Brahma Purana — Chapter 53
BrP 53.1
ततो गजकुलप्रख्यास् तडिन्मालाविभूषिताः समुत्तस्थुर् महामेघा नभस्य् अद्भुतदर्शनाः ॥
tato gajakulaprakhyās taḍinmālāvibhūṣitāḥ samuttasthur mahāmeghā nabhasy adbhutadarśanāḥ //
Then great clouds, looking like herds of elephants, adorned with garlands of lightning, rose up in the sky, wondrous to see.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.2
केचिन् नीलोत्पलश्यामाः केचित् कुमुदसंनिभाः केचित् किञ्जल्कसंकाशाः केचित् पीताः पयोधराः ॥
kecin nīlotpalaśyāmāḥ kecit kumudasaṃnibhāḥ kecit kiñjalkasaṃkāśāḥ kecit pītāḥ payodharāḥ //
Some dark as blue lotuses, some like white water-lilies, some the colour of lotus-filaments, some yellow — those rain-bearers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.3
केचिद् धरितसंकाशाः काकाण्डसंनिभास् तथा केचित् कमलपत्त्राभाः केचिद् धिङ्गुलसंनिभाः ॥
kecid dharitasaṃkāśāḥ kākāṇḍasaṃnibhās tathā kecit kamalapattrābhāḥ kecid dhiṅgulasaṃnibhāḥ //
Some green in appearance, and some like a crow's egg, some with the sheen of lotus-petals, some like vermilion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.4
केचित् पुरवराकाराः केचिद् गिरिवरोपमाः केचिद् अञ्जनसंकाशाः केचिन् मरकतप्रभाः ॥
kecit puravarākārāḥ kecid girivaropamāḥ kecid añjanasaṃkāśāḥ kecin marakataprabhāḥ //
Some shaped like fine cities, some like great mountains, some like black collyrium, some with the gleam of emerald.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.5
विद्युन्मालापिनद्धाङ्गाः समुत्तस्थुर् महाघनाः घोररूपा महाभागा घोरस्वननिनादिताः ॥
vidyunmālāpinaddhāṅgāḥ samuttasthur mahāghanāḥ ghorarūpā mahābhāgā ghorasvananināditāḥ //
Their bodies bound with garlands of lightning, the great clouds rose up, dreadful in form, mighty, resounding with a terrible roar.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.6
ततो जलधराः सर्वे समावृण्वन् नभस्तलम् तैर् इयं पृथिवी सर्वा सपर्वतवनाकरा ॥
tato jaladharāḥ sarve samāvṛṇvan nabhastalam tair iyaṃ pṛthivī sarvā saparvatavanākarā //
Then all the water-bearing clouds covered over the vault of the sky; by them this whole earth, with its mountains, forests and mines,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.7
आपूरिता दिशः सर्वाः सलिलौघपरिप्लुताः ततस् ते जलदा घोरा वारिणा मुनिसत्तमाः ॥
āpūritā diśaḥ sarvāḥ salilaughapariplutāḥ tatas te jaladā ghorā vāriṇā munisattamāḥ //
All the directions were filled up, flooded with masses of water; then, O best of sages, those terrible rain-clouds with their water
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.8
सर्वतः प्लावयाम् आसुश् चोदिताः परमेष्ठिना वर्षमाणा महातोयं पूरयन्तो वसुंधराम् ॥
sarvataḥ plāvayām āsuś coditāḥ parameṣṭhinā varṣamāṇā mahātoyaṃ pūrayanto vasuṃdharām //
flooded (everything) on all sides, urged on by the Supreme One, raining down great waters, filling up the earth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.9
सुघोरम् अशिवं रौद्रं नाशयन्ति स्म पावकम् ततो द्वादश वर्षाणि पयोदाः समुपप्लवे ॥
sughoram aśivaṃ raudraṃ nāśayanti sma pāvakam tato dvādaśa varṣāṇi payodāḥ samupaplave //
and they extinguished the fire, most terrible, inauspicious and fierce. Then for twelve years the clouds, at the deluge,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.10
धाराभिः पूरयन्तो वै चोद्यमाना महात्मना ततः समुद्राः स्वां वेलाम् अतिक्रामन्ति भो द्विजाः ॥
dhārābhiḥ pūrayanto vai codyamānā mahātmanā tataḥ samudrāḥ svāṃ velām atikrāmanti bho dvijāḥ //
went on filling (all) with their torrents, driven by the Great Soul. Then the oceans overstep their shores, O twice-born ones.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.11
पर्वताश् च व्यशीर्यन्त मही चाप्सु निमज्जति सर्वतः सुमहाभ्रान्तास् ते पयोदा नभस्तलम् ॥
parvatāś ca vyaśīryanta mahī cāpsu nimajjati sarvataḥ sumahābhrāntās te payodā nabhastalam //
The mountains crumbled apart and the earth sank into the waters; on all sides those clouds, whirling mightily, (covered) the vault of heaven,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.12
संवेष्टयित्वा नश्यन्ति वायुवेगसमाहताः ततस् तं मारुतं घोरं स विष्णुर् मुनिसत्तमाः ॥
saṃveṣṭayitvā naśyanti vāyuvegasamāhatāḥ tatas taṃ mārutaṃ ghoraṃ sa viṣṇur munisattamāḥ //
and having wrapped it round they perish, struck by the force of the wind. Then, O best of sages, Viṣṇu, having drunk that terrible wind,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.13
आदिपद्मालयो देवः पीत्वा स्वपिति भो द्विजाः तस्मिन्न् एकार्णवे घोरे नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे ॥
ādipadmālayo devaḥ pītvā svapiti bho dvijāḥ tasminn ekārṇave ghore naṣṭe sthāvarajaṅgame //
the god whose abode is the primeval lotus, sleeps, O twice-born ones. In that terrible single ocean, when things moving and unmoving had perished,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.14
नष्टे देवासुरनरे यक्षराक्षसवर्जिते ततो मुनिः स विश्रान्तो ध्यात्वा च पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥
naṣṭe devāsuranare yakṣarākṣasavarjite tato muniḥ sa viśrānto dhyātvā ca puruṣottamam //
when gods, demons and men had perished, and it was empty of yakṣas and rākṣasas, then that sage, rested, and having meditated on the Supreme Person,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.15
ददर्श चक्षुर् उन्मील्य जलपूर्णां वसुंधराम् नापश्यत् तं वटं नोर्वीं न दिगादि न भास्करम् ॥
dadarśa cakṣur unmīlya jalapūrṇāṃ vasuṃdharām nāpaśyat taṃ vaṭaṃ norvīṃ na digādi na bhāskaram //
opening his eyes he saw the earth filled with water; he did not see that banyan tree, nor the ground, nor the directions and so forth, nor the sun,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.16
न चन्द्रार्काग्निपवनं न देवासुरपन्नगम् तस्मिन्न् एकार्णवे घोरे तमोभूते निराश्रये ॥
na candrārkāgnipavanaṃ na devāsurapannagam tasminn ekārṇave ghore tamobhūte nirāśraye //
nor moon, sun, fire or wind, nor god, demon or serpent, in that terrible single ocean, become darkness, without support.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.17
निमज्जन् स तदा विप्राः संतर्तुम् उपचक्रमे बभ्रामासौ मुनिश् चार्त इतश् चेतश् च संप्लवन् ॥
nimajjan sa tadā viprāḥ saṃtartum upacakrame babhrāmāsau muniś cārta itaś cetaś ca saṃplavan //
Sinking down then, O brahmins, he began to try to cross over; and that sage, distressed, wandered about, floating this way and that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.18
निममज्ज तदा विप्रास् त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति एवं तं विह्वलं दृष्ट्वा कृपया पुरुषोत्तमः प्रोवाच मुनिशार्दूलास् तदा ध्यानेन तोषितः ॥
nimamajja tadā viprās trātāraṃ nādhigacchati evaṃ taṃ vihvalaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛpayā puruṣottamaḥ provāca muniśārdūlās tadā dhyānena toṣitaḥ //
Then, O brahmins, he sank down and did not find a rescuer. Seeing him thus overwhelmed, the Supreme Person, out of compassion, O tigers among sages, then spoke, being pleased by his meditation:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.19
वत्स श्रान्तो ऽसि बालस् त्वं भक्तत्र मम सुव्रत आगच्छागच्छ शीघ्रं त्वं मार्कण्डेय ममान्तिकम् ॥
vatsa śrānto 'si bālas tvaṃ bhaktatra mama suvrata āgacchāgaccha śīghraṃ tvaṃ mārkaṇḍeya mamāntikam //
"Child, you are weary, you are a boy, you are my devotee here, O you of good vows. Come, come quickly, Mārkaṇḍeya, near to me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.20
मा त्वयैव च भेतव्यं संप्राप्तो ऽसि ममाग्रतः मार्कण्डेय मुने धीर बालस् त्वं श्रमपीडितः ॥
mā tvayaiva ca bhetavyaṃ saṃprāpto 'si mamāgrataḥ mārkaṇḍeya mune dhīra bālas tvaṃ śramapīḍitaḥ //
"And you should not be afraid at all; you have arrived before me. Mārkaṇḍeya, steadfast sage, you are a boy afflicted by exhaustion."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.21
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिः परमकोपितः उवाच स तदा विप्रा विस्मितश् चाभवन् मुहुः ॥
tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā muniḥ paramakopitaḥ uvāca sa tadā viprā vismitaś cābhavan muhuḥ //
Hearing that speech of his, the sage, exceedingly angered, then spoke, O brahmins, and he was again and again astonished:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.22
को ऽयं नाम्ना कीर्तयति तपः परिभवन्न् इव बहुवर्षसहस्राख्यं धर्षयन्न् इव मे वपुः ॥
ko 'yaṃ nāmnā kīrtayati tapaḥ paribhavann iva bahuvarṣasahasrākhyaṃ dharṣayann iva me vapuḥ //
"Who is this that calls (me) by name, as though slighting my austerity, as though violating my body that is reckoned at many thousands of years?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.23
न ह्य् एष समुदाचारो देवेष्व् अपि समाहितः मां ब्रह्मा स च देवेशो दीर्घायुर् इति भाषते ॥
na hy eṣa samudācāro deveṣv api samāhitaḥ māṃ brahmā sa ca deveśo dīrghāyur iti bhāṣate //
"For this is not proper conduct, observed even among the gods; Brahmā, and that lord of gods, address me as 'long-lived one'."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.24
कस् तपो घोरशिरसो ममाद्य त्यक्तजीवितः मार्कण्डेयेति चोक्त्वा मन्मृत्युं गन्तुम् इहेच्छति ॥
kas tapo ghoraśiraso mamādya tyaktajīvitaḥ mārkaṇḍeyeti coktvā manmṛtyuṃ gantum ihecchati //
"Who is it that today, having renounced life, has said 'Mārkaṇḍeya' to me whose austerity is of terrible peak, and wishes here to go to his death at my hands?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 53.25
एवम् उक्त्वा तदा विप्राश् चिन्ताविष्टो ऽभवन् मुनिः किं स्वप्नो ऽयं मया दृष्टः किं वा मोहो ऽयम् आगतः ॥
evam uktvā tadā viprāś cintāviṣṭo 'bhavan muniḥ kiṃ svapno 'yaṃ mayā dṛṣṭaḥ kiṃ vā moho 'yam āgataḥ //
Having spoken thus, O brahmins, the sage then became filled with thought: "Is this a dream I have seen, or has this delusion come upon me?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.26
इत्थं चिन्तयतस् तस्य उत्पन्ना दुःखहा मतिः व्रजामि शरणं देवं भक्त्याहं पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥
itthaṃ cintayatas tasya utpannā duḥkhahā matiḥ vrajāmi śaraṇaṃ devaṃ bhaktyāhaṃ puruṣottamam //
As he was thinking thus, a sorrow-dispelling thought arose in him: "With devotion I go for refuge to the god, the Supreme Person."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.27
स गत्वा शरणं देवं मुनिस् तद्गतमानसः ददर्श तं वटं भूयो विशालं सलिलोपरि ॥
sa gatvā śaraṇaṃ devaṃ munis tadgatamānasaḥ dadarśa taṃ vaṭaṃ bhūyo viśālaṃ salilopari //
He, the sage, having gone for refuge to the god, his mind fixed on him, saw again that banyan tree, vast, above the waters.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.28
शाखायां तस्य सौवर्णं विस्तीर्णायां महाद्भुतम् रुचिरं दिव्यपर्यङ्कं रचितं विश्वकर्मणा ॥
śākhāyāṃ tasya sauvarṇaṃ vistīrṇāyāṃ mahādbhutam ruciraṃ divyaparyaṅkaṃ racitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā //
On its wide branch (he saw) a golden, greatly wondrous, lovely, divine couch, fashioned by Viśvakarman,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.29
वज्रवैदूर्यरचितं मणिविद्रुमशोभितम् पद्मरागादिभिर् जुष्टं रत्नैर् अन्यैर् अलंकृतम् ॥
vajravaidūryaracitaṃ maṇividrumaśobhitam padmarāgādibhir juṣṭaṃ ratnair anyair alaṃkṛtam //
made of diamond and beryl, adorned with gems and coral, furnished with rubies and the rest, decked with other jewels,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.30
नानास्तरणसंवीतं नानारत्नोपशोभितम् नानाश्चर्यसमायुक्तं प्रभामण्डलमण्डितम् ॥
nānāstaraṇasaṃvītaṃ nānāratnopaśobhitam nānāścaryasamāyuktaṃ prabhāmaṇḍalamaṇḍitam //
covered with various spreads, beautified with various jewels, joined with various marvels, ringed with a halo of radiance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.31
तस्योपरि स्थितं देवं कृष्णं बालवपुर्धरम् सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशं दीप्यमानं सुवर्चसम् ॥
tasyopari sthitaṃ devaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ bālavapurdharam sūryakoṭipratīkāśaṃ dīpyamānaṃ suvarcasam //
Upon it (he saw) the god Kṛṣṇa, bearing the body of a child, resembling ten million suns, blazing, of fine splendour,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.32
चतुर्भुजं सुन्दराङ्गं पद्मपत्त्रायतेक्षणम् श्रीवत्सवक्षसं देवं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् ॥
caturbhujaṃ sundarāṅgaṃ padmapattrāyatekṣaṇam śrīvatsavakṣasaṃ devaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam //
four-armed, with beautiful limbs, with eyes long as lotus petals, the god with the śrīvatsa on his chest, bearing conch, discus and mace,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.33
वनमालावृतोरस्कं दिव्यकुण्डलधारिणम् हारभारार्पितग्रीवं दिव्यरत्नविभूषितम् ॥
vanamālāvṛtoraskaṃ divyakuṇḍaladhāriṇam hārabhārārpitagrīvaṃ divyaratnavibhūṣitam //
his chest wreathed with a forest garland, wearing divine earrings, his neck laden with the weight of necklaces, adorned with divine jewels.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.34
दृष्ट्वा तदा मुनिर् देवं विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः रोमाञ्चिततनुर् देवं प्रणिपत्येदम् अब्रवीत् ॥
dṛṣṭvā tadā munir devaṃ vismayotphullalocanaḥ romāñcitatanur devaṃ praṇipatyedam abravīt //
Then the sage, having seen the god, his eyes wide with amazement, his body bristling with thrill, bowed down to the god and said this:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.35
अहो चैकार्णवे घोरे विनष्टे सचराचरे कथम् एको ह्य् अयं बालस् तिष्ठत्य् अत्र सुनिर्भयः ॥
aho caikārṇave ghore vinaṣṭe sacarācare katham eko hy ayaṃ bālas tiṣṭhaty atra sunirbhayaḥ //
"Ah! In this terrible single ocean, when all that moves and does not move has perished, how does this child stand here alone, quite without fear?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.36
भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च जानन्न् अपि महामुनिः न बुबोध तदा देवं मायया तस्य मोहितः यदा न बुबुधे चैनं तदा खेदाद् उवाच ह ॥
bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca jānann api mahāmuniḥ na bubodha tadā devaṃ māyayā tasya mohitaḥ yadā na bubudhe cainaṃ tadā khedād uvāca ha //
Though the great sage knew what was, what is, and what will be, he did not then recognize the god, deluded by his māyā; and when he did not recognize him, then out of distress he spoke:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.37
वृथा मे तपसो वीर्यं वृथा ज्ञानं वृथा क्रिया वृथा मे जीवितं दीर्घं वृथा मानुष्यम् एव च ॥
vṛthā me tapaso vīryaṃ vṛthā jñānaṃ vṛthā kriyā vṛthā me jīvitaṃ dīrghaṃ vṛthā mānuṣyam eva ca //
"Vain is the power of my austerity, vain my knowledge, vain my rites, vain my long life, and vain indeed my human birth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.38
यो ऽहं सुप्तं न जानामि पर्यङ्के दिव्यबालकम् ॥
yo 'haṃ suptaṃ na jānāmi paryaṅke divyabālakam //
I who do not know this divine boy sleeping on the couch."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.39
एवं संचिन्तयन् विप्रः प्लवमानो विचेतनः त्राणार्थं विह्वलश् चासौ निर्वेदं गतवांस् तदा ॥
evaṃ saṃcintayan vipraḥ plavamāno vicetanaḥ trāṇārthaṃ vihvalaś cāsau nirvedaṃ gatavāṃs tadā //
Thus brooding, the brahmin, drifting on the water, senseless, and distraught for the sake of rescue, then fell into despair.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.40
ततो बालार्कसंकाशं स्वमहिम्ना व्यवस्थितम् सर्वतेजोमयं विप्रा न शशाकाभिवीक्षितुम् ॥
tato bālārkasaṃkāśaṃ svamahimnā vyavasthitam sarvatejomayaṃ viprā na śaśākābhivīkṣitum //
Then, O brahmins, he could not gaze at (him who was) like the young sun, established in his own greatness, made wholly of radiance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.41
दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिम् आयान्तं स बालः प्रहसन्न् इव प्रोवाच मुनिशार्दूलास् तदा मेघौघनिस्वनः ॥
dṛṣṭvā taṃ munim āyāntaṃ sa bālaḥ prahasann iva provāca muniśārdūlās tadā meghaughanisvanaḥ //
Seeing that sage approaching, the child, as if laughing, then spoke, O tigers among sages, with a voice like a mass of thunderclouds:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.42
वत्स जानामि श्रान्तं त्वां त्राणार्थं माम् उपस्थितम् शरीरं विश मे क्षिप्रं विश्रामस् ते मयोदितः ॥
vatsa jānāmi śrāntaṃ tvāṃ trāṇārthaṃ mām upasthitam śarīraṃ viśa me kṣipraṃ viśrāmas te mayoditaḥ //
"Child, I know you are weary and have come to me for rescue; enter my body quickly—rest is granted you by me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 53.43
श्रुत्वा स वचनं तस्य किंचिन् नोवाच मोहितः विवेश वदनं तस्य विवृतं चावशो मुनिः ॥
śrutvā sa vacanaṃ tasya kiṃcin novāca mohitaḥ viveśa vadanaṃ tasya vivṛtaṃ cāvaśo muniḥ //
Hearing his words he said nothing, being bewildered, and helplessly the sage entered his opened mouth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition