Mahabharata — Volume VIII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 9
MBh 8 9.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कुत: सृष्टमिदं विश्वं जगत् स्थावरजङ्गमम्। प्रलये च कमभ्येति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca kuta: sṛṣṭamidaṃ viśvaṃ jagat sthāvarajaṅgamam| pralaye ca kamabhyeti tanme brūhi pitāmaha||
Yudhishthira said Whence has this universe, consisting of mobile and immobile creatures, originated? Whom does it go to when it is destroyed? Tell me this, O grandfather.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.2
ससागरः सगगन सशैलः सबलाहकः। सभूमिः साग्निपवनो लोकोऽयं केन निर्मित:॥
sasāgaraḥ sagagana saśailaḥ sabalāhakaḥ| sabhūmiḥ sāgnipavano loko'yaṃ kena nirmita:||
Indeed, by whom has this universe with its oceans, its sky, its mountains, its clouds, its lands, its fire, and its wind, been created.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.3
कथं सृष्टानि भूतानि कथं वर्णविभक्तयः। शौचशौचं कथं तेषां धर्माधर्मविधिः कथम्॥
kathaṃ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni kathaṃ varṇavibhaktayaḥ| śaucaśaucaṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ dharmādharmavidhiḥ katham||
How were all objects created? Whence has this division of creatures originated? Whence are their purity and impurity, and the laws about virtue and vice?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.4
कीदृशो जीवतां जीवः क्व वा गच्छन्ति ये मृताः। अस्माल्लोकादमुं लोकं सर्वं शंसतु नो भवान्॥
kīdṛśo jīvatāṃ jīvaḥ kva vā gacchanti ye mṛtāḥ| asmāllokādamuṃ lokaṃ sarvaṃ śaṃsatu no bhavān||
Of what nature is the life of living creatures? Where also do they go who die? Tell us everything about this and the next world.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.5
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। भृगुणाभिहितं शास्त्रं भरद्वाजाय पृच्छते॥
bhīṣma uvāca atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| bhṛguṇābhihitaṃ śāstraṃ bharadvājāya pṛcchate||
Bhishina said Regarding it is cited the old discourse of the sacred words the Bhrigu said in reply to the questions of Bharadwaja addressed him thusकैलासशिखरे दृष्ट्वा दीप्यमानं महौजसम्।
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.6
भृगु महर्षिमासीनं भरद्वाजोऽन्वपृच्छत्॥
bhṛgu maharṣimāsīnaṃ bharadvājo'nvapṛcchat||
Seeing the sage Bhrigu, endued with high power and effulgent seated on the peak of Kailasa mountain, Bharadvaja said him
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.7
ससागर: सगगनः सशैल: सबलाहकः। सभूमिः साग्निपवनो लोकोऽयं केन निर्मितः॥
sasāgara: sagaganaḥ saśaila: sabalāhakaḥ| sabhūmiḥ sāgnipavano loko'yaṃ kena nirmitaḥ||
Bharadwaja said By whom was this world its ocean, its sky, its mountains, its clouds, its lands, its fire, and its wind, created?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.8
कथं सृष्टानि भूतानि कथं वर्णविभक्तयः। शौचाशौचं कथं तेषां धर्माधर्मविधिः कथम्॥
kathaṃ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni kathaṃ varṇavibhaktayaḥ| śaucāśaucaṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ dharmādharmavidhiḥ katham||
How were all creatures first created? Whence originated this distinction of castes? Whence the purity and the impurity of conduct, and whence the laws about virtue and vice, for living creatures?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.9
कीदृशो जीवतां जीवः क्व वा गच्छन्ति ये मृताः। परलोकमिमं चापि सर्वं शंसितुमर्हसि॥
kīdṛśo jīvatāṃ jīvaḥ kva vā gacchanti ye mṛtāḥ| paralokamimaṃ cāpi sarvaṃ śaṃsitumarhasi||
What type of individual soul is of the living creatures? Where they go after the death. What is this and next world? You are able to explain all the things.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.10
एवं स भगवान् पृष्टो भरद्वाजेन संशयम्। ब्रह्मर्षिर्ब्रह्मसंकाशः सर्वं तस्मै ततोऽब्रवीत्॥
evaṃ sa bhagavān pṛṣṭo bharadvājena saṃśayam| brahmarṣirbrahmasaṃkāśaḥ sarvaṃ tasmai tato'bravīt||
Thus accosted about his doubts by Bharadwaja, the illustrious and twice-born Rishi Bhrigu who took after Brahma itself, replied to him thus.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.11
भृगुरुवाच मानसो नाम विख्यातः श्रुतपूर्वो महर्षिभिः। अनादिनिधनो देवस्तथाभेद्योऽजरामरः॥
bhṛguruvāca mānaso nāma vikhyātaḥ śrutapūrvo maharṣibhiḥ| anādinidhano devastathābhedyo'jarāmaraḥ||
Bhrigu said There is a Primeval Being, known to the great Rishis, by the name of Manasa. He is without beginning and without end. That Divine being cannot be cut by weapons. he is without decay and is immortal.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.12
अव्यक्त इति विख्यातः शाश्वतोऽथाक्षयोऽव्ययः। यतः सृष्टानि भूतानि जायन्ते च म्रियन्ति च॥
avyakta iti vikhyātaḥ śāśvato'thākṣayo'vyayaḥ| yataḥ sṛṣṭāni bhūtāni jāyante ca mriyanti ca||
He is Unmanifest. he is Eternal, Undecaying, and Unchangeable. By Him are crcatures born and through Him they die.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.13
सोऽसृजत् प्रथमं देवो महान्तं नाम नामतः। महान् ससर्जाहंकारं स चापि भगवानथ॥ आकाशमिति विख्यातं सर्वभूतधरः प्रभुः।
so'sṛjat prathamaṃ devo mahāntaṃ nāma nāmataḥ| mahān sasarjāhaṃkāraṃ sa cāpi bhagavānatha|| ākāśamiti vikhyātaṃ sarvabhūtadharaḥ prabhuḥ|
He first created a Divine Being known by the name of Mahat (Great). Mahat created Consciousness, who created Space. That powerful Being holds all created objects.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.14
आकाशादभवद् वारि सलिलादग्निमारुतौ। अग्निमारुतसंयोगात् ततः समभवन्मही॥
ākāśādabhavad vāri salilādagnimārutau| agnimārutasaṃyogāt tataḥ samabhavanmahī||
From Space was born Water, and from Water were born Fire and Wind. Through the union of Fire and Wind was born the Earth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.15
ततस्तेजोमयं दिव्यं पद्मं सृष्टं स्वयम्भुवा। तस्मात् पद्मात् समभवद् ब्रह्मा वेदमयो निधिः॥
tatastejomayaṃ divyaṃ padmaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ svayambhuvā| tasmāt padmāt samabhavad brahmā vedamayo nidhiḥ||
Self-born Manasa then created a divine Lotus of Energy. From that Lotus originated Brahmana, that Ocean of Veda.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.16
अहंकार इति ख्यातः सर्वभूतात्मभूतकृत्। ब्रह्मा वै स महातेजा य एते पञ्च धातवः॥
ahaṃkāra iti khyātaḥ sarvabhūtātmabhūtakṛt| brahmā vai sa mahātejā ya ete pañca dhātavaḥ||
The Shrutis say that as soon as born, that divine Being uttered the words—I am He. For this He passed by the name of Consciousness. All created things are his body and He is their Creator. These five elements that we see are the Brahman of great energy.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.17
शैलास्तस्यास्थिसंज्ञास्तु मेदो मांसं च मेदिनी। समुद्रास्तस्य रुधिरमाकाशमुदरं तथा॥
śailāstasyāsthisaṃjñāstu medo māṃsaṃ ca medinī| samudrāstasya rudhiramākāśamudaraṃ tathā||
The Mountains from his bones. the Earth forins his fat and flesh. the Oceans constitute his blood. space is his stomach.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.18
पवनश्चैव निःश्वासस्तेजोऽग्निर्निम्नगाः शिराः। अग्नीषोमौ तु चन्द्रार्को नयने तस्य विश्रुते॥
pavanaścaiva niḥśvāsastejo'gnirnimnagāḥ śirāḥ| agnīṣomau tu candrārko nayane tasya viśrute||
The Wind forins his breath. Fire his energy. The rivers forms his arteries and veins. Agni and Soma, otherwise called the Sun and the Moon, are his eyes.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.19
नभश्चोर्ध्वं शिरस्तस्य क्षितिः पादौ भुजौ दिशः। दुर्विज्ञेयो ह्यचिन्