Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.353
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12.353.1
सौते सुमहदाख्यानं भवता परिकीर्तितम् ।
यच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयः सर्वे विस्मयं परमं गताः ॥ १२.३५३.१ ॥
O Sūta, you have recounted this very great tale; hearing it, all the sages have reached supreme astonishment.
12.353.2
सर्वाश्रमाभिगमनं सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् ।
न तथा फलदं सौते नारायणकथा यथा ॥ १२.३५३.२ ॥
O Sūta, visiting all the hermitages and bathing in all the sacred fords does not bear fruit as the tale of Nārāyaṇa does.
12.353.3
पाविताङ्गाः स्म संवृत्ताः श्रुत्वेमामादितः कथाम् ।
नारायणाश्रयां पुण्यां सर्वपापप्रमोचनीम् ॥ १२.३५३.३ ॥
Having heard this tale from the beginning, our bodies have become purified; it rests on Nārāyaṇa, is holy, and releases from all sins.
12.353.4
दुर्दर्शो भगवान्देवः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः ।
सब्रह्मकैः सुरैः कृत्स्नैरन्यैश्चैव महर्षिभिः ॥ १२.३५३.४ ॥
The blessed god, hard to behold and revered by all worlds, together with Brahmā and all the gods and the other great sages.
12.353.5
दृष्टवान्नारदो यत्तु देवं नारायणं हरिम् ।
नूनमेनद्ध्यनुमतं तस्य देवस्य सूतज ॥ १२.३५३.५ ॥
That the god Nārāyaṇa Hari whom Nārada saw — surely this was approved by that god, O son of Sūta.
12.353.6
यदृष्टवाञ्जगन्नाथमनिरुद्दतनौ स्थितम् ।
यत्प्राद्रवत्पुनर्भूयो नारदो देवसत्तमौ।
नरनारायणौ द्रष्टुं कारणं तद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥ १२.३५३.६ ॥
Nārada saw the lord of the world standing in the body of Aniruddha, and then ran again to see the two best of gods, Nara and Nārāyaṇa — tell me the reason for this.
12.353.7
तस्मिन्यज्ञे वर्तमाने राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य वै ।
कर्मान्तरेषु विधिवद्वर्तमानेषु शौनक ॥ १२.३५३.७ ॥
O Śaunaka, while that sacrifice of King Parikṣit's son was going on, and while the rites were being performed according to rule in their intervals,
12.353.8
कृष्णद्वैपायनं व्यासमृषिं वेदनिधिं प्रभुम् ।
परिपप्रच्छ राजेन्द्रः पितामहपितामहम् ॥ १२.३५३.८ ॥
The king of kings questioned Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, the sage, the treasury of the Vedas, the lord, grandfather of the grandfathers.
12.353.9
श्वेतद्वीपान्निवृत्तेन नारदेन सुरर्षिणा ।
ध्यायता भगवद्वाक्यं चेष्टितं किमतः परम् ॥ १२.३५३.९ ॥
Nārada, the divine sage, returned from Śvetadvīpa meditating on the words of the Lord — what did he do after this?
12.353.10
बदर्याश्रममागम्य समागम्य च तावृषी ।
कियन्तं कालमवसत्कां कथां पृष्टवांश्च सः ॥ १२.३५३.१० ॥
Having reached the hermitage of Badarī and met those two sages, how long did he stay, and what story did he ask about?
12.353.11
इदं शतसहस्राद्धि भारताख्यानविस्तरात् ।
आमन्थ्य मतिमन्थेन ज्ञानोदधिमनुत्तमम् ॥ १२.३५३.११ ॥
From this vast Bhārata narrative of a hundred thousand verses, this unsurpassed ocean of knowledge, churned out with the churning-stick of the intellect.
12.353.12
नवनीतं यथा दध्नो मलयाच्चन्दनं यथा ।
अरण्यकं च वेदेभ्य ओषधीभ्योऽमृतं यथा।
समुद्धृतमिदं ब्रह्मन्कथामृतमिदं तथा ॥ १२.३५३.१२ ॥
As butter is drawn from curds, sandalwood from the Malaya mountain, the Āraṇyaka from the Vedas, and nectar from herbs, so, O Brahmin, has this nectar of story been drawn out.
12.353.13
तपोनिधे त्वयोक्तं हि नारायणकथाश्रयम् ।
स ईशो भगवान्देवः सर्वभूतात्मभावनः ॥ १२.३५३.१३ ॥
O treasure of austerity, you have indeed spoken of this, which is based on the story of Nārāyaṇa. He is the Lord, the blessed god, who brings forth the self of all beings.
12.353.14
अहो नारायणं तेजो दुर्दर्शं द्विजसत्तम ।
यत्राविशन्ति कल्पान्ते सर्वे ब्रह्मादयः सुराः ॥ १२.३५३.१४ ॥
Ah, the radiance of Nārāyaṇa is hard to behold, best of the twice-born, into which at the end of the cosmic age all the gods, beginning with Brahmā, enter.
12.353.15
ऋषयश्च सगन्धर्वा यच्च किंचिच्चराचरम् ।
न ततोऽस्ति परं मन्ये पावतं दिवि चेह च ॥ १२.३५३.१५ ॥
Sages and gandharvas, and whatever moves and does not move — I think there is nothing higher than this, which purifies both in heaven and here.
12.353.16
सर्वाश्रमाभिगमनं सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् ।
न तथा फलदं चापि नारायणकथा यथा ॥ १२.३५३.१६ ॥
Going to all hermitages and bathing in all sacred fords does not bear fruit as the story of Nārāyaṇa does.
12.353.17
सर्वथा पाविताः स्मेह श्रुत्वेमामादितः कथाम् ।
हरेर्विश्वेश्वरस्येह सर्वपापप्रणाशनीम् ॥ १२.३५३.१७ ॥
Here we have been wholly purified, having heard this story from the beginning — of Hari, lord of the universe, which destroys all sins.
12.353.18
न चित्रं कृतवांस्तत्र यदार्यो मे धनंजयः ।
वासुदेवसहायो यः प्राप्तवाञ्जयमुत्तमम् ॥ १२.३५३.१८ ॥
There is nothing surprising in what he did there, that my noble Dhanaṃjaya, with Vāsudeva as his helper, obtained supreme victory.
12.353.19
न चास्य किंचिदप्राप्यं मन्ये लोकेष्वपि त्रिषु ।
त्रैलोक्यनाथो विष्णुः स यथाऽसीत्साह्यकृत्सखा ॥ १२.३५३.१९ ॥
I think nothing was unattainable for him in the three worlds; he was Viṣṇu, lord of the three worlds, who was a helping friend.
12.353.20
धन्याश्च सर्व एवासन्ब्रह्मंस्ते मम पूर्वजाः ।
हिताय श्रेयसे चैव येषामासीज्जनार्दनः ॥ १२.३५३.२० ॥
O brahmin, all those forefathers of mine were blessed, for whom Janārdana was the source of welfare and good fortune.
12.353.21
तपसाऽप्यथ दुर्दर्शो भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः ।
यं दृष्टवन्तस्ते साक्षाच्छ्रीवत्साङ्कविभूषणम् ॥ १२.३५३.२१ ॥
The blessed lord, hard to see even by asceticism, worshipped by the worlds, adorned with the Śrīvatsa mark, whom they saw face to face.
12.353.22
तेभ्यो धन्यतरश्चैव नारदः परमेष्ठिजः ।
दृष्टवान्यो हरिं देवं नारायणमजं विभुम् ॥ १२.३५३.२२ ॥
Even more blessed than they is Nārada, born of Parameṣṭhin, who saw the god Hari, Nārāyaṇa, unborn and all-pervading.
12.353.23
न चाल्पतेजसमृषिं वेद्मि नारदमव्ययम् ।
श्वेतद्वीपं समासाद्य येन दृष्टः स्वयं हरिः ॥ १२.३५३.२३ ॥
I do not consider the sage Nārada, imperishable, to be of little splendour; having reached White Island, he saw Hari himself.
12.353.24
देवप्रसादानुगतं व्यक्तं तत्तस्य दर्शनम् ।
यद्दृष्टवांस्तदा देवमनिरूद्धतनौ स्थितम् ॥ १२.३५३.२४ ॥
That vision, accompanied by the god's grace, was clear, when he saw the god standing in the body of Aniruddha.
12.353.25
बदरीमाश्रमं यत्तु नारदः प्राद्रवत्पुनः ।
नरनारायणौ द्रष्टुं किं नु तत्कारणं मुने ॥ १२.३५३.२५ ॥
Nārada went again to the Badarī hermitage. What was the reason for his going to see Nara and Nārāyaṇa, O sage?
12.353.26
श्वेतद्वीपान्निवृत्तश्च नारदः परमेष्ठिजः ।
बदरीमाश्रमं प्राप्य समागम्य च तावृषी।
कियन्तं कालमवसत्प्रश्नान्कान्पृष्टवांश्च ह ॥ १२.३५३.२६ ॥
Having returned from Śvetadvīpa, Nārada, son of the Supreme Lord, reached the Badarī hermitage, met the two sages, stayed there for some time, and asked which questions.
12.353.27
श्वेतद्वीपादुपावृत्ते तस्मिन्वा सुमहात्मनि ।
किमब्रूतां महात्मानौ नरनारायणावृषी।
तदेतन्मे यथातत्त्वं सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ १२.३५३.२७ ॥
When that great-souled one had returned from Śvetadvīpa, what did the great-souled sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa say? You ought to tell me all of it truly as it was.
12.353.28
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा ।
शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशंपायनमन्तिके।
तदस्मै सर्वमाचक्ष्व यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि ॥ १२.३५३.२८ ॥
Having heard his words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) then instructed his disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby: Tell him everything that you have heard from me.
12.353.29
गुरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय स तु विप्रर्षभस्तदा ।
आचचक्षे ततः सर्वमितिहासं पुरातनम् ॥ १२.३५३.२९ ॥
Understanding his teacher's command, that bull among brahmins then began to recount the whole ancient history.
12.353.30
नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे ।
यस्य प्रसादाद्वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम् ॥ १२.३५३.३० ॥
Homage to that blessed Vyāsa of immeasurable splendour, by whose grace I shall recount this story of Nārāyaṇa.
12.353.31
प्राप्य श्वेतं महाद्वीपं दृष्ट्वा च हरिमव्ययम् ।
निवृत्तो नारदो राजस्तरसा मेरुमागमत्।
हृदयेनोद्वहन्भारं यदुक्तं परमात्मना ॥ १२.३५३.३१ ॥
Having reached the white great island and seen the imperishable Hari, O king, Nārada returned swiftly and came to Meru, bearing in his heart the burden that the Supreme Self had spoken.
12.353.32
पश्चादस्याभवद्राजन्नात्मनः साध्वसं महत् ।
यद्गत्वा दूरमध्वानं क्षेमी पुनरिहागतः ॥ १२.३५३.३२ ॥
Afterwards, O king, a great fear and agitation arose within him, for having traversed so long a road, he had returned here safely.
12.353.33
मेरोः प्रचक्राम ततः पर्वतं गन्धमादनम् ।
निपपात च खात्तूर्णं विशालां बदरीमनु ॥ १२.३५३.३३ ॥
Then he set out from Meru and went to the Gandhamādana mountain; from the sky he swiftly descended toward Viśālā Badarī.
12.353.34
ततः स ददृशे देवौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ ।
तपश्चरन्तौ सुमहदात्मनिष्ठौ महाव्रतौ ॥ १२.३५३.३४ ॥
Then he saw two ancient gods, best of sages, performing great austerity, steadfast in the Self, bearers of great vows.
12.353.35
तेजसाऽभ्यधिकौ सूर्यात्सर्वलोकविरोचनात् ।
श्रीवत्सलक्षणौ पूज्यौ जटामण्डलधारिणौ ॥ १२.३५३.३५ ॥
Both surpassed in radiance the sun that lights all worlds; marked with the Śrīvatsa, venerable, bearing circles of matted hair.
12.353.36
जालपादभुजौ तौ तु पादयोश्चक्रलक्षणौ ।
व्यूढोरस्कौ दीर्घभुजौ तथा मुष्कचतुष्किणौ ॥ १२.३५३.३६ ॥
Their feet and arms were webbed; their feet bore wheel-marks; their chests were broad, their arms long, and they bore the four marks of the testicles.
12.353.37
षष्टिदन्तावष्टदंष्ट्रौ मेघौघसदृशस्वनौ ।
स्वास्यौ पृथुललाटौ च सुभ्रूसुहनुनासिकौ।
आतपत्रेण सदृशे शिरसी देवयोस्तयोः ॥ १२.३५३.३७ ॥
Having sixty teeth and eight tusks, with voices like a mass of clouds, fine faces, broad foreheads, and fine brows, chins and noses; the heads of those two gods were like parasols.
12.353.38
एवं लक्षणसंपन्नौ महापुरुषसंज्ञितौ ।
तौ दृष्ट्वा नारदो हृष्टस्ताभ्यां च प्रतिपूजितः ॥ १२.३५३.३८ ॥
Seeing those two thus endowed with marks and called great beings, Nārada rejoiced, and they honoured him in return.
12.353.39
स्वागतेनाभिभाष्याथ पृष्टश्चानामयं तथा ।
बभूवान्तर्गतमतिर्निरीक्ष्य पुरुषोत्तमौ ॥ १२.३५३.३९ ॥
Addressing him with words of welcome, they also asked after his well-being. Then Nārada, gazing upon those two best of men, became absorbed in thought within himself.
12.353.40
सदोगतास्तत्र ये वै सर्वभूतनमस्कृताः ।
श्वेतद्वीपे मया दृष्टास्तादृशावृषिसत्तमौ ॥ १२.३५३.४० ॥
Those who were present there in the assembly, revered by all beings — such I had seen on Śvetadvīpa; these two best of sages are of that kind.
12.353.41
इति संचिन्त्य मनसा कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणाम् ।
स चोपविविशे तत्र पीठे कुशमये शुभे ॥ १२.३५३.४१ ॥
Having thus reflected within his mind, and having circumambulated them, he sat down there upon an auspicious seat of kuśa grass.
12.353.42
ततस्तौ तपसां वासौ यशसां तेजसामपि ।
ऋषी शमदमोपेतौ कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकं विधिम् ॥ १२.३५३.४२ ॥
Then those two sages, abodes of austerity, of fame and of splendour too, endowed with calm and self-restraint, having performed the forenoon rite—
12.353.43
यश्चान्नारदमव्यग्रौ पाद्यार्ध्याभ्यामथार्चतः ।
पीठयोश्चोपविष्टौ तौ कृतातिथ्याह्निकौ नृपौ ॥ १२.३५३.४३ ॥
And the two kings, who had honoured Nārada with water for the feet and the arghya offering, undistracted, sat down on their seats, their hospitality and daily rites complete.
12.353.44
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु स देशोऽभिव्यराजत ।
भ्राज्याहुतिमहाञ्वालैर्यज्ञवाटो यथाऽग्निभिः ॥ १२.३५३.४४ ॥
As they sat there, that place shone out like a sacrificial enclosure blazing with fires, with the great bright flames of oblations.
12.353.45
अथ नारायणस्तत्र नारदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।
सुखोपविष्टं विश्रान्तं कृतातिथ्यं सुखस्थितम् ॥ १२.३५३.४५ ॥
Then Nārāyaṇa spoke these words there to Nārada, who sat at ease, rested, having received hospitality, and content.
12.353.46
अपीदानीं स भगवान्परमात्मा सनातनः ।
श्वेतद्वीपे त्वया दृष्ट आवयोः प्रकृतिः परा ॥ १२.३५३.४६ ॥
Even now, that blessed supreme Self, the eternal one whom you saw in Śveta-dvīpa, is the highest nature of us both.
12.353.47
दृष्टो मे पुरुषः श्रीमान्विश्वरूपधरोऽव्ययः ।
सर्वे लोका हि तत्रस्थास्तथा देवाः सहर्षिभिः ॥ १२.३५३.४७ ॥
I have seen that glorious Person, bearing the cosmic form, imperishable; there abide all the worlds, and likewise the gods together with the sages.
12.353.48
अद्यापि चैनं पश्यामि युवां पश्यन्सनातनौ ॥ १२.३५३.४८ ॥
Even today I see him, and seeing you two, the eternal ones.
12.353.49
यैर्लक्षणैरुपेतः स हरिरव्यरक्तरूपधृत् ।
तैर्लक्षणैरुपेतौ हि व्यक्तरूपधरौ युवाम् ॥ १२.३५३.४९ ॥
Endowed with the marks by which Hari, bearing an unmanifest form, is endowed, you two indeed bear manifest forms endowed with those same marks.
12.353.50
दृष्टौ युवां मया तत्र तस्य देवस्य पार्श्वतः ।
इहैव चागतोऽस्म्यद्य विसृष्टः परमात्मना ॥ १२.३५३.५० ॥
There, beside that god, I saw you two; and sent by the Supreme Self, I have come here today.
12.353.51
को हि नाम भवेत्तस्य तेजसा यशसा श्रिया ।
सदृशस्त्रिषु लोकेषु ऋते धर्मात्मजौ युवाम् ॥ १२.३५३.५१ ॥
In splendor, fame and glory, who in all three worlds could be equal to him, except you two, the sons of the righteous one?
12.353.52
तेन मे कथितः कृत्स्नो धर्मः क्षेत्रज्ञसंज्ञितः ।
प्रादुर्भावाश्च कथिता भविष्या इह ये यथा ॥ १२.३५३.५२ ॥
By him was declared to me the entire dharma called the knower of the field, and the future manifestations as they shall come to pass here.
12.353.53
तत्र ये पुरुषाः श्वेताः पञ्चेन्द्रियविवर्जिताः ।
प्रतिबुद्धाश्च ते सर्वे भक्ताश्च पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ १२.३५३.५३ ॥
There, the white men, free from the five senses, are all awakened and devoted to the supreme person.
12.353.54
तेऽर्चयन्ति सदा देवं तैः सार्धं रमते च सः ।
प्रियभक्तो हि भगवान्परमात्मा द्विजप्रियः ॥ १२.३५३.५४ ॥
They always worship that god, and he delights in them; for the Lord, the Supreme Self, is dear to devotees and dear to the twice-born.
12.353.55
रमते सोऽर्च्यमानो हि सदा भागवतप्रियः ।
विश्वभुक्सर्वगो देवो माधवो भक्तवत्सलः ॥ १२.३५३.५५ ॥
He delights when worshipped, dear to the devotees of the Lord: the god Mādhava, enjoyer of the universe, all-pervading, tender toward his devotees.
12.353.56
स कर्ता कारणं चैव कार्यं चातिबलद्युतिः ।
हेतुश्चाज्ञाविधानं च तत्त्वं चैव महायशाः ॥ १२.३५३.५६ ॥
He is the doer, the cause, and the effect, of exceeding strength and radiance; he is the reason, the ordaining of commands, and the truth itself, O greatly renowned one.
12.353.57
तपसा योज्य सोत्मानं श्वेतद्वीपात्परं हि यत् ।
तेज इत्यभिविख्यातं स्वयं भासावभासितम् ॥ १२.३५३.५७ ॥
Having joined himself to him by austerity, the supreme radiance from the White Island is renowned as 'Tejas', which shines by its own light.
12.353.58
शान्तिः सा त्रिषु लोकेषु विहिता भावितात्मना ।
एतया शुभया बुद्ध्या नैष्ठिकं व्रतमास्थितः ॥ १२.३५३.५८ ॥
That peace is ordained in the three worlds by one whose self is purified; with this auspicious intellect, having taken up the steadfast vow.
12.353.59
न तत्र सूर्यस्तपति न सोमोऽभिविराजते ।
न वायुर्वाति देवेशे तपश्चरति दुश्चरम् ॥ १२.३५३.५९ ॥
There the sun does not blaze, nor does the moon shine forth; the wind does not blow where the lord of gods practises the austerity that is hard to perform.
12.353.60
वेदीमष्टनलोत्सेधां भूमावास्थाय विश्वकृत् ।
एकपादस्थितो देव ऊर्ध्वबाहुरुदङ्भुखः ॥ १२.३५३.६० ॥
Standing on the ground upon an altar eight nalas high, the god who creates the universe stands on one foot, arms raised, facing north.
12.353.61
साङ्गानावर्तयन्वेदांस्तपस्तेपे सुदुश्चरम् ।
यद्ब्रह्म ऋषयश्चैव स्वयं पशुपतिश्च यत् ॥ १२.३५३.६१ ॥
Reciting the Vedas again and again with their limbs, the seers performed an exceedingly difficult austerity — that which is Brahman, and which Paśupati himself performed.
12.353.62
शेषाश्च विबुधश्रेष्ठा दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः ।
नागाः सुपर्णा गन्धर्वाः सिद्धा राजर्पयश्च ते ॥ १२.३५३.६२ ॥
The rest — the best of the gods, the Daityas, Dānavas and Rākṣasas, the nāgas, suparṇas, gandharvas, siddhas and royal sages — they too.
12.353.63
हव्यं कव्यं च सततं विधियुक्तं प्रयुञ्जते ।
कृत्स्नं तु तस्य देवस्य चरणावुपतिष्ठतः ॥ १२.३५३.६३ ॥
They constantly offer havya and kavya, performed according to rule; but wholly they resort to the feet of that god.
12.353.64
याः क्रियाः संप्रयुक्ताश्च एकान्तगतबुद्धिभिः ।
ताः सर्वाः शिरसा देवः प्रतिगृह्णाति वै स्वयं ॥ १२.३५३.६४ ॥
All the rites performed by those whose minds are wholly fixed on the one goal — all of these the god himself accepts with bowed head.
12.353.65
न तस्यान्यः प्रियतरः प्रतिबुद्धैर्महात्मभिः ।
विद्यते त्रिषु लोकेषु ततोऽस्यैकान्तिकं गतः ॥ १२.३५३.६५ ॥
For the awakened great-souled ones, there is no one dearer to him in the three worlds; therefore they have become wholly devoted to him.
12.353.66
इह चैवागतोऽस्म्यद्य विसृष्टः परमात्मना ।
एवं मे भगवान्देवः स्वयमाख्यातवान्हरिः ॥ १२.३५३.६६ ॥
Today I have come here, sent forth by the Supreme Self; thus the blessed god Hari himself declared to me.
12.353.67
आसिष्ये तत्परो भूत्वा युवाभ्यां सह नित्यशः ॥ १२.३५३.६७ ॥
Intent upon that, I will dwell with you two always.