The Account of the Eighteen Prakritis

Verse 1 (skanda.6.242.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । नारद उवाच । अष्टादश प्रकृतयः का वदस्व पितामह । वृत्तिस्तासां च को धर्मः सर्वं विस्तरतो मम

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ nārada uvāca aṣṭādaśa prakṛtayaḥ kā vadasva pitāmaha vṛttistāsāṁ ca ko dharmaḥ sarvaṁ vistarato mama

The sages said (relating what) Narada (had asked): "What are the eighteen prakritis, O grandsire? Tell me their livelihood, and their dharma; tell all this to me in detail."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.242.2)

ब्रह्मा उवाच । मज्जन्माभूद्भगवतो नाभिपंकजकोशतः । स्वकालपरिमाणेन प्रबुद्धस्य जगत्पतेः

brahmā uvāca majjanmābhūdbhagavato nābhipaṁkajakośataḥ svakālaparimāṇena prabuddhasya jagatpateḥ

Brahma said: "My birth took place from the lotus-womb of the navel of the Lord, the master of the world, at the moment when, in the fullness of his own time, he awoke."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.242.3)

ततो बहुतिथे काले केशवेन पुरा स्मृतः । स्रष्टुकामेन विविधाः प्रजा मनसि राजसीः

tato bahutithe kāle keśavena purā smṛtaḥ sraṣṭukāmena vividhāḥ prajā manasi rājasīḥ

"Then, after a long span of time, I was remembered of old by Keshava, who, desiring to create various creatures, held them, imbued with rajas, in his mind."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.242.4)

अहं कमलजस्तत्र जातः पुत्रश्चतुर्मुखः । उदरं नाभिनालेन प्रविश्याथ व्यलोकयम्

ahaṁ kamalajastatra jātaḥ putraścaturmukhaḥ udaraṁ nābhinālena praviśyātha vyalokayam

"There, I, the lotus-born, was born as his four-faced son; then, entering his belly through the stalk of the navel-lotus, I looked about."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.242.5)

तत्र ब्रह्मांडकोटीनां दर्शनं मेऽभवत्पुनः । विस्मयाच्चिंतयानस्य सृष्ट्यर्थमभिधावता

tatra brahmāṁḍakoṭīnāṁ darśanaṁ me'bhavatpunaḥ vismayācciṁtayānasya sṛṣṭyarthamabhidhāvatā

"There I again beheld tens of millions of universes; astonished, I pondered, hastening onward for the sake of creation."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.242.6)

निर्गम्य पुनरेवाहं पद्मनालेन यावता । बहिरागां विस्मृतं तत्सर्वं सृष्ट्यर्थकारणम्

nirgamya punarevāhaṁ padmanālena yāvatā bahirāgāṁ vismṛtaṁ tatsarvaṁ sṛṣṭyarthakāraṇam

"Coming out again through the stalk of the lotus, by the time I emerged outward, I had forgotten all that reason for creation."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.242.7)

पुनरेव ततो गत्वा प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा चतुर्विधाः । नाभिनालेन निर्गत्य विस्मृतेनांतरात्मना

punareva tato gatvā prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā caturvidhāḥ nābhinālena nirgatya vismṛtenāṁtarātmanā

"Then, going in again, having created the fourfold creatures, I came out once more through the navel-stalk, with my inner mind again forgetful."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.242.8)

तदाहं जडवज्जातो वागुवाचाशरीरिणी । तपस्तप महाबुद्धे जडत्वं नोचितं तव

tadāhaṁ jaḍavajjāto vāguvācāśarīriṇī tapastapa mahābuddhe jaḍatvaṁ nocitaṁ tava

"Then I became as if stupefied; a bodiless voice spoke to me: 'Perform austerity, perform austerity, O great-minded one; such dullness does not befit you.'"

Verse 9 (skanda.6.242.9)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि ततोऽहं तप आस्थितः । पुनराकाशजा वाणी मामुवाचाविनश्वरा

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi tato'haṁ tapa āsthitaḥ punarākāśajā vāṇī māmuvācāvinaśvarā

"Then I engaged in austerity for ten thousand years; again an imperishable voice, born of the sky, spoke to me,"

Verse 10 (skanda.6.242.10)

वेदरूपाश्रिता पूर्वमाविर्भूता तपोबलात् । ततो भगवताऽऽदिष्टः सृज त्वं बहुधा प्रजाः

vedarūpāśritā pūrvamāvirbhūtā tapobalāt tato bhagavatā''diṣṭaḥ sṛja tvaṁ bahudhā prajāḥ

"— a voice that had earlier taken refuge in the form of the Veda, made manifest by the power of my austerity. Then, commanded by the Lord, 'Create creatures in their many forms,'"

Verse 11 (skanda.6.242.11)

राजसं गुणमाश्रित्य भूतसर्गमकल्मषम् । मनसा मानसी सृष्टिः प्रथमं चिंतिता मया

rājasaṁ guṇamāśritya bhūtasargamakalmaṣam manasā mānasī sṛṣṭiḥ prathamaṁ ciṁtitā mayā

"— resorting to the quality of rajas, I first conceived, with my mind, a stainless creation of beings, a creation born of the mind."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.242.12)

ततो वै ब्राह्मणा जाता मरीच्यादिमुनीश्वराः । तेषां कनीयांस्त्वं जातो ज्ञानवेदांतपारगः

tato vai brāhmaṇā jātā marīcyādimunīśvarāḥ teṣāṁ kanīyāṁstvaṁ jāto jñānavedāṁtapāragaḥ

"Thereupon the brahmins were indeed born, the great sages beginning with Marichi. Among them, you, O Narada, were born as the youngest, one who has crossed to the far shore of knowledge and Vedanta."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.242.13)

कर्मनिष्ठाश्च ते नित्यं सृष्ट्यर्थं सततोद्यताः । निर्व्यापारो विष्णुभक्त एकांतब्रह्मसेवकः

karmaniṣṭhāśca te nityaṁ sṛṣṭyarthaṁ satatodyatāḥ nirvyāpāro viṣṇubhakta ekāṁtabrahmasevakaḥ

"They are ever devoted to rites, constantly engaged for the sake of creation; but you are free from worldly activity, a devotee of Vishnu, exclusively a servant of Brahman."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.242.14)

निर्ममो निरहंकारो मम त्वं मानसः सुतः । क्रमान्मया तु तेषां वै वेदरक्षार्थमेव च

nirmamo nirahaṁkāro mama tvaṁ mānasaḥ sutaḥ kramānmayā tu teṣāṁ vai vedarakṣārthameva ca

"Free from possessiveness, free from egotism, you are my mind-born son. And by me, in due order, for the protection of the Veda —"

Verse 15 (skanda.6.242.15)

प्रथमा मानसी सृष्टिर्द्विजात्यादिर्विनिर्मिता । ततोहमांगिकीं सृष्टिं सृष्टवांस्तत्र नारद

prathamā mānasī sṛṣṭirdvijātyādirvinirmitā tatohamāṁgikīṁ sṛṣṭiṁ sṛṣṭavāṁstatra nārada

"— the first, mental creation was fashioned, beginning with the twice-born; then, O Narada, I produced there a creation born from my bodily limbs."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.242.16)

मुखाच्च ब्राह्मणा जाता बाहुभ्यः क्षत्रिया मम । वैश्या ऊरुसमुद्भूताः पद्भ्यां शूद्रा बभूविरे

mukhācca brāhmaṇā jātā bāhubhyaḥ kṣatriyā mama vaiśyā ūrusamudbhūtāḥ padbhyāṁ śūdrā babhūvire

"From my mouth the brahmins were born, from my arms the kshatriyas; the vaishyas arose from my thighs, and from my feet the shudras came into being."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.242.17)

अनुलोमविलोमाभ्यां क्रमाच्च क्रमयोगतः । शूद्रादधोऽधो जाताश्च सर्वे पादतलोद्भवाः

anulomavilomābhyāṁ kramācca kramayogataḥ śūdrādadho'dho jātāśca sarve pādatalodbhavāḥ

"Through unions in the proper order and in the reverse order, and by successive gradation, all those born lower and lower than the shudra arose from the very sole of my feet."

Verse 18 (skanda.6.242.18)

ताः सर्वास्तु प्रकृतयो मम देहांशसंभवाः । नारद त्वं विजानीहि तासां नामानि वच्मि ते

tāḥ sarvāstu prakṛtayo mama dehāṁśasaṁbhavāḥ nārada tvaṁ vijānīhi tāsāṁ nāmāni vacmi te

"All these are the prakritis, born from portions of my own body. Narada, understand this — I shall now tell you their names."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.242.19)

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यस्त्रय एव द्विजातयः । वेदास्तपोऽध्ययनं च यजनं दानमेव च

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyastraya eva dvijātayaḥ vedāstapo'dhyayanaṁ ca yajanaṁ dānameva ca

"The brahmin, the kshatriya, and the vaishya, these three alone are the twice-born. The Vedas, austerity, study, sacrifice, and the giving of gifts —"

Verse 20 (skanda.6.242.20)

वृत्तिरध्यापनाच्चैव तथा स्वल्पप्रतिग्रहात् । विप्रः समर्थस्तपसा यद्यपि स्यात्प्रतिग्रहे

vṛttiradhyāpanāccaiva tathā svalpapratigrahāt vipraḥ samarthastapasā yadyapi syātpratigrahe

"— these, and teaching, and accepting only modest gifts, are the brahmin's livelihood. Even though a brahmin, through his austerity, might be capable of accepting great gifts,"

Verse 21 (skanda.6.242.21)

तथापि नैव गृह्णीयात्तपोरक्षा यतः सदा । वेदपाठो विष्णुपूजा ब्रह्मध्यानमलोभता

tathāpi naiva gṛhṇīyāttaporakṣā yataḥ sadā vedapāṭho viṣṇupūjā brahmadhyānamalobhatā

"— even so, he should never accept them, for the protection of his austerity is always paramount. Recitation of the Veda, worship of Vishnu, meditation on Brahman, freedom from greed,"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.242.22)

अक्रोधता निर्मलत्वं क्षमासारत्वमार्यता । क्रियातत्परता दानक्रिया सत्यादिभिर्गुणैः

akrodhatā nirmalatvaṁ kṣamāsāratvamāryatā kriyātatparatā dānakriyā satyādibhirguṇaiḥ

"freedom from anger, purity, an essential nature of forbearance, nobility, devotion to one's duties, the act of giving — adorned with these virtues, truthfulness, and the rest,"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.242.23)

भूषितो यो भवेन्नित्यं स विप्र इति कथ्यते । क्षत्रियेण तपः कार्यं यजनं दानमेव च

bhūṣito yo bhavennityaṁ sa vipra iti kathyate kṣatriyeṇa tapaḥ kāryaṁ yajanaṁ dānameva ca

"— whoever is always adorned with these is called a true brahmin. By the kshatriya, austerity is to be performed, and sacrifice, and the giving of gifts,"

Verse 24 (skanda.6.242.24)

वेदपाठो विप्रभक्तिरेषां शस्त्रेण जीवनम् । स्त्रीबालगोब्राह्मणार्थे भूम्यर्थे स्वामिसंकटे

vedapāṭho viprabhaktireṣāṁ śastreṇa jīvanam strībālagobrāhmaṇārthe bhūmyarthe svāmisaṁkaṭe

"the recitation of the Veda, and devotion to brahmins; their livelihood is by the sword, for the sake of women, children, cattle, and brahmins, for the sake of land, and in a crisis of their lord,"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.242.25)

संप्रतिशरणं चैव पीडितानां च शब्दिते । आर्तत्राणपरा ये च क्षत्रिया ब्रह्मणा कृताः

saṁpratiśaraṇaṁ caiva pīḍitānāṁ ca śabdite ārtatrāṇaparā ye ca kṣatriyā brahmaṇā kṛtāḥ

"— giving refuge, and answering the cry of the oppressed: those kshatriyas who are devoted to the protection of the distressed were made so by Brahma himself."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.242.26)

धनवृद्धिकरो वैश्यः पशुपालः कृषीवलः । रसादीनां च विक्रेता देवब्राह्मणपूजकः

dhanavṛddhikaro vaiśyaḥ paśupālaḥ kṛṣīvalaḥ rasādīnāṁ ca vikretā devabrāhmaṇapūjakaḥ

"The vaishya is one who increases wealth, a keeper of cattle, a tiller of the soil, a seller of goods and the like, a worshipper of the gods and brahmins,"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.242.27)

अर्थवृद्धिकरो व्याजा यज्ञकर्मादिकारकः । दानमध्ययनं चेति वैश्यवृत्तिरुदाहृता

arthavṛddhikaro vyājā yajñakarmādikārakaḥ dānamadhyayanaṁ ceti vaiśyavṛttirudāhṛtā

"one who increases wealth through interest, one who performs sacrificial rites and the like, who gives gifts and studies the scriptures; thus is the livelihood of the vaishya declared."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.242.28)

एतान्येव ह्यमंत्राणि शूद्रः कारयते सदा । नित्यं षड्दैवतं श्राद्धं हन्तकारोऽग्नितर्पणम्

etānyeva hyamaṁtrāṇi śūdraḥ kārayate sadā nityaṁ ṣaḍdaivataṁ śrāddhaṁ hantakāro'gnitarpaṇam

"These same rites the shudra performs always, but without mantras: the daily worship of the six deities, the shraddha rite, the fire oblation with its sound, and the tarpana offered to fire,"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.242.29)

देवद्विजातिभक्तिश्च नमस्कारेण सिद्ध्यति । शूद्रोऽपि प्रातरुत्थाय कृत्वा पादाभिवंदनम्

devadvijātibhaktiśca namaskāreṇa siddhyati śūdro'pi prātarutthāya kṛtvā pādābhivaṁdanam

"and devotion to the gods and to the twice-born, accomplished through simple obeisance. The shudra too, rising in the morning and bowing at the feet of his elders and gods,"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.242.30)

विष्णुभक्तिमयाञ्श्लोकान्पठन्विष्णुत्वमाप्नुयात् । वार्षिकव्रतकृन्नित्यं तिथिवाराधिदैवतः

viṣṇubhaktimayāñślokānpaṭhanviṣṇutvamāpnuyāt vārṣikavratakṛnnityaṁ tithivārādhidaivataḥ

"reciting verses filled with devotion to Vishnu, attains the very nature of Vishnu; constantly observing the yearly vows connected with the deities presiding over each lunar day and weekday,"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.242.31)

अन्नदः सर्वजीवानां गृहस्थः शूद्र ईरितः । अमंत्राण्यपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्नेव हि मुच्यते

annadaḥ sarvajīvānāṁ gṛhasthaḥ śūdra īritaḥ amaṁtrāṇyapi karmāṇi kurvanneva hi mucyate

"— a householder shudra is described as one who gives food to all living beings; performing his rites even without mantras, he is indeed liberated."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.242.32)

चातुर्मास्यव्रतकरः शूद्रोऽपि हरितां व्रजेत् । शिल्पी च नर्तकश्चैव काष्ठकारः प्रजापतिः

cāturmāsyavratakaraḥ śūdro'pi haritāṁ vrajet śilpī ca nartakaścaiva kāṣṭhakāraḥ prajāpatiḥ

"Even a shudra who observes the Chaturmasya vow attains the state of Hari's own attendants. The craftsman, the dancer, the carpenter, the potter,"

Verse 33 (skanda.6.242.33)

वर्धकिश्चित्रकश्चैव सूत्रको रजकस्तथा । गच्छकस्तन्तुकारश्च चक्रिकश्चर्मकारकः

vardhakiścitrakaścaiva sūtrako rajakastathā gacchakastantukāraśca cakrikaścarmakārakaḥ

"the builder, the painter, the thread-maker, and likewise the washerman, the traveling trader, the weaver, the wheel-worker, and the leather-worker,"

Verse 34 (skanda.6.242.34)

सूनिको ध्वनिकश्चैव कौल्हिको मत्स्यघातकः । औनामिकस्तु चंडालः प्रकृत्याष्टादशैव ते

sūniko dhvanikaścaiva kaulhiko matsyaghātakaḥ aunāmikastu caṁḍālaḥ prakṛtyāṣṭādaśaiva te

"the butcher, the musician, the wine-presser, and the fisherman, and the outcaste Chandala; these are the eighteen prakritis by their broad nature."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.242.35)

शिल्पिकः स्वर्णकारकश्च दारुकः कांस्यकारकः । काडुकः कुम्भकारश्च प्रकृत्या उत्तमाश्च षट्

śilpikaḥ svarṇakārakaśca dārukaḥ kāṁsyakārakaḥ kāḍukaḥ kumbhakāraśca prakṛtyā uttamāśca ṣaṭ

"The artisan, the goldsmith, the carpenter in wood, the bronze-worker, the wood-cutter, and the potter; these six are, by nature, of the highest rank among them."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.242.36)

खरवाह्युष्ट्रवाही हयवाही तथैव च । गोपाल इष्टिकाकारो अधमाधमपञ्चकम्

kharavāhyuṣṭravāhī hayavāhī tathaiva ca gopāla iṣṭikākāro adhamādhamapañcakam

"The driver of donkeys, the driver of camels, and likewise the driver of horses, the herdsman, and the brick-maker; these are the lowest of the low, the five at the bottom."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.242.37)

रजकश्चर्मकारश्च नटो बुरुड एव च । कैवर्त्तमेदभिल्लाश्च सप्तैते अन्त्यजाः स्मृताः

rajakaścarmakāraśca naṭo buruḍa eva ca kaivarttamedabhillāśca saptaite antyajāḥ smṛtāḥ

"The washerman, the leather-worker, the actor, and the bamboo-worker, and the fisherman, the Meda, and the Bhilla; these seven are remembered as the Antyajas, born at the very edge of society."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.242.38)

यो यस्य हीनो वर्णेन स चाष्टादशमो नरः । सर्वासां प्रकृतीनां च उत्तमा मध्यमाः समाः

yo yasya hīno varṇena sa cāṣṭādaśamo naraḥ sarvāsāṁ prakṛtīnāṁ ca uttamā madhyamāḥ samāḥ

"Whoever is inferior to another in rank makes up the eighteenth division within his own group. Among all these prakritis, there are the highest, the middling, and the ordinary."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.242.39)

भेदास्त्रयः समाख्याता विज्ञेयाः स्मृतिनिर्णयात् । शिल्पिनः सप्त विज्ञेया उत्तमाः समुदाहृताः

bhedāstrayaḥ samākhyātā vijñeyāḥ smṛtinirṇayāt śilpinaḥ sapta vijñeyā uttamāḥ samudāhṛtāḥ

"Three such divisions are declared, to be understood according to the determination of the Smritis. Seven kinds of craftsmen are to be known, and are proclaimed as the highest among them:"

Verse 40 (skanda.6.242.40)

स्वर्णकृत्कंबुकश्चैव तन्दुलीपुष्पलावकः । तांबूली नापितश्चैव मणिकारश्च सप्तधा

svarṇakṛtkaṁbukaścaiva tandulīpuṣpalāvakaḥ tāṁbūlī nāpitaścaiva maṇikāraśca saptadhā

"the goldsmith, the shell-worker, the rice-huller, the florist, the betel-leaf seller, the barber, and the jeweler; these seven in all."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.242.41)

न स्नानं देवताहोमस्तपोनियम एव च । न स्वाध्यायवषट्कारौ न च शुद्धिर्विवाहिता

na snānaṁ devatāhomastaponiyama eva ca na svādhyāyavaṣaṭkārau na ca śuddhirvivāhitā

"For them there is no prescribed bathing rite, no fire-oblation to the gods, no rule of austerity, no Vedic study, no ritual exclamation of Vashat, and no formal purification of marriage."

Verse 42 (skanda.6.242.42)

एतासां प्रकृतीनां च गुरुपूजा सदोदिता । विप्राणां प्राकृतो नित्यं दानमेव परो विधिः

etāsāṁ prakṛtīnāṁ ca gurupūjā sadoditā viprāṇāṁ prākṛto nityaṁ dānameva paro vidhiḥ

"For these prakritis, the worship of one's elders and teachers is always enjoined; and constant giving to brahmins from the common folk is declared the supreme rule."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.242.43)

सर्वेषामेव वर्णानामाश्रमाणां महामुने । सर्वासां प्रकृतीनां च विष्णुभक्तिः सदा शुभा

sarveṣāmeva varṇānāmāśramāṇāṁ mahāmune sarvāsāṁ prakṛtīnāṁ ca viṣṇubhaktiḥ sadā śubhā

"O great sage, for all the varnas and the stages of life alike, and for all the prakritis without exception, devotion to Vishnu is always auspicious."

Verse 44 (skanda.6.242.44)

इति ते कथितं सर्वं यथाप्रकृतिसंभवम् । कथां शृणु महापुण्यां शूद्रः शुद्धिमगाद्यथा

iti te kathitaṁ sarvaṁ yathāprakṛtisaṁbhavam kathāṁ śṛṇu mahāpuṇyāṁ śūdraḥ śuddhimagādyathā

"Thus all has been told to you, according to the origin of each prakriti. Now hear the highly meritorious story of how a shudra attained purity."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.242.45)

इदं पुराणं परमं पवित्रं विशुद्धधीर्यस्तु शृणोति वा पठेत् । विधूय पापानि पुरार्जितानि स याति विष्णोर्भवनं क्रियापरः

idaṁ purāṇaṁ paramaṁ pavitraṁ viśuddhadhīryastu śṛṇoti vā paṭhet vidhūya pāpāni purārjitāni sa yāti viṣṇorbhavanaṁ kriyāparaḥ

This Purana is supremely sacred; whoever, with a purified mind, hears it or recites it, having shaken off the sins accumulated in the past, that person, devoted to right action, goes to the abode of Vishnu.