Brahma Purana — Chapter 152
BrP 152.1
नन्दीतटम् इति ख्यातं तीर्थं वेदविदो विदुः तस्य प्रभावं वक्ष्यामि शृणु यत्नेन नारद ॥
nandītaṭam iti khyātaṃ tīrthaṃ vedavido viduḥ tasya prabhāvaṃ vakṣyāmi śṛṇu yatnena nārada //
The knowers of the Veda know a ford renowned as Nandītaṭa. I shall tell its power; listen attentively, Nārada.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.2
अत्रिपुत्रो महातेजाश् चन्द्रमा इति विश्रुतः सर्वान् वेदांश् च विधिवद् धनुर्वेदं यथाविधि ॥
atriputro mahātejāś candramā iti viśrutaḥ sarvān vedāṃś ca vidhivad dhanurvedaṃ yathāvidhi //
The son of Atri, of great splendour, renowned as Candra (the Moon), (studied) all the Vedas duly and the science of archery according to rule,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.3
अधीत्य जीवात् सर्वाश् च विद्याश् चान्या महामते गुरुपूजां करोमीति जीवम् आह स चन्द्रमाः बृहस्पतिस् तदा प्राह चन्द्रं शिष्यं मुदान्वितः ॥
adhītya jīvāt sarvāś ca vidyāś cānyā mahāmate gurupūjāṃ karomīti jīvam āha sa candramāḥ bṛhaspatis tadā prāha candraṃ śiṣyaṃ mudānvitaḥ //
and having studied from Jīva (Bṛhaspati) all the other sciences as well, O great-minded one, that Candra said to Jīva, "I will make honorific offering to my teacher." Then Bṛhaspati, filled with joy, said to his pupil Candra:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.4
मम प्रिया तु जानीते तारा रतिसमप्रभा ॥
mama priyā tu jānīte tārā ratisamaprabhā //
"But my beloved Tārā, whose radiance is like Rati's, knows (it)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.5
प्रष्टुं तां च तदा प्रायाद् अन्तर् वेश्म स चन्द्रमाः तारां तारामुखीं दृष्ट्वा जगृहे तां करेण सः ॥
praṣṭuṃ tāṃ ca tadā prāyād antar veśma sa candramāḥ tārāṃ tārāmukhīṃ dṛṣṭvā jagṛhe tāṃ kareṇa saḥ //
And then the Moon went into the inner chamber to ask her; seeing Tārā, whose face was (bright) as a star, he seized her by the hand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.6
स्ववेश्म प्रति तां लोभाद् बलाद् आकर्षयत् तदा तावद् धैर्यनिधिर् ज्ञानी मतिमान् विजितेन्द्रियः ॥
svaveśma prati tāṃ lobhād balād ākarṣayat tadā tāvad dhairyanidhir jñānī matimān vijitendriyaḥ //
Out of greed he then dragged her by force toward his own house — (for only) so long is a man a treasury of firmness, knowing, intelligent, his senses subdued,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.7
यावन् न कामिनीनेत्रवागुराभिर् निबध्यते विशेषतो रहःसंस्थां कामिनीम् आयतेक्षणाम् ॥
yāvan na kāminīnetravāgurābhir nibadhyate viśeṣato rahaḥsaṃsthāṃ kāminīm āyatekṣaṇām //
as long as he is not bound by the snare-nets of women's eyes; especially, on beholding a long-eyed lovely woman standing in a secluded place —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.8
विलोक्य न मनो याति कस्य कामेषु वश्यताम् अत एवान्यपुरुषदर्शनं न कदाचन ॥
vilokya na mano yāti kasya kāmeṣu vaśyatām ata evānyapuruṣadarśanaṃ na kadācana //
whose mind does not come under the sway of desires? For just this reason (a woman) should never look upon another man.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.9
कुलवध्वा रहः कार्यं भीतया शीलविप्लुतेः विज्ञाय तत् परिजनात् सहसोत्थाय निर्गतः ॥
kulavadhvā rahaḥ kāryaṃ bhītayā śīlavipluteḥ vijñāya tat parijanāt sahasotthāya nirgataḥ //
A woman of good family, afraid of the ruin of her virtue, must act in privacy; learning of that from the attendants, he rose up at once and went out.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 152.10
दृष्ट्वा तद् दुष्कृतं कर्म बृहस्पतिर् उदारधीः शशाप कोपाच् चाक्षिप्य वाग्भिर् विप्रियकारिभिः ॥
dṛṣṭvā tad duṣkṛtaṃ karma bṛhaspatir udāradhīḥ śaśāpa kopāc cākṣipya vāgbhir vipriyakāribhiḥ //
Seeing that evil deed, Bṛhaspati of noble mind cursed (him) in anger, and reviled (him) with hostile words.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.11
पराभिभूताम् आलोक्य कान्तां कः सोढुम् ईश्वरः युयुधे तेन जीवो ऽपि देवश् चन्द्रमसा रुषा ॥
parābhibhūtām ālokya kāntāṃ kaḥ soḍhum īśvaraḥ yuyudhe tena jīvo 'pi devaś candramasā ruṣā //
Who is able to endure it, on seeing his beloved overpowered by another? So even Jīva, the god (Bṛhaspati), fought with the Moon in rage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.12
न शापैर् हन्यते चन्द्रो नायुधैः सुरमन्त्रितैः बृहस्पतिप्रणीतैश् च न मन्त्रैर् हन्यते शशी ॥
na śāpair hanyate candro nāyudhaiḥ suramantritaiḥ bṛhaspatipraṇītaiś ca na mantrair hanyate śaśī //
The Moon is not slain by curses, nor by weapons over which the gods have spoken mantras; nor is the hare-marked one slain by mantras set forth by Bṛhaspati.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.13
तदा चन्द्रस् तु तां तारां नीत्वा संस्थाप्य मन्दिरे बुभुजे बहुवर्षाणि रोहिणीं चाकुतोभयः ॥
tadā candras tu tāṃ tārāṃ nītvā saṃsthāpya mandire bubhuje bahuvarṣāṇi rohiṇīṃ cākutobhayaḥ //
Then the Moon, having taken that Tārā and established her in his palace, enjoyed her for many years, and Rohiṇī too, fearing nothing from any quarter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.14
न जीयेत तदा देवैर् न कोपैः शापमन्त्रकैः न राजभिर् न ऋषिभिर् न साम्ना भेददण्डनैः ॥
na jīyeta tadā devair na kopaiḥ śāpamantrakaiḥ na rājabhir na ṛṣibhir na sāmnā bhedadaṇḍanaiḥ //
He could not then be overcome by the gods, nor by wraths, curses and mantras, nor by kings, nor by seers, nor by conciliation, division, or punishment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.15
यदा भार्यां न लेभे ऽसौ गुरुः सर्वप्रयत्नतः सर्वोपायक्षये जीवस् तदा नीतिम् अथास्मरत् ॥
yadā bhāryāṃ na lebhe 'sau guruḥ sarvaprayatnataḥ sarvopāyakṣaye jīvas tadā nītim athāsmarat //
When that teacher did not get his wife back by every effort, then, all expedients being exhausted, Jīva bethought himself of statecraft.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.16
अपमानं पुरस्कृत्य मानं कृत्वा तु पृष्ठतः स्वार्थम् उद्धरते प्राज्ञः स्वार्थभ्रंशो हि मूर्खता ॥
apamānaṃ puraskṛtya mānaṃ kṛtvā tu pṛṣṭhataḥ svārtham uddharate prājñaḥ svārthabhraṃśo hi mūrkhatā //
Putting dishonour in front and setting honour behind, the wise man rescues his own interest; for the loss of one's own interest is folly.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.17
साध्यं केनाप्य् उपायेन जानद्भिः पुरुषैः फलम् वृथाभिमानिनः शीघ्रं विपद्यन्ते विमोहिताः ॥
sādhyaṃ kenāpy upāyena jānadbhiḥ puruṣaiḥ phalam vṛthābhimāninaḥ śīghraṃ vipadyante vimohitāḥ //
The fruit is to be accomplished by men who know, by whatever means; those who are vainly proud, being deluded, quickly come to ruin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.18
एवं निश्चित्य मेधावी शुक्रं गत्वा न्यवेदयत् तम् आगतं कविर् ज्ञात्वा संमानेनाभ्यनन्दयत् ॥
evaṃ niścitya medhāvī śukraṃ gatvā nyavedayat tam āgataṃ kavir jñātvā saṃmānenābhyanandayat //
Having so resolved, the intelligent one went to Śukra and made (it) known; and the sage, recognising him as having come, greeted him with honour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.19
उपविष्टं सुविश्रान्तं पूजितं च यथाविधि पर्यपृच्छद् दैत्यगुरुस् तदागमनकारणम् ॥
upaviṣṭaṃ suviśrāntaṃ pūjitaṃ ca yathāvidhi paryapṛcchad daityagurus tadāgamanakāraṇam //
When he was seated, well rested, and honoured according to rule, the teacher of the Daityas asked him the reason for his coming.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.20
गृहागतस्य विमुखाः शत्रवो ऽप्य् उत्तमा नहि तस्मै स विस्तरेणाह भार्याहरणम् आदितः ॥
gṛhāgatasya vimukhāḥ śatravo 'py uttamā nahi tasmai sa vistareṇāha bhāryāharaṇam āditaḥ //
Even excellent enemies are not unwelcoming to one who has come to the house; to him he told in full, from the beginning, the carrying off of his wife.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.21
बृहस्पतेस् तदा वाक्यं श्रुत्वा कोपान्वितः कविः अपराधं तु चन्द्रस्य मेने शिष्यस्य नारद अतिक्रमम् इमं श्रुत्वा कोपात् कविर् अथाब्रवीत् ॥
bṛhaspates tadā vākyaṃ śrutvā kopānvitaḥ kaviḥ aparādhaṃ tu candrasya mene śiṣyasya nārada atikramam imaṃ śrutvā kopāt kavir athābravīt //
Then, hearing Bṛhaspati's words, the sage (Śukra) was filled with anger, and he judged it the offence of the Moon, his own pupil, O Nārada; hearing of this transgression, the sage then spoke out of anger:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.22
तदा भोक्ष्ये तदा पास्ये तदा स्वप्स्ये तदा वदे यदानये प्रियां भ्रातस् तव भार्यां परार्दिताम् ॥
tadā bhokṣye tadā pāsye tadā svapsye tadā vade yadānaye priyāṃ bhrātas tava bhāryāṃ parārditām //
"Then shall I eat, then shall I drink, then shall I sleep, then shall I speak — when, brother, I bring back your dear wife, afflicted by another.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.23
ताम् आनीय भवं पूज्य चन्द्रं शप्त्वा गुरुद्रुहम् पश्चाद् भोक्ष्ये महाबाहो शृणु वाचं ग्रहेश्वर ॥
tām ānīya bhavaṃ pūjya candraṃ śaptvā gurudruham paścād bhokṣye mahābāho śṛṇu vācaṃ graheśvara //
Having brought her back, having worshipped Bhava, having cursed the Moon, the betrayer of his teacher, afterwards shall I eat, O mighty-armed one; hear my word, O lord of planets."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.24
एवम् उक्त्वा स जीवेन दैत्याचार्यो जगाम ह शिवम् आराध्य यत्नेन परं सामर्थ्यम् आप्तवान् ॥
evam uktvā sa jīvena daityācāryo jagāma ha śivam ārādhya yatnena paraṃ sāmarthyam āptavān //
Having spoken thus, the preceptor of the Daityas went off with Jīva (Bṛhaspati); and, having diligently propitiated Śiva, he obtained supreme power.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.25
वरान् अवाप्य विविधाञ् शंकराद् भावपूजितात् शिवप्रसादात् किं नाम देहिनाम् इह दुर्लभम् ॥
varān avāpya vividhāñ śaṃkarād bhāvapūjitāt śivaprasādāt kiṃ nāma dehinām iha durlabham //
Having obtained various boons from Śaṃkara, who was worshipped with (true) feeling — what indeed is hard for embodied beings to get here, through Śiva's grace?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.26
जगाम शुक्रो जीवेन तारया यत्र चन्द्रमाः वर्तते तं शशापोच्चैः शृणु त्वं चन्द्र मे वचः ॥
jagāma śukro jīvena tārayā yatra candramāḥ vartate taṃ śaśāpoccaiḥ śṛṇu tvaṃ candra me vacaḥ //
Śukra went with Jīva to where the Moon was staying with Tārā, and loudly cursed him: "Moon, hear my word!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.27
यस्मात् पापतरं कर्म त्वया पाप मदात् कृतम् कुष्ठी भूयास् ततश् चन्द्रं शशापैवं रुषा कविः ॥
yasmāt pāpataraṃ karma tvayā pāpa madāt kṛtam kuṣṭhī bhūyās tataś candraṃ śaśāpaivaṃ ruṣā kaviḥ //
"Since a most sinful deed has been done by you, O wicked one, out of arrogance, may you become a leper!" — thus the seer (Śukra) cursed the Moon in anger.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.28
कविशापप्रदग्धो ऽभूत् तदैव मृगलाञ्छनः प्रापुः क्षयं न के नाम गुरुस्वामिसखिद्रुहः ॥
kaviśāpapradagdho 'bhūt tadaiva mṛgalāñchanaḥ prāpuḥ kṣayaṃ na ke nāma gurusvāmisakhidruhaḥ //
That very moment the deer-marked one (the Moon) was scorched by the seer's curse. Who indeed have not come to ruin, of those who wrong their teacher, master, or friend?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.29
तत्याज तां स चन्द्रो ऽपि तां तारां जगृहे कविः शुक्रो ऽपि देवान् आहूय ऋषीन् पितृगणांस् तथा ॥
tatyāja tāṃ sa candro 'pi tāṃ tārāṃ jagṛhe kaviḥ śukro 'pi devān āhūya ṛṣīn pitṛgaṇāṃs tathā //
So the Moon gave her up, and the seer (Bṛhaspati) took back that Tārā; and Śukra too, summoning the gods, the seers, and the hosts of the ancestors,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.30
नदीर् नदांश् च विविधान् ओषधीश् च पतिव्रताः ततः संप्रष्टुम् आरेभे तारावृत्तविनिष्क्रयम् ॥
nadīr nadāṃś ca vividhān oṣadhīś ca pativratāḥ tataḥ saṃpraṣṭum ārebhe tārāvṛttaviniṣkrayam //
and the rivers and the various streams, and the herbs, and the faithful wives — thereupon began to ask (them) about the expiation for Tārā's conduct.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.31
ततः श्रुतिः सुरान् आह गौतम्यां भक्तितस् त्व् इयम् स्नानं करोतु जीवेन तारा पूता भविष्यति ॥
tataḥ śrutiḥ surān āha gautamyāṃ bhaktitas tv iyam snānaṃ karotu jīvena tārā pūtā bhaviṣyati //
Then Śruti said to the gods: "Let her bathe with devotion in the Gautamī together with Jīva (Bṛhaspati); Tārā will become pure."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.32
रहस्यम् एतत् परमं न कथ्यं यस्य कस्यचित् सर्वास्व् अपि दशास्व् एह शरणं गौतमी नृणाम् ॥
rahasyam etat paramaṃ na kathyaṃ yasya kasyacit sarvāsv api daśāsv eha śaraṇaṃ gautamī nṛṇām //
This is a supreme secret, not to be told to anyone whatever: in all conditions the Gautamī is the refuge of men here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.33
तथाकरोच् चैव तारा भर्त्रा स्नानं यथाविधि पुष्पवृष्टिर् अभूत् तत्र जयशब्दो व्यवर्तत ॥
tathākaroc caiva tārā bhartrā snānaṃ yathāvidhi puṣpavṛṣṭir abhūt tatra jayaśabdo vyavartata //
And Tārā did just so, bathing with her husband according to the rule; there was a rain of flowers there, and a cry of "Victory!" arose.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.34
पुनर् वै देवा अददुः पुनर् मनुष्या उत राजानः सत्यं कृण्वाना ब्रह्मजायां पुनर् ददुः ॥
punar vai devā adaduḥ punar manuṣyā uta rājānaḥ satyaṃ kṛṇvānā brahmajāyāṃ punar daduḥ //
Again indeed the gods gave (her) back, again men too, and kings, fulfilling truth, gave back the brahmin's wife.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.35
पुनर् दत्त्वा ब्रह्मजायां कृतां देवैर् अकल्मषाम् सर्वं क्षेमम् अभूत् तत्र तस्मात् तीर्थं महामुने ॥
punar dattvā brahmajāyāṃ kṛtāṃ devair akalmaṣām sarvaṃ kṣemam abhūt tatra tasmāt tīrthaṃ mahāmune //
Having given back the brahmin's wife, made stainless by the gods, all was well-being there; therefore (there is) a holy place (there), O great sage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.36
पुनर् दत्त्वा ब्रह्मजायां कृतां देवैर् अकल्मषाम् सर्वं क्षेमम् अभूत् तत्र तस्मात् तीर्थं महामुने तद् अभूत् सकलाघौघध्वंसनं सर्वकामदम् आनन्दं क्षेमम् अभवत् सुराणाम् असुरारिणाम्
punar dattvā brahmajāyāṃ kṛtāṃ devair akalmaṣām sarvaṃ kṣemam abhūt tatra tasmāt tīrthaṃ mahāmune tad abhūt sakalāghaughadhvaṃsanaṃ sarvakāmadam ānandaṃ kṣemam abhavat surāṇām asurāriṇām
Having given back the brahmin's wife, made stainless by the gods, all was well-being there; therefore, O great sage, that became a holy place, destroying the whole flood of sins and granting all desires; there was joy and well-being for the gods, the foes of the asuras.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.37
बृहस्पतेश् च शुक्रस्य तारायाश् च विशेषतः परमानन्दम् आपन्नो गुरुर् गङ्गाम् अभाषत ॥
bṛhaspateś ca śukrasya tārāyāś ca viśeṣataḥ paramānandam āpanno gurur gaṅgām abhāṣata //
And especially for Bṛhaspati, for Śukra, and for Tārā; the preceptor, attained to supreme joy, spoke to Gaṅgā:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.38
त्वं गौतमि सदा पूज्या सर्वेषाम् अपि मुक्तिदा विशेषतस् तु सिंहस्थे मयि त्रैलोक्यपावनी ॥
tvaṃ gautami sadā pūjyā sarveṣām api muktidā viśeṣatas tu siṃhasthe mayi trailokyapāvanī //
"You, O Gautamī, are ever to be worshipped, granting liberation to all, and especially, when I stand in Leo, you are the purifier of the three worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.39
भविष्यसि सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे सर्वतीर्थैः समन्विता यानि कानि च तीर्थानि स्वर्गमृत्युरसातले त्वां स्नातुं तानि यास्यन्ति मयि सिंहस्थिते ऽम्बिके ॥
bhaviṣyasi saricchreṣṭhe sarvatīrthaiḥ samanvitā yāni kāni ca tīrthāni svargamṛtyurasātale tvāṃ snātuṃ tāni yāsyanti mayi siṃhasthite 'mbike //
You will be, O best of rivers, joined with all sacred fords; whatever fords there are in heaven, in the world of mortals, and in the nether world, they will come to bathe in you when I stand in Leo, O mother.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.40
धन्यं यशस्यम् आयुष्यम् आरोग्यश्रीविवर्धनम् सौभाग्यैश्वर्यजननं तीर्थम् आनन्दनामकम् ॥
dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyam ārogyaśrīvivardhanam saubhāgyaiśvaryajananaṃ tīrtham ānandanāmakam //
The ford named Ānanda is bestowing of wealth, of fame, of long life, increasing health and prosperity, producing good fortune and lordship.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.41
तत्र पञ्च सहस्राणि तीर्थान्य् आह स गौतमः स्मरणात् पठनाद् वापि इष्टैः संयुज्यते सदा ॥
tatra pañca sahasrāṇi tīrthāny āha sa gautamaḥ smaraṇāt paṭhanād vāpi iṣṭaiḥ saṃyujyate sadā //
There Gautama declared five thousand fords; by remembering or by reciting (them) one is ever united with what one desires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 152.42
शिवस्यात्र निविष्टस्य नन्दी गङ्गातटे ऽनिशम् साक्षाच् चरत्य् असौ धर्मस् तस्मान् नन्दीतटं स्मृतम् आनन्दम् अपि तत् तीर्थं सर्वानन्दविवर्धनात् ॥
śivasyātra niviṣṭasya nandī gaṅgātaṭe 'niśam sākṣāc caraty asau dharmas tasmān nandītaṭaṃ smṛtam ānandam api tat tīrthaṃ sarvānandavivardhanāt //
Since Śiva is settled here, Nandī moves about visibly, day and night, on the bank of the Gaṅgā — he is Dharma; therefore it is known as Nandītaṭa (Nandī's bank), and that ford is also (called) Ānanda, because it increases all joy.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition