The Sages' Question at Brahma's Assembly

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.2.1)

सूत उवाच । पुरा कालेन महता कल्पेऽतीते पुनः पुनः । अस्मिन्नुपस्थिते कल्पे प्रवृत्ते सृष्टिकर्मणि

sūta uvāca | purā kālena mahatā kalpe'tīte punaḥ punaḥ | asminnupasthite kalpe pravṛtte sṛṣṭikarmaṇi

Suta said: Long, long ago, after the previous kalpa had passed away again and again, when this present kalpa had arrived and the work of creation had begun,

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.2.2)

प्रतिष्ठितायां वार्तायां प्रबुद्धासु प्रजासु च । मुनीनां षट्कुलीयानां ब्रुवतामितरेतरम्

pratiṣṭhitāyāṁ vārtāyāṁ prabuddhāsu prajāsu ca | munīnāṁ ṣaṭkulīyānāṁ bruvatāmitaretaram

when worldly order had become established and creatures had awakened, sages of the six [primal] lineages, conversing among themselves,

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.2.3)

इदं परमिदं नेति विवादः सुमहानभूत् । परस्य दुर्निरूपत्वान्न जातस्तत्र निश्चयः

idaṁ paramidaṁ neti vivādaḥ sumahānabhūt | parasya durnirūpatvānna jātastatra niścayaḥ

[fell into dispute:] 'this is the Supreme, no, this is' — a very great dispute arose; and since the Supreme is hard to define, no certainty was reached there.

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.2.4)

तेऽभिजग्मुर्विधातारं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमव्ययम् । यत्रास्ते भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्तूयमानः सुरासुरैः

te'bhijagmurvidhātāraṁ draṣṭuṁ brahmāṇamavyayam | yatrāste bhagavān brahmā stūyamānaḥ surāsuraiḥ

They went to see the ordainer, the imperishable Brahma, where the blessed Brahma dwells, praised by gods and demons,

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.2.5)

मेरुशृङ्गे शुभे रम्ये देवदानवसङ्कुले । सिद्धचारणसम्बादे यक्षगन्धर्वसेविते

meruśṛṁge śubhe ramye devadānavasaṁkule | siddhacāraṇasambāde yakṣagandharvasevite

on the auspicious, delightful peak of Meru, thronged with gods and danavas, filled with Siddhas and Charanas, attended by Yakshas and Gandharvas,

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.2.6)

विहङ्गसङ्घसङ्घुष्टेमणिविद्रुमभूषिते । निकुञ्जकन्दरदरीगृहानिर्झरशोभिते

vihaṁgasaṁghasaṁghuṣṭemaṇividrumabhūṣite | nikuñjakandaradarīgṛhānirjharaśobhite

resounding with flocks of birds, adorned with gems and coral, beautified by bowers, ravines, caves, dwellings, and waterfalls,

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.2.7)

तत्र ब्रह्मवनं नाम नानामृगसमाकुलम् । दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम्

tatra brahmavanaṁ nāma nānāmṛgasamākulam | daśayojanavistīrṇaṁ śatayojanamāyatam

there is a forest named Brahmavana, teeming with creatures of many kinds, ten yojanas in breadth and a hundred yojanas in length,

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.2.8)

सुरसामलपानीयपूर्णरम्यसरोवरम् । मत्तभ्रमरसञ्छन्नरम्यपुष्पितपादपम्

surasāmalapānīyapūrṇaramyasarovaram | mattabhramarasañchannaramyapuṣpitapādapam

with a lovely lake filled with pure water fit for the gods, and beautiful flowering trees covered with intoxicated bees.

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.2.9)

तरुणादित्यसङ्काशं तत्र चारु महत्पुरम् । दुर्द्धर्षबलदृप्तानां दैत्यदानवरक्षसाम्

taruṇādityasaṁkāśaṁ tatra cāru mahatpuram | durddharṣabaladṛptānāṁ daityadānavarakṣasām

There, resplendent like the rising sun, is a beautiful great city — of the daityas, danavas, and rakshasas, proud in their unassailable strength,

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.2.10)

तप्तजाम्बूनदमयं प्रांशुप्राकारतोरणम् । निर्यूहवलभीकूटप्रतोलीशतमण्डितम्

taptajāmbūnadamayaṁ prāṁśuprākāratoraṇam | niryūhavalabhīkūṭapratolīśatamaṇḍitam

wrought of refined molten gold, with towering ramparts and gateways, adorned with a hundred balconies, terraces, turrets, and thoroughfares,

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.2.11)

महार्हमणिचित्राभिर्लेलिहानमिवाम्बरम् । महाभवनकोटीभिरनेकाभिरलङ्कृतम्

mahārhamaṇicitrābhirlelihānamivāmbaram | mahābhavanakoṭībhiranekābhiralaṁkṛtam

seeming to lick the very sky with its bright rows of priceless gems, adorned with many crores of great mansions.

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.2.12)

तस्मिन्निवसति ब्रह्मा सभ्यैः सार्द्धं प्रजापतिः । तत्र गत्वा महात्मानं साक्षाल्लोकपितामहम्

tasminnivasati brahmā sabhyaiḥ sārddhaṁ prajāpatiḥ | tatra gatvā mahātmānaṁ sākṣāllokapitāmaham

In that city dwells Brahma, the Lord of creatures, together with the members of his assembly. Having gone there, [they beheld] the great-souled one, the very grandfather of the worlds —

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.2.13)

ददृशुर्मुनयो देवा देवर्षिगणसेवितम् । शुद्धचामीकरप्रख्यं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्

dadṛśurmunayo devā devarṣigaṇasevitam | śuddhacāmīkaraprakhyaṁ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam

the sages and gods saw him, attended by hosts of divine seers, radiant like pure gold, adorned with every ornament,

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.2.14)

प्रसन्नवदनं सौम्यं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम् । दिव्यकान्तिसमायुक्तं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्

prasannavadanaṁ saumyaṁ padmapatrāyatekṣaṇam | divyakāntisamāyuktaṁ divyagandhānulepanam

his face serene and gentle, his eyes wide as lotus petals, endowed with divine radiance, anointed with divine fragrance,

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.2.15)

दिव्यशुक्लाम्बरधरं दिव्यमालाविभूषितम् । सुरासुरेन्द्रयोगीन्द्रवन्द्यमानपदाम्बुजम्

divyaśuklāmbaradharaṁ divyamālāvibhūṣitam | surāsurendrayogīndravandyamānapadāmbujam

clad in divine white garments, adorned with divine garlands, his lotus feet honored by the lords of gods, of demons, and of yogis,

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.2.16)

सर्वलक्षणयुक्ताङ्ग्या लब्धचामरहस्तया । भ्राजमानं सरस्वत्या प्रभयेव दिवाकरम्

sarvalakṣaṇayuktāṁgyā labdhacāmarahastayā | bhrājamānaṁ sarasvatyā prabhayeva divākaram

shining there together with Sarasvati — perfect in every auspicious mark, a chowrie in her hand — as the sun shines together with its own radiance.

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.2.17)

तं दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणाः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय तुष्टुवुः सुरपुङ्गवम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve prasannavadanekṣaṇāḥ | śirasyañjalimādhāya tuṣṭuvuḥ surapuṁgavam

Seeing him, all the sages, their faces and eyes glad, placed their joined palms upon their heads and praised that foremost of gods.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.2.18)

मुनय ऊचुः । नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं सर्गस्थित्यन्तहेतवे । पुरुषाय पुराणाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने

munaya ūcuḥ | namastrimūrtaye tubhyaṁ sargasthityantahetave | puruṣāya purāṇāya brahmaṇe paramātmane

The sages said: Salutation to you, of triple form, the cause of creation, maintenance, and dissolution; salutation to the Purusha, the ancient one, to Brahma, the Supreme Self,

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.2.19)

नमः प्रधानदेहाय प्रधानक्षोभकारिणे । त्रयोविंशतिभेदेन विकृतायाविकारिणे

namaḥ pradhānadehāya pradhānakṣobhakāriṇe | trayoviṁśatibhedena vikṛtāyāvikāriṇe

salutation to you whose body is Pradhana, primal matter, who stirs Pradhana into motion, who, though transformed into its twenty-three divisions, remains unchanging,

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.2.20)

नमो ब्रह्माण्डदेहाय ब्रह्माण्डोदरवर्तिने । तत्र संसिद्धकार्याय संसिद्धकरणाय च

namo brahmāṇḍadehāya brahmāṇḍodaravartine | tatra saṁsiddhakāryāya saṁsiddhakaraṇāya ca

salutation to you whose body is the cosmic egg, who dwells within the cosmic egg, accomplished there as both the deed and its doer,

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.2.21)

नमोऽस्तु सर्वलोकाय सर्वलोकविधायिने । सर्वात्मदेहसंयोगवियोगविधिहेतवे

namo'stu sarvalokāya sarvalokavidhāyine | sarvātmadehasaṁyogaviyogavidhihetave

salutation to you who are all the worlds, the ordainer of all the worlds, the cause of the union and separation of the self with the body of every being,

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.2.22)

त्वयैव निखिलं सृष्टं संहृतं पालितं जगत् । तथापि मायया नाथ न विद्मस्त्वां पितामह

tvayaiva nikhilaṁ sṛṣṭaṁ saṁhṛtaṁ pālitaṁ jagat | tathāpi māyayā nātha na vidmastvāṁ pitāmaha

by you alone the entire universe is created, withdrawn, and sustained; yet, O Lord, because of your maya, O Grandfather, we do not truly know you.

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.2.23)

सूत उवाच । एवं ब्रह्मा महाभागैर्महर्षिभिरभिष्टुतः । प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा मुनीन् प्रह्लादयन्निव

sūta uvāca | evaṁ brahmā mahābhāgairmaharṣibhirabhiṣṭutaḥ | prāha gambhīrayā vācā munīn prahlādayanniva

Suta said: Thus praised by the greatly fortunate sages, Brahma spoke to them in a deep voice, as if to gladden them.

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.2.24)

ब्रह्मोवाच । ऋषयो हे महाभागा महासत्त्वा महौजसः । किमर्थं सहिताः सर्वे यूयमत्र समागताः

brahmovāca | ṛṣayo he mahābhāgā mahāsattvā mahaujasaḥ | kimarthaṁ sahitāḥ sarve yūyamatra samāgatāḥ

Brahma said: O greatly fortunate sages, of great being and great vigor! For what purpose have all of you gathered here together?

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.2.25)

तमेवंवादिनं देवं ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मवित्तमाः । वाग्भिर्विनयगर्भाभिः सर्वे प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन्

tamevaṁvādinaṁ devaṁ brahmāṇaṁ brahmavittamāḥ | vāgbhirvinayagarbhābhiḥ sarve prāñjalayo'bruvan

To the god Brahma, who spoke thus, the sages, most learned in the Veda, all replied with joined palms, in words full of humility.

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.2.26)

मुनय ऊचुः । भगवन्नन्धकारेण महता वयमावृताः । खिन्ना विवदमानाश्च न पश्यामोऽत्र यत्परम्

munaya ūcuḥ | bhagavannandhakāreṇa mahatā vayamāvṛtāḥ | khinnā vivadamānāśca na paśyāmo'tra yatparam

The sages said: O Lord, we are enveloped in a great darkness, troubled and disputing among ourselves, and here we cannot see what the Supreme reality is.

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.2.27)

त्वं हि सर्वजगद्धाता सर्वकारणकारणम् । त्वया ह्यविदितं नाथ नेह किञ्चन विद्यते

tvaṁ hi sarvajagaddhātā sarvakāraṇakāraṇam | tvayā hyaviditaṁ nātha neha kiñcana vidyate

You indeed are the sustainer of the whole world, the cause of all causes; O Lord, there is nothing here unknown to you.

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.2.28)

कः पुमान् सर्वसत्त्वेभ्यः पुराणः पुरुषः परः । विशुद्धः परिपूर्णश्च शाश्वतः परमेश्वरः

kaḥ pumān sarvasattvebhyaḥ purāṇaḥ puruṣaḥ paraḥ | viśuddhaḥ paripūrṇaśca śāśvataḥ parameśvaraḥ

Who is that Person, beyond all beings, the ancient one, the Supreme Purusha — pure, perfect, eternal, the Supreme Lord?

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.2.29)

केनैव चित्रकृत्येन प्रथमं सृज्यते जगत् । तत्त्वं वद महाप्राज्ञ स्वसन्देहापनुत्तये

kenaiva citrakṛtyena prathamaṁ sṛjyate jagat | tattvaṁ vada mahāprājña svasandehāpanuttaye

By what wondrous act was the universe first created? Tell us that truth, O greatly wise one, to dispel our doubt.

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.2.30)

एवं पृष्टस्तदा ब्रह्मा विस्मयस्मेरवीक्षणः । देवानां दानवानां च मुनीनामपि सन्निधौ

evaṁ pṛṣṭastadā brahmā vismayasmeravīkṣaṇaḥ | devānāṁ dānavānāṁ ca munīnāmapi sannidhau

Thus questioned, Brahma, his gaze smiling with wonder, in the presence of the gods, the danavas, and the sages,

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.2.31)

उत्थाय सुचिरं ध्यात्वा रुद्र इत्युच्चरन् गिरिम् । आनन्दक्लिन्नसर्वाङ्गः कृताञ्जलिरभाषत

utthāya suciraṁ dhyātvā rudra ityuccaran girim | ānandaklinnasarvāṁgaḥ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata

rose up, and having meditated for a long while, uttering the word 'Rudra' toward the mountain, his whole body moist with bliss, spoke with joined palms.