Brahma Purana — Chapter 167
BrP 167.1
विप्रतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं तथा नारायणं विदुः तस्याख्यानं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु विस्मयकारकम् ॥
vipratīrtham iti khyātaṃ tathā nārāyaṇaṃ viduḥ tasyākhyānaṃ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇu vismayakārakam //
It is known as Vipra-tīrtha, and they also know it as Nārāyaṇa (tīrtha). I shall relate its story; listen, it causes amazement.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.2
अन्तर्वेद्यां द्विजः कश्चिद् ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः तस्य पुत्रा महाप्राज्ञा गुणरूपदयान्विताः ॥
antarvedyāṃ dvijaḥ kaścid brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ tasya putrā mahāprājñā guṇarūpadayānvitāḥ //
In Antarvedi there was a certain twice-born brahmin who had mastered the Vedas; his sons were very wise, endowed with virtue, beauty and compassion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.3
तेषां कनीयान् यो भ्राता शान्तो गुणगणैर् वृतः आसन्दिव इति ख्यातः सर्वज्ञानो महामतिः ॥
teṣāṃ kanīyān yo bhrātā śānto guṇagaṇair vṛtaḥ āsandiva iti khyātaḥ sarvajñāno mahāmatiḥ //
Among them the youngest brother, calm and surrounded by a host of virtues, was known as Āsandiva, knowing everything, of great intelligence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.4
विवाहाय पिता तस्माऐ आसन्दिवाय यत्नवान् एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे रात्रौ सुप्तं तं द्विजपुत्रकम् ॥
vivāhāya pitā tasmāai āsandivāya yatnavān etasminn antare rātrau suptaṃ taṃ dvijaputrakam //
The father was making efforts for the marriage of that Āsandiva. In the meantime, at night, that young son of the brahmin, who was asleep,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.5
अविष्णुस्मरणं सौम्यशिरस्कम् असमाहितम् आसन्दिवं क्रूररूपा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी ॥
aviṣṇusmaraṇaṃ saumyaśiraskam asamāhitam āsandivaṃ krūrarūpā rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī //
not remembering Viṣṇu, his head lying to the north, unfocused — that Āsandiva (was seized by) a cruel-formed rākṣasī who could take any form she wished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 167.6
तम् आदायागमच् छीघ्रं गौतम्या दक्षिणे तटे श्रीगिरेर् उत्तरे पारे बहुब्राह्मणसेवितम् ॥
tam ādāyāgamac chīghraṃ gautamyā dakṣiṇe taṭe śrīgirer uttare pāre bahubrāhmaṇasevitam //
Taking him she came swiftly to the southern bank of the Gautamī, to the far northern side of Śrīgiri, (to a city) frequented by many brahmins,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.7
नगरं धर्मनिलयं लक्ष्म्या निलयम् एव च तत्र राजा बृहत्कीर्तिः सर्वक्षत्रगुणान्वितः ॥
nagaraṃ dharmanilayaṃ lakṣmyā nilayam eva ca tatra rājā bṛhatkīrtiḥ sarvakṣatraguṇānvitaḥ //
a city that was an abode of dharma and indeed an abode of Lakṣmī. There the king was Bṛhatkīrti, endowed with all the qualities of a kṣatriya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.8
तस्यामितक्षेमसुभिक्षयुक्तं निशावसाने द्विजपुत्रयुक्ता सा राक्षसी तत् पुरम् आससाद मनोज्ञरूपाणि बिभर्ति नित्यम्
tasyāmitakṣemasubhikṣayuktaṃ niśāvasāne dvijaputrayuktā sā rākṣasī tat puram āsasāda manojñarūpāṇi bibharti nityam
At the end of night that rākṣasī, together with the brahmin's son, reached his city, which was possessed of boundless security and abundance of food; she constantly assumes charming forms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.9
सा कामरूपेण चरत्य् अशेषां महीम् इमां तेन समं द्विजेन गोदावरीदक्षिणतीरभागे वृद्धाकृतिस् तं द्विजम् आह भीमा
sā kāmarūpeṇa caraty aśeṣāṃ mahīm imāṃ tena samaṃ dvijena godāvarīdakṣiṇatīrabhāge vṛddhākṛtis taṃ dvijam āha bhīmā
She roams this whole earth in whatever form she wishes. Together with that brahmin, on the part of the southern bank of the Godāvarī, the terrible one, in the shape of an old woman, said to that brahmin:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.10
एषा तु गङ्गा द्विजमुख्य संध्या उपास्यतां विप्रवरैः समेत्य यथोचितं विप्रवरास् तु काले नोपासते यत्नत एव संध्याम्
eṣā tu gaṅgā dvijamukhya saṃdhyā upāsyatāṃ vipravaraiḥ sametya yathocitaṃ vipravarās tu kāle nopāsate yatnata eva saṃdhyām
"This here is the Gaṅgā, O foremost of the twice-born, and it is the twilight hour; let the best of brahmins come together and worship it as is fitting. But those best of brahmins who do not diligently worship the twilight at its proper time—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.11
नीचास् त एवाभिहिताः सुरेशैर् अन्त्यावसायिप्रवरास् त एते अहं जनित्री तव चेति वाच्यं नो चेद् इदानीं त्वम् उपैषि नाशम्
nīcās ta evābhihitāḥ sureśair antyāvasāyipravarās ta ete ahaṃ janitrī tava ceti vācyaṃ no ced idānīṃ tvam upaiṣi nāśam
—just those are declared low by the lords of the gods; they are the foremost of the outcastes. And you must say, 'I am your mother'; if not, you now meet with destruction.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.12
मद्वाक्यकर्तासि यदि द्विजेन्द्र सुखं करिष्ये तव यत् प्रियं च पुनश् च देशं निलयं गुरूंश् च संप्रापयिष्ये ननु सत्यम् एतत्
madvākyakartāsi yadi dvijendra sukhaṃ kariṣye tava yat priyaṃ ca punaś ca deśaṃ nilayaṃ gurūṃś ca saṃprāpayiṣye nanu satyam etat
If you will do as I say, O chief of the twice-born, I will make you happy and (do) what is dear to you, and I will bring you back again to your country, your home, and your teachers—this is surely the truth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.13
स प्राह का त्वं द्विजपुंगवो ऽपि सोवाच तं राक्षसी कामरूपा विश्वासयन्ती शपथैर् अनेकैस् तं भ्रान्तचित्तं मुनिराजपुत्रम्
sa prāha kā tvaṃ dvijapuṃgavo 'pi sovāca taṃ rākṣasī kāmarūpā viśvāsayantī śapathair anekais taṃ bhrāntacittaṃ munirājaputram
He said, "Who are you?"—that bull among the twice-born. And she, the demoness who could take any form at will, spoke to him, making him trust her with many oaths, him, the son of the king of sages, whose mind was confused:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.14
कङ्कालिनी नाम जगत्प्रसिद्धा विप्रो ऽपि ताम् आह निवेदितं यत् तद् एव कर्तास्मि न संशयो ऽत्र यत् तत् प्रियं वच्मि करोमि चैव
kaṅkālinī nāma jagatprasiddhā vipro 'pi tām āha niveditaṃ yat tad eva kartāsmi na saṃśayo 'tra yat tat priyaṃ vacmi karomi caiva
"I am called Kaṅkālinī, famed throughout the world." And the brahmin said to her, "What has been told to me, that very thing I shall do; there is no doubt here. What is dear to you, that I speak and that I also do."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.15
तद् विप्रवचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी वृद्धा तथापि चार्वङ्गी दिव्यालंकारभूषणा ॥
tad vipravacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī vṛddhā tathāpi cārvaṅgī divyālaṃkārabhūṣaṇā //
Hearing that speech of the brahmin, the demoness who took forms at will, though aged, (became) fair of limb, adorned with divine ornaments and decorations.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.16
द्विजम् आदाय सर्वत्र मत्सुतो ऽयं गुणाकरः एवं वदन्ती सर्वत्र याति वक्ति करोति च ॥
dvijam ādāya sarvatra matsuto 'yaṃ guṇākaraḥ evaṃ vadantī sarvatra yāti vakti karoti ca //
Taking the brahmin along everywhere (and saying) "This is my son, a mine of virtues"—speaking thus she goes everywhere, and she speaks and acts (so).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.17
तं विप्रं रूपसौभाग्यवयोविद्याविभूषितम् तां च वृद्धां गुणोपेताम् अस्य मातेति मेनिरे ॥
taṃ vipraṃ rūpasaubhāgyavayovidyāvibhūṣitam tāṃ ca vṛddhāṃ guṇopetām asya māteti menire //
That brahmin, adorned with beauty, good fortune, youth and learning, and that old woman endowed with virtues—(people) took her to be his mother.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.18
तत्र द्विजवरः कश्चित् स्वां कन्यां भूषणान्विताम् राक्षसीं तां पुरस्कृत्य प्रादात् तस्मै द्विजातये ॥
tatra dvijavaraḥ kaścit svāṃ kanyāṃ bhūṣaṇānvitām rākṣasīṃ tāṃ puraskṛtya prādāt tasmai dvijātaye //
There a certain excellent brahmin, putting that demoness in front (as the party to receive), gave his own daughter, decked with ornaments, to that twice-born man.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.19
सा कन्या तं पतिं प्राप्य कृतार्थास्मीत्य् अचिन्तयत् स द्विजो ऽपि गुणैर् युक्तां पत्नीं दृष्ट्वा सुदुःखितः ॥
sā kanyā taṃ patiṃ prāpya kṛtārthāsmīty acintayat sa dvijo 'pi guṇair yuktāṃ patnīṃ dṛṣṭvā suduḥkhitaḥ //
That girl, having obtained him as husband, thought, "I have attained my purpose"; but that brahmin too, seeing a wife endowed with virtues, was deeply grieved.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.20
माम् इयं भक्षयेद् एव राक्षसी पापरूपिणी किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कस्यैतत् कथयामि वा ॥
mām iyaṃ bhakṣayed eva rākṣasī pāparūpiṇī kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi kasyaitat kathayāmi vā //
"This demoness in the form of sin will surely devour me. What am I to do? Where shall I go? Or to whom shall I tell this?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.21
महत् संकटम् आपन्नं रक्षयिष्यति को ऽत्र माम् भार्या ममेयं कल्याणी गुणरूपवयोयुता एनाम् अप्य् अशुभाकस्माद् भक्षयिष्यति राक्षसी ॥
mahat saṃkaṭam āpannaṃ rakṣayiṣyati ko 'tra mām bhāryā mameyaṃ kalyāṇī guṇarūpavayoyutā enām apy aśubhākasmād bhakṣayiṣyati rākṣasī //
A great calamity has befallen; who here will protect me? This wife of mine is auspicious, endowed with virtue, beauty and youth; that inauspicious demoness will suddenly devour her too."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.22
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे तत्र भार्या सा गुणशालिनी वृद्धाप्य् अतिदुराधर्षा सा गता कुत्रचित् तदा ॥
etasminn antare tatra bhāryā sā guṇaśālinī vṛddhāpy atidurādharṣā sā gatā kutracit tadā //
In the meanwhile, that wife endowed with virtues—she who, though old, was exceedingly hard to assail—had then gone off somewhere.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 167.23
प्रश्रयावनता भूत्वा बाला चापि पतिव्रता भर्तारं दुःखितं ज्ञात्वा पतिं प्राह रहः शनैः ॥
praśrayāvanatā bhūtvā bālā cāpi pativratā bhartāraṃ duḥkhitaṃ jñātvā patiṃ prāha rahaḥ śanaiḥ //
Bowing down in deference, the young girl, devoted to her husband, knowing her husband to be grieved, said to him softly, in private:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.24
कस्मात् ते दुःखम् आपन्नं स्वामिंस् तत्त्वं वदस्व मे ॥
kasmāt te duḥkham āpannaṃ svāmiṃs tattvaṃ vadasva me //
"From what has this grief come upon you? My lord, tell me the truth."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.25
शनैः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां यथावत् पूर्वविस्तरम् किम् अकथ्यं प्रिये मित्रे कुलीनायां च योषिति ॥
śanaiḥ provāca tāṃ bhāryāṃ yathāvat pūrvavistaram kim akathyaṃ priye mitre kulīnāyāṃ ca yoṣiti //
Softly he told that wife the whole earlier account just as it was: "What is not to be told to a dear friend and to a well-born woman?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.26
भर्तृवाक्यं निशम्येदं प्रोवाच वदतां वरा ॥
bhartṛvākyaṃ niśamyedaṃ provāca vadatāṃ varā //
Hearing this speech of her husband, she, the best of speakers, said:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.27
अनात्मनः सर्वतो ऽपि भयम् अस्ति गृहेष्व् अपि कुतो भयं ह्य् आत्मवतां किं पुनर् गौतमीतटे ॥
anātmanaḥ sarvato 'pi bhayam asti gṛheṣv api kuto bhayaṃ hy ātmavatāṃ kiṃ punar gautamītaṭe //
"For one who is not master of himself there is fear from every side, even in his own house; but whence is there fear for those who are masters of themselves—how much more on the bank of the Gautamī,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.28
वसतां विष्णुभक्तानां विरक्तानां विवेकिनाम् अत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर् भूत्वा स्तुहि देवम् अनामयम् ॥
vasatāṃ viṣṇubhaktānāṃ viraktānāṃ vivekinām atra snātvā śucir bhūtvā stuhi devam anāmayam //
where devotees of Viṣṇu dwell, detached and discerning? Bathe here, become pure, and praise the god who is free of affliction."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.29
एतद् आकर्ण्य गङ्गायां स्नात्वा विगतकल्मषः तुष्टाव गौतमीतीरे द्विजो नारायणं तथा ॥
etad ākarṇya gaṅgāyāṃ snātvā vigatakalmaṣaḥ tuṣṭāva gautamītīre dvijo nārāyaṇaṃ tathā //
Hearing this, the brahmin bathed in the Gaṅgā, his sins gone, and thus praised Nārāyaṇa on the bank of the Gautamī:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.30
त्वम् अन्तरात्मा जगतो ऽस्य नाथ त्वम् एव कर्तास्य मुकुन्द हर्ता त्वं पालकः पालयसे न दीनम् अनाथबन्धो नरसिंह कस्मात्
tvam antarātmā jagato 'sya nātha tvam eva kartāsya mukunda hartā tvaṃ pālakaḥ pālayase na dīnam anāthabandho narasiṃha kasmāt
You are the inner Self of this world, O Lord; you alone are its maker, Mukunda, and its destroyer; you are the protector — why then do you not protect the wretched, O kinsman of the helpless, O Narasiṃha?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.31
श्रुत्वैतत् प्रार्थनं तस्य जगच्छोकनिवारणः नारायणो ऽपि तां पापां निजघान स राक्षसीम् ॥
śrutvaitat prārthanaṃ tasya jagacchokanivāraṇaḥ nārāyaṇo 'pi tāṃ pāpāṃ nijaghāna sa rākṣasīm //
Having heard this entreaty of his, Nārāyaṇa, the warder-off of the world's sorrow, slew that sinful rākṣasī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.32
सुदर्शनेन चक्रेण सहस्रारेण भास्वता तस्मै प्रादाद् वरान् इष्टान् प्रापयच् च गुरुं प्रभुः ॥
sudarśanena cakreṇa sahasrāreṇa bhāsvatā tasmai prādād varān iṣṭān prāpayac ca guruṃ prabhuḥ //
(He slew her) with the Sudarśana discus, the shining one of a thousand spokes; and the Lord granted him the boons he desired and brought him to his teacher.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 167.33
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं विप्रं नारायणं विदुः स्नानदानेन पूजाद्यैर् यत्र सिध्यति वाञ्छितम् ॥
tataḥ prabhṛti tat tīrthaṃ vipraṃ nārāyaṇaṃ viduḥ snānadānena pūjādyair yatra sidhyati vāñchitam //
From that time on they know that sacred ford as Vipra-Nārāyaṇa, where by bathing, by giving, and by worship and the rest what is wished for is accomplished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition