Brahmanda Purana — Purva Bhaga — Chapter 3

BndP 1 3.1

सूत उवाच शृणु तेषां कथां दिव्यां सर्वपापप्रमोचनीम् । कथ्यमानां मया चित्रां बह्वर्थां श्रुतिसंमताम्

sūta uvāca śṛṇu teṣāṃ kathāṃ divyāṃ sarvapāpapramocanīm / kathyamānāṃ mayā citrāṃ bahvarthāṃ śrutisaṃmatām

Sūta said: Hear their divine tale, releasing from all sins, marvellous, rich in meaning, approved by scripture, as it is told by me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.2

य इमां धारयेन्नित्यं शृणुयाद्वाप्यभीक्ष्णशः । स्ववंशं धारणं कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते

ya imāṃ dhārayennityaṃ śṛṇuyādvāpyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ / svavaṃśaṃ dhāraṇaṃ kṛtvā svargaloke mahīyate

Whoever should constantly hold this in mind, or should hear it again and again, having made his own lineage secure, is honoured in the world of heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.3

विश्वतारा या च पञ्च यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम् । कीर्त्यमानं निबोधार्थं पूर्वेषां कीर्त्तिवर्द्धनम्

viśvatārā yā ca pañca yathāvṛttaṃ yathāśrutam / kīrtyamānaṃ nibodhārthaṃ pūrveṣāṃ kīrttivarddhanam

And the five that carry (one) across the universe—just as it happened, just as it was heard—being recited: understand its purport, (it is) the increase of the fame of the ancestors.

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

BndP 1 3.4

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं शत्रुघ्नमेव च । कीर्त्तनं स्थिरकीर्तीनां सर्वेषां पुण्यकर्मणाम्

dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ śatrughnameva ca / kīrttanaṃ sthirakīrtīnāṃ sarveṣāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām

The celebration of all those of enduring fame, of holy deeds, is bestowing of wealth, of glory, of long life, of heaven, and destructive of enemies.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.5

यस्मात्कल्पायते कल्पः समग्रं शुचये शुचिः । तस्मै हिरण्यगर्भाय पुरुषायेश्वराय च

yasmātkalpāyate kalpaḥ samagraṃ śucaye śuciḥ / tasmai hiraṇyagarbhāya puruṣāyeśvarāya ca

Since through him the aeon becomes an aeon, wholly, the pure one for the pure—to him, Hiraṇyagarbha, the Puruṣa and the Lord,

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

BndP 1 3.6

अजाय प्रथमायैव वरिष्ठाय प्रजासृजे । ब्रह्मणे लोकतन्त्राय नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवे

ajāya prathamāyaiva variṣṭhāya prajāsṛje / brahmaṇe lokatantrāya namaskṛtya svayaṃbhuve

to the unborn, the very first, the most excellent, the creator of creatures, to Brahmā, the ordainer of the worlds, the Self-existent—having made obeisance,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.7

महदाद्यं विशेषान्तं सवैरूप्यं सलक्षणम् । पञ्चप्रमाणं षद्श्रान्तः पुरुषाधिष्ठितं च यत्

mahadādyaṃ viśeṣāntaṃ savairūpyaṃ salakṣaṇam / pañcapramāṇaṃ ṣadśrāntaḥ puruṣādhiṣṭhitaṃ ca yat

that which begins with the Great One and ends with the particulars, with its diversity of forms and its characteristics, of five measures, six ... , and presided over by the Puruṣa—

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

BndP 1 3.8

आसंयमात्प्रवक्ष्यामि भूतसर्गमनुत्तमम् । अव्यक्तं कारणं यत्तन्नित्यं सदसदात्मकम्

āsaṃyamātpravakṣyāmi bhūtasargamanuttamam / avyaktaṃ kāraṇaṃ yattannityaṃ sadasadātmakam

from (its) restraint I shall declare the unsurpassed creation of beings. The unmanifest is that cause which is eternal, having the nature of both being and non-being,

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

BndP 1 3.9

प्रधानं प्रकृतिं चैव यमाहुस्तत्त्वचिन्तकाः । गन्धरूपरसैर्हीनं शब्दस्पर्शविवर्जितम्

pradhānaṃ prakṛtiṃ caiva yamāhustattvacintakāḥ / gandharūparasairhīnaṃ śabdasparśavivarjitam

which the ponderers of the principles call the pradhāna and the prakṛti, devoid of smell, form and taste, free of sound and touch,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.10

जगद्योनिम्महाभूतं परं ब्रह्मसनातनम् । विग्रहं सर्वभूतानामव्यक्तमभवत्किल

jagadyonimmahābhūtaṃ paraṃ brahmasanātanam / vigrahaṃ sarvabhūtānāmavyaktamabhavatkila

the womb of the world, the great being, the supreme eternal brahman, the body of all beings—so indeed the unmanifest was.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.11

