Brahma Purana — Chapter 38

BrP 38.1

प्रविष्टे भवनं देवे सूपविष्टे वरासने स वक्रो मन्मथः क्रूरो देवं वेद्धुमना भवत् ॥

praviṣṭe bhavanaṃ deve sūpaviṣṭe varāsane sa vakro manmathaḥ krūro devaṃ veddhumanā bhavat //

When the god had entered his dwelling and was well seated on his excellent seat, that crooked, cruel Manmatha set his mind on piercing the god.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.2

तम् अनाचारसंयुक्तं दुरात्मानं कुलाधमम् लोकान् सर्वान् पीडयन्तं सर्वाङ्गावरणात्मकम् ॥

tam anācārasaṃyuktaṃ durātmānaṃ kulādhamam lokān sarvān pīḍayantaṃ sarvāṅgāvaraṇātmakam //

Him, joined with misconduct, evil-souled, lowest of his family, afflicting all the worlds, whose nature is to envelop every limb,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.3

ऋषीणां विघ्नकर्तारं नियमानां व्रतैः सह चक्राह्वयस्य रूपेण रत्या सह समागतम् ॥

ṛṣīṇāṃ vighnakartāraṃ niyamānāṃ vrataiḥ saha cakrāhvayasya rūpeṇa ratyā saha samāgatam //

a maker of obstacles for the sages in their observances together with their vows, come in the form of the one named Cakra, accompanied by Rati —

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

BrP 38.4

अथाततायिनं विप्रा वेद्धुकामं सुरेश्वरः नयनेन तृतीयेन सावज्ञं समवैक्षत ॥

athātatāyinaṃ viprā veddhukāmaṃ sureśvaraḥ nayanena tṛtīyena sāvajñaṃ samavaikṣata //

then, O brahmins, the lord of the gods looked with contempt upon that felon who wished to pierce him, with his third eye.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.5

ततो ऽस्य नेत्रजो वह्निर् ज्वालामालासहस्रवान् सहसा रतिभर्तारम् अदहत् सपरिच्छदम् ॥

tato 'sya netrajo vahnir jvālāmālāsahasravān sahasā ratibhartāram adahat saparicchadam //

Then the fire born of his eye, garlanded with a thousand flames, suddenly burned the husband of Rati together with his retinue.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.6

स दह्यमानः करुणम् आर्तो ऽक्रोशत विस्वरम् प्रसादयंश् च तं देवं पपात धरणीतले ॥

sa dahyamānaḥ karuṇam ārto 'krośata visvaram prasādayaṃś ca taṃ devaṃ papāta dharaṇītale //

Being burned, he cried out piteously, afflicted, with a broken voice, and, seeking to propitiate that god, fell upon the surface of the earth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.7

अथ सो ऽग्निपरीताङ्गो मन्मथो लोकतापनः पपात सहसा मूर्छां क्षणेन समपद्यत ॥

atha so 'gniparītāṅgo manmatho lokatāpanaḥ papāta sahasā mūrchāṃ kṣaṇena samapadyata //

Then Manmatha, tormentor of the worlds, his limbs surrounded by fire, suddenly fell and in an instant swooned away.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.8

पत्नी तु करुणं तस्य विललाप सुदुःखिता देवीं देवं च दुःखार्ता अयाचत् करुणावती ॥

patnī tu karuṇaṃ tasya vilalāpa suduḥkhitā devīṃ devaṃ ca duḥkhārtā ayācat karuṇāvatī //

But his wife, greatly grieved, lamented piteously; pained with sorrow and full of pity, she entreated the Goddess and the God.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.9

तस्याश् च करुणां ज्ञात्वा देवौ तौ करुणात्मकौ ऊचतुस् तां समालोक्य समाश्वास्य च दुःखिताम् ॥

tasyāś ca karuṇāṃ jñātvā devau tau karuṇātmakau ūcatus tāṃ samālokya samāśvāsya ca duḥkhitām //

And the two gods, compassionate by nature, knowing her piteous state, looked upon her and, consoling the grieving one, said to her:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.10

दग्ध एव ध्रुवं भद्रे नास्योत्पत्तिर् इहेष्यते अशरीरो ऽपि ते भद्रे कार्यं सर्वं करिष्यति ॥

dagdha eva dhruvaṃ bhadre nāsyotpattir iheṣyate aśarīro 'pi te bhadre kāryaṃ sarvaṃ kariṣyati //

"He is indeed burned, good lady; his arising here is not to be desired. Yet even bodiless, good lady, he will do all your work.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.11

यदा तु विष्णुर् भगवान् वसुदेवसुतः शुभे तदा तस्य सुतो यश् च पतिस् ते संभविष्यति ॥

yadā tu viṣṇur bhagavān vasudevasutaḥ śubhe tadā tasya suto yaś ca patis te saṃbhaviṣyati //

But when the blessed Viṣṇu (is born) as the son of Vasudeva, O fair one, then he who is your husband will come to be his son."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.12

ततः सा तु वरं लब्ध्वा कामपत्नी शुभानना जगामेष्टं तदा देशं प्रीतियुक्ता गतक्लमा ॥

tataḥ sā tu varaṃ labdhvā kāmapatnī śubhānanā jagāmeṣṭaṃ tadā deśaṃ prītiyuktā gataklamā //

Then she, the wife of Kāma, of fair face, having obtained the boon, went to the region she wished, filled with joy, her weariness gone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.13

दग्ध्वा कामं ततो विप्राः स तु देवो वृषध्वजः रेमे तत्रोमया सार्धं प्रहृष्टस् तु हिमाचले ॥

dagdhvā kāmaṃ tato viprāḥ sa tu devo vṛṣadhvajaḥ reme tatromayā sārdhaṃ prahṛṣṭas tu himācale //

Then, O brahmins, having burned Kāma, that god whose banner is the bull delighted there on the Himālaya together with Umā, greatly pleased —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.14

कन्दरेषु च रम्येषु पद्मिनीषु गुहासु च निर्झरेषु च रम्येषु कर्णिकारवनेषु च ॥

kandareṣu ca ramyeṣu padminīṣu guhāsu ca nirjhareṣu ca ramyeṣu karṇikāravaneṣu ca //

in lovely glens and among lotus-pools and in caves, and by delightful waterfalls and in karṇikāra groves,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.15

नदीतीरेषु कान्तेषु किंनराचरितेषु च शृङ्गेषु शैलराजस्य तडागेषु सरःसु च ॥

nadītīreṣu kānteṣu kiṃnarācariteṣu ca śṛṅgeṣu śailarājasya taḍāgeṣu saraḥsu ca //

on charming river banks frequented by Kiṃnaras, and on the peaks of the king of mountains, and by ponds and lakes,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.16

वनराजिषु रम्यासु नानापक्षिरुतेषु च तीर्थेषु पुण्यतोयेषु मुनीनाम् आश्रमेषु च ॥

vanarājiṣu ramyāsu nānāpakṣiruteṣu ca tīrtheṣu puṇyatoyeṣu munīnām āśrameṣu ca //

in lovely rows of forest, resounding with various birds, and at holy fords with pure water, and in the hermitages of sages.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.17

एतेषु पुण्येषु मनोहरेषु देशेषु विद्याधरभूषितेषु गन्धर्वयक्षामरसेवितेषु रेमे स देव्या सहितस् त्रिनेत्रः

eteṣu puṇyeṣu manohareṣu deśeṣu vidyādharabhūṣiteṣu gandharvayakṣāmaraseviteṣu reme sa devyā sahitas trinetraḥ

In these holy, heart-delighting regions, adorned by Vidyādharas, frequented by Gandharvas, Yakṣas and immortals, the three-eyed one, together with the Goddess, took his delight.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.18

देवैः सहेन्द्रैर् मुनियक्षसिद्धैर् गन्धर्वविद्याधरदैत्यमुख्यैः अन्यैश् च सर्वैर् विविधैर् वृतो ऽसौ तस्मिन् नगे हर्षम् अवाप शंभुः

devaiḥ sahendrair muniyakṣasiddhair gandharvavidyādharadaityamukhyaiḥ anyaiś ca sarvair vividhair vṛto 'sau tasmin nage harṣam avāpa śaṃbhuḥ

Surrounded by the gods together with Indra, by sages, yakṣas and siddhas, by the chief gandharvas, vidyādharas and daityas, and by all the various others, Śambhu found delight on that mountain.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.19

नृत्यन्ति तत्राप्सरसः सुरेशा गायन्ति गन्धर्वगणाः प्रहृष्टाः दिव्यानि वाद्यान्य् अथ वादयन्ति केचिद् द्रुतं देववरं स्तुवन्ति

nṛtyanti tatrāpsarasaḥ sureśā gāyanti gandharvagaṇāḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ divyāni vādyāny atha vādayanti kecid drutaṃ devavaraṃ stuvanti

There the apsarases dance, (and) the lords of the gods; the troops of gandharvas sing, greatly delighted; and (some) play divine instruments, while some swiftly praise the best of gods.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.20

एवं स देवः स्वगणैर् उपेतो महाबलैः शक्रयमाग्नितुल्यैः देव्याः प्रियार्थं भगनेत्रहन्ता गिरिं न तत्याज तदा महात्मा

evaṃ sa devaḥ svagaṇair upeto mahābalaiḥ śakrayamāgnitulyaiḥ devyāḥ priyārthaṃ bhaganetrahantā giriṃ na tatyāja tadā mahātmā

Thus that god, attended by his own hosts of great strength, equal to Śakra, Yama and Agni, the destroyer of Bhaga's eye, the great-souled one, did not then leave the mountain, for the goddess's pleasure.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.21

देव्याः समं तु भगवांस् तिष्ठंस् तत्र स कामहा अकरोत् किं महादेव एतद् इच्छाम वेदितुम् ॥

devyāḥ samaṃ tu bhagavāṃs tiṣṭhaṃs tatra sa kāmahā akarot kiṃ mahādeva etad icchāma veditum //

But what did the Lord, the slayer of Kāma, the great god, do while staying there together with the goddess? This we wish to know.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.22

भगवान् हिमवच्छृङ्गे स हि देव्याः प्रियेच्छया गणेशैर् विविधाकारैर् हासं संजनयन् मुहुः ॥

bhagavān himavacchṛṅge sa hi devyāḥ priyecchayā gaṇeśair vividhākārair hāsaṃ saṃjanayan muhuḥ //

The Lord (stayed) on the peak of Himavat, out of desire to please the goddess, repeatedly provoking laughter with his gana-chiefs of various forms;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.23

देवीं बालेन्दुतिलको रमयंश् च रराम च महानुभावैः सर्वज्ञैः कामरूपधरैः शुभैः ॥

devīṃ bālendutilako ramayaṃś ca rarāma ca mahānubhāvaiḥ sarvajñaiḥ kāmarūpadharaiḥ śubhaiḥ //

and he whose mark is the crescent moon delighted the goddess and took delight (with those ganas), who were of great power, all-knowing, taking on forms at will, and auspicious.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.24

अथ देव्य् आससादैका मातरं परमेश्वरी आसीनां काञ्चने शुभ्र आसने परमाद्भुते ॥

atha devy āsasādaikā mātaraṃ parameśvarī āsīnāṃ kāñcane śubhra āsane paramādbhute //

Then the goddess, the supreme mistress, went alone to her mother, who was seated on a shining golden seat, exceedingly wonderful.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.25

अथ दृष्ट्वा सतीं देवीम् आगतां सुररूपिणीम् आसनेन महार्हेण शंपादयद् अनिन्दिताम् आसीनां ताम् अथोवाच मेना हिमवतः प्रिया ॥

atha dṛṣṭvā satīṃ devīm āgatāṃ surarūpiṇīm āsanena mahārheṇa śaṃpādayad aninditām āsīnāṃ tām athovāca menā himavataḥ priyā //

Then, seeing the good goddess arrived, of divine form, she honored the blameless one with a most valuable seat; and when she was seated, Menā, the beloved of Himavat, then said to her:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.26

चिरस्यागमनं ते ऽद्य वद पुत्रि शुभेक्षणे दरिद्रा क्रीडनैस् त्वं हि भर्त्रा क्रीडसि संगता ॥

cirasyāgamanaṃ te 'dya vada putri śubhekṣaṇe daridrā krīḍanais tvaṃ hi bhartrā krīḍasi saṃgatā //

"Your coming today is after a long time — speak, daughter of lovely eyes; for you, united with your husband, play the games of the destitute."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.27

ये दरिद्रा भवन्ति स्म तथैव च निराश्रयाः उमे त एवं क्रीडन्ति यथा तव पतिः शुभे ॥

ye daridrā bhavanti sma tathaiva ca nirāśrayāḥ ume ta evaṃ krīḍanti yathā tava patiḥ śubhe //

"Those who are destitute and likewise without support — they, Umā, play thus, as your husband does, O fair one."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.28

सैवम् उक्ताथ मात्रा तु नातिहृष्टमना भवत् महत्या क्षमया युक्ता न किंचित् ताम् उवाच ह विसृष्टा च तदा मात्रा गत्वा देवम् उवाच ह ॥

saivam uktātha mātrā tu nātihṛṣṭamanā bhavat mahatyā kṣamayā yuktā na kiṃcit tām uvāca ha visṛṣṭā ca tadā mātrā gatvā devam uvāca ha //

She, being thus addressed by her mother, became not very glad at heart; yet, endowed with great forbearance, she said nothing at all to her; and, dismissed then by her mother, she went and spoke to the god:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.29

भगवन् देवदेवेश नेह वत्स्यामि भूधरे अन्यं कुरु ममावासं भुवनेषु महाद्युते ॥

bhagavan devadeveśa neha vatsyāmi bhūdhare anyaṃ kuru mamāvāsaṃ bhuvaneṣu mahādyute //

"Lord, ruler of the gods of gods, I will not dwell here on the mountain; make another dwelling for me among the worlds, O greatly radiant one."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.30

सदा त्वम् उच्यमाना वै मया वासार्थम् ईश्वरि अन्यं न रोचितवती वासं वै देवि कर्हिचित् ॥

sadā tvam ucyamānā vai mayā vāsārtham īśvari anyaṃ na rocitavatī vāsaṃ vai devi karhicit //

"Though always told by me about a dwelling place, O mistress, you never cared for another dwelling, O goddess.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.31

इदानीं स्वयम् एव त्वं वासम् अन्यत्र शोभने कस्मान् मृगयसे देवि ब्रूहि तन् मे शुचिस्मिते ॥

idānīṃ svayam eva tvaṃ vāsam anyatra śobhane kasmān mṛgayase devi brūhi tan me śucismite //

Now, of your own accord, why do you seek a dwelling elsewhere, O beautiful one? Tell me that, O goddess of bright smile."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.32

गृहं गतास्मि देवेश पितुर् अद्य महात्मनः दृष्ट्वा च तत्र मे माता विजने लोकभावने ॥

gṛhaṃ gatāsmi deveśa pitur adya mahātmanaḥ dṛṣṭvā ca tatra me mātā vijane lokabhāvane //

"Lord of gods, today I went to the house of my great-souled father, and there my mother, seeing me in a lonely place, O sustainer of the world—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.33

आसनादिभिर् अभ्यर्च्य सा माम् एवम् अभाषत उमे तव सदा भर्ता दरिद्रः क्रीडनैः शुभे ॥

āsanādibhir abhyarcya sā mām evam abhāṣata ume tava sadā bhartā daridraḥ krīḍanaiḥ śubhe //

—having honored me with a seat and so forth, spoke to me thus: 'Umā, your husband is always poor in his amusements, O fair one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.34

क्रीडते नहि देवानां क्रीडा भवति तादृशी यत् किल त्वं महादेव गणैश् च विविधैस् तथा रमसे तद् अनिष्टं हि मम मातुर् वृषध्वज ॥

krīḍate nahi devānāṃ krīḍā bhavati tādṛśī yat kila tvaṃ mahādeva gaṇaiś ca vividhais tathā ramase tad aniṣṭaṃ hi mama mātur vṛṣadhvaja //

He plays, but such play does not belong to the gods.' That you, O Mahādeva, take pleasure in that way with your various ganas is indeed displeasing to my mother, O you whose banner is the bull."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.35

ततो देवः प्रहस्याह देवीं हासयितुं प्रभुः ॥

tato devaḥ prahasyāha devīṃ hāsayituṃ prabhuḥ //

Then the mighty god, laughing, spoke to the goddess in order to make her laugh:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.36

एवम् एव न संदेहः कस्मान् मन्युर् अभूत् तव कृत्तिवासा ह्य् अवासाश् च श्मशाननिलयश् च ह ॥

evam eva na saṃdehaḥ kasmān manyur abhūt tava kṛttivāsā hy avāsāś ca śmaśānanilayaś ca ha //

"It is just so, there is no doubt; why did anger arise in you? For I am clad in a hide, without a dwelling, and my abode is the cremation ground.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.37

अनिकेतो ह्य् अरण्येषु पर्वतानां गुहासु च विचरामि गणैर् नग्नैर् वृतो ऽम्भोजविलोचने ॥

aniketo hy araṇyeṣu parvatānāṃ guhāsu ca vicarāmi gaṇair nagnair vṛto 'mbhojavilocane //

Homeless, I roam in the forests and in the caves of the mountains, surrounded by naked ganas, O lotus-eyed one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.38

मा क्रुधो देवि मात्रे त्वं तथ्यं मातावदत् तव नहि मातृसमो बन्धुर् जन्तूनाम् अस्ति भूतले ॥

mā krudho devi mātre tvaṃ tathyaṃ mātāvadat tava nahi mātṛsamo bandhur jantūnām asti bhūtale //

"Do not be angry with your mother, goddess; your mother spoke the truth. There is no kinsman on earth equal to a mother for living beings."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.39

न मे ऽस्ति बन्धुभिः किंचित् कृत्यं सुरवरेश्वर तथा कुरु महादेव यथाहं सुखम् आप्नुयाम् ॥

na me 'sti bandhubhiḥ kiṃcit kṛtyaṃ suravareśvara tathā kuru mahādeva yathāhaṃ sukham āpnuyām //

"I have no business at all with kinsmen, O lord of the best of gods. Act, O Mahādeva, in such a way that I may find happiness."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BrP 38.40

श्रुत्वा स देव्या वचनं सुरेशस् तस्याः प्रियार्थे स्वगिरिं विहाय जगाम मेरुं सुरसिद्धसेवितं भार्यासहायः स्वगणैश् च युक्तः

śrutvā sa devyā vacanaṃ sureśas tasyāḥ priyārthe svagiriṃ vihāya jagāma meruṃ surasiddhasevitaṃ bhāryāsahāyaḥ svagaṇaiś ca yuktaḥ

Hearing the goddess's words, the lord of the gods, to please her, left his own mountain and went to Meru, frequented by gods and siddhas, accompanied by his wife and together with his own troops.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition