Brahma's Consecration as Prajapati

Verse 1 (skanda.8.3.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणुष्वेमां कथां दिव्यां सर्वपापप्रणाशनीम् । कथ्यमानां मया चित्रां बह्वर्थां श्रुतिसंमिताम् । यां श्रुत्वा पापकर्मापि गच्छेच्च परमां गतिम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇuṣvemāṁ kathāṁ divyāṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanīm | kathyamānāṁ mayā citrāṁ bahvarthāṁ śrutisaṁmitām | yāṁ śrutvā pāpakarmāpi gacchecca paramāṁ gatim

Sanatkumara said: Listen to this divine tale, destroyer of all sin, wondrous, rich in meaning, and in accord with the Vedas, as I now tell it — hearing which even one of sinful deeds may attain the supreme goal.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.3.2)

न नास्तिकाश्रद्दधाने शठे चापि कथंचन । इमां कथामनुब्रूयात्तथा चासूयके नरे

na nāstikāśraddadhāne śaṭhe cāpi kathaṁcana | imāṁ kathāmanubrūyāttathā cāsūyake nare

This tale should never be told, in any way whatsoever, to a nonbeliever, to one lacking faith, to a deceitful person, or likewise to one who is envious.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.3.3)

इदं पुत्राय शिष्याय धार्मिकायानसूयवे । कथनीयं महाब्रह्मन्देवभक्ताय वा भवेत्

idaṁ putrāya śiṣyāya dhārmikāyānasūyave | kathanīyaṁ mahābrahmandevabhaktāya vā bhavet

This should be told to a son, to a disciple, to one who is righteous and free from malice, O great Brahmin, or to one devoted to God.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.3.4)

कथनीयं सदा ब्रह्मन् देवभक्ताय वा भवेत् । कुमारभक्ताय तथा श्रद्दधानाय चैव हि

kathanīyaṁ sadā brahman devabhaktāya vā bhavet | kumārabhaktāya tathā śraddadhānāya caiva hi

It should always be told, O Brahmin, to one devoted to God, and likewise to one devoted to Kumara, and to one who has faith.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.3.5)

सदा वाच्यमिदं गुह्यं यतीनां भावितात्मनाम् । ततः प्रोवाच तत्सर्वं प्रपन्नेनान्तरात्मना

sadā vācyamidaṁ guhyaṁ yatīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām | tataḥ provāca tatsarvaṁ prapannenāntarātmanā

This secret should always be spoken to ascetics of purified mind. Then he told all of it, with an inner self that had taken refuge in devotion.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.3.6)

पुरा ब्रह्मा प्रजा त्वष्टुरण्डेऽस्मिन् संप्रसूयत । सोऽज्ञानात् पितरं ब्रह्मा न वेद तमसावृतः

purā brahmā prajā tvaṣṭuraṇḍe'smin saṁprasūyata | so'jñānāt pitaraṁ brahmā na veda tamasāvṛtaḥ

Long ago, Brahma, as a created being, was born in this very egg of Tvashtr. Being enveloped in darkness, Brahma, out of ignorance, did not know his father.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.3.7)

अहमेक इति ज्ञात्वा सर्व्वांल्लोकानवैक्षत । न चापश्यत तत्रान्यं तपोयोगबलान्वितः

ahameka iti jñātvā sarvvāṁllokānavaikṣata | na cāpaśyata tatrānyaṁ tapoyogabalānvitaḥ

Thinking 'I am alone,' he surveyed all the worlds; and, though endowed with the power of austerity and yoga, he saw no one else there.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.3.8)

पुत्रपुत्रेति चाप्युक्तो ब्रह्मा शर्वेण धीमता । प्रणतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तमेव शरणं गतः

putraputreti cāpyukto brahmā śarveṇa dhīmatā | praṇataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā tameva śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

When Brahma was addressed by the wise Sharva as 'My son, my son,' he bowed down, folded his hands, and took refuge in him alone.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.3.9)

स दत्त्वा ब्रह्मणे शम्भुः स्रष्टृत्वं ज्ञानसंहितम् । विभुत्वं चैव लोकानामन्तर्दधे परमेश्वरः

sa dattvā brahmaṇe śambhuḥ sraṣṭṛtvaṁ jñānasaṁhitam | vibhutvaṁ caiva lokānāmantardadhe parameśvaraḥ

Shambhu, having given to Brahma the power of creation together with knowledge, and lordship over the worlds, the Supreme Lord then vanished.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.3.10)

तदेषोपनिषत् प्रोक्ता मया व्यास सनातनी । यां श्रुत्वा योगिनो ध्यानात् प्रपद्यन्ते महेश्वरम्

tadeṣopaniṣat proktā mayā vyāsa sanātanī | yāṁ śrutvā yogino dhyānāt prapadyante maheśvaram

This eternal secret teaching, O Vyasa, has thus been declared by me, hearing which yogis attain Maheshvara through meditation.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.3.11)

यो ब्रह्माणं विदधे पुत्रमग्रे ज्ञानञ्च यः प्रहिणोति स्म तस्मै । तमात्मस्थं येऽनुपश्यन्ति धीरास्तेषां शान्तिः शाश्वती नेतरेषाम्

yo brahmāṇaṁ vidadhe putramagre jñānañca yaḥ prahiṇoti sma tasmai | tamātmasthaṁ ye'nupaśyanti dhīrāsteṣāṁ śāntiḥ śāśvatī netareṣām

He who first fashioned Brahma as his son, and who imparted knowledge to him — those wise ones who behold that Lord dwelling within the self attain eternal peace, not others.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.3.12)

स व्यास पितरं दृष्ट्वा दीप्त्या परमया युतम् । पुत्रकामः प्रजाहेतोस्तपस्तीव्रं चचार ह

sa vyāsa pitaraṁ dṛṣṭvā dīptyā paramayā yutam | putrakāmaḥ prajāhetostapastīvraṁ cacāra ha

That Brahma, O Vyasa, having seen his father endowed with supreme radiance, desiring a son for the sake of progeny, performed severe austerity.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.3.13)

तस्योग्रयोगतपसा युक्तस्य सुमहात्मनः । अचिरेणैव कालेन पिता संप्रतुतोष ह

tasyograyogatapasā yuktasya sumahātmanaḥ | acireṇaiva kālena pitā saṁpratutoṣa ha

For that great soul who was engaged in fierce yoga and austerity, his father was well pleased within a short time indeed.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.3.14)

दर्शनं चागमत्तस्य वरदोऽस्मीत्युवाच च । स तुष्टाव नतो भूत्वा कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम्

darśanaṁ cāgamattasya varado'smītyuvāca ca | sa tuṣṭāva nato bhūtvā kṛtvā śirasi cāñjalim

His vision came to him, and he said, 'I am the giver of boons.' Brahma praised him, having bowed and placed his folded hands upon his head.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.3.15)

नमः परमदेवाय देवानामपि वेधसे । स्रष्ट्रे वै लोकतन्त्राय ब्रह्मणः पतये नमः

namaḥ paramadevāya devānāmapi vedhase | sraṣṭre vai lokatantrāya brahmaṇaḥ pataye namaḥ

Salutation to the Supreme God, the ordainer even of the gods; salutation to the creator of the system of worlds, the lord of Brahma.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.3.16)

एकस्मै शक्तियुक्ताय आसक्तिरहिताय च । अनन्तायाप्रमेयाय इन्द्रियाविषयाय च

ekasmai śaktiyuktāya āsaktirahitāya ca | anantāyāprameyāya indriyāviṣayāya ca

To the One endowed with power yet free from attachment, to the endless and immeasurable one, who is beyond the reach of the senses.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.3.17)

व्यापिने व्याप्तपूर्वाय अधिष्ठात्रे प्रचोदिने । कृतप्रचोदनायैव तत्त्वविन्यासकारिणे

vyāpine vyāptapūrvāya adhiṣṭhātre pracodine | kṛtapracodanāyaiva tattvavinyāsakāriṇe

To the all-pervading one, pervading from the beginning, the presiding ruler, the impeller, the one already impelled, the arranger of all the principles of creation.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.3.18)

प्रधानचोदकायैव गुणानां शक्तिदाय च । दृष्टिदाय च सर्वेषां स्वयं वै दर्शनाय च

pradhānacodakāyaiva guṇānāṁ śaktidāya ca | dṛṣṭidāya ca sarveṣāṁ svayaṁ vai darśanāya ca

To the impeller of Pradhana, the giver of power to the gunas, the giver of sight to all beings, and himself the very object of vision.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.3.19)

विषयग्राहिणे चैव नियमस्य च कारिणे । मनसः करणानां च कर्त्रे वै निगमस्य च

viṣayagrāhiṇe caiva niyamasya ca kāriṇe | manasaḥ karaṇānāṁ ca kartre vai nigamasya ca

To the one who grasps the objects of sense, the ordainer of rule and discipline, the maker of the mind and the senses, and of the Vedic canon.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.3.20)

भूतानां गुणकर्त्रे च शक्तिदाय तथैव च । कर्त्रे ह्यण्डस्य मह्यञ्च अचिन्त्यायाग्रजाय च

bhūtānāṁ guṇakartre ca śaktidāya tathaiva ca | kartre hyaṇḍasya mahyañca acintyāyāgrajāya ca

To the maker of the qualities of beings, the giver of power, the maker of the cosmic egg and of the earth, the inconceivable one, the first-born.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.3.21)

अप्रमेय पितर्नित्यं प्रीतो नो दिश शक्वरीम् । अप्रमेयगुणैश्वर्यशक्तयेव्याहताय वै

aprameya pitarnityaṁ prīto no diśa śakvarīm | aprameyaguṇaiśvaryaśaktayevyāhatāya vai

O immeasurable, eternal father, be pleased and grant us strength — salutation to the one whose power of immeasurable qualities and majesty is unimpeded.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.3.22)

तस्यैवं स्तुवतो व्यास देवदेवो महेश्वरः । तुष्टोऽब्रवीत् स्वयं पुत्रं ब्रह्माणं प्रणतं तदा

tasyaivaṁ stuvato vyāsa devadevo maheśvaraḥ | tuṣṭo'bravīt svayaṁ putraṁ brahmāṇaṁ praṇataṁ tadā

When Brahma had praised him thus, O Vyasa, the god of gods, Maheshvara, being pleased, himself then spoke to his son Brahma, who stood bowed before him.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.3.23)

यस्मात्ते विदितं वत्स सूक्ष्ममेतन्महाद्युते । तस्माद् ब्रह्मेति लोकेषु नाम्ना ख्यातिं गमिष्यसि

yasmātte viditaṁ vatsa sūkṣmametanmahādyute | tasmād brahmeti lokeṣu nāmnā khyātiṁ gamiṣyasi

Since, O child of great splendour, you have understood this subtle truth, therefore you shall become famed among the worlds by the name 'Brahma.'

Verse 24 (skanda.8.3.24)

यस्माच्चाहं पितेत्युक्तस्त्वया बुद्धिमतां वर । तस्मात् पितामहत्वं ते लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यति

yasmāccāhaṁ pitetyuktastvayā buddhimatāṁ vara | tasmāt pitāmahatvaṁ te loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyati

And since, O best of the wise, you have called me 'father,' therefore your status as Pitamaha shall become renowned in the world.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.3.25)

प्रजार्थं यच्च ते तप्तं तप उग्रं सुदुश्चरम् । तस्मात्प्रजापतित्वं ते ददामि प्रयतात्मने

prajārthaṁ yacca te taptaṁ tapa ugraṁ suduścaram | tasmātprajāpatitvaṁ te dadāmi prayatātmane

And because you performed severe and very hard austerity for the sake of progeny, therefore, to you of disciplined mind, I grant the state of Prajapati.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.3.26)

एवमुक्त्वा स देवेशो सृजन्मूर्त्तिमतीः स्त्रियः । यास्ताः प्रकृतयस्त्वष्टौ विकारा इन्द्रियैः सह

evamuktvā sa deveśo sṛjanmūrttimatīḥ striyaḥ | yāstāḥ prakṛtayastvaṣṭau vikārā indriyaiḥ saha

Having spoken thus, that lord of gods created embodied female forms — those eight Prakritis together with their modifications and the senses.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.3.27)

भावाश्च सर्वे ते देवमुपतस्थुः स्वरूपिणः । तानुवाच ततो देवः पतिं युक्तः स्वतेजसा

bhāvāśca sarve te devamupatasthuḥ svarūpiṇaḥ | tānuvāca tato devaḥ patiṁ yuktaḥ svatejasā

All those states of being, in their own true forms, approached the god. Then the god, endowed with his own splendour, spoke to them of a lord for themselves.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.3.28)

एतमद्याभिषेकेण सम्पादयत मा चिरम् । ताभिः स्वं स्वं समादाय भावं दिव्यमतर्कितम्

etamadyābhiṣekeṇa sampādayata mā ciram | tābhiḥ svaṁ svaṁ samādāya bhāvaṁ divyamatarkitam

'Consecrate him today without delay through this abhisheka.' They, taking each their own inconceivable divine essence, offered it to him accordingly.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.3.29)

अभिषिक्तो बभूवेह प्रजापतिरतिद्युतिः । तत्रेमं योगिनः सूक्ष्मं दृष्ट्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा

abhiṣikto babhūveha prajāpatiratidyutiḥ | tatremaṁ yoginaḥ sūkṣmaṁ dṛṣṭvā divyena cakṣuṣā

Thus, here, Brahma of surpassing splendour became consecrated as Prajapati. There, seeing him in his subtle form with the divine eye, the yogis...

Verse 30 (skanda.8.3.30)

पुराणं योगतत्त्वज्ञा गायन्ति त्रिगुणान्वितम् । रुद्रः स्रष्टा हि सर्वेषां भूतानां तव च प्रभो

purāṇaṁ yogatattvajñā gāyanti triguṇānvitam | rudraḥ sraṣṭā hi sarveṣāṁ bhūtānāṁ tava ca prabho

...knowers of the truth of yoga sing of him, the ancient one endowed with the three gunas: 'Rudra indeed is the creator of all beings, and of you too, O lord.'

Verse 31 (skanda.8.3.31)

अस्माभिश्च भवान् सार्द्धं जगतः संप्रवर्त्तकः । स देवस्तोषितः सम्यक् परमैश्वर्ययोगधृक् । ब्रह्माणमग्रजं पुत्रं प्राजापत्येऽभ्यषेचयत्

asmābhiśca bhavān sārddhaṁ jagataḥ saṁpravarttakaḥ | sa devastoṣitaḥ samyak paramaiśvaryayogadhṛk | brahmāṇamagrajaṁ putraṁ prājāpatye'bhyaṣecayat

'And you, together with us, are the one who sets the world in motion.' That god, well pleased, holding supreme majesty and yogic power, consecrated his eldest son Brahma in the office of Prajapati.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.3.32)

यः कृत्वा बहुविधमार्गयोगयुक्तं तन्वाख्यं जगदिदमादराद्युयोज । तं देवं परममनन्तयोगयुक्तं मायाभिः त्रिभुवनबन्धुमप्रमादम्

yaḥ kṛtvā bahuvidhamārgayogayuktaṁ tanvākhyaṁ jagadidamādarādyuyoja | taṁ devaṁ paramamanantayogayuktaṁ māyābhiḥ tribhuvanabandhumapramādam

He who, having fashioned this world called 'the body,' endowed with manifold paths of union, joined it together with care — that supreme god, possessed of endless yogic power, the vigilant kinsman of the three worlds through his powers of maya...

Verse 33 (skanda.8.3.33)

सर्वेषां मनसि सदावतिष्ठमानं पश्यन्तं शुभमशुभं च भूतनाथम् । तं देवं प्रणतगतिं प्रणम्य भक्त्या नित्यं वै शरणमुपैमि सूक्ष्मसूक्ष्मम्

sarveṣāṁ manasi sadāvatiṣṭhamānaṁ paśyantaṁ śubhamaśubhaṁ ca bhūtanātham | taṁ devaṁ praṇatagatiṁ praṇamya bhaktyā nityaṁ vai śaraṇamupaimi sūkṣmasūkṣmam

...who ever dwells within the minds of all beings, beholding both the auspicious and inauspicious, the lord of all creatures — bowing to that god, the refuge of the humble, with devotion, I ever take refuge in him, the subtlest of the subtle.