अनाद्यन्तमजं सूक्ष्मं त्रिगुणं प्रभवाप्ययम् । असांप्रतिकमज्ञेयं ब्रह्म यत्सदसत्परम्

anādyantamajaṃ sūkṣmaṃ triguṇaṃ prabhavāpyayam / asāṃpratikamajñeyaṃ brahma yatsadasatparam

Without beginning or end, unborn, subtle, having the three qualities, (the source of) origin and dissolution, not belonging to the present, unknowable — that Brahman which is beyond the existent and the non-existent.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.12

तस्यात्मना सर्वमिदं व्याप्तमासीत्तमोमयम् । गुणसाम्ये तदा तस्मिन्नविभातं तमोमयम्

tasyātmanā sarvamidaṃ vyāptamāsīttamomayam / guṇasāmye tadā tasminnavibhātaṃ tamomayam

By its own self all this was pervaded, consisting of darkness; then, when the qualities were in equilibrium, in that (state) it was unmanifest, consisting of darkness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.13

सर्गकाले प्रधानस्य क्षत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितस्य वै । गुणभावाद्भासमाने महातत्त्व बभूव ह

sargakāle pradhānasya kṣatrajñādhiṣṭhitasya vai / guṇabhāvādbhāsamāne mahātattva babhūva ha

At the time of creation, when the pradhāna, presided over by the knower of the field, was shining forth by reason of the (activated) state of the qualities, the great principle (mahat) came into being.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.14

सूक्ष्मः स तु महानग्रे अव्यक्तेन समावृतः । सत्त्वोद्रेको महानग्रे सत्त्वमात्रप्रकाशकः

sūkṣmaḥ sa tu mahānagre avyaktena samāvṛtaḥ / sattvodreko mahānagre sattvamātraprakāśakaḥ

But that Great One (mahat) was at first subtle, enveloped by the unmanifest; the Great One was at first predominant in sattva, illuminating sattva alone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.15

सत्त्वान्महान्स विज्ञेय एकस्तत्कारणः समृतः । निङ्गमात्रं समुत्पन्नं क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्टितं महत्

sattvānmahānsa vijñeya ekastatkāraṇaḥ samṛtaḥ / niṅgamātraṃ samutpannaṃ kṣetrajñādhiṣṭitaṃ mahat

He is to be known as the Great One from (his) sattva; he alone is declared to be the cause of that. Arisen as mere stirring, the mahat is presided over by the knower of the field.

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

BndP 1 3.16

संकल्पो ऽध्यवसायश्च तस्य वृत्तिद्वयं स्मृतम् । महासृष्टिं च कुरुते वीतमानः सिसृक्षया

saṃkalpo 'dhyavasāyaśca tasya vṛttidvayaṃ smṛtam / mahāsṛṣṭiṃ ca kurute vītamānaḥ sisṛkṣayā

Conception (saṃkalpa) and determination (adhyavasāya) are declared to be its two functions; and, free from (self-)regard, it brings about the great creation out of the desire to create.

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

BndP 1 3.17

धर्मादीनि च भूतानि लोकतत्त्वार्थहेतवः । मनो महात्मनि ब्रह्म दुर्बुद्धिख्यातिरीश्वरात्

dharmādīni ca bhūtāni lokatattvārthahetavaḥ / mano mahātmani brahma durbuddhikhyātirīśvarāt

And the beings beginning with dharma are the causes of the world's principles and purposes; mind (is) Brahman in the Great Self, (while) faulty understanding is called (such) from the Lord.

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

BndP 1 3.18

प्रज्ञासंधिश्च सर्वस्वं संख्यायतनरश्मिभिः । मनुते सर्वभूतानां तस्माच्चेष्टफलो विभुः

prajñāsaṃdhiśca sarvasvaṃ saṃkhyāyatanaraśmibhiḥ / manute sarvabhūtānāṃ tasmācceṣṭaphalo vibhuḥ

And the joining of understanding, the whole totality, by means of the rays of the seats of enumeration — it thinks for all beings; therefore the mighty one has action as its fruit.

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

BndP 1 3.19

भोक्ता त्राता विभक्तात्मा वर्त्तनं मन उच्यते । तत्त्वानां संग्रहे यस्मान्महांश्च परिमाणतः

bhoktā trātā vibhaktātmā varttanaṃ mana ucyate / tattvānāṃ saṃgrahe yasmānmahāṃśca parimāṇataḥ

The enjoyer, the protector, the self that is divided — the mode of operation is called mind; since in the aggregate of the principles it is great also in extent,

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

BndP 1 3.20

शेषेभ्यो गुणातत्त्वेभ्यो महानिव तनुः स्मृतः । विभक्तिमानं मनुते विभागं मन्यते ऽपि वा

śeṣebhyo guṇātattvebhyo mahāniva tanuḥ smṛtaḥ / vibhaktimānaṃ manute vibhāgaṃ manyate 'pi vā

compared with the remaining principles of the qualities it is reckoned as great, as (their) body; it thinks the measure of division, or else it conceives division.

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

BndP 1 3.21

पुरुषो भोगसंबन्धात्तेन चासौ सति स्मृतः । बृहत्त्वाद्वृंहणत्वाच्च भावानामखिलाश्रयात्

puruṣo bhogasaṃbandhāttena cāsau sati smṛtaḥ / bṛhattvādvṛṃhaṇatvācca bhāvānāmakhilāśrayāt

The puruṣa (is so called) from its connection with enjoyment, and by that it is reckoned as existing; from (its) greatness and from (its) causing to grow, and because it is the support of all states of being —

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

BndP 1 3.22

यस्माद्वृंहयत भावान् ब्रह्मा तेन निरुच्यते । आपूरयति यस्माच्च सर्वान् देहाननुग्रहैः

yasmādvṛṃhayata bhāvān brahmā tena nirucyate / āpūrayati yasmācca sarvān dehānanugrahaiḥ

since he makes the states of being grow, he is therefore called Brahmā; and since he fills all bodies with (his) favours,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.23

बुध्यते पुरुषश्चात्र सर्वान् भावान्पृथक् पृथक् । तस्मिंस्तु कार्यकरणं संसिद्धं ब्रह्मणः पुरा

budhyate puruṣaścātra sarvān bhāvānpṛthak pṛthak / tasmiṃstu kāryakaraṇaṃ saṃsiddhaṃ brahmaṇaḥ purā

and the puruṣa here comes to know all the states of being one by one; and in him the effect and the instrument were fully established long ago, belonging to Brahman.

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

BndP 1 3.26

प्राकृतं देवि वर्तं मां क्षेत्रज्ञो ब्रह्मसंमितः । स वै शरीरी प्रथमः पुरा पुरुष उच्यते ॥ ब्न्द्प्_१,३।२४ ॥ आदिकर्त्ता स भूतानां ब्रह्माग्रे समवर्त्तिनाम् ॥ ब्न्द्प्_१,३।२५ ॥ हिरण्यगभः सो ऽण्डे ऽस्मिन्प्रादुर्भूतश्चतुर्मुखः । सर्गे च प्रतिसर्गे च क्षेत्रज्ञो ब्रह्म संसितः

prākṛtaṃ devi vartaṃ māṃ kṣetrajño brahmasaṃmitaḥ / sa vai śarīrī prathamaḥ purā puruṣa ucyate // bndp_1,3.24 // ādikarttā sa bhūtānāṃ brahmāgre samavarttinām // bndp_1,3.25 // hiraṇyagabhaḥ so 'ṇḍe 'sminprādurbhūtaścaturmukhaḥ / sarge ca pratisarge ca kṣetrajño brahma saṃsitaḥ

"(...) the primordial (...), O goddess, (...)" — the knower of the field, equal to Brahman, he indeed, the first embodied one, is of old called puruṣa. (3.24) He is the primal maker of the beings, Brahmā, existing at the beginning together (with them). (3.25) He, the Golden Embryo, appeared within this egg as the four-faced one; in creation and in re-creation the knower of the field is called Brahman.

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

BndP 1 3.27

करणैः सह पृच्छन्ते प्रत्याहारेस्त्यजन्ति च । भजन्ते च पुनर्देहांस्ते समाहारसंधिसु

karaṇaiḥ saha pṛcchante pratyāhārestyajanti ca / bhajante ca punardehāṃste samāhārasaṃdhisu

Together with the instruments they (…) and at the withdrawals they abandon (them); and they resort to bodies again at the junctures of aggregation.

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

BndP 1 3.28

हिरण्मयस्तु यो मेरुस्तस्योद्धर्तुर्महात्मनः । गर्तोदकं सबुदास्तु हरेयुश्चापि पञ्चताः

hiraṇmayastu yo merustasyoddharturmahātmanaḥ / gartodakaṃ sabudāstu hareyuścāpi pañcatāḥ

But (as for) the golden Meru, of that great one who lifts it up (…) the water of the pit, and (…) they would carry off the five (…)

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

BndP 1 3.29

यस्मिन्नण्ड इमे लोकाः सप्त वै संप्रतिष्ठिताः । पृथिवी सप्तभिर्द्वीपैः समुद्रैः सह सप्तभिः

yasminnaṇḍa ime lokāḥ sapta vai saṃpratiṣṭhitāḥ / pṛthivī saptabhirdvīpaiḥ samudraiḥ saha saptabhiḥ

In that egg these seven worlds are indeed established: the earth with its seven continents together with the seven oceans,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.30

पर्वतैः सुमहद्भिश्च नदीभिश्च सहस्रशः । अन्तःस्थस्य त्विमे लोका अन्तर्विश्वमिदं जगत्

parvataiḥ sumahadbhiśca nadībhiśca sahasraśaḥ / antaḥsthasya tvime lokā antarviśvamidaṃ jagat

with the very great mountains and with rivers by the thousands; these worlds belong to (him) who dwells within, and this whole universe is within.

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

BndP 1 3.31

चन्द्रादित्यौ सनक्षतौ संग्रहः सह वायुना । लोकालोकं च यत् किञ्चिदण्डे तस्मिन्प्रतिष्टितम्

candrādityau sanakṣatau saṃgrahaḥ saha vāyunā / lokālokaṃ ca yat kiñcidaṇḍe tasminpratiṣṭitam

The moon and the sun with the constellations, the assemblage (of planets) together with the wind, and whatever else there is of world and non-world — it is established in that egg.

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

BndP 1 3.32

आपो दशगुणे नैव तेजसा बाह्यतो वृताः । तेजो दशगुणेनैव बाह्यतो वायुना वृतम्

āpo daśaguṇe naiva tejasā bāhyato vṛtāḥ / tejo daśaguṇenaiva bāhyato vāyunā vṛtam

The waters, tenfold (in extent), are enveloped from outside by fire; the fire, tenfold, is enveloped from outside by wind.

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

BndP 1 3.33

वायुर्दशगुणेनैव बाह्यतो नभसा वृतः । आकाशमावृतं सर्वं बहिर्भूतादिना तथा

vāyurdaśaguṇenaiva bāhyato nabhasā vṛtaḥ / ākāśamāvṛtaṃ sarvaṃ bahirbhūtādinā tathā

Wind, in turn, is enveloped from outside by ether, ten times (its extent); and all of space is likewise enveloped outside by the origin of the elements (i.e. ego, bhūtādi).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.34

भूतादिर्महता चैव प्रधानेनावृतो महान् । एभिरावरणैरण्डं सप्तभिः प्राकृतैर्वृतम्

bhūtādirmahatā caiva pradhānenāvṛto mahān / ebhirāvaraṇairaṇḍaṃ saptabhiḥ prākṛtairvṛtam

And the origin of the elements (is enveloped) by the great one (mahat), and the great one by the primordial matter (pradhāna). By these seven material coverings the egg is enveloped.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.35

इच्छया वृत्य चान्योन्यमरणे प्रकृतयः स्थितः । प्रसर्गकाले स्थित्वा च ग्रसंतस्च परस्परम्

icchayā vṛtya cānyonyamaraṇe prakṛtayaḥ sthitaḥ / prasargakāle sthitvā ca grasaṃtasca parasparam

And the primary principles (prakṛtis), having enveloped one another by (their own) will, remained in the egg; and at the time of creation they stand and devour one another.

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

BndP 1 3.36

एवं परस्परैश्चैव धारयन्ति परस्परम् । आधाराधेयभावेन विकारास्ते विकारिषु

evaṃ parasparaiścaiva dhārayanti parasparam / ādhārādheyabhāvena vikārāste vikāriṣu

Thus by one another they support one another mutually: those modifications (rest) in the things to be modified, by the relation of support and supported.

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

BndP 1 3.37

अव्यक्तं क्षेत्रमित्युक्तं ब्रह्म क्षेत्रज्ञमुच्यते । इत्येवं प्राकृतः सर्गः क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितस्तु सः

avyaktaṃ kṣetramityuktaṃ brahma kṣetrajñamucyate / ityevaṃ prākṛtaḥ sargaḥ kṣetrajñādhiṣṭhitastu saḥ

The unmanifest is called the field, and brahman is said to be the knower of the field. Thus this is the creation of primordial matter, presided over by the knower of the field.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BndP 1 3.38

अबुद्धिपूर्वः प्रथमः प्रादुर्भूतस्तडिद्यथा । एतद्धिरण्यगर्भस्य चन्म यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः । आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमान्धन्यः प्रज्ञावांश्च न संशयः

abuddhipūrvaḥ prathamaḥ prādurbhūtastaḍidyathā / etaddhiraṇyagarbhasya canma yo vetti tattvataḥ / āyuṣmānkīrtimāndhanyaḥ prajñāvāṃśca na saṃśayaḥ

The first (creation) came forth without being preceded by intellect, like a flash of lightning. Whoever knows in truth this birth of Hiraṇyagarbha becomes long-lived, renowned, wealthy and wise—there is no doubt.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition