The Hymn to Vishnu's Universal Forms and the Birth of Mayamoha

Verse 1 (vishnu.3.17.1)

पराशर उवाच । इत्याह भगवानौर्वः सगराय महात्मने । सदाचारान् पुरा सम्यङ् मैत्रेय परिपृच्छते

parāśara uvāca ityāha bhagavānaurvaḥ sagarāya mahātmane sadācārān purā samyaṅ maitreya paripṛcchate

Parashara said: Thus, O Maitreya, spoke the illustrious Aurva to the great-souled Sagara, when long ago he had duly asked about the rules of good conduct.

Verse 2 (vishnu.3.17.2)

मयाप्येतदशेषेण कथितं भवतो द्विज । समुल्लङ्घ्य सदाचारं कश्चिन्नाप्नोति शोभनम्

mayāpyetadaśeṣeṇa kathitaṁ bhavato dvija samullaṅghya sadācāraṁ kaścinnāpnoti śobhanam

This same account, O Brahmin, has now been told to you by me in full; no one who transgresses good conduct attains anything auspicious.

Verse 3 (vishnu.3.17.3)

मैत्रेय उवाच । षण्डापविद्धप्रमुखा विदिता भगवन् मया । उदक्याद्याश्च ये सर्वे नग्नमिच्छामि वेदितुम्

maitreya uvāca ṣaṇḍāpaviddhapramukhā viditā bhagavan mayā udakyādyāśca ye sarve nagnamicchāmi veditum

Maitreya said: O venerable one, I have understood the eunuch and the outcast and the rest, foremost among them, and likewise the menstruating woman and all such others; now I wish to know about the 'naked' one.

Verse 4 (vishnu.3.17.4)

को नग्नः किंसमाचारो नग्नसंज्ञां नरो लभेत् । नग्नस्वरूपमिच्छामि यथावद्गदितं त्वया

ko nagnaḥ kiṁsamācāro nagnasaṁjñāṁ naro labhet nagnasvarūpamicchāmi yathāvadgaditaṁ tvayā

Who is the 'naked' one? By what conduct does a man come to bear the name 'naked'? I wish to know the true nature of the 'naked' one, as you have declared it.

Verse 5 (vishnu.3.17.5)

पराशर उवाच । ऋग्यजुःसामसंज्ञेयं त्रयी वर्णावृतिर्द्विज । एतामुज्झति यो मोहात्स नग्नः पातकी स्मृतः

parāśara uvāca ṛgyajuḥsāmasaṁjñeyaṁ trayī varṇāvṛtirdvija etāmujjhati yo mohātsa nagnaḥ pātakī smṛtaḥ

Parashara said: This triad known as Rig, Yajus, and Sama, O Brahmin, is the covering garment of the varnas; he who, out of delusion, casts it off is called 'naked,' a sinner.

Verse 6 (vishnu.3.17.6)

त्रयी समस्तवर्णानां द्विज संवरणं यतः । नग्नो भवत्युज्झितायामतस्तस्यामसंशयम्

trayī samastavarṇānāṁ dvija saṁvaraṇaṁ yataḥ nagno bhavatyujjhitāyāmatastasyāmasaṁśayam

Since the triple Veda is the covering-garment of all the varnas, O Brahmin, one becomes 'naked' when it is cast aside -- of this there is no doubt.

Verse 7 (vishnu.3.17.7)

इदं च श्रूयतामन्यद्भीष्माय सुमहात्मने । कथयामास धर्मज्ञो वसिष्ठोऽस्मत्पितामहः

idaṁ ca śrūyatāmanyadbhīṣmāya sumahātmane kathayāmāsa dharmajño vasiṣṭho'smatpitāmahaḥ

And hear this further account, another matter, which our grandsire, the righteous Vasishtha, once related to the great-souled Bhishma.

Verse 8 (vishnu.3.17.8)

मयापि तस्य गदतः श्रुतमेतन्महात्मनः । नग्नसंबन्धि मैत्रेय यत्पृष्टोऽहमिह त्वया

mayāpi tasya gadataḥ śrutametanmahātmanaḥ nagnasaṁbandhi maitreya yatpṛṣṭo'hamiha tvayā

This too, O Maitreya, I heard as that great soul spoke it, concerning the 'naked' one, about which you have now asked me here.

Verse 9 (vishnu.3.17.9)

देवासुरमभूद्युद्धं दिव्यमब्दं पुरा द्विज । तस्मिन् पराजिता देवा दैत्यैर्ह्रादपुरोगमैः

devāsuramabhūdyuddhaṁ divyamabdaṁ purā dvija tasmin parājitā devā daityairhrādapurogamaiḥ

Long ago, O Brahmin, there was a war between the gods and the demons that lasted a divine year; in it the gods were defeated by the Daityas, led by Hrada.

Verse 10 (vishnu.3.17.10)

क्षीरोदस्योत्तरं कूलं गत्वातप्यन्त वै तपः । विष्णोराराधनार्थाय जगुश्चेमं स्तवं तदा

kṣīrodasyottaraṁ kūlaṁ gatvātapyanta vai tapaḥ viṣṇorārādhanārthāya jaguścemaṁ stavaṁ tadā

Going to the northern shore of the Ocean of Milk, they began to practice austerities there; and, for the sake of worshipping Vishnu, they then sang this hymn.

Verse 11 (vishnu.3.17.11)

देवा ऊचुः । आराधनाय लोकानां विष्णोरीशस्य यां गिरम् । वक्ष्यामो भगवानाद्यस्तया विष्णुः प्रसीदतु

devā ūcuḥ ārādhanāya lokānāṁ viṣṇorīśasya yāṁ giram vakṣyāmo bhagavānādyastayā viṣṇuḥ prasīdatu

The gods said: The hymn which we shall now utter for the worship of Vishnu, the Lord of the worlds, the primeval God -- by that may Vishnu be pleased.

Verse 12 (vishnu.3.17.12)

यतो भूतान्यशेषाणि प्रसूतानि महात्मनः । यस्मिंश्च लयमेष्यन्ति कस्तं संस्तोतुमीश्वरः

yato bhūtānyaśeṣāṇi prasūtāni mahātmanaḥ yasmiṁśca layameṣyanti kastaṁ saṁstotumīśvaraḥ

From that great soul all beings without exception have arisen, and into him they shall return -- who indeed is able to praise that Lord?

Verse 13 (vishnu.3.17.13)

तथाप्यरातिविध्वंसध्वस्तवीर्या भवार्थिनः । त्वां स्तोष्यामस्तवोक्तीनां याथार्थ्यं नैव गोचरे

tathāpyarātividhvaṁsadhvastavīryā bhavārthinaḥ tvāṁ stoṣyāmastavoktīnāṁ yāthārthyaṁ naiva gocare

Yet, our strength destroyed by the ravages of our enemies, we, seeking release from this world of becoming, shall praise you, even though the true reality of our words of praise lies utterly beyond our grasp.

Verse 14 (vishnu.3.17.14)

त्वमुर्वी सलिलं वह्निर्वायुराकाशमेव च । समस्तमन्तःकरणं प्रधानं तत्परः पुमान्

tvamurvī salilaṁ vahnirvāyurākāśameva ca samastamantaḥkaraṇaṁ pradhānaṁ tatparaḥ pumān

You are the earth, the water, the fire, the wind, and likewise the ether; you are the entire inner faculty, the primal matter, and the Supreme Person beyond it.

Verse 15 (vishnu.3.17.15)

एकं तवैतद्भूतात्मन् मूर्तामूर्तमयं वपुः । आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं स्थानकालविभेदवत्

ekaṁ tavaitadbhūtātman mūrtāmūrtamayaṁ vapuḥ ābrahmastambaparyantaṁ sthānakālavibhedavat

O soul of all beings, this single body of yours, consisting of both the formed and the formless, extends from Brahma down to a blade of grass, differentiated by place and time.

Verse 16 (vishnu.3.17.16)

तत्रेश तव यत्पूर्वं त्वन्नाभिकमलोद्भवम् । रूपं सर्गोपकाराय तस्मै ब्रह्मात्मने नमः

tatreśa tava yatpūrvaṁ tvannābhikamalodbhavam rūpaṁ sargopakārāya tasmai brahmātmane namaḥ

O Lord, that primal form of yours which arose from the lotus of your navel, for the sake of creation -- to that, your form as Brahma, salutation.

Verse 17 (vishnu.3.17.17)

शक्रार्करुद्रवस्वश्विमरुत्सोमादिभेदवत् । वयमेवं स्वरूपं ते तस्मै देवात्मने नमः

śakrārkarudravasvaśvimarutsomādibhedavat vayamevaṁ svarūpaṁ te tasmai devātmane namaḥ

Differentiated as Indra, Surya, Rudra, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Maruts, Soma, and the rest -- to that form of yours, in which we ourselves subsist, your form as the gods, salutation.

Verse 18 (vishnu.3.17.18)

दम्भप्रायमसंबोधि तितिक्षादमवर्जितम् । यद्रूपं तव गोविन्द तस्मै दैत्यात्मने नमः

dambhaprāyamasaṁbodhi titikṣādamavarjitam yadrūpaṁ tava govinda tasmai daityātmane namaḥ

That form of yours, O Govinda, which is given mostly to hypocrisy, devoid of true understanding, forbearance, and self-restraint -- to that, your form as the Daityas, salutation.

Verse 19 (vishnu.3.17.19)

नातिज्ञानवहा यस्मिन्नाड्यः स्तिमिततेजसि । शब्दादिलोभि यत्तस्मै तुभ्यं यक्षात्मने नमः

nātijñānavahā yasminnāḍyaḥ stimitatejasi śabdādilobhi yattasmai tubhyaṁ yakṣātmane namaḥ

That form in which the channels do not carry much knowledge, whose radiance is dulled, and which is greedy for sound and the other sense-objects -- to that, your form as the Yakshas, salutation to you.

Verse 20 (vishnu.3.17.20)

क्रौर्यमायामयं घोरं यच्च रूपं तवासितम् । निशाचरात्मने तस्मै नमस्ते पुरुषोत्तम

krauryamāyāmayaṁ ghoraṁ yacca rūpaṁ tavāsitam niśācarātmane tasmai namaste puruṣottama

And that dark and terrible form of yours, O Supreme Person, consisting of cruelty and deceit -- to that, your form as the night-wanderers (Rakshasas), salutation to you.

Verse 21 (vishnu.3.17.21)

स्वर्गस्थधर्मिसद्धर्मफलोपकरणं तव । धर्माख्यं च तथा रूपं नमस्तस्मै जनार्दन

svargasthadharmisaddharmaphalopakaraṇaṁ tava dharmākhyaṁ ca tathā rūpaṁ namastasmai janārdana

That form of yours which is the means by which the fruit of true righteousness is bestowed on the righteous who dwell in heaven, and which is called Dharma -- to that form, salutation, O Janardana.

Verse 22 (vishnu.3.17.22)

हर्षप्रायमसंसर्गि गतिमद्गमनादिषु । सिद्धात्मंस्तव यद्रूपं तस्मै सिद्धात्मने नमः

harṣaprāyamasaṁsargi gatimadgamanādiṣu siddhātmaṁstava yadrūpaṁ tasmai siddhātmane namaḥ

That form of yours, O soul of the Siddhas, which is given mostly to joy, unattached, and possessed of the power of motion in going and the like -- to that, your form as the Siddhas, salutation.

Verse 23 (vishnu.3.17.23)

अतितिक्षाधनं क्रूरमुपभोगसहं हरे । द्विजिह्वं तव यद्रूपं तस्मै सर्पात्मने नमः

atitikṣādhanaṁ krūramupabhogasahaṁ hare dvijihvaṁ tava yadrūpaṁ tasmai sarpātmane namaḥ

O Hari, that form of yours which possesses little patience, is cruel, capable of enduring suffering, and double-tongued -- to that, your form as the serpents, salutation.

Verse 24 (vishnu.3.17.24)

अवबोधि च यच्छान्तमदोषमपकल्मषम् । ऋषिरूपात्मने तस्मै विष्णो रूपाय ते नमः

avabodhi ca yacchāntamadoṣamapakalmaṣam ṛṣirūpātmane tasmai viṣṇo rūpāya te namaḥ

And that form which is awakened, tranquil, faultless, and free of impurity -- to that form of yours, O Vishnu, the form having the nature of the sages, salutation to you.

Verse 25 (vishnu.3.17.25)

भक्षयत्यथ कल्पान्ते भूतानि यदवारितम् । त्वद्रूपं पुण्डरीकाक्ष तस्मै कालात्मने नमः

bhakṣayatyatha kalpānte bhūtāni yadavāritam tvadrūpaṁ puṇḍarīkākṣa tasmai kālātmane namaḥ

That form of yours, O lotus-eyed one, which, unrestrained, devours all beings at the end of the kalpa -- to that, your form as Time, salutation.

Verse 26 (vishnu.3.17.26)

सम्भक्ष्य सर्वभूतानि देवादीन्यविशेषतः । नृत्यत्यन्ते च यद्रूपं तस्मै रुद्रात्मने नमः

sambhakṣya sarvabhūtāni devādīnyaviśeṣataḥ nṛtyatyante ca yadrūpaṁ tasmai rudrātmane namaḥ

That form which, having devoured all beings, beginning with the gods, without exception, dances at the end -- to that, your form as Rudra, salutation.

Verse 27 (vishnu.3.17.27)

प्रवृत्त्या रजसो यच्च कर्मणां कारणात्मकम् । जनार्दन नमस्तस्मै त्वद्रूपाय नरात्मने

pravṛttyā rajaso yacca karmaṇāṁ kāraṇātmakam janārdana namastasmai tvadrūpāya narātmane

And that form of yours, O Janardana, which is the very cause of action through the activity of rajas -- salutation to that form of yours, your form as man.

Verse 28 (vishnu.3.17.28)

अष्टाविंशद्वधोपेतं यद्रूपं तामसं तव । उन्मार्गगामि सर्वात्मंस्तस्मै पश्वात्मने नमः

aṣṭāviṁśadvadhopetaṁ yadrūpaṁ tāmasaṁ tava unmārgagāmi sarvātmaṁstasmai paśvātmane namaḥ

O soul of all, that dark (tamasic) form of yours, endowed with twenty-eight kinds of confinement, given to wandering off the proper path -- to that, your form as the beasts, salutation.

Verse 29 (vishnu.3.17.29)

यज्ञाङ्गभूतं यद्रूपं जगतः सिद्धिसाधनम् । वृक्षादिभेदैर्यद्भेदि तस्मै मुख्यात्मने नमः

yajñāṅgabhūtaṁ yadrūpaṁ jagataḥ siddhisādhanam vṛkṣādibhedairyadbhedi tasmai mukhyātmane namaḥ

That form which constitutes the very limbs of sacrifice, the means of accomplishment for the world, and which is differentiated by the distinctions of trees and the rest -- to that, your primary form, salutation.

Verse 30 (vishnu.3.17.30)

तिर्यङ्मनुष्यदेवादिव्योमशब्दादिकं च यत् । रूपं तवादेः सर्वस्य तस्मै सर्वात्मने नमः

tiryaṅmanuṣyadevādivyomaśabdādikaṁ ca yat rūpaṁ tavādeḥ sarvasya tasmai sarvātmane namaḥ

And whatever form of yours is the very beginning of all -- of beasts, men, gods and the rest, of the sky, of sound and the rest -- to that, your form as the Universal Self, salutation.

Verse 31 (vishnu.3.17.31)

प्रधानबुद्ध्यादिमयादशेषाद्यदन्यदस्मात्परमं परात्मन् । रूपं तवाद्यं न यदन्यतुल्यं तस्मै नमः कारणकारणाय

pradhānabuddhyādimayādaśeṣādyadanyadasmātparamaṁ parātman rūpaṁ tavādyaṁ na yadanyatulyaṁ tasmai namaḥ kāraṇakāraṇāya

O supreme soul beyond the highest, that primal form of yours which is other than, and beyond, this entire manifestation composed of Pradhana, Buddhi and the rest, and which is unequalled by anything else -- to that, the cause of causes, salutation.

Verse 32 (vishnu.3.17.32)

शुक्लादिदीर्घादिघनादिहीनमगोचरे यच्च विशेषणानाम् । शुद्धातिशुद्धं परमर्षिदृश्यं रूपाय तस्मै भगवन्नताः स्मः

śuklādidīrghādighanādihīnamagocare yacca viśeṣaṇānām śuddhātiśuddhaṁ paramarṣidṛśyaṁ rūpāya tasmai bhagavannatāḥ smaḥ

And that form which is devoid of qualifications such as whiteness, length, or density, which lies beyond the reach of such attributes, which is pure beyond all purity, and visible only to the supreme sages -- to that form, O Lord, we bow down.

Verse 33 (vishnu.3.17.33)

यन्नः शरीरेषु यदन्यदेहेष्वशेषवस्तुष्वजमव्ययं यत् । यस्माच्च नान्यद्व्यतिरिक्तमस्ति ब्रह्मस्वरूपाय नताः स्म तस्मै

yannaḥ śarīreṣu yadanyadeheṣvaśeṣavastuṣvajamavyayaṁ yat yasmācca nānyadvyatiriktamasti brahmasvarūpāya natāḥ sma tasmai

That which is in our bodies, and which is in other bodies, in all things without exception, unborn and imperishable, and beyond which nothing else whatsoever exists -- to that, your very form as Brahman, we bow down.

Verse 34 (vishnu.3.17.34)

सकलमिदमजस्य यस्य रूपं परमपदात्मवतः सनातनस्य । तमनिधनमशेषबीजभूतं प्रभुममलं प्रणताः स्म वासुदेवम्

sakalamidamajasya yasya rūpaṁ paramapadātmavataḥ sanātanasya tamanidhanamaśeṣabījabhūtaṁ prabhumamalaṁ praṇatāḥ sma vāsudevam

He whose form this entire universe is, the unborn one, whose very self is the supreme abode, the eternal one -- to that undying Lord, the very seed of all things, the stainless one, we bow down: Vasudeva.

Verse 35 (vishnu.3.17.35)

पराशर उवाच । स्तोत्रस्यास्यावसाने तु ददृशुः परमेश्वरम् । शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिं गरुडस्थं सुरा हरिम्

parāśara uvāca stotrasyāsyāvasāne tu dadṛśuḥ parameśvaram śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇiṁ garuḍasthaṁ surā harim

Parashara said: At the conclusion of this hymn, the gods beheld the supreme Lord, Hari, bearing conch, discus, and mace in hand, mounted upon Garuda.

Verse 36 (vishnu.3.17.36)

तमूचुः सकला देवाः प्रणिपातपुरःसरम् । प्रसीद देव दैत्येभ्यस्त्राहीति शरणार्थिनः

tamūcuḥ sakalā devāḥ praṇipātapuraḥsaram prasīda deva daityebhyastrāhīti śaraṇārthinaḥ

All the gods, first bowing down before him, said to him, seeking his refuge: 'Be gracious, O god; save us from the Daityas!'

Verse 37 (vishnu.3.17.37)

त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च दैत्यैर्ह्रादपुरोगमैः । हृतं नो ब्रह्मणोऽप्याज्ञामुल्लङ्घ्य परमेश्वर

trailokyaṁ yajñabhāgāśca daityairhrādapurogamaiḥ hṛtaṁ no brahmaṇo'pyājñāmullaṅghya parameśvara

'O supreme Lord, the three worlds and our shares in the sacrifice have been seized from us by the Daityas led by Hrada, defying even the command of Brahma.'

Verse 38 (vishnu.3.17.38)

यद्यप्यशेषभूतस्य वयं ते च तवांशकाः । तथाप्यविद्याभेदेन भिन्नं पश्यामहे जगत्

yadyapyaśeṣabhūtasya vayaṁ te ca tavāṁśakāḥ tathāpyavidyābhedena bhinnaṁ paśyāmahe jagat

'Although we and they alike are portions of you, who are the self of all beings without exception, yet through the division wrought by ignorance we behold the world as divided.'

Verse 39 (vishnu.3.17.39)

स्ववर्णधर्माभिरता वेदमार्गानुसारिणः । न शक्यास्तेऽरयो हन्तुमस्माभिस्तपसान्विताः

svavarṇadharmābhiratā vedamārgānusāriṇaḥ na śakyāste'rayo hantumasmābhistapasānvitāḥ

'Those enemies of ours, devoted to the duties of their own varna and following the path of the Veda, endowed with austerity, cannot be slain by us.'

Verse 40 (vishnu.3.17.40)

तमुपायमशेषात्मन्नस्माकं दातुमर्हसि । येन तानसुरान् हन्तुं भवेम भगवन् क्षमाः

tamupāyamaśeṣātmannasmākaṁ dātumarhasi yena tānasurān hantuṁ bhavema bhagavan kṣamāḥ

'O soul of all things, you should grant to us that means by which we might become capable, O Lord, of slaying those demons.'

Verse 41 (vishnu.3.17.41)

पराशर उवाच । इत्युक्तो भगवांस्तेभ्यो मायामोहं शरीरतः । समुत्पाद्य ददौ विष्णुः प्राह चेदं सुरोत्तमान्

parāśara uvāca ityukto bhagavāṁstebhyo māyāmohaṁ śarīrataḥ samutpādya dadau viṣṇuḥ prāha cedaṁ surottamān

Parashara said: Thus addressed, the illustrious Vishnu, having brought forth Mayamoha (the delusion of illusion) from his own body, gave him to them, and spoke thus to the foremost of the gods.

Verse 42 (vishnu.3.17.42)

मायामोहोऽयमखिलान् दैत्यांस्तान् मोहयिष्यति । ततो वध्या भविष्यन्ति वेदमार्गबहिष्कृताः

māyāmoho'yamakhilān daityāṁstān mohayiṣyati tato vadhyā bhaviṣyanti vedamārgabahiṣkṛtāḥ

'This Mayamoha will delude all those Daityas; then, having been cast out from the path of the Veda, they will become fit to be slain.'

Verse 43 (vishnu.3.17.43)

स्थितौ स्थितस्य मे वध्या यावन्तः परिपन्थिनः । ब्रह्मणो ह्यधिकारस्य देवा दैत्यादिकाः सुराः

sthitau sthitasya me vadhyā yāvantaḥ paripanthinaḥ brahmaṇo hyadhikārasya devā daityādikāḥ surāḥ

'For me, established in the function of preservation, whatever gods, demons, or other divinities stand as obstacles to Brahma's rightful authority are fit to be slain.'

Verse 44 (vishnu.3.17.44)

तद्गच्छत न भीः कार्या मायामोहोऽयमग्रतः । गच्छत्वद्योपकाराय भवतां भविता सुराः

tadgacchata na bhīḥ kāryā māyāmoho'yamagrataḥ gacchatvadyopakārāya bhavatāṁ bhavitā surāḥ

'Therefore go; let no fear be entertained. This Mayamoha will go before you; today, for your very benefit, he shall go, O gods.'

Verse 45 (vishnu.3.17.45)

पराशर उवाच । इत्युक्ताः प्रणिपत्यैनं ययुर्देवा यथागतम् । मायामोहोऽपि तैः सार्धं ययौ यत्र महासुराः

parāśara uvāca ityuktāḥ praṇipatyainaṁ yayurdevā yathāgatam māyāmoho'pi taiḥ sārdhaṁ yayau yatra mahāsurāḥ

Parashara said: Thus addressed, the gods bowed down to him and departed the way they had come; and Mayamoha too went together with them, to where the great demons were.