Brahma Purana — Chapter 146
BrP 146.1
यायातम् अपरं तीर्थं यत्र कालञ्जरः शिवः सर्वपापप्रशमनं तद्वृत्तम् उच्यते मया ॥
yāyātam aparaṃ tīrthaṃ yatra kālañjaraḥ śivaḥ sarvapāpapraśamanaṃ tadvṛttam ucyate mayā //
Another sacred ford is Yāyāta, where Śiva is (present as) Kālañjara; it removes all sins, and its story is now told by me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.2
ययातिर् नाहुषो राजा साक्षाद् इन्द्र इवापरः तस्य भार्याद्वयं चासीत् कुललक्षणभूषितम् ॥
yayātir nāhuṣo rājā sākṣād indra ivāparaḥ tasya bhāryādvayaṃ cāsīt kulalakṣaṇabhūṣitam //
Yayāti, son of Nahuṣa, was a king, verily like a second Indra; and he had two wives, adorned with the marks of (good) family.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.3
ज्येष्ठा तु देवयानीति नाम्ना शुक्रसुता शुभा शर्मिष्ठेति द्वितीया सा सुता स्याद् वृषपर्वणः ॥
jyeṣṭhā tu devayānīti nāmnā śukrasutā śubhā śarmiṣṭheti dvitīyā sā sutā syād vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ //
The elder was the lovely daughter of Śukra, Devayānī by name; the second was Śarmiṣṭhā, who was the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.4
ब्राह्मण्य् अपि महाप्राज्ञा देवयानी सुमध्यमा ययातेर् अभवद् भार्या सा तु शुक्रप्रसादतः ॥
brāhmaṇy api mahāprājñā devayānī sumadhyamā yayāter abhavad bhāryā sā tu śukraprasādataḥ //
Though a brahmin woman, the greatly wise, fair-waisted Devayānī became Yayāti's wife, and that by Śukra's favor.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.5
शर्मिष्ठा चापि तस्यैव भार्या या वृषपर्वजा देवयानी शुक्रसुता द्वौ पुत्रौ समजीजनत् ॥
śarmiṣṭhā cāpi tasyaiva bhāryā yā vṛṣaparvajā devayānī śukrasutā dvau putrau samajījanat //
And Śarmiṣṭhā too, born of Vṛṣaparvan, was that same (king's) wife. Devayānī, Śukra's daughter, bore two sons,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.6
यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव देवपुत्रसमाव् उभौ शर्मिष्ठा च नृपाल् लेभे त्रीन् पुत्रान् देवसंनिभान् ॥
yaduṃ ca turvasuṃ caiva devaputrasamāv ubhau śarmiṣṭhā ca nṛpāl lebhe trīn putrān devasaṃnibhān //
Yadu and Turvasu, both equal to sons of the gods; and Śarmiṣṭhā obtained from the king three sons resembling gods,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.7
द्रुह्युं चानुं च पूरुं च ययातेर् नृपसत्तमात् देवयान्याः सुतौ ब्रह्मन् सदृशौ शुक्ररूपतः ॥
druhyuṃ cānuṃ ca pūruṃ ca yayāter nṛpasattamāt devayānyāḥ sutau brahman sadṛśau śukrarūpataḥ //
Druhyu, Anu and Pūru, from Yayāti, best of kings. Devayānī's two sons, O brahmin, were alike in resembling Śukra;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.8
शर्मिष्ठायास् तु तनयाः शक्राग्निवरुणप्रभाः देवयानी कदाचित् तु पितरं प्राह दुःखिता ॥
śarmiṣṭhāyās tu tanayāḥ śakrāgnivaruṇaprabhāḥ devayānī kadācit tu pitaraṃ prāha duḥkhitā //
but Śarmiṣṭhā's sons had the splendor of Śakra, Agni and Varuṇa. Then once Devayānī, grieved, said to her father:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.9
मम त्व् अपत्यद्वितयम् अभाग्याया भृगूद्वह मम दास्याः सभाग्याया अपत्यत्रितयं पितः ॥
mama tv apatyadvitayam abhāgyāyā bhṛgūdvaha mama dāsyāḥ sabhāgyāyā apatyatritayaṃ pitaḥ //
"But I, luckless one, have a pair of children, O scion of Bhṛgu, while my maidservant, the fortunate one, has three children, father.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.10
तद् एतद् अनुमृश्यायं दुःखम् अत्यन्तम् आगता मरिष्ये दानवगुरो ययातिकृतविप्रियात् मानभङ्गाद् वरं तात मरणं हि मनस्विनाम् ॥
tad etad anumṛśyāyaṃ duḥkham atyantam āgatā mariṣye dānavaguro yayātikṛtavipriyāt mānabhaṅgād varaṃ tāta maraṇaṃ hi manasvinām //
"Having pondered all this, I have come to extreme grief; I shall die, O teacher of the Dānavas, from the offence done by Yayāti. Better than the breaking of one's honour, father, is death for the proud."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.11
तद् एतत् पुत्रिकावाक्यं श्रुत्वा शुक्रः प्रतापवान् कुपितो ऽभ्याययौ शीघ्रं ययातिम् इदम् अब्रवीत् ॥
tad etat putrikāvākyaṃ śrutvā śukraḥ pratāpavān kupito 'bhyāyayau śīghraṃ yayātim idam abravīt //
Having heard this speech of his daughter, the majestic Śukra, enraged, came swiftly to Yayāti and said this:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.12
यद् इदं विप्रियं मे त्वं सुतायाः कृतवान् असि रूपोन्मत्तेन राजेन्द्र तस्माद् वृद्धो भविष्यसि ॥
yad idaṃ vipriyaṃ me tvaṃ sutāyāḥ kṛtavān asi rūponmattena rājendra tasmād vṛddho bhaviṣyasi //
"Since you, maddened by (her) beauty, have done this offence to me, to my daughter, O lord of kings, therefore you shall become old."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.13
न च भोक्तुं न च त्यक्तुं शक्नोति विषयातुरः स्पृहयन् मनसैवास्ते निःश्वासोच्छ्वासनष्टधीः ॥
na ca bhoktuṃ na ca tyaktuṃ śaknoti viṣayāturaḥ spṛhayan manasaivāste niḥśvāsocchvāsanaṣṭadhīḥ //
Tormented by (desire for) sense-objects, he can neither enjoy nor renounce; he sits craving with the mind alone, his wits destroyed by sighing and panting.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.14
वृद्धत्वम् एव मरणं जीवताम् अपि देहिनाम् तस्माच् छीघ्रं प्रयाहि त्वं जरां भूपातिदुर्धराम् ॥
vṛddhatvam eva maraṇaṃ jīvatām api dehinām tasmāc chīghraṃ prayāhi tvaṃ jarāṃ bhūpātidurdharām //
Old age is death itself for embodied beings even while they live; therefore go swiftly, you, to old age, O king, most hard to bear.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.15
एतच् छ्रुत्वा ययातिस् तु शापं शुक्रस्य धीमतः कृताञ्जलिपुटो राजा ययातिः शुक्रम् अब्रवीत् ॥
etac chrutvā yayātis tu śāpaṃ śukrasya dhīmataḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭo rājā yayātiḥ śukram abravīt //
But having heard this curse of the wise Śukra, King Yayāti, with palms joined, said to Śukra:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.16
नापराध्ये न संकुप्ये नैवाधर्मं प्रवर्तये अधर्मकारिणः पापाः शास्या एव महात्मनाम् ॥
nāparādhye na saṃkupye naivādharmaṃ pravartaye adharmakāriṇaḥ pāpāḥ śāsyā eva mahātmanām //
"I do not offend, I do not grow angry, nor do I set unrighteousness in motion; it is precisely wrongdoers, the wicked, who are to be chastised by the great-souled."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.17
धर्मम् एव चरन्तं वै कथं मां शप्तवान् असि देवयानी द्विजश्रेष्ठ वृथा मां वक्ति किंचन ॥
dharmam eva carantaṃ vai kathaṃ māṃ śaptavān asi devayānī dvijaśreṣṭha vṛthā māṃ vakti kiṃcana //
"How have you cursed me, who practise righteousness only? Devayānī, O best of the twice-born, says something about me without cause."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.18
तस्मान् न मम विप्रेन्द्र शापं दातुं त्वम् अर्हसि विद्वांसो ऽपि हि निर्दोषे यदि कुप्यन्ति मोहिताः तदा न दोषो मूर्खाणां द्वेषाग्निप्लुष्टचेतसाम् ॥
tasmān na mama viprendra śāpaṃ dātuṃ tvam arhasi vidvāṃso 'pi hi nirdoṣe yadi kupyanti mohitāḥ tadā na doṣo mūrkhāṇāṃ dveṣāgnipluṣṭacetasām //
"Therefore, O lord of brahmins, you ought not to lay a curse upon me. For if even the learned, deluded, grow angry at one who is faultless, then there is no fault in fools whose minds are scorched by the fire of hatred."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.19
ययातिवाक्याच् छुक्रो ऽपि सस्मार सुतया कृतम् असकृद् विप्रियं तस्य दिवा रात्रौ प्रचण्डया ॥
yayātivākyāc chukro 'pi sasmāra sutayā kṛtam asakṛd vipriyaṃ tasya divā rātrau pracaṇḍayā //
At Yayāti's words Śukra too remembered the offence done by his daughter to him again and again, by day and by night, she being violent-tempered.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.20
गतकोपो ऽहम् इत्य् उक्त्वा काव्यो राजानम् अब्रवीत् ॥
gatakopo 'ham ity uktvā kāvyo rājānam abravīt //
Saying "My anger is gone," Kāvya (Śukra) said to the king:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.21
ज्ञातं मयानयाकारि विप्रियं न वदे ऽनृतम् शापस्येमं करिष्यामि शृणुष्वानुग्रहं नृप ॥
jñātaṃ mayānayākāri vipriyaṃ na vade 'nṛtam śāpasyemaṃ kariṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvānugrahaṃ nṛpa //
"I know it: she committed the offence; I do not speak untruth. I shall make this concession regarding the curse — hear it, O king:"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.22
यस्मै पुत्राय संदातुं जराम् इच्छसि मानद तस्य सा यात्व् इयं राजञ् जरा पुत्राय मद्वरात् ॥
yasmai putrāya saṃdātuṃ jarām icchasi mānada tasya sā yātv iyaṃ rājañ jarā putrāya madvarāt //
"To whichever son you wish to hand over the old age, O giver of honour, to that son let this old age go, O king, by my boon."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.23
पुनर् ययातिः श्वशुरं शुक्रं प्राह विनीतवत् ॥
punar yayātiḥ śvaśuraṃ śukraṃ prāha vinītavat //
Again Yayāti spoke humbly to his father-in-law Śukra:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.24
यो गृह्णाति मया दत्तां जरां भक्तिसमन्वितः स राजा स्याद् दैत्यगुरो तद् एतद् अनुमन्यताम् ॥
yo gṛhṇāti mayā dattāṃ jarāṃ bhaktisamanvitaḥ sa rājā syād daityaguro tad etad anumanyatām //
"He who, filled with devotion, takes on the old age given by me — let him be king, O teacher of the Daityas; let this be granted."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.25
यो मद्वाक्यं नाभिनन्देत् सुतो दैत्यगुरो दृढम् तं शपेयम् अनुज्ञात्र दातव्यैव त्वया गुरो ॥
yo madvākyaṃ nābhinandet suto daityaguro dṛḍham taṃ śapeyam anujñātra dātavyaiva tvayā guro //
"Whichever son does not firmly welcome my word, O teacher of the Daityas, him I would curse; permission for that must indeed be given by you, O teacher."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.26
एवम् अस्त्व् इति राजानम् उवाच भृगुनन्दनः ततो ययातिः स्वं पुत्रम् आहूयेदं वचो ऽब्रवीत् ॥
evam astv iti rājānam uvāca bhṛgunandanaḥ tato yayātiḥ svaṃ putram āhūyedaṃ vaco 'bravīt //
"So be it," said the son of Bhṛgu to the king. Then Yayāti, summoning his own son, spoke this speech:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.27
यदो गृहाण मे शापाज् जरां जातां सुतो भवान् ज्येष्ठः सर्वार्थवित् प्रौढः पुत्राणां धुरि संस्थितः पुत्री तेनैव जनको यस् तदाज्ञावशे स्थितः ॥
yado gṛhāṇa me śāpāj jarāṃ jātāṃ suto bhavān jyeṣṭhaḥ sarvārthavit prauḍhaḥ putrāṇāṃ dhuri saṃsthitaḥ putrī tenaiva janako yas tadājñāvaśe sthitaḥ //
"Yadu, take upon yourself the old age that has arisen from the curse upon me. You are my eldest son, knowing all matters, mature, standing at the head of my sons. Only by such a one is a man truly possessed of a son — one who abides under his father's command."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 146.28
नेत्य् उवाच यदुस् तातं ययातिं भूरिदक्षिणम् ययातिश् च यदुं शप्त्वा तुर्वसुं कामम् अब्रवीत् ॥
nety uvāca yadus tātaṃ yayātiṃ bhūridakṣiṇam yayātiś ca yaduṃ śaptvā turvasuṃ kāmam abravīt //
Yadu said "No" to his father Yayāti of abundant gifts; and Yayāti, having cursed Yadu, said at will to Turvasu:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.29
नागृह्णात् तुर्वसुश् चापि पित्रा दत्तां जरां तदा तं शप्त्वा चाब्रवीद् द्रुह्युं गृहाणेमां जरां मम ॥
nāgṛhṇāt turvasuś cāpi pitrā dattāṃ jarāṃ tadā taṃ śaptvā cābravīd druhyuṃ gṛhāṇemāṃ jarāṃ mama //
And Turvasu too did not accept the old age given by his father then; and having cursed him he said to Druhyu: "Take on this old age of mine."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.30
द्रुह्युश् च नैच्छत् तां दत्तां जरां रूपविनाशिनीम् अनुम् अप्य् अब्रवीद् राजा गृहाणेमां जरां मम ॥
druhyuś ca naicchat tāṃ dattāṃ jarāṃ rūpavināśinīm anum apy abravīd rājā gṛhāṇemāṃ jarāṃ mama //
And Druhyu did not want that offered old age, the destroyer of beauty. The king spoke to Anu as well: "Take this old age of mine."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.31
अनुर् नेति तदोवाच शप्त्वा तं पूरुम् अब्रवीत् अभिनन्द्य तदा पूरुर् जरां तां जगृहे पितुः ॥
anur neti tadovāca śaptvā taṃ pūrum abravīt abhinandya tadā pūrur jarāṃ tāṃ jagṛhe pituḥ //
Anu then said, "No." Having cursed him, (the king) spoke to Pūru; and then Pūru, welcoming (the request), took on that old age of his father.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.32
सहस्रम् एकं वर्षाणां यावत् प्रीतो ऽभवत् पिता यौवने यानि भोग्यानि वस्तूनि विविधानि च ॥
sahasram ekaṃ varṣāṇāṃ yāvat prīto 'bhavat pitā yauvane yāni bhogyāni vastūni vividhāni ca //
For a full thousand years the father was gratified, (enjoying) in youth whatever things are to be enjoyed, of many kinds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.33
पुत्रयौवनसंतुष्टो ययातिर् बुभुजे सुखम् ततस् तृप्तो ऽभवद् राजा सर्वभोगेषु नाहुषः ततो हर्षात् समाहूय पूरुं पुत्रम् अथाब्रवीत् ॥
putrayauvanasaṃtuṣṭo yayātir bubhuje sukham tatas tṛpto 'bhavad rājā sarvabhogeṣu nāhuṣaḥ tato harṣāt samāhūya pūruṃ putram athābravīt //
Contented with his son's youth, Yayāti enjoyed pleasure. Then King Nāhuṣa became satiated with all enjoyments; then out of joy he summoned his son Pūru and said:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.34
तृप्तो ऽस्मि सर्वभोगेषु यौवनेन तवानघ गृहाण यौवनं पुत्र जरां मे देहि कश्मलाम् ॥
tṛpto 'smi sarvabhogeṣu yauvanena tavānagha gṛhāṇa yauvanaṃ putra jarāṃ me dehi kaśmalām //
"I am satiated with all enjoyments through your youth, O faultless one. Take back your youth, son, and give me my foul old age."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.35
नेत्य् उवाच तदा पूरुर् जरया क्षीयते मया विकारास् तात भावानां दुर्निवाराः शरीरिणाम् ॥
nety uvāca tadā pūrur jarayā kṣīyate mayā vikārās tāta bhāvānāṃ durnivārāḥ śarīriṇām //
Then Pūru said, "No. I am being worn away by old age. The alterations of the states (of the body), father, are hard for embodied beings to ward off.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.36
बलात् कालागता सह्या जराप्य् अखिलदेहिभिः सा चेद् गुरूपकाराय गृहीता त्यज्यते कथम् ॥
balāt kālāgatā sahyā jarāpy akhiladehibhiḥ sā ced gurūpakārāya gṛhītā tyajyate katham //
Even old age, when it comes with time by force, must be endured by all embodied beings; and if it has been taken on for an elder's benefit, how can it be cast off?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.37
स्वीकृतत्यागपापाद् धि देहिनां मरणं वरम् अथवा तु जरां राजंस् तपसा नाशयाम्य् अहम् ॥
svīkṛtatyāgapāpād dhi dehināṃ maraṇaṃ varam athavā tu jarāṃ rājaṃs tapasā nāśayāmy aham //
For death is better for embodied beings than the sin of abandoning what one has accepted. Or else, O king, I shall destroy the old age by austerity."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.38
एवम् उक्त्वा तु पितरं ययौ गङ्गाम् अनुत्तमाम् गौतम्या दक्षिणे पारे ततस् तेपे तपो महत् ॥
evam uktvā tu pitaraṃ yayau gaṅgām anuttamām gautamyā dakṣiṇe pāre tatas tepe tapo mahat //
Having thus spoken to his father, he went to the most excellent Gaṅgā; then on the southern bank of the Gautamī he performed great austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.39
ततः प्रीतो ऽभवद् देवः कालेन महता शिवः लोकातीतमहोदारगुणसन्मणिभूषितम् किं ददामीति तं प्राह पूरुं स सुरसत्तमः ॥
tataḥ prīto 'bhavad devaḥ kālena mahatā śivaḥ lokātītamahodāraguṇasanmaṇibhūṣitam kiṃ dadāmīti taṃ prāha pūruṃ sa surasattamaḥ //
Then, after a great time, the god Śiva became pleased; that best of gods said to Pūru—adorned with the true jewels of great, noble qualities surpassing the world—"What shall I give (you)?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.40
शापप्राप्तां जरां नाथ पितुर् मम सुराधिप तां नाशयस्व देवेश पितृशप्तांश् च कोपतः मद्भ्रातॄञ् शापतो मुक्तान् कुरुष्व सुरपूजित ॥
śāpaprāptāṃ jarāṃ nātha pitur mama surādhipa tāṃ nāśayasva deveśa pitṛśaptāṃś ca kopataḥ madbhrātṝñ śāpato muktān kuruṣva surapūjita //
"Lord, ruler of the gods, my father's old age obtained through a curse—destroy that, O lord of gods; and make my brothers, cursed by our father in anger, free from the curse, O you honoured by the gods."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.41
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा जगन्नाथः शापाज् जातां जरां तथा अनाशयज् जगन्नाथो भ्रातॄंश् चक्रे विशापिनः ॥
tathety uktvā jagannāthaḥ śāpāj jātāṃ jarāṃ tathā anāśayaj jagannātho bhrātṝṃś cakre viśāpinaḥ //
Saying "So be it," the Lord of the world destroyed the old age that had arisen from the curse, and the Lord of the world made the brothers free of the curse.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.42
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं जरारोगविनाशनम् अकालजजरादीनां स्मरणाद् अपि नाशनम् ॥
tataḥ prabhṛti tat tīrthaṃ jarārogavināśanam akālajajarādīnāṃ smaraṇād api nāśanam //
From then on that sacred ford destroys old age and disease, and destroys untimely old age and the like even by (its) remembrance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.43
तन्नाम्ना चापि विख्यातं कालञ्जरम् उदाहृतम् यायातं नाहुषं पौरं शौक्रं शार्मिष्ठम् एव च ॥
tannāmnā cāpi vikhyātaṃ kālañjaram udāhṛtam yāyātaṃ nāhuṣaṃ pauraṃ śaukraṃ śārmiṣṭham eva ca //
And it is famed by that name, called Kālañjara; and also the Yāyāta, the Nāhuṣa, the Paura, the Śaukra, and the Śārmiṣṭha (fords).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.44
एवमादीनि तीर्थानि तत्राष्टोत्तरम् एव च शतं विद्यान् महाबुद्धे सर्वसिद्धिकरं तथा ॥
evamādīni tīrthāni tatrāṣṭottaram eva ca śataṃ vidyān mahābuddhe sarvasiddhikaraṃ tathā //
One should know that there are a hundred and eight sacred fords there, beginning with these, O greatly wise one, and that (place) grants all attainments.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 146.45
तेषु स्नानं च दानं च श्रवणं पठनं तथा सर्वपापप्रशमनं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं भवेत् ॥
teṣu snānaṃ ca dānaṃ ca śravaṇaṃ paṭhanaṃ tathā sarvapāpapraśamanaṃ bhuktimuktipradaṃ bhavet //
Bathing there, and giving, and hearing and reciting (of them), allays all sins and grants enjoyment and liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition