Brahmavaivarta Purana — Brahma Khanda — Chapter 23

BvP 1 23.1

सौतिरुवाच ।। स्रष्टा सृष्टिविधानेन नियोज्य सर्वबालकान् ।। नारदं प्रेरयामास सृष्टिं कर्त्तुं च शौनक नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं कुर्वन्ति गृहिणः सदा ।। इह एतत्सुखं पुण्यं स्वर्गभोगः परत्र च दारग्रहो हि दुःखाय केवलं न सुखाय च ।। तपःस्वर्गभक्तिमुक्तिकर्मणां व्यवधायकः प्रकोपे विषतुल्यं च विश्वासे सर्वनाशनम् ।। दुर्ज्ञेयं तदभिप्रायं निगूढं कर्म केवलम् इत्युक्त्वा नारदस्तत्र धृत्वा तातपदाम्बुजम् ।। आज्ञां ययाचे पितरं गन्तु तपसि मङ्गले

sautiruvāca || sraṣṭā sṛṣṭividhānena niyojya sarvabālakān || nāradaṃ prerayāmāsa sṛṣṭiṃ karttuṃ ca śaunaka nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ kurvanti gṛhiṇaḥ sadā || iha etatsukhaṃ puṇyaṃ svargabhogaḥ paratra ca dāragraho hi duḥkhāya kevalaṃ na sukhāya ca || tapaḥsvargabhaktimuktikarmaṇāṃ vyavadhāyakaḥ prakope viṣatulyaṃ ca viśvāse sarvanāśanam || durjñeyaṃ tadabhiprāyaṃ nigūḍhaṃ karma kevalam ityuktvā nāradastatra dhṛtvā tātapadāmbujam || ājñāṃ yayāce pitaraṃ gantu tapasi maṅgale

Sauti said: The creator, having appointed all his sons to the ordinance of creation, urged Nārada also to carry out creation, O Śaunaka. "Householders always perform the obligatory, the occasional, and the optional rites; here (they have) this happiness and merit, and in the other world enjoyment of heaven." (Nārada replied:) "Taking a wife is only for sorrow and not for happiness; it is an obstruction to the acts of asceticism, heaven, devotion and liberation. When angered (a wife) is like poison, and when trusted she is the ruin of everything; her intent is hard to know, her conduct utterly hidden." Having said this, Nārada, holding his father's lotus feet, begged his father for permission to go to auspicious asceticism.

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

BvP 1 23.2

हितं सत्यं वेदसारं परिणामसुखावहम् ।। उवाच नारदं ब्रह्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगम्

hitaṃ satyaṃ vedasāraṃ pariṇāmasukhāvaham || uvāca nāradaṃ brahmā vedavedāṅgapāragam

Brahmā spoke to Nārada, who had gone to the far shore of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, (words) beneficial, true, the essence of the Veda, bringing happiness in their outcome.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.3

ब्रह्मोवाच ।। एहि वत्स कुलश्रेष्ठ नारद प्राणवल्लभ ।। ज्ञानदीपशिखाज्ञानतिमिरक्षयकारक

brahmovāca || ehi vatsa kulaśreṣṭha nārada prāṇavallabha || jñānadīpaśikhājñānatimirakṣayakāraka

Brahmā said: Come, child, best of the family, Nārada, dear as life, flame of the lamp of knowledge, destroyer of the darkness of ignorance!

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.4

पूर्वेषामपि वन्द्यानां जनकः परमो गुरुः ।। विद्यादाता मन्त्रदाता द्वौ समौ च पितुः परौ

pūrveṣāmapi vandyānāṃ janakaḥ paramo guruḥ || vidyādātā mantradātā dvau samau ca pituḥ parau

The father is the highest guru even of those elders who are to be revered; the giver of learning and the giver of the mantra — these two are equal (to him), and (even) superior to the father.

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

BvP 1 23.5

तवाहं जनकः पुत्र विद्यादाता च पालकः ।। ममाज्ञया च मत्प्रीत्या कुरु दारपरिग्रहम्

tavāhaṃ janakaḥ putra vidyādātā ca pālakaḥ || mamājñayā ca matprītyā kuru dāraparigraham

I am your father, son, and the giver of learning and your protector; by my command and for my pleasure, take a wife.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.6

स च शिष्यः सोऽपि पुत्रो यश्चाज्ञां पालयेद्गुरोः ।। न क्षेमं तस्य मूढस्य यो गुरोरवचस्करः

sa ca śiṣyaḥ so'pi putro yaścājñāṃ pālayedguroḥ || na kṣemaṃ tasya mūḍhasya yo guroravacaskaraḥ

He is a disciple and he too is a son who obeys the command of the guru; there is no welfare for that fool who does not do the guru's bidding.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.7

स पण्डितः स च ज्ञानी स क्षेमी स च पुण्यवान् ।। गुरोवर्चस्करो यो हि क्षेमं तस्य पदे पदे ।।

sa paṇḍitaḥ sa ca jñānī sa kṣemī sa ca puṇyavān || gurovarcaskaro yo hi kṣemaṃ tasya pade pade ||

He is learned, he is wise, he is secure and he is meritorious; for whoever does the guru's bidding, welfare (attends him) at every step.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.8

सर्वेषामाश्रमाणां च प्रधानः पुण्यवान्गृही।। स्त्रीपुत्रपौत्रयुक्तं च मन्दिरं तपसः फलम्

sarveṣāmāśramāṇāṃ ca pradhānaḥ puṇyavāngṛhī|| strīputrapautrayuktaṃ ca mandiraṃ tapasaḥ phalam

The meritorious householder is the foremost of all the āśramas; and a home furnished with wife, sons and grandsons is the fruit of austerity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.9

पितरः पूर्वकाले च तिथिकाले च देवताः ।। सर्वे गृहस्थमायान्ति निपानमिव धेनवः

pitaraḥ pūrvakāle ca tithikāle ca devatāḥ || sarve gṛhasthamāyānti nipānamiva dhenavaḥ

The ancestors at the appointed early time and the gods at the time of the lunar days — all come to the householder, as cows to a watering trough.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.11

जीवन्मुक्तो गृहस्थश्च स्वधर्मपरिपालकः ।। यशस्वी पुण्यवांश्चैव कीर्तिमान्धनवान्सुखी

jīvanmukto gṛhasthaśca svadharmaparipālakaḥ || yaśasvī puṇyavāṃścaiva kīrtimāndhanavānsukhī

The householder who maintains his own dharma is liberated while living: renowned, meritorious, famous, wealthy and happy.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.12

यशस्वी कीर्तिमान्यो हि मृतो जीवति सन्ततम् ।। यशःकीर्तिविहीनो हि जीवन्नपि मृतो हि सः

yaśasvī kīrtimānyo hi mṛto jīvati santatam || yaśaḥkīrtivihīno hi jīvannapi mṛto hi saḥ

He who is renowned and famous, though dead, lives on continually; but he who lacks renown and fame, though living, is indeed dead.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.13

ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः ।। उवाच विनयं भीतः शुष्कण्ठौष्ठतालुकः

brahmaṇo vacanaṃ śrutvā nārado munisattamaḥ || uvāca vinayaṃ bhītaḥ śuṣkaṇṭhauṣṭhatālukaḥ

Hearing Brahmā's words, Nārada, best of sages, afraid, his throat, lips and palate dry, spoke respectfully.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.14

नारद उवाच।। एकदा वाग्विरोधेन चोभयोस्तातपुत्रयोः ।। हानिर्बभूव दैवेन महती वाऽयशस्करी

nārada uvāca|| ekadā vāgvirodhena cobhayostātaputrayoḥ || hānirbabhūva daivena mahatī vā'yaśaskarī

Nārada said: Once, through a quarrel of words between the two of us, father and son, there came about by fate a great loss, indeed a disgrace.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.15

मया प्राप्तं च त्वच्छापाद्गान्धर्वं शौद्रमेव च ।। जन्म कर्म च मच्छापात्त्वमपूज्यो भवे भव

mayā prāptaṃ ca tvacchāpādgāndharvaṃ śaudrameva ca || janma karma ca macchāpāttvamapūjyo bhave bhava

By your curse I obtained birth and occupation as a Gandharva and as a Śūdra; and by my curse: "May you become unworthy of worship in the world."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.16

बभूव शापो मुक्तो मे काले ते भविता विधे ।। दोषाय कल्पते शश्वद्विरोधो न गुणाय च

babhūva śāpo mukto me kāle te bhavitā vidhe || doṣāya kalpate śaśvadvirodho na guṇāya ca

My curse has been released; in time it will come upon you, O Vidhi. Quarrelling always makes for fault and never for merit.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.17

स पिता स गुरुर्बन्धुः स पुत्रः समधीश्वरः ।। यः श्रीकृष्णपादपद्मे दृढां भक्तिं च कारयेत्

sa pitā sa gururbandhuḥ sa putraḥ samadhīśvaraḥ || yaḥ śrīkṛṣṇapādapadme dṛḍhāṃ bhaktiṃ ca kārayet

He is a father, he a guru, a kinsman, he a son and a full lord, who brings about firm devotion at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.18

असद्वर्त्मनि चाज्ञानाद्गच्छन्ति यदि बालकाः ।। निवर्त्तयति तानेव स पिता करुणानिधिः

asadvartmani cājñānādgacchanti yadi bālakāḥ || nivarttayati tāneva sa pitā karuṇānidhiḥ

And if children out of ignorance go upon an evil path, that father, a treasury of compassion, turns them back from it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.19

कारयित्वा कृष्णपादे भक्तित्यागं च यः पिता ।। अन्यस्मिन्विषये पुत्रं स किं हन्तुं प्रवर्त्तयेत्

kārayitvā kṛṣṇapāde bhaktityāgaṃ ca yaḥ pitā || anyasminviṣaye putraṃ sa kiṃ hantuṃ pravarttayet

A father who has (his son) practise devotion to Kṛṣṇa's feet, and the renunciation (of all else)—how would he set his son upon another object so as to destroy him?

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

BvP 1 23.21

योषितस्त्रिविधा ब्रह्मन्गृहिणां मूढचेतसाम् ।। साध्वी भोग्या च कुलटास्ताः सर्वाः स्वार्थतत्पराः

yoṣitastrividhā brahmangṛhiṇāṃ mūḍhacetasām || sādhvī bhogyā ca kulaṭāstāḥ sarvāḥ svārthatatparāḥ

Brahmā, the wives of householders whose minds are deluded are of three kinds: the virtuous, the pleasure-object, and the unchaste—and all of them are intent on their own advantage.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.22

परलोकभिया साध्वी तथेह यशसाऽऽत्मनः ।। कामस्नेहाच्च कुरुते भर्तुः सेवां च सन्ततम्

paralokabhiyā sādhvī tatheha yaśasā''tmanaḥ || kāmasnehācca kurute bhartuḥ sevāṃ ca santatam

The virtuous one, from fear of the next world and likewise for her own reputation here, and out of desire and affection, performs service to her husband continually.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.23

भोग्या भोगार्थिनी शश्वत्कामस्नेहेन केवलम् ।। कुरुते कान्तसेवा च न च भोगादृते क्षणम्

bhogyā bhogārthinī śaśvatkāmasnehena kevalam || kurute kāntasevā ca na ca bhogādṛte kṣaṇam

The pleasure-object, always seeking enjoyment, performs service to her lover merely out of lustful attachment, and not for a moment without enjoyment.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.24

वस्त्रालंकारसम्भोगसुस्निग्धाहारमुत्तमम् ।। यावत्प्राप्नोति सा भोग्या तावच्च वशगा प्रिया

vastrālaṃkārasambhogasusnigdhāhāramuttamam || yāvatprāpnoti sā bhogyā tāvacca vaśagā priyā

As long as she obtains clothes, ornaments, sexual enjoyment and excellent, very rich food, so long is that pleasure-object a compliant beloved.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.25

कुलाङ्गारसमा नारी कुलटा कुलनाशिनी ।। कपटात्कुरुते सेवां स्वामिनो न च भक्तितः

kulāṅgārasamā nārī kulaṭā kulanāśinī || kapaṭātkurute sevāṃ svāmino na ca bhaktitaḥ

The unchaste woman, like a firebrand to her family, is the destroyer of the family; she serves her husband out of deceit, and not out of devotion.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.26

सदा पुंयोगमाशंसुर्मनसा मदनातुरा।। आहारादधिकं जारं प्रार्थयन्ती नवं नवम्

sadā puṃyogamāśaṃsurmanasā madanāturā|| āhārādadhikaṃ jāraṃ prārthayantī navaṃ navam

Always hoping in her mind for union with a man, tormented by desire, she craves a lover more than food—a new one each time.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.27

जारार्थे स्वपतिं तात हन्तुमिच्छति पुंश्चली ।। तस्यां यो विश्वसेन्मूढो जीवनं तस्य निष्फलम्

jārārthe svapatiṃ tāta hantumicchati puṃścalī || tasyāṃ yo viśvasenmūḍho jīvanaṃ tasya niṣphalam

For the sake of a paramour, dear one, the wanton woman wishes to kill her own husband; the fool who would trust in her—his life is fruitless.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.28

कथिता योषितः सर्वा उत्तमाधममध्यमाः ।। स्वात्मारामा विजानन्ति मनस्तासां न पण्डिताः

kathitā yoṣitaḥ sarvā uttamādhamamadhyamāḥ || svātmārāmā vijānanti manastāsāṃ na paṇḍitāḥ

All women have been described, the best, the worst and the middling; those who delight in their own selves understand their minds—learned men do not.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.29

हृदयं क्षुरधाराभं शरत्पद्मोत्सवं मुखम् ।। सुधासमं सुमधुरं वचनं स्वार्थसिद्धये

hṛdayaṃ kṣuradhārābhaṃ śaratpadmotsavaṃ mukham || sudhāsamaṃ sumadhuraṃ vacanaṃ svārthasiddhaye

(Their) heart is like the edge of a razor, (their) face a festival of autumn lotuses, (their) speech very sweet, like nectar—(all) for the accomplishment of their own ends.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.31

सदा तासामविनयः प्रबलं साहसं परम् ।। दोषोत्कर्षश्छलोत्कर्षः शश्वन्माया दुरत्यया

sadā tāsāmavinayaḥ prabalaṃ sāhasaṃ param || doṣotkarṣaśchalotkarṣaḥ śaśvanmāyā duratyayā

They have always immodesty, powerful and extreme rashness, an excess of faults, an excess of trickery, and perpetual deceit hard to get past.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.32

पुंसश्चाष्टगुणः कामः शश्वत्कामो जगद्गुरो ।। आहारो द्विगुणो नित्यं नैष्ठुर्य्यं च चतुर्गुणम्

puṃsaścāṣṭaguṇaḥ kāmaḥ śaśvatkāmo jagadguro || āhāro dviguṇo nityaṃ naiṣṭhuryyaṃ ca caturguṇam

Their desire is eight times that of a man, O teacher of the world, desire perpetual; their eating is always double, and their harshness fourfold.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.33

कोपः पुंसः षड्गुणश्च व्यवसायश्च निश्चितम्।। यत्रेमे दोषनिवहाः काऽऽस्था तत्र पितामह

kopaḥ puṃsaḥ ṣaḍguṇaśca vyavasāyaśca niścitam|| yatreme doṣanivahāḥ kā''sthā tatra pitāmaha

Their anger is six times a man's, and their determination likewise, assuredly; where these masses of faults are, what reliance is there there, O grandfather?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.34

का क्रीडा किं सुखं पुंसो विण्मूत्रमलवेश्मनि।। तेजः प्रनष्टं सम्भोगे दिवालापे यशःक्षयः

kā krīḍā kiṃ sukhaṃ puṃso viṇmūtramalaveśmani|| tejaḥ pranaṣṭaṃ sambhoge divālāpe yaśaḥkṣayaḥ

What sport, what pleasure is there for a man in a house of dung, urine and filth? Vigour is destroyed in intercourse, and in daytime dalliance there is loss of fame.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.35

धनक्षयोऽतिप्रीतौ चात्यासक्तौ च वपुःक्षयः।। साहित्ये पौरुषं नष्टं कलहे माननाशनम् ।। सर्वनाशश्च विश्वासे ब्रह्मन्नारीषु किं सुखम्

dhanakṣayo'tiprītau cātyāsaktau ca vapuḥkṣayaḥ|| sāhitye pauruṣaṃ naṣṭaṃ kalahe mānanāśanam || sarvanāśaśca viśvāse brahmannārīṣu kiṃ sukham

In excessive fondness there is loss of wealth, and in excessive attachment loss of body; in company (with them) manliness is destroyed, in quarrelling honour is lost, and in trusting (them) there is total ruin—Brahmā, what pleasure is there in women?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.36

यावद्धनी च तेजस्वी सश्रीको योग्यतापरः ।। पुमान्नारीं वशीकर्तुं समर्थस्तावदेव हि

yāvaddhanī ca tejasvī saśrīko yogyatāparaḥ || pumānnārīṃ vaśīkartuṃ samarthastāvadeva hi

Only so long as a man is wealthy, vigorous, prosperous and highly capable, is he able to keep a woman under his control.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.37

रोगिणं निर्द्धनं वृद्धं योषिद्वै प्रेक्षतेऽप्रियम् ।। लोकाचारभयात्तस्मै ददात्याहारमल्पकम्

rogiṇaṃ nirddhanaṃ vṛddhaṃ yoṣidvai prekṣate'priyam || lokācārabhayāttasmai dadātyāhāramalpakam

A woman indeed looks upon a man who is sick, poor and old as unloved; from fear of social custom she gives him a little food.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.38

इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं ब्रह्मन्नात्मागमो यथा ।। सर्वं जानासि सर्वज्ञ स्वात्मारामेश्वरो भवान्

ityevaṃ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ brahmannātmāgamo yathā || sarvaṃ jānāsi sarvajña svātmārāmeśvaro bhavān

Thus everything has been told, Brahmā, according to my own tradition; you know it all, O all-knowing one—you are the lord of those who delight in the Self.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.39

अनुग्रहं कुरु विभो विदायं देहि साम्प्रतम् ।। कृष्णभक्तिं प्रार्थयामि त्वयि कल्पतरोः परे

anugrahaṃ kuru vibho vidāyaṃ dehi sāmpratam || kṛṣṇabhaktiṃ prārthayāmi tvayi kalpataroḥ pare

Show favour, O mighty one, grant now a boon; I ask of you devotion to Kṛṣṇa, you who are beyond the wish-fulfilling tree.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.41

कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः।। कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं नत्वा ब्रह्माणं गन्तुमुद्यतः

kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā bhaktinamrātmakandharaḥ|| kṛtvā pradakṣiṇaṃ natvā brahmāṇaṃ gantumudyataḥ

With his palms joined in reverence and his neck bent low in devotion, having circled (Brahmā) to the right and bowed, he made ready to go.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.42

गच्छन्तं तनयं दृष्ट्वा विधाता जगतां मुने ।। रुरोदोच्चैर्मुक्तकण्ठं महासांसारिको यथा

gacchantaṃ tanayaṃ dṛṣṭvā vidhātā jagatāṃ mune || rurodoccairmuktakaṇṭhaṃ mahāsāṃsāriko yathā

Seeing his son departing, the creator of the worlds, O sage, wept aloud with unrestrained throat, like a man deeply attached to worldly life.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.43

करे धृत्वा समालिङ्ग्य चुचुम्ब च पुनः पुनः ।। चिरं वक्षसि कृत्वा च वासयामास जानुनि

kare dhṛtvā samāliṅgya cucumba ca punaḥ punaḥ || ciraṃ vakṣasi kṛtvā ca vāsayāmāsa jānuni

Taking (him) by the hand, embracing (him), he kissed (him) again and again, and holding (him) long upon his chest, he made (him) sit upon his knee.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.44

स्वात्मारामेश्वरो ब्रह्मा योगीन्द्राणां गुरोर्गुरुः ।। भेद सोढुं न शक्तोऽभूद्विच्छेदो दुःसहो नृणाम्

svātmārāmeśvaro brahmā yogīndrāṇāṃ gurorguruḥ || bheda soḍhuṃ na śakto'bhūdvicchedo duḥsaho nṛṇām

Brahmā, the lord of those who take delight in their own self, the teacher of the teachers of the foremost yogins, was unable to bear the parting: separation is hard for men to endure.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

BvP 1 23.45

कातरः पुत्रभेदेन मोहितो विष्चुमायया।। शोकार्त्तो वक्तुमारेभे सुतं सम्बोध्य शौनक

kātaraḥ putrabhedena mohito viṣcumāyayā|| śokārtto vaktumārebhe sutaṃ sambodhya śaunaka

Distressed by the parting from his son, bewildered by Viṣṇu's māyā, stricken with grief, he began to speak, addressing his son, O Śaunaka.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition