Brahma Purana — Chapter 140
BrP 140.1
आत्रेयम् इति विख्यातम् अन्विन्द्रं तीर्थम् उत्तमम् तस्य प्रभावं वक्ष्यामि भ्रष्टराज्यप्रदायकम् ॥
ātreyam iti vikhyātam anvindraṃ tīrtham uttamam tasya prabhāvaṃ vakṣyāmi bhraṣṭarājyapradāyakam //
There is the excellent ford renowned as Ātreya, (and) Anvindra; I shall tell its power, which bestows a kingdom that has been lost.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.2
गौतम्या उत्तरे तीर आत्रेयो भगवान् ऋषिः अन्वारेभे ऽथ सत्त्राणि ऋत्विग्भिर् मुनिभिर् वृतः ॥
gautamyā uttare tīra ātreyo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ anvārebhe 'tha sattrāṇi ṛtvigbhir munibhir vṛtaḥ //
On the northern bank of the Gautamī, the venerable seer Ātreya, surrounded by officiating priests and sages, then commenced sattra sacrifices.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.3
तस्य होताभवत् त्व् अग्निर् हव्यवाहन एव च एवं सत्त्रे तु संपूर्ण इष्टिं माहेश्वरीं पुनः ॥
tasya hotābhavat tv agnir havyavāhana eva ca evaṃ sattre tu saṃpūrṇa iṣṭiṃ māheśvarīṃ punaḥ //
And Agni, the bearer of oblations, became his hotṛ. Thus, when the sattra was completed, (he performed) again an offering to Maheśvara —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.4
कृत्वैश्वर्यम् अगाद् विप्रः सर्वत्र गतिम् एव च इन्द्रस्य भवनं रम्यं स्वर्गलोकं रसातलम् ॥
kṛtvaiśvaryam agād vipraḥ sarvatra gatim eva ca indrasya bhavanaṃ ramyaṃ svargalokaṃ rasātalam //
Having attained lordship, the brahmin went everywhere at will: to Indra's delightful dwelling, to the world of heaven, and to the nether world (Rasātala).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.5
स्वेच्छया याति विप्रेन्द्रः प्रभावात् तपसः शुभात् स कदाचिद् दिवं गत्वा इन्द्रलोकम् अगात् पुनः ॥
svecchayā yāti viprendraḥ prabhāvāt tapasaḥ śubhāt sa kadācid divaṃ gatvā indralokam agāt punaḥ //
By the power of his auspicious austerity the chief of brahmins goes wherever he wishes; once, going to the sky, he came again to Indra's world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.6
तत्रापश्यत् सहस्राक्षं सुरैः परिवृतं शुभैः स्तूयमानं सिद्धसाध्यैः प्रेक्षन्तं नृत्यम् उत्तमम् शृण्वानं मधुरं गीतम् अप्सरोभिश् च वीजितम् ॥
tatrāpaśyat sahasrākṣaṃ suraiḥ parivṛtaṃ śubhaiḥ stūyamānaṃ siddhasādhyaiḥ prekṣantaṃ nṛtyam uttamam śṛṇvānaṃ madhuraṃ gītam apsarobhiś ca vījitam //
There he saw the Thousand-eyed one, surrounded by the shining gods, being praised by Siddhas and Sādhyas, watching an excellent dance, listening to sweet song, and fanned by the Apsarases.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.7
उपोपविष्टैः सुरनायकैस् तैः संपूज्यमानं महदासनस्थम् जयन्तम् अङ्के विनिधाय सूनुं शच्या युतं प्राप्तरतिं महिष्ठम्
upopaviṣṭaiḥ suranāyakais taiḥ saṃpūjyamānaṃ mahadāsanastham jayantam aṅke vinidhāya sūnuṃ śacyā yutaṃ prāptaratiṃ mahiṣṭham
(He saw him) being honoured by those leaders of the gods seated near by, occupying a great throne, having set his son Jayanta on his lap, joined with Śacī, having attained pleasure, most mighty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.8
सतां शरण्यं वरदं महेन्द्रं समीक्ष्य विप्राधिपतिर् महात्मा विमोहितो ऽसौ मुनिर् इन्द्रलक्ष्म्या समीहयाम् आस तद् इन्द्रराज्यम्
satāṃ śaraṇyaṃ varadaṃ mahendraṃ samīkṣya viprādhipatir mahātmā vimohito 'sau munir indralakṣmyā samīhayām āsa tad indrarājyam
Having beheld great Indra, the refuge of the good, the giver of boons, that great-souled lord of brahmins, the sage, was bewildered by Indra's splendour and desired that kingship of Indra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.9
