Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.308
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12.308.1
किं तदक्षरमित्युक्तं यस्मान्नावर्तते पुनः ।
किंच तत्क्षरमित्युक्तं यस्मादावर्तते पुनः ॥ १२.३०८.१ ॥
What is that called the imperishable, from which one does not return again? And what is that called the perishable, from which one returns again?
12.308.2
अक्षरधरयोर्व्यक्तिं पृच्छाम्यरिनिषूदन ।
उपलब्धुं महाबाहो तत्त्वेन कुरुनन्दन ॥ १२.३०८.२ ॥
Destroyer of foes, I ask to understand truly the nature of the imperishable and of its bearer, O mighty-armed one, joy of the Kurus.
12.308.3
त्वं हि ज्ञाननिधिर्विप्रैरुच्यसे वेदपारगैः ।
ऋषिभिश्च महाभागैर्यतिभिश्च महात्मभिः ॥ १२.३०८.३ ॥
You are called the treasury of knowledge by brahmins who have mastered the Vedas, by greatly fortunate sages, by ascetics, and by great souls.
12.308.4
शेषमत्यं दिनानां ते दक्षिणायनभास्करे ।
आवृत्ते भगवत्यर्के गन्तासि परमां गतिम् ॥ १२.३०८.४ ॥
When the blessed sun has turned to the southern course, only a little of your days will remain; then you will go to the supreme goal.
12.308.5
त्वयि प्रतिगते श्रेयः कुतः श्रोष्यामहे वयम् ।
कुरुवंशप्रदीपस्त्वं ज्ञानदीपेन दीप्यसे ॥ १२.३०८.५ ॥
Once you have departed, from where shall we hear what is good? You are the lamp of the Kuru lineage, shining with the lamp of knowledge.
12.308.6
तदेतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तः कुरुकुलोद्वह ।
न तृष्यामीह राजेन्द्र शृण्वन्नमृतमीदृशम् ॥ १२.३०८.६ ॥
This is what I wish to hear from you, O bearer of the Kuru family. O lord of kings, even hearing such nectar here I am not satisfied.
12.308.7
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् ।
वसिष्ठस्य च संवादं करालजनकस्य च ॥ १२.३०८.७ ॥
Here I shall recount to you an ancient tradition: the dialogue of Vasiṣṭha and Karālajanaka.
12.308.8
वसिष्ठं श्रेष्ठमासीनमृषीणां भास्करद्युतिम् ।
पप्रच्छ जनको राजा ज्ञानं नैःश्रेयसं परम् ॥ १२.३०८.८ ॥
Vasiṣṭha, best of sages and radiant as the sun, was seated; King Janaka asked him about the supreme knowledge that leads to the highest good.
12.308.9
परमध्यात्मकुशलमध्यात्मगतिनिश्चयम् ।
मैत्रावरुणिमासीनमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः ॥ १२.३०८.९ ॥
Seeing Maitrāvaruṇi (Vasiṣṭha), skilled in the supreme inner self and steadfast on the path of the self, seated, Janaka saluted him with folded hands.
12.308.10
स्वक्षरं प्रश्रितं वाक्यं मधुरं चाप्यनुल्वणम् ।
पप्रच्छर्षिवरं राजा करालजनकः पुरा ॥ १२.३०८.१० ॥
In clear, humble, sweet and gentle words, King Karāla-Janaka asked the best of sages long ago.
12.308.11
भगवञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।
यस्मान्न पुनरावृत्तिमाप्नुवन्ति मनीषिणः ॥ १२.३०८.११ ॥
Venerable one, I wish to hear of the supreme eternal Brahman, having attained which the wise do not return again.
12.308.12
यच्च तत्क्षरमित्युक्तं यत्रेदं क्षरते जगत् ।
यच्चाक्षरमिति प्रोक्तं शिवं क्षेम्यमनामयम् ॥ १२.३०८.१२ ॥
That which is called the perishable, in which this world decays, and that which is called the imperishable — auspicious, secure and free from disease.
12.308.13
श्रूयतां पृथिवीपाल क्षरतीदं यथा जगत् ।
यन्न क्षरति पूर्वेण यावत्कालेन चाप्यथ ॥ १२.३०८.१३ ॥
O protector of the earth, hear how this world perishes, what does not perish by the former, and for how long it lasts.
12.308.14
युगं द्वादशसाहस्रं कल्पं विद्धि चतुर्युगम् ।
दशकल्पशतावृत्तमहस्तद्ब्राह्ममुच्यते ॥ १२.३०८.१४ ॥
Know that twelve thousand years is an age, and four ages make a kalpa; a thousand kalpas repeated ten times is called the day of Brahmā.
12.308.15
रात्रिश्चैतावती राजन्यस्यान्ते प्रतिबुध्यते ।
सृजत्यनन्तकर्माणं महान्तं भूतमग्रजम् ॥ १२.३०८.१५ ॥
O king, the night is of equal length; at its end he awakens again and creates the great first-born being of endless deeds.
12.308.16
मूर्तिमन्तममूर्तात्मा विश्वं शंभुः स्वयंभुवम् ।
अणिमा लघिमा प्राप्तिरीशानं ज्योतिरव्ययम् ॥ १२.३०८.१६ ॥
Embodied, yet his self is formless; he is the universe, Śambhu, self-existent; the lord Īśāna of atomic power, lightness and attainment, the imperishable light.
12.308.17
सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोक्षिशिरोमुखम् ।
सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति ॥ १२.३०८.१७ ॥
His hands and feet are on every side, his eyes, heads and faces on every side; he hears on every side, and stands enveloping all things in the world.
12.308.18
हिरण्यगर्भो भगवानेष बुद्धिरिति स्मृतः ।
महानिति च योगेषु विरिञ्चिरिति चाप्यजः ॥ १२.३०८.१८ ॥
This blessed lord is called Hiraṇyagarbha, remembered as intellect; in the yogas he is also called the Great one and Virinci; he is unborn.
12.308.19
साङ्ख्ये च पठ्यते शास्त्रे नामभिर्बहुधात्मकः ।
विचित्ररूपो विश्वात्मा एकाक्षर इति स्मृतः ॥ १२.३०८.१९ ॥
In the Sāṅkhya treatise he is recited by many names: the many-formed self, of wondrous form, the self of the universe, remembered as the one syllable.
12.308.20
वृतं नैकात्मकं येन कृतं त्रैलोक्यमात्मना ।
तथैव बहुरूपत्वाद्विश्वरूप इति स्मृतः ॥ १२.३०८.२० ॥
He by whose self the three worlds were enveloped and made of many selves; and likewise, because of his many forms, he is remembered as the universal form.
12.308.21
एष वै विक्रियापन्नः सृजत्यात्मानमात्मना ।
अहंकारं महातेजाः प्रजापतिरंकृतम् ॥ १२.३०८.२१ ॥
This great-splendoured lord of creatures, having undergone transformation, creates himself by himself: the ego-principle, which is formed.
12.308.22
अव्यक्ताद्व्यक्तमापन्नं विद्यासर्गं वदन्ति तम् ।
महान्तं चाप्यहंकारमविद्यासर्गमेव च ॥ १२.३०८.२२ ॥
That which, manifesting from the unmanifest, has come forth, they call the creation of knowledge; the great one and the ego too, and indeed the creation of ignorance is the same.
12.308.23
अपरश्च परश्चैव समुत्पन्नौ तथैकतः ।
विद्याविद्येति विख्याते श्रुतिशास्त्रार्थचिन्तकैः ॥ १२.३०८.२३ ॥
The lower and the higher both arose together from one source; thus knowledge and ignorance are renowned among those who reflect on the meaning of scripture and treatise.
12.308.24
भूतसर्गमहंकारात्तृतीयं विद्धि पार्थिव ।
अहंकारेषु सर्वेषु चतुर्थं विद्धि वैकृतम् ॥ १२.३०८.२४ ॥
O king, know the creation of the elements, arising from the ego, as the third; and among all the egos, know the fourth as the modified one.
12.308.25
वायुर्ज्योतिरथाकाशमापोऽथ पृथिवी तथा ।
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धस्तथैव च ॥ १२.३०८.२५ ॥
Wind, light, space, then water and likewise earth; sound, touch, form, taste and smell as well.
12.308.26
एवं युगपदुत्पन्नं दशवर्गमसंशयम् ।
पञ्चमं विद्धि राजेन्द्र भौतिकं सर्गमर्थवत् ॥ १२.३०८.२६ ॥
Thus the group of ten, arisen all at once, is without doubt. O lord of kings, know the fifth, the elemental creation, to be purposeful.
12.308.27
श्रोत्रं त्वक्चक्षुषी जिह्वा घ्राणमेव च पञ्चमम् ।
वाक्च हस्तौ च पादौ च पायुर्मेढ्रं तथैव च ॥ १२.३०८.२७ ॥
Ear, skin, the two eyes, tongue, and the fifth, the nose; speech, the two hands, the two feet, the anus and the genitals likewise.
12.308.28
बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि चैतानि तथा कर्मेन्द्रियाणि च ।
संभूतानीह युगपन्मनसा सह पार्थिव ॥ १२.३०८.२८ ॥
These organs of perception and likewise the organs of action, together with the mind, have arisen here all at once, O king.
12.308.29
एषा तत्त्वचतुर्विशत्सर्वाकृतिषु वर्तते ।
यां ज्ञात्वा नाभिशोचन्ति ब्राह्मणास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥ १२.३०८.२९ ॥
These twenty-four principles abide in every form, and knowing them the brahmins who see the truth do not grieve.
12.308.30
एतद्देहं समाख्यानं त्रैलोक्ये सर्वदेहिषु ।
वेदितव्यं नरश्रेष्ठ सदेवनरदानवे ॥ १२.३०८.३० ॥
This explanation of the body, O best of men, is to be known among all embodied beings in the three worlds, among gods, men and demons alike.
12.308.31
सयक्षभूतगन्धर्वे सकिन्नरमहोरगे ।
सचारणपिशाचे वै सदेवर्षिनिशाचरे ॥ १२.३०८.३१ ॥
Together with yakṣas, spirits, gandharvas, kinnaras and great serpents, together with cāraṇas and piśācas, together with gods, sages and night-wanderers.
12.308.32
सदंशकीटमशक्रे सपूतिकृमिमूषिके ।
शुनि श्वपाके चैणेये सचाण्डाले सपुल्कसे ॥ १२.३०८.३२ ॥
Together with gnats, insects and mosquitoes, together with stinking worms and mice, in a dog, in an outcaste dog-cooker, and in a deer, together with a caṇḍāla, together with a pulkasa.
12.308.33
हस्त्यश्वखरशार्दूले सवृके गवि चैव ह ।
यच्च मूर्तिमयं किचित्सर्वत्रैतन्निदर्शनम् ॥ १२.३०८.३३ ॥
In elephants, horses, donkeys and tigers, together with a wolf, and also in a cow; whatever is embodied anywhere is an example of this.
12.308.34
जले भुवि तथाऽऽकाशे नान्यत्रेति विनिश्चयः ।
स्थानं देहवतामस्ति इत्येवमनुशुश्रुम ॥ १२.३०८.३४ ॥
In water, on earth, and likewise in space — nowhere else: this is the certainty. There is a place for embodied beings; thus have we heard.
12.308.35
कृत्स्नमेतावतस्तात क्षरते व्यक्तसंज्ञितम् ।
अहन्यहनि भूतात्मा ततः क्षर इति स्मृतः ॥ १२.३०८.३५ ॥
Dear one, all of this that is called manifest, so much of it, perishes. Day by day the soul of beings does; therefore it is remembered as the perishable.
12.308.36
एतद्धि क्षरमित्युक्तं क्षरतीदं यथा जगत् ।
जगन्मोहात्मकं प्राहुरव्यक्तं व्यक्तसंज्ञकम् ॥ १२.३०८.३६ ॥
This indeed is called the perishable, as this world perishes. They call the world of the nature of delusion; the unmanifest they name by the name of the manifest.
12.308.37
महांश्चैवाग्रजो नित्यमेतत्क्षरनिदर्शनम् ।
कथितं ते महाराजन्यस्मान्नावर्तते पुनः ॥ १२.३०८.३७ ॥
Great and eternally first-born, this is the illustration of the perishable. This has been told to you, great king, because it does not return again.
12.308.38
पञ्चर्विशतिमो विष्णुर्निस्तत्त्वस्तत्त्वसंज्ञितः ।
तत्त्वसंश्रयणादेतत्तत्वमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ १२.३०८.३८ ॥
The twenty-fifth, Viṣṇu, is without principle, named as principle. From taking refuge in principles, the wise call this 'principle'.
12.308.39
यन्मर्त्यमसृजद्व्यक्तं तत्तन्मूर्त्यधितिष्ठति ।
चतुर्विशतिमोऽव्यक्तो ह्यमूर्तः पञ्चविंशकः ॥ १२.३०८.३९ ॥
That which the Creator made manifest and mortal abides in each form. The twenty-fourth is the unmanifest, and the twenty-fifth is the formless.
12.308.40
स एव हृदि सर्वासु मूर्तिष्वात्मावतिष्ठते ।
चेतयंश्चेतनान्नित्यं सर्वमूर्तिरमूर्तिमान् ॥ १२.३०८.४० ॥
That same Self abides in the heart of all forms. Ever awakening the conscious beings, though having all forms, it is formless.
12.308.41
सर्वप्रत्ययधर्मिण्यां स सर्गः प्रत्ययात्मकः ।
गोचरे वर्तते नित्यं निर्गुणो गुणसंज्ञिते ॥ १२.३०८.४१ ॥
In that creation, which has the nature of all cognitions and consists of cognition, the qualityless abides eternally in the sphere of perception, which is called by the qualities.
12.308.42
एवमेष महानात्मा सर्गप्रलयकोविदः ।
विकुर्वाणः प्रकृतिमानभिमन्यत्यबुद्धिमान् ॥ १२.३०८.४२ ॥
Thus this great Self, expert in creation and dissolution, transforming nature, through want of understanding identifies itself with that nature.
12.308.43
तमः सत्वरजोयुक्तस्तासु तास्विह योनिषु ।
लीयते प्रतिबुद्धत्वादबुद्धजनसेवनात् ॥ १२.३०८.४३ ॥
Endowed with tamas, sattva and rajas, he is absorbed into this or that womb, because he is awakened to objects and serves the unwise.
12.308.44
सहवासनिवासात्मा नान्योऽहमिति मन्यते ।
योऽहं सोहमिति ह्युक्त्वा गुणानेवानुवर्तते ॥ १२.३०८.४४ ॥
He whose self is the dwelling-together and residing thinks, 'I am not other.' Saying 'I am what he is, he is what I am,' he merely follows the qualities.
12.308.45
तमसा तामसान्भावान्विविधान्प्रतिपद्यते ।
रजसा राजसांश्चैव सात्विकान्सत्वसंश्रयात् ॥ १२.३०८.४५ ॥
By tamas he attains various tamasic states; by rajas, rajasic states; and by taking refuge in sattva, sattvic states.
12.308.46
शुक्ललोहितकृष्णानि रूपाण्येतानि त्रीणि तु ।
सर्वाण्येतानि रूपाणि यानीह प्राकृतानि वै ॥ १२.३०८.४६ ॥
White, red and black — these are the three forms. Whatever natural forms exist here, all of them are these.
12.308.47
तामसा निरयं यान्ति राजसा मानुपानथ ।
सात्विका देवलोकाय गच्छन्ति सुखभागिनः ॥ १२.३०८.४७ ॥
The tamasic go to hell; the rajasic to human birth; and the sattvic, sharers of happiness, go to the world of the gods.
12.308.48
निष्कैवल्येन पापेन तिर्यग्योनिमवाप्नुयात् ।
पुण्यपापेन मानुष्यं पुण्येनैकेन देवताः ॥ १२.३०८.४८ ॥
Through sin alone, without any merit, one obtains an animal womb; through a mixture of merit and sin, human birth; through merit alone, the gods.
12.308.49
एवमव्यक्तविषयं क्षरमाहुर्मनीषिणः ।
पञ्चविंशतिमो योऽयं ज्ञानादेव प्रवर्तते ॥ १२.३०८.४९ ॥
Thus the wise call the perishable, whose object is the unmanifest, the twenty-fifth; it arises from knowledge alone.