasya bhaktyā yathāpūrvaṁ prasādaṁ kṛtavānasi | tathā mamāpi tatsarvaṁ dātumarhasi śaṅkara

'Just as, on account of his devotion, you have shown him grace as before, so, O Shankara, you ought to grant all of that to me as well.'

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.13.34)

इति विज्ञापितस्तेन भगवान् भगनेत्रहा । न्यायेन वै ददौ सर्वं तस्यापि स घृणानिधिः

iti vijñāpitastena bhagavān bhaganetrahā | nyāyena vai dadau sarvaṁ tasyāpi sa ghṛṇānidhiḥ

Thus entreated by him, the Blessed Destroyer of Bhaga's eye, the treasury of compassion, rightly granted him everything as well.

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.13.35)

लब्ध्वैवमीश्वरादेव ब्रह्मा सर्वात्मतां क्षणात् । त्वरमाणोऽथ सङ्गम्य ददर्श पुरुषोत्तमम्

labdhvaivamīśvarādeva brahmā sarvātmatāṁ kṣaṇāt | tvaramāṇo'tha saṅgamya dadarśa puruṣottamam

Having thus obtained, in an instant, from the Lord himself, all-souled status equal to Vishnu's, Brahma, hastening then, went and beheld the Supreme Person,

Verse 36 (shiva.vayaviya.13.36)

क्षीरार्णवालये शुभ्रे विमाने सूर्यसन्निभे । हेमरत्नान्विते दिव्ये मनसा तेन निर्मिते

kṣīrārṇavālaye śubhre vimāne sūryasannibhe | hemaratnānvite divye manasā tena nirmite

-- in his abode in the Ocean of Milk, in a resplendent, sun-like celestial palace, made of gold and gems, divine, fashioned by himself through mere mind --

Verse 37 (shiva.vayaviya.13.37)

अनन्तभोगशय्यायां शयानं पङ्कजेक्षणम् । चतुर्भुजमुदाराङ्गं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्

anantabhogaśayyāyāṁ śayānaṁ paṅkajekṣaṇam | caturbhujamudārāṅgaṁ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam

-- lying upon a couch of Ananta Shesha's coils, lotus-eyed, four-armed, of majestic form, adorned with every ornament,

Verse 38 (shiva.vayaviya.13.38)

शङ्खचक्रधरं सौम्यं चन्द्रबिम्बसमाननम् । श्रीवत्सवक्षसं देवं प्रसन्नमधुरस्मितम्

śaṅkhacakradharaṁ saumyaṁ candrabimbasamānanam | śrīvatsavakṣasaṁ devaṁ prasannamadhurasmitam

-- bearing the conch and discus, gentle, his face like the orb of the moon, the god with the Shrivatsa mark on his chest, serene, with a sweet smile,

Verse 39 (shiva.vayaviya.13.39)

धरामृदुकराम्भोजस्पर्शरक्तपदाम्बुजम् । क्षीरार्णवामृतमिव शयानं योगनिद्रया

dharāmṛdukarāmbhojasparśaraktapadāmbujam | kṣīrārṇavāmṛtamiva śayānaṁ yoganidrayā

-- his lotus-feet reddened by the touch of his own soft lotus-hands, lying there as if himself the very nectar of the Ocean of Milk, in yogic slumber --

Verse 40 (shiva.vayaviya.13.40)

तमसा कालरुद्राख्यं रजसा कनकाण्डजम् । सत्त्वेन सर्वगं विष्णुं निर्गुणत्वे महेश्वरम्

tamasā kālarudrākhyaṁ rajasā kanakāṇḍajam | sattvena sarvagaṁ viṣṇuṁ nirguṇatve maheśvaram

-- who by Tamas are known as Kala-Rudra, by Rajas as the golden Egg-born, by Sattva as the all-pervading Vishnu, and, in the quality-less state, as Maheshvara himself.

Verse 41 (shiva.vayaviya.13.41)

तं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं ब्रह्मा प्रगल्भमिदमब्रवीत् । ग्रसामि त्वामहं विष्णो त्वमात्मानं यथा पुरा

taṁ dṛṣṭvā puruṣaṁ brahmā pragalbhamidamabravīt | grasāmi tvāmahaṁ viṣṇo tvamātmānaṁ yathā purā

Seeing that Person, Brahma, growing bold, said this: 'I shall swallow you, O Vishnu, just as you once swallowed yourself.'

Verse 42 (shiva.vayaviya.13.42)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रतिबुद्ध्य पितामहम् । उदैक्षत महाबाहुः स्मितमीषच्चकार च

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā pratibuddhya pitāmaham | udaikṣata mahābāhuḥ smitamīṣaccakāra ca

Hearing those words of his, the mighty-armed One, waking, gazed toward the Grandsire, and gave a faint smile.

Verse 43 (shiva.vayaviya.13.43)

तस्मिन्नवसरे विष्णुर्ग्रस्तस्तेन महात्मना । सृष्टश्च ब्रह्मणा सद्यो भ्रुवोर्मध्यादयत्नतः

tasminnavasare viṣṇurgrastastena mahātmanā | sṛṣṭaśca brahmaṇā sadyo bhruvormadhyādayatnataḥ

At that moment, Vishnu was swallowed by that great-souled one; and instantly, without effort, he was created again by Brahma from between his eyebrows.

Verse 44 (shiva.vayaviya.13.44)

तस्मिन्नवसरे साक्षाद्भगवानिन्दुभूषणः । शक्तिं तयोरपि द्रष्टुमरूपो रूपमास्थितः

tasminnavasare sākṣādbhagavānindubhūṣaṇaḥ | śaktiṁ tayorapi draṣṭumarūpo rūpamāsthitaḥ

At that very moment, the Blessed One adorned with the crescent moon himself, in order to witness the power of both of them, though formless, assumed a visible form.

Verse 45 (shiva.vayaviya.13.45)

प्रसादमतुलं कर्तुं पुरा दत्तवरस्तयोः । आगच्छत्तत्र यत्रेमौ ब्रह्मनारायणौ स्थितौ

prasādamatulaṁ kartuṁ purā dattavarastayoḥ | āgacchattatra yatremau brahmanārāyaṇau sthitau

He who had formerly granted boons to both of them, in order to bestow his unequaled grace, came there, to where these two, Brahma and Narayana, stood.

Verse 46 (shiva.vayaviya.13.46)

अथ तुष्टुवतुर्देवं प्रीतौ भीतौ च कौतुकात् । प्रणेमतुश्च बहुशो बहुमानेन दूरतः

atha tuṣṭuvaturdevaṁ prītau bhītau ca kautukāt | praṇematuśca bahuśo bahumānena dūrataḥ

Then the two of them, both pleased and awestruck out of wonder, praised the god, and bowed to him repeatedly with great reverence, from a distance.

Verse 47 (shiva.vayaviya.13.47)

भवोऽपि भगवानेतावनुगृह्य पिनाकधृक् । सादरं पश्यतोरेव तयोरन्तरधीयत

bhavo'pi bhagavānetāvanugṛhya pinākadhṛk | sādaraṁ paśyatoreva tayorantaradhīyata

And the Blessed Bhava too, the wielder of the Pinaka bow, having graced these two, vanished from sight even as they both looked on with reverence.