संपूजितो देवगणैर् यथावत् स्वम् आश्रमं वै पुनर् आजगाम समीक्ष्य तां शक्रपुरीं सुरम्यां रत्नैर् युतां पुण्यगुणैः सुपूर्णाम्
saṃpūjito devagaṇair yathāvat svam āśramaṃ vai punar ājagāma samīkṣya tāṃ śakrapurīṃ suramyāṃ ratnair yutāṃ puṇyaguṇaiḥ supūrṇām
Duly honoured by the hosts of gods, he came back to his own hermitage, having gazed on that most delightful city of Śakra, furnished with jewels and quite filled with holy qualities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.10
स्वम् आश्रमं निष्प्रभहेमवर्ज्यं समीक्ष्य विप्रो विरमं जगाम समीहमानः सुरराज्यम् आशु प्रियां तदोवाच महात्रिपुत्रः
svam āśramaṃ niṣprabhahemavarjyaṃ samīkṣya vipro viramaṃ jagāma samīhamānaḥ surarājyam āśu priyāṃ tadovāca mahātriputraḥ
Seeing his own hermitage lustreless and devoid of gold, the brahmin fell into dejection; desiring at once the kingship of the gods, the son of the great Atri then said to his beloved (wife):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.13
भोक्तुं न शक्तो ऽस्मि फलानि मूलान्य् अनुत्तमान्य् अप्य् अतिसंस्कृतानि स्मृत्वामृतं पुण्यतमं च तत्र भक्ष्यं च भोज्यं च वरासनानि ब्र्प्_१४०।११ स्तुतिं च दानं च सभां शुभां च ब्र्प्_१४०।११ए अस्त्रं च वासांसि पुरीं वनानि ब्र्प्_१४०।११फ़् ततो महात्मा तपसः प्रभावात् ब्र्प्_१४०।१२अ त्वष्टारम् आहूय वचो बभाषे ब्र्प्_१४०।१२ब् इच्छेयम् इन्द्रत्वम् अहं महात्मन् कुरुष्व शीघ्रं पदम् ऐन्द्रम् अत्र ब्रूषे ऽन्यथा चेन् मदुदीरितं त्वं भस्मीकरोम्य् एव न संशयो ऽत्र
bhoktuṃ na śakto 'smi phalāni mūlāny anuttamāny apy atisaṃskṛtāni smṛtvāmṛtaṃ puṇyatamaṃ ca tatra bhakṣyaṃ ca bhojyaṃ ca varāsanāni BrP_140.11 stutiṃ ca dānaṃ ca sabhāṃ śubhāṃ ca brp_140.11e astraṃ ca vāsāṃsi purīṃ vanāni brp_140.11f tato mahātmā tapasaḥ prabhāvāt brp_140.12a tvaṣṭāram āhūya vaco babhāṣe brp_140.12b iccheyam indratvam ahaṃ mahātman kuruṣva śīghraṃ padam aindram atra brūṣe 'nyathā cen madudīritaṃ tvaṃ bhasmīkaromy eva na saṃśayo 'tra
"I am unable to eat fruits and roots, even the finest and most carefully prepared, remembering the ambrosia and the most holy things there — the foods to chew and to eat, the excellent seats, [140.11] the praise, the giving, the fair assembly hall, the weapons, the garments, the city, the groves." [140.12] Then the great-souled one, by the power of his austerity, summoned Tvaṣṭṛ and spoke these words: "I desire Indra-hood, great one; make quickly the station of Indra here. If you speak otherwise than what I have said, I will surely reduce you to ashes — there is no doubt in this."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.14
तदत्रिवाक्यात् त्वरितः प्रजानां स्रष्टा विभुर् विश्वकर्मा तदैव चकार मेरुं च पुरीं सुराणां कल्पद्रुमान् कल्पलतां च धेनुम्
tadatrivākyāt tvaritaḥ prajānāṃ sraṣṭā vibhur viśvakarmā tadaiva cakāra meruṃ ca purīṃ surāṇāṃ kalpadrumān kalpalatāṃ ca dhenum
At that word of Atri('s son), the lord Viśvakarman, creator of creatures, at once in haste made Meru and the city of the gods, the wish-granting trees, the wish-granting creeper, and the cow (of plenty).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.15
चकार वज्रादिविभूषितानि गृहाणि शुभ्राण्य् अतिचित्रितानि चकार सर्वावयवानवद्यां शचीं स्मरस्येव विहारशालाम्
cakāra vajrādivibhūṣitāni gṛhāṇi śubhrāṇy aticitritāni cakāra sarvāvayavānavadyāṃ śacīṃ smarasyeva vihāraśālām
He made bright, richly painted houses adorned with diamonds and the rest; he made a Śacī faultless in every limb, like a pleasure-hall of Love (Kāma).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.16
सभां सुधर्माणम् अहो क्षणेन तथा चकाराप्सरसो मनोज्ञाः चकार चोच्चैःश्रवसं गजं च वज्रादि चास्त्राणि सुरान् अशेषान्
sabhāṃ sudharmāṇam aho kṣaṇena tathā cakārāpsaraso manojñāḥ cakāra coccaiḥśravasaṃ gajaṃ ca vajrādi cāstrāṇi surān aśeṣān
Ah, in an instant he likewise made the assembly hall Sudharman and the charming Apsarases; and he made the elephant Uccaiḥśravas, and the thunderbolt and the other weapons, and all the gods without exception.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.17
निवार्यमाणः प्रिययात्रिपुत्रः शचीसमाम् आत्मवधूं चकार तदात्रिपुत्रो ऽत्रिमुखैः समेतो वज्रादिरूपं च चकार चास्त्रम्
nivāryamāṇaḥ priyayātriputraḥ śacīsamām ātmavadhūṃ cakāra tadātriputro 'trimukhaiḥ sameto vajrādirūpaṃ ca cakāra cāstram
Though restrained by his beloved, the son of Atri made his own wife equal to Śacī; then the son of Atri, joined with faces like Atri's, made also the form of the thunderbolt and the (other) weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 140.18
नृत्यादि गीतादि च सर्वम् एव चकार शक्रस्य पुरे च दृष्टम् तत् सर्वम् आसाद्य तदा मुनीन्द्रः प्रहृष्टचेताः सुतरां बभूव
nṛtyādi gītādi ca sarvam eva cakāra śakrasya pure ca dṛṣṭam tat sarvam āsādya tadā munīndraḥ prahṛṣṭacetāḥ sutarāṃ babhūva
He made all of it — the dancing and the rest, the singing and the rest — as it was seen in Śakra's city. Having obtained all that, the lord of sages then became exceedingly delighted in mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.19
आपातरम्येष्व् अपि कस्य नाम भवत्य् अपेक्षा नहि गोचरेषु श्रुत्वा च दैत्या दनुजाः समेता रक्षांसि कोपेन युतानि सद्यः
āpātaramyeṣv api kasya nāma bhavaty apekṣā nahi gocareṣu śrutvā ca daityā danujāḥ sametā rakṣāṃsi kopena yutāni sadyaḥ
Whose desire, indeed, does not arise for things within reach, even when they are pleasing only at first sight? And the Daityas, the Danujas, having heard, assembled at once, and the Rākṣasas too, filled with anger.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 140.20
स्वर्गं परित्यज्य कुतो हरिर् भुवं समागतो न्व् एष मिथः सुखाय तस्माद् वयं याम इतो नु योद्धुं वृत्रस्य हन्तारम् अदीर्घसत्त्रम्
svargaṃ parityajya kuto harir bhuvaṃ samāgato nv eṣa mithaḥ sukhāya tasmād vayaṃ yāma ito nu yoddhuṃ vṛtrasya hantāram adīrghasattram
"Abandoning heaven, why has this Hari (Indra) come to the earth, indeed, for pleasure in secret? Therefore let us go from here to fight the slayer of Vṛtra, whose sacrificial session is short-lived."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 140.24
ततः समागत्य तदात्रिपुत्रं संवेष्टयाम् आसुर् अथासुरास् ते संवेष्टयित्वा पुरम् अत्रिपुत्र कृतं तथा चेन्द्रपुराभिधानम् ब्र्प्_१४०।२१ तैर् वध्यमानः शस्त्रपातैर् महद्भिस् ब्र्प्_१४०।२१ए ततो भीतो वाक्यम् इदं जगाद ब्र्प्_१४०।२१फ़् यो जात एव प्रथमो मनस्वान् देवो देवान् क्रतुना पर्यभूषत् यस्य शुष्माद् रोदसी अभ्यसेतां नृम्णस्य मह्ना स जनास इन्द्रः ब्र्प्_१४०।२२ इत्यादिसूक्तेन रिपून् उवाच ब्र्प्_१४०।२३अ हरिं च तुष्टाव तदात्रिपुत्रः ब्र्प्_१४०।२३ब् नाहं हरिर् नैव शची मदीया नेयं पुरी नैव वनं तद् ऐन्द्रम् स एव चेन्द्रो वृत्रहन्ता स वज्री सहस्राक्षो गोत्रभिद् वज्रबाहुः
tataḥ samāgatya tadātriputraṃ saṃveṣṭayām āsur athāsurās te saṃveṣṭayitvā puram atriputra kṛtaṃ tathā cendrapurābhidhānam BrP_140.21 tair vadhyamānaḥ śastrapātair mahadbhis brp_140.21e tato bhīto vākyam idaṃ jagāda brp_140.21f yo jāta eva prathamo manasvān devo devān kratunā paryabhūṣat yasya śuṣmād rodasī abhyasetāṃ nṛmṇasya mahnā sa janāsa indraḥ BrP_140.22 ityādisūktena ripūn uvāca brp_140.23a hariṃ ca tuṣṭāva tadātriputraḥ brp_140.23b nāhaṃ harir naiva śacī madīyā neyaṃ purī naiva vanaṃ tad aindram sa eva cendro vṛtrahantā sa vajrī sahasrākṣo gotrabhid vajrabāhuḥ
Then those Asuras, having come together, surrounded that son of Atri; and having surrounded the city made by the son of Atri, which had also the name of Indra's city — [140.21] being struck by them with great falls of weapons, then, frightened, he spoke these words: "He who, born the very first, thoughtful, a god, surpassed the gods by his power of will; from whose blast heaven and earth trembled through the greatness of his manly might — he, O men, is Indra." [140.22] With this hymn and the rest he spoke to the enemies [140.23] and the son of Atri praised Hari (Indra): "I am not Hari, nor is Śacī mine, nor is this city, nor is that grove Indra's. He alone is Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, he the wielder of the thunderbolt, the thousand-eyed, the splitter of the mountain, the thunderbolt-armed."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.25
अहं तु विप्रो वेदविद् ब्रह्मवृन्दैः समाविष्टो गौतमीतीरसंस्थः यत्रायत्यां नाद्य वा सौख्यहेतुस् तच् चाकार्षं कर्म दुर्दैवयोगात्
ahaṃ tu vipro vedavid brahmavṛndaiḥ samāviṣṭo gautamītīrasaṃsthaḥ yatrāyatyāṃ nādya vā saukhyahetus tac cākārṣaṃ karma durdaivayogāt
"But I am a brahmin, knower of the Veda, attended by companies of brahmins, dwelling on the bank of the Gautamī. Yet by the conjunction of evil fate I did that deed which brings happiness neither in the future nor today."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.26
संहरस्वेदम् आत्रेय यद् इन्द्रस्य विडम्बनम् क्षेमस् ते भविता सत्यं नान्यथा मुनिसत्तम ॥
saṃharasvedam ātreya yad indrasya viḍambanam kṣemas te bhavitā satyaṃ nānyathā munisattama //
"Withdraw this mockery of Indra, O son of Atri; then your welfare will come to be — truly, not otherwise, O best of sages."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.27
तदात्रेयो ऽब्रवीद् वाक्यं यथा वक्ष्यन्ति माम् इह करोम्य् एव महाभागाः सत्येनाग्निं समालभे ॥
tadātreyo 'bravīd vākyaṃ yathā vakṣyanti mām iha karomy eva mahābhāgāḥ satyenāgniṃ samālabhe //
Then Ātreya spoke these words: "As they will tell me here, so indeed I shall do, O greatly fortunate ones; by truth I touch the fire (as witness)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.28
एवम् उक्त्वा स दैतेयांस् त्वष्टारं पुनर् अब्रवीत् ॥
evam uktvā sa daiteyāṃs tvaṣṭāraṃ punar abravīt //
Having spoken thus to the sons of Diti, he spoke again to Tvaṣṭṛ:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.29
यत् कृतं त्व् अत्र मत्प्रीत्याऐ ऐन्द्रं त्वष्टः पदं त्वया संहरस्व पुनः शीघ्रं रक्ष मां ब्राह्मणं मुनिम् ॥
yat kṛtaṃ tv atra matprītyāai aindraṃ tvaṣṭaḥ padaṃ tvayā saṃharasva punaḥ śīghraṃ rakṣa māṃ brāhmaṇaṃ munim //
"But as for what you have made here for my satisfaction, O Tvaṣṭṛ—the station of Indra—withdraw it again quickly; protect me, a brahmin and a sage."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.30
पुनर् देहि पदं मह्यम् आश्रमं मृगपक्षिणः वृक्षांश् च वारि यत्रासीन् न मे दिव्यैः प्रयोजनम् सर्वम् अक्रमम् आयातं न सुखाय मनीषिणाम् ॥
punar dehi padaṃ mahyam āśramaṃ mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ vṛkṣāṃś ca vāri yatrāsīn na me divyaiḥ prayojanam sarvam akramam āyātaṃ na sukhāya manīṣiṇām //
"Give me back my (former) place, the hermitage, the beasts and birds, the trees and the water that were there. I have no use for divine things. All of this has come about out of order, and (such things) are not for the happiness of the wise."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.31
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा प्रजानाथस् त्वष्टा संहृतवांस् तदा दैत्याश् च जग्मुः स्वस्थानं कृत्वा देशम् अकण्टकम् ॥
tathety uktvā prajānāthas tvaṣṭā saṃhṛtavāṃs tadā daityāś ca jagmuḥ svasthānaṃ kṛtvā deśam akaṇṭakam //
Saying "So be it," Tvaṣṭṛ, the lord of creatures, then withdrew (it all), and the Daityas went to their own abode, having made the region free of thorns.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.32
त्वष्टा चापि ययौ स्थानं स्वकं संप्रहसन्न् इव आत्रेयो ऽपि तदा शिष्यैः संवृतः सह भार्यया ॥
tvaṣṭā cāpi yayau sthānaṃ svakaṃ saṃprahasann iva ātreyo 'pi tadā śiṣyaiḥ saṃvṛtaḥ saha bhāryayā //
And Tvaṣṭṛ too went to his own place, as if laughing heartily; and Ātreya as well, surrounded by his pupils, together with his wife,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.33
गौतमीतीरम् आश्रित्य तपोनिष्ठो ऽखिलैर् वृतः वर्तमाने महायज्ञे लज्जितो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ॥
gautamītīram āśritya taponiṣṭho 'khilair vṛtaḥ vartamāne mahāyajñe lajjito vākyam abravīt //
taking his stand on the bank of the Gautamī, intent on austerity, surrounded by them all—while the great sacrifice was going on—spoke these words, ashamed:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.34
अहो मोहस्य महिमा ममापि भ्रान्तचित्तता किं महेन्द्रपदं लब्धं किं मयात्र पुरा कृतम् ॥
aho mohasya mahimā mamāpi bhrāntacittatā kiṃ mahendrapadaṃ labdhaṃ kiṃ mayātra purā kṛtam //
"Alas, the greatness of delusion! Even I had a deranged mind. What (use) was the station of great Indra that was obtained? What did I do here before?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.35
एवं वदन्तम् आत्रेयं लज्जितं प्राब्रुवन् सुराः ॥
evaṃ vadantam ātreyaṃ lajjitaṃ prābruvan surāḥ //
To Ātreya, who spoke thus in shame, the gods said:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.36
लज्जां जहि महाबाहो भविता ख्यातिर् उत्तमा आत्रेयतीर्थे ये स्नानं प्राणिनः कुर्युर् अञ्जसा ॥
lajjāṃ jahi mahābāho bhavitā khyātir uttamā ātreyatīrthe ye snānaṃ prāṇinaḥ kuryur añjasā //
"Give up your shame, mighty-armed one; there will be the highest renown (for you). Those living beings who straightway perform a bathing at the Ātreya ford—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.37
इन्द्रास् ते भवितारो वै स्मरणात् सुखभागिनः तत्र पञ्च सहस्राणि तीर्थान्य् आहुर् मनीषिणः ॥
indrās te bhavitāro vai smaraṇāt sukhabhāginaḥ tatra pañca sahasrāṇi tīrthāny āhur manīṣiṇaḥ //
they shall indeed become Indras, partaking of happiness through the mere remembrance (of it). There, the wise say, are five thousand fords,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 140.38
अन्विन्द्रात्रेयदैतेयनामभिः कीर्तितानि च तेषु स्नानं च दानं च सर्वम् अक्षयपुण्यदम् ॥
anvindrātreyadaiteyanāmabhiḥ kīrtitāni ca teṣu snānaṃ ca dānaṃ ca sarvam akṣayapuṇyadam //
and they are celebrated by the names Anvindra, Ātreya and Daiteya. In them bathing and giving—everything—bestows imperishable merit."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 140.39
इत्य् उक्त्वा विबुधा याताः संतुष्टश् चाभवन् मुनिः ॥
ity uktvā vibudhā yātāḥ saṃtuṣṭaś cābhavan muniḥ //
Having said this the gods departed, and the sage became content.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition