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PART II
MOTILAL BANARSIDASS
Suta spoke
from (that body of) him. The lord having created the
pitrs gave up that body too.
93. That body, thus abandoned, became evening-the
time between (the end of) day and (the beginning of)
night. Then he took up another body full of activity only.
94-97. (From it) human beings, richly endowed with
activity only, were born, 0 best among the Kurus.
Prajapati quickly gave up that former body also. That
body became light, which is also called twilight.
Therefore human beings are powerful when the light
comes on (i.e. in the morning), and likewise the pitrs are
powerful (in the evening). Light, night, day and evening-
these four are Brahma's bodies supporting the three
constituents (sattva, rajas and tamas). Then he took up
another body of the nature of activity (rajas) only.
98. Then Brahma had a sneeze; and it produced anger
(in him) ; affected by it the lord then created (certain
beings) in darkness.
99-101. These deformed (beings) desiring to eat him
up, ran to the lord. Those who said `Protect him',
became goblins. Those others who said `Let us eat him',
became spirits. The hairs of the creator who was very
much afraid of them fell off, and those that fell off, again
got on his head. They are known as serpents (sarpa) on
account of their creeping (sarpana), and snakes (ahi) on
account of their having fallen (hinatva).
102-104. Then the angry creator created fearful, angry-
minded beings, pink in colour and flesh-eaters. Then
Gandharvas, sucking the earth, sprang from him at that
time. While sucking (the earth), they produced sounds;
so on that account, they became gandharvas. Impelled
by the respective capacity of them, he, having created
these, created the birds at his free will.
105-114. He created sheep from his chest, and rams
from his mouth. He created cows and buffaloes from his
belly; and from his feet (he created) horses with
elephants, donkeys, (a species of ox called) gavayas,
deer, camels, mules, antelopes and other species; herbs
having fruits and roots sprang up from his hair. At the
beginning of the kalpa, and the introduction of Treta
yuga, Brahma having duly created animals and herbs,
employed himself in a sacrifice. Cows, rams, buffaloes,
sheep,
Bhisma said
125. 0 brahmana, please tell me in detail how Brahma
brought about that creation of human beings called
Arvaksrotas which you mentioned.
126. (Tell me) 0 great sage, how he created the castes,
and qualities; tell (me) what is said to be the duty of
brahmanas etc.
Pulastya spoke
127. 0 best among the Kurus, formerly from the mouth
of Brahma, thinking of virtue and desiring to create,
beings enhanced with virtue were created.
128. From his chest (sprang up those) who were
enhanced with activity and others and from his thigh
those who were enhanced with activity and ignorance.
129-130. Brahma then created from his feet other
beings. All those are dominated by ignorance. From it, 0
best of kings, castes have come : Brahmana, Ksatriya,
Vaisya, and gadra have sprung up from his feet, thighs,
chest and mouth (in the reverse order).
131. Brahma did all this for the accomplishment of
sacrifice. 0 great king, the four-fold caste is the best
means of sacrifice.
132. Gods are satisfied by sacrifice; human beings by
gift of rain; for this reason religious sacrifices are the
cause of wellbeing.
133. They are accomplished by good human beings
always engaged in good acts, keeping away from
opposite (i.e. bad) conduct and going along the good
path.
134. 0 king, from humanity men obtain (i.e. go to)
heaven and salvation. 0 lord, human beings go to the
place which is liked by them.
135-136. 0 best king, for the steadiness of the fourfold
caste Brahma created these beings duly, pure and of a
good
93. The lord, with lotus-like eyes and holding the disc
and mace, going to Bhrgu spoke courteously to him:
94. "Give the city to your daughter. Be gracious; give to
her both the key and the lock (of the city)." Being angry
Bhrgu said to him
95. "I will not give her the city. 0 god, it is not Laksmi's
city. I myself have fashioned it. Sir, I will not give it. Stop
censuring me."
96. Again the lord said to him : "Give the city to Laksmi.
By all means, 0 great sage, by my order you have to give it
up.
~,
97-98. Then, overcome with anger, Bhrgu too said to
Kesava: "O good one, due to your partiality for your wife,
you are now harassing me. 0 Madhusudana, you will have
ten births in the human world. You will experience many
agonies by separation from your wife."
99. Bhrgu, extremely angry, thus cursed him. The noble
Visnu too, cursed him back.
100. "0 best sage, you will not get the affection of your
children." Having (thus) cursed the sage, he went to the
world of Brahma.
101-103. Seeing him (i.e. Brahma), who was born from
the lotus, Kesava said : "Sir, this your son Bhrgu is very
irascible. Without any reason he has cursed me: 'You will
fiave ten births in the human world (as a human being),
and as a result of that (you will) (suffer from) miseries of
many kinds, (and have) suffering due to the separation
from your wife, which would destroy your might and
valour.' Leaving this world, I shall lie in the great ocean.
104-105. Invoke me for all divine missions". In order to
please Visnu, who was speaking thus, Brahma, the lord of
the world of gods, thus praised him: "You created this
world, and the lotus issued from (your) navel. I was born
there, and am your servant, 0 Kesava.
106. 0 lord, you are the protector of all the worlds, and
the creator of the universe. You should not leave the three
worlds. This alone is my wish.
107. With the desire for the well-being of the worlds, you
live for ten existences among human beings. You are the
independent author. Nobody is capable of cursing you.
108. Who is this Bhrgu ? How is it possible for him to
curse (you) ? Always honour the brahmanas; the
brahmanas are your own body.
109. Resort to light sleep (i.e. Visnu's sleep at the end
of a yuga) 0 lord; lie in the Milky Ocean. At the time of
performing a mission, I shall wake you up.
110-112. Sir, this Sakra, grown by your power and killer
of enemies, doing all your deeds as your secondary
incarnation, will protect the three worlds; he will obey
your order". Visnu, thus praised, said to Brahma : "I shall
do all that you ask me (to do) 0 lord." The lord (Visnu)
disappeared; Brahma did not notice it.
113. When lord Visnu had left, lord Brahma, the
grandsire of the worlds, the source of the worlds, again
created the world.
114. Seeing that, Narada, the best among those
conversant with speech, said (these) words: "The
supreme being, with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes,
a thousand feet, all-pervading, remained ten fingers
above the touch of the earth.
115. Since you are whatever is past and whatever is
future, therefore, 0 father, all this has come up from you,
and will come up from you.
116. From you has come up Sacrifice with everything,
such as the oblation, the ghee mixed with coagulated
milk, and the beasts of two kinds. .ks and Samans have
sprung up from you.
117. Sacrifices have come up from you, and also the
elephants; cows have sprung up from you, and also birds
and wild beasts.
118. From your mouth the brahmanas came up; the
kratriyas are born from you. The vai.fyas have been
born from your thighs and the .fudras have come up
from your feet.
119-121. From your eyes the sun came up; the wind has
come from your ear; the moon (has sprung up) from your
mind. Breath (has proceeded) from your internal cavity,
and fire from your mouth. The sky came up from your
navel, and the heaven from your head ; quarters from
your ear; the earth
from your feet; all this has come up from you. As the great
figtree (the Nyagrodha tree) remains well in a small seed,
so all this has come up (from you) with you as the seed.
122. As the fig-tree rises from the seed and the sprout,
and grows, in the same way the world rises and grows
from you.
123. As the plantain tree and nothing else is beheld
from the barks and leaves, similarly, 0 lord, all this is seen
to be residing in you.
124. In you is the pleasing power; it alone has come up
with you. In you, free from qualities, the mixed power
causing joy and affliction does not exist.
125. Salutation to you, who have remained separately
and unitedly, and you who are all the beings. You are the
manifest, the (unmanifest) Pradhana, your first progeny
(Virata Purusa) and the universal lord.
126. In everything you are the all-in-all; you are every-
thing, and you take up all forms; everything has come up
from you; salutation to you, the soul of all.
127. 0 lord of all, you are the soul of everything, since
you are present in all beings; what shall I tell you, since
you know everything that is in (our) mind.
128. 0 lord, you have fulfilled the desire which I had.
My penance is well-practised, as I have seen you, 0 lord of
the world."
Brahma said:
129. Son, that is the fruit of your penance that you have
seen me now. Here, 0 Narada, seeing me would not be in
vain.
130. Therefore, ask for a boon of your liking. Everything
is accomplished, 0 son,when I am seen.
Narada said:
131. 0 sire, 0 lord of all beings, you remain in the heart
of everyone. Is, what is mentally desired by me, not
known to you ?
132. 0 lord, I have seen the creation of the world as
done by you. Therefore, seeing the gods, sages and
demons, curiosity has sprung up in me.
Pulastya said
133-134. God Brahma, the lord of heaven, father of
Narada, was pleased, and gave a boon to Narada: "You
are the best among the sages. Due to my favour you will
be fond of jesting and promoting discords, and you will
move freely in the heaven, on the earth and in the nether
region.
135. 0 sinless one, your ornaments will be, along with
the sacred thread, a cloth thrown over the back, and
hanging down the knees, a small umbrella, and a lute.
136. You will always obtain affection in the presence
of (i.e. from) Visnu, Rudra, and Sakra, and in the
regions of kings.
137. You will be the instructor of the castes. This is the
boon I have granted you, 0 sinless one. Live in heaven at
your sweet will with gods waiting upon you."
CHAPTER FIVE
Destruction of Daksa's Sacrifice
Bhisma said:
1. How did Sad, Daksa's auspicious daughter, cast off
her body ? For what reason was Daksa's sacrifice
destroyed by Rudra ?
2. I have also a desire to know why lord Siva, the
destroyer of Tripura and greatly renowned, got angry.
Pulastya spoke
3-8. 0 Bhisma, in olden time, Daksa commenced a
sacrifice at Haridvara. There hosts of gods, Pitrs
(manes), and great sages, all gods with Indra, Nagas,
Yaksas, Suparnas, creepers and herbs, and revered
Kasyapa, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas,
Angiras and Vasistha of great penance had assembled.
Making the altar even, he appointed four priests.
Vasistha was the Hotr (reciting the Rgvedic prayers at
the sacrifice); Angiras was the best Adhvaryu (officiating
priest); Brhaspati was the Udgatr (chanting the hymns
of Samaveda)
CHAPTER SIX
Birth of Devas, Daityas, Birds and
Serpents etc. Bhfsma said
1. 0 sire, tell me duly and in detail, about the birth of
gods, demons and of the Gandharvas, serpents and
goblins.
Pulastya spoke
2. The creation in ancient times is said to be effected by
volition, sight and touch; (but) the creation after Pracetasa
Daksa is effected by coitus.
3-4. Listen, 0 Kaurava, as to how he created (gods etc.)
When he was creating groups of gods, sages and serpents,
the world did not grow. So Daksa generated thousands of
sons on his young maid-servant.
5-6. Seeing those magnanimous ones (i.e. Daksa's
sons), desiring to create various kinds of beings, Narada
said to Daksa's sons who approached him:
"0 you best sages, knowing the entire measure of the
earth up and down, you should (proceed to) create with
discrimination."
7. Having heard these words, they went in all directions;
and even now have not returned as rivers from the sea.
8. When Haryavas had disappeared, Daksa Prajapati
again produced a thousand sons on Virini.
9-10. Those (sons) named Sabalasva gathered in the act
of creation. To them, who went after (i.e. approached)
Narada, the sage told as before:
"Having known the entire extent of the earth, and
coming back, you will especially undertake the creation."
11. They followed their brothers along the same path.
Since then a younger brother does not desire (to follow)
the path of the (elder) brother.
12-16. The one who follows, gets into trouble; therefore,
one should avoid it. When they too disappeared, Pracetasa
Daksa Prajapati generated sixty daughters on Virini. He
gave (in marriage) ten (daughters) to Dharma, and
thirteen to Kayapa, twenty-seven to Soma, and four to
Aristanemi, two to Bhrgu's son, two to intelligent Krsava,
and gave two to Angiras. Hear in detail the names of these
mothers of gods and the expanse of mankind from the
beginning: Arundhati, Vasu, Jim!, Lamba, Bhanu,
Marutvati, Sankalpa, Muhurta, Sadehya, and the beautiful
Viva.
17. These arc known to be the wives of Dharma. Know from
CHAPTER SEVEN
Description of Manu Periods
Bhisma said
1. How did Maruts, the sons of Diti, become dear to
gods, .and how did they have excellent intimacy with
gods?
Pulastya spoke
2. Formerly, in the war between the gods and the
demons, when, by Hari and gods, her sons and grandsons
were killed, Diti, afflicted with grief, went to the excellent
terrestrial globe.
3. At the great sacred place in Puskara, on the
auspicious bank of the Sarasvati, Diti the mother of the
Daityas, intent upon propitiating her husband, practised
a severe penance.
4-6. She, of a good vow, afflicted with old age and grief,
subsisting on fruit, performed fully, for a hundred years,
a penance, with vows like Krcchra-candrayana, for the
sages. Then she, tormented by penance, asked Vasistha
and others: "Tell me a vow that will remove my grief for
my sons and will cause good luck in this and the next
world".
7. Vasistha and others told (her) about the vow of the
full-moon night of Jyestha, due to the auspiciousness of
which she became free from the grief for her sons.
Bhisma said
8. 0 brahmana, I wish to hear about the vow of the full-
moon of Jyestha, by which Did got back her fortynine
sons.
Pulastya said
9. Hear from me in details the vow which was formerly
told by Vasistha and others to Diti.
10-13. In the bright fortnight of Jyestha, on the full-
moon day, one, of a pure vow, should place an unbruised
pitcher filled with white rice, and having many fruits and
sugarcanes, covered with a couple of white clothes, and
besmeared with sandal; then one should put on it a
copper-vessel, containing gold according to one's
capacity, and various kinds of eatables and jaggery; in a
hollow of a lotus, one should instal a golden image of
Brahma. To his (i.e. Brahma's) left, one should fashion
(the image of) Savitri made of sugar.
14. To them he should offer perfume and incense and
have vocal and instrumental music. How can one do it
without it since Brahma lives in the lotus?
15-18. Having fashioned an auspicious image made of
jaggery and called Brahma, one should worship Brahma
with white flowers, sacred grains and sesamum; one
should worship him, saying `Salutation to Brahma' while
worshipping his feet; saying `Salutation to Saubhagyada'
while worshipping his shanks; saying `Salutation to
Virinca' while worshipping his hair of thinghs; saying'
`Salutation to Manmatha' while worshipping his waist;
saying 'Salutation to Svacchodara' while worshipping his
belly; saying 'Salutation to Atandra' while worshipping his
chest; saying 'Salutation to Padmamukha'
31. He persuaded her (to ask for) boons, and she chose
an excellent boon: "I desire a powerful, very lustrous,
magnanimous son, capable of killing all gods, to murder
Indra. "
32-34. Kagyapa uttered these words: "With this
(boon) I shall give you a powerful son who will kill
Indra; but, 0 you auspicious one, do this: 0 you of
beautiful breasts, I shall today perform the Apastamba
sacrifice for (obtaining) a son. Then I shall deposit my
semen (into you) after touching your breasts, O
auspicious one. 0 lady, you will have a son capable of
killing Indra."
35. Then he performed the Apastamba sacrifice with
(i.e. spending) great wealth for (obtaining) a son, and
hurriedly offered the oblation saying: `O enemy of
Indra, be (conceived)."
36. The gods fainted and the demons and the fiends
turned away their faces. Kagyapa then put the semen
into Diti, and again said to her:
37. "Your face is like the moon; your breasts resemble
the bilva-fruit (are stout). Your lips have the form of
corals and your complexion is very lovely.
38. Seeing you, 0 you lady of large eyes, I forget my
own body. Therefore, 0 lady, of charming hips, I have,
with my own hand (i.e. myself), deposited my seed into
your body.
39-41. You should, 0 lady, having an excellent face,
take care of this foetus in a penance-grove for one
hundred years. During pregnancy you should not eat in
the evening; you should not remain under, or go to the
roots of, trees. You should not resort to (i.e. handle)
instruments like mortar, pestle etc.; you should not
plunge into water, and should avoid a vacant dwelling.
42. You should not remain on ant-hills; you should
not be dejected in mind; you should not write (i.e.
scratch) with nails on the ground, on charcoal, or ashes.
43. You should not always be sleepy, and should avoid
(acts causing) fatigue. You should not come to rest upon
charcoal or ashes of husk or bowls of bones.
44. You should avoid quarrel with people, and should
avoid smearing your body with oily substances; you
should not remain with loose hair and should never
remain impure.
Bhisma said:
68. 0 brahmana, you have explained to me in detail the
initial creation. Tell me what is the secondary creation
and (who are) the lords (and) of which (species).
Pulastya spoke
69-70. When Prthu was crowned (as the king) of all the
kingdom, he became the lord on the earth; Brahma made
Soma (the moon) having radiance within, the lord of the
herbs, sacrificial vows, and austerities and of
constellations, stars, brahmanas, clumps of trees and
spreading creepers. Similarly he made Varuna the lord of
waters, and Vaisravana (i.e. Kubera) the lord of wealth.
71. He made Visnu the lord of the suns and Vasus, and
Agni the lord of the worlds; made Daksa the lord of
Prajapatis, and Sakra the lord of Maruts.
72. He made Prahlada the lord of the kings of Daityas,
Pulastya said:
81-82. 0 son of Kuru, listen, in short, with concentrated
and gracious mind, to all the periods of Manus and their
lives, the measure of a Kalpa, and the creation in it.
Formerly in the period of Svayambhuva Manu, there
were gods called Yama.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Description of the Solar Race
Bhicma said:
1. It is heard that the earth was formerly enjoyed by
many kings. They are (called) Parthiva on account of
their connection with the earth; but on account of (its)
conneL tion with whom is the Prthvi (earth) so called ?
2. Why is the earth given that technical name ? Tell
me why it has the name Gau, or why it is (called) Bhu ?
Pulastya said
3. Formerly Anga by name was the Prajapati of the
Krtayuga. He married Mrtyu's extremely ugly daughter
named Sunitha. Her son was Vena.
4-12. This king was attached to wickedness, and was
lustful and powerful. He did unrighteous things to
people, and took away others' wives. Though entreated
by the great sages for his success and for the (good of
the) world, he, of an impure mind, did not grant them
safety. The sinless brahmanas distressed with the fear of
anarchy, having killed him, with a curse, forcibly
churned his body. From that body, being churned, the
Mlecha tribes, dark like collyrium, due to the (presence
of) the mother's portion in the body were created. Due
to the contact of the father's portion, from the right
hand of the body a pious son, full of divine lustre, doing
righteous things, and with a bow, an arrow, a mace and
gems, an armour and armlets, named Prthu, who was
Visnu himself, was born. Being consecrated by the
brahmanas, and having practised a very difficult
penance, he, due to Visnu's boon, became the lord of all.
Seeing the earth without sacred study, without oblation
to deities, and void of righteous behaviour, he, of
unlimited valour, was, through anger, quite ready to
pierce it with his arrow. Then the earth, taking up the
form of a cow, was about to flee.
13. Prthu, having a bow and arrows, pursued her.
Then remaining in one place, she said: "What should I
do ?"
14. Prthu also uttered (these) words : "0 you of
righteous vow, give quickly what is desired by the world-
immobile and mobile".
15. The earth said: "All right". Then king Prthu, making
Svayambhuva Manu the calf, milked her (milk in the pot)
in his hand.
16. That milk turned into food on which the creatures
subsist. Then the earth was milked by the sages, when
Soma was the calf.
17-18. Vacaspati (then) milked her (lit. became the
milkman) ; Veda was the pot, and penance the milk. Then
the gods milked her when Marut was the milkman. Indra
became the calf and mighty power was the milk. The pot of
the gods was golden and that of the Pitrs was silvery.
19-21. The god of death milked her when Yama was the
calf and Svadha the milk. The pot of the serpents was a
hole and Taksaka was the calf, and poison was the milk.
And Dhrtarastra and the demons too, milked her (taking
the milk) in an iron pot, the milk being the trickery
harassing the enemies. The calf was Virocana, the son of
Prahlada. The milkman then was Trimtzrdhan, who
promoted deceit.
22. 0 king, the Yaksas desiring to conceal themselves,
also milked the earth in ancient days, making Vivasvan,
having the gem, the calf.
23. The groups of evil spirits and fiends milked the
earth, marrow and clotted blood (being the milk).
Raupyanabha was the milkman and Sumalin the calf.
24. The Gandharvas again, along with the groups of the
celestial nymphs milked the earth, making Citraratha
(Gandharva) the calf, and the fragrances in the lotus-petal
(the milk) .
25. Vararuci, the expert in Atharva Veda milked the
cow. The mountains also milked her with various jewels
(as the milk).
26. Mountain Meru milked (her with) divine herbs (as
the milk). The Himalaya was the calf and the pot was
made of mountains.
27. The trees also milked the (milk of the) earth, into
the pot made from the Palasa tree; the cut-off sprouts
were the milk and Sala full of flowers and woods was the
milkman.
28. And the fig-tree, the lord of all trees and woods, was