Brahma Purana — Chapter 21

BrP 21.1

विस्तार एष कथितः पृथिव्या मुनिसत्तमाः सप्ततिस् तु सहस्राणि तदुच्छ्रायो ऽपि कथ्यते ॥

vistāra eṣa kathitaḥ pṛthivyā munisattamāḥ saptatis tu sahasrāṇi taducchrāyo 'pi kathyate //

This extent of the earth has been told, O best of sages; and its depth too is declared (to be) seventy thousand (yojanas).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.2

दशसाहस्रम् एकैकं पातालं मुनिसत्तमाः अतलं वितलं चैव नितलं सुतलं तथा ॥

daśasāhasram ekaikaṃ pātālaṃ munisattamāḥ atalaṃ vitalaṃ caiva nitalaṃ sutalaṃ tathā //

Each single netherworld (is) ten thousand (yojanas), O best of sages: Atala and Vitala, and Nitala and Sutala,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.3

तलातलं रसातलं पातालं चापि सप्तमम् कृष्णा शुक्लारुणा पीता शर्करा शैलकाञ्चनी ॥

talātalaṃ rasātalaṃ pātālaṃ cāpi saptamam kṛṣṇā śuklāruṇā pītā śarkarā śailakāñcanī //

Talātala, Rasātala, and Pātāla as the seventh. Black, white, red, yellow, gravelly, rocky, and golden

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.4

भूमयो यत्र विप्रेन्द्रा वरप्रासादशोभिताः तेषु दानवदैतेयजातयः शतशः स्थिताः ॥

bhūmayo yatra viprendrā varaprāsādaśobhitāḥ teṣu dānavadaiteyajātayaḥ śataśaḥ sthitāḥ //

are the soils there, O chief of brahmins, adorned with excellent palaces; in them dwell by the hundreds the races of Dānavas and Daityas,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.5

नागानां च महाङ्गानां ज्ञातयश् च द्विजोत्तमाः स्वर्लोकाद् अपि रम्याणि पातालानीति नारदः ॥

nāgānāṃ ca mahāṅgānāṃ jñātayaś ca dvijottamāḥ svarlokād api ramyāṇi pātālānīti nāradaḥ //

and the clans of the great-bodied Nāgas, O best of the twice-born. That the netherworlds are more delightful even than the world of heaven — so Nārada

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.6

प्राह स्वर्गसदोमध्ये पातालेभ्यो गतो दिवम् आह्लादकारिणः शुभ्रा मणयो यत्र सुप्रभाः ॥

prāha svargasadomadhye pātālebhyo gato divam āhlādakāriṇaḥ śubhrā maṇayo yatra suprabhāḥ //

declared in the midst of the assembly of heaven, having gone to heaven from the netherworlds: "Where there are bright, well-shining gems that bring delight,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.7

नागाभरणभूषाश् च पातालं केन तत्समम् दैत्यदानवकन्याभिर् इतश् चेतश् च शोभिते ॥

nāgābharaṇabhūṣāś ca pātālaṃ kena tatsamam daityadānavakanyābhir itaś cetaś ca śobhite //

And (there are) the Nāgas adorned with ornaments — what is equal to that Pātāla, made beautiful here and there by the daughters of the Daityas and Dānavas?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.8

पाताले कस्य न प्रीतिर् विमुक्तस्यापि जायते दिवार्करश्मयो यत्र प्रभास् तन्वन्ति नातपम् ॥

pātāle kasya na prītir vimuktasyāpi jāyate divārkaraśmayo yatra prabhās tanvanti nātapam //

In whom, even one who is liberated, does Pātāla not produce delight — where by day the sun's rays spread light but not heat?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.9

शशिनश् च न शीताय निशि द्योताय केवलम् भक्ष्यभोज्यमहापानमदमत्तैश् च भोगिभिः ॥

śaśinaś ca na śītāya niśi dyotāya kevalam bhakṣyabhojyamahāpānamadamattaiś ca bhogibhiḥ //

And the moon's (rays) are not for cold, but only for shining at night; and by the serpents intoxicated with strong drink and food hard and soft —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.10

यत्र न ज्ञायते कालो गतो ऽपि दनुजादिभिः वनानि नद्यो रम्याणि सरांसि कमलाकराः ॥

yatra na jñāyate kālo gato 'pi danujādibhiḥ vanāni nadyo ramyāṇi sarāṃsi kamalākarāḥ //

— where the passage of time is not noticed by the Dānavas and the rest: (there are) forests, delightful rivers, lakes, and pools of lotuses,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.11

पुंस्कोकिलादिलापाश् च मनोज्ञान्य् अम्बराणि च भूषणान्य् अतिरम्याणि गन्धाद्यं चानुलेपनम् ॥

puṃskokilādilāpāś ca manojñāny ambarāṇi ca bhūṣaṇāny atiramyāṇi gandhādyaṃ cānulepanam //

and the calls of male cuckoos and the like, and charming garments, exceedingly lovely ornaments, and unguents beginning with perfumes,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.12

वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानां निःस्वनाश् च सदा द्विजाः एतान्य् अन्यानि रम्याणि भाग्यभोग्यानि दानवैः ॥

vīṇāveṇumṛdaṅgānāṃ niḥsvanāś ca sadā dvijāḥ etāny anyāni ramyāṇi bhāgyabhogyāni dānavaiḥ //

and always the sounds of lutes, flutes and drums, O twice-born ones. These and other delightful things are the fortune and enjoyment of the Dānavas,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.13

दैत्योरगैश् च भुज्यन्ते पातालान्तरगोचरैः पातालानाम् अधश् चास्ते विष्णोर् या तामसी तनुः ॥

daityoragaiś ca bhujyante pātālāntaragocaraiḥ pātālānām adhaś cāste viṣṇor yā tāmasī tanuḥ //

and are enjoyed by the Daityas and serpents whose range lies within Pātāla. And below the Pātālas dwells that dark (tāmasa) body of Viṣṇu

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.14

शेषाख्या यद्गुणान् वक्तुं न शक्ता दैत्यदानवाः यो ऽनन्तः पठ्यते सिद्धैर् देवदेवर्षिपूजितः ॥

śeṣākhyā yadguṇān vaktuṃ na śaktā daityadānavāḥ yo 'nantaḥ paṭhyate siddhair devadevarṣipūjitaḥ //

named Śeṣa, whose qualities the Daityas and Dānavas are unable to declare, who is recited by the Siddhas as Ananta, honoured by the gods and the divine seers,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.15

सहस्रशिरसा व्यक्तः स्वस्तिकामलभूषणः फणामणिसहस्रेण यः स विद्योतयन् दिशः ॥

sahasraśirasā vyaktaḥ svastikāmalabhūṣaṇaḥ phaṇāmaṇisahasreṇa yaḥ sa vidyotayan diśaḥ //

manifest with a thousand heads, adorned with the spotless svastika (mark), who with the thousand jewels on his hoods illumines the directions,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.16

सर्वान् करोति निर्वीर्यान् हिताय जगतो ऽसुरान् मदाघूर्णितनेत्रो ऽसौ यः सदैवैककुण्डलः ॥

sarvān karoti nirvīryān hitāya jagato 'surān madāghūrṇitanetro 'sau yaḥ sadaivaikakuṇḍalaḥ //

(and) makes all the Asuras devoid of strength for the good of the world; he whose eyes roll with intoxication, who ever wears a single earring,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.17

किरीटी स्रग्धरो भाति साग्निश्वेत इवाचलः नीलवासा मदोत्सिक्तः श्वेतहारोपशोभितः ॥

kirīṭī sragdharo bhāti sāgniśveta ivācalaḥ nīlavāsā madotsiktaḥ śvetahāropaśobhitaḥ //

wearing a diadem and a garland, he shines like a white mountain with fire (on it); clothed in blue, flushed with drink, resplendent with a white necklace,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.18

साभ्रगङ्गाप्रपातो ऽसौ कैलासाद्रिर् इवोत्तमः लाङ्गलासक्तहस्ताग्रो बिभ्रन् मुशलम् उत्तमम् ॥

sābhragaṅgāprapāto 'sau kailāsādrir ivottamaḥ lāṅgalāsaktahastāgro bibhran muśalam uttamam //

he is like the supreme mountain Kailāsa with the Gaṅgā's cascade and its clouds; the tip of his hand rests on the plough, and he bears the excellent pestle,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.19

उपास्यते स्वयं कान्त्या यो वारुण्या च मूर्तया कल्पान्ते यस्य वक्त्रेभ्यो विषानलशिखोज्ज्वलः ॥

upāsyate svayaṃ kāntyā yo vāruṇyā ca mūrtayā kalpānte yasya vaktrebhyo viṣānalaśikhojjvalaḥ //

he is attended by Beauty (Kānti) herself and by Vāruṇī in bodily form; at the end of the kalpa, from whose mouths, blazing with flame-tongues of poison-fire,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.20

संकर्षणात्मको रुद्रो निष्क्रम्यात्ति जगत्त्रयम् स बिभ्रच्छिखरीभूतम् अशेषं क्षितिमण्डलम् ॥

saṃkarṣaṇātmako rudro niṣkramyātti jagattrayam sa bibhracchikharībhūtam aśeṣaṃ kṣitimaṇḍalam //

Rudra, whose self is Saṃkarṣaṇa, comes forth and devours the three worlds. He, bearing the whole circle of the earth, which has become (no more than) a crest (on his head),

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.21

आस्ते पातालमूलस्थः शेषो ऽशेषसुरार्चितः तस्य वीर्यं प्रभावश् च स्वरूपं रूपम् एव च ॥

āste pātālamūlasthaḥ śeṣo 'śeṣasurārcitaḥ tasya vīryaṃ prabhāvaś ca svarūpaṃ rūpam eva ca //

abides at the root of Pātāla — Śeṣa, worshipped by all the gods. His valour and might, his own nature and his form,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.22

नहि वर्णयितुं शक्यं ज्ञातुं वा त्रिदशैर् अपि यस्यैषा सकला पृथ्वी फणामणिशिखारुणा ॥

nahi varṇayituṃ śakyaṃ jñātuṃ vā tridaśair api yasyaiṣā sakalā pṛthvī phaṇāmaṇiśikhāruṇā //

cannot be described, nor even known, by the thirty gods; he upon whom this whole earth, reddened by the flames of the jewels on his hoods,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.23

आस्ते कुसुममालेव कस् तद्वीर्यं वदिष्यति यदा विजृम्भते ऽनन्तो मदाघूर्णितलोचनः ॥

āste kusumamāleva kas tadvīryaṃ vadiṣyati yadā vijṛmbhate 'nanto madāghūrṇitalocanaḥ //

rests like a garland of flowers — who shall tell his strength? When Ananta yawns, his eyes rolling with intoxication,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.24

तदा चलति भूर् एषा साद्रितोयाधिकानना गन्धर्वाप्सरसः सिद्धाः किंनरोरगवारणाः ॥

tadā calati bhūr eṣā sādritoyādhikānanā gandharvāpsarasaḥ siddhāḥ kiṃnaroragavāraṇāḥ //

then this earth trembles, with its mountains, its waters and its many forests. Gandharvas, apsarases, Siddhas, kinnaras, serpents and elephants

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

BrP 21.25

नान्तं गुणानां गच्छन्ति ततो ऽनन्तो ऽयम् अव्ययः यस्य नागवधूहस्तैर् लापितं हरिचन्दनम् ॥

nāntaṃ guṇānāṃ gacchanti tato 'nanto 'yam avyayaḥ yasya nāgavadhūhastair lāpitaṃ haricandanam //

do not reach the end of his qualities; therefore he is Ananta ('endless'), imperishable. The yellow sandal paste that is smeared upon him by the hands of the serpent-women,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.26

मुहुः श्वासानिलायस्तं याति दिक्पटवासताम् यम् आराध्य पुराणर्षिर् गर्गो ज्योतींषि तत्त्वतः ॥

muhuḥ śvāsānilāyastaṃ yāti dikpaṭavāsatām yam ārādhya purāṇarṣir gargo jyotīṃṣi tattvataḥ //

repeatedly driven by the wind of his breathing, becomes the fragrance of the garment of the quarters. Having propitiated him, the ancient sage Garga (came to know) the heavenly bodies as they truly are,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 21.27

ज्ञातवान् सकलं चैव निमित्तपठितं फलम् तेनेयं नागवर्येण शिरसा विधृता मही बिभर्ति सकलांल् लोकान् सदेवासुरमानुषान् ॥

jñātavān sakalaṃ caiva nimittapaṭhitaṃ phalam teneyaṃ nāgavaryeṇa śirasā vidhṛtā mahī bibharti sakalāṃl lokān sadevāsuramānuṣān //

(He) came to know the whole fruit declared for omens; by that foremost of serpents this earth is upheld upon (his) head, and (it) bears all the worlds together with gods, asuras and men.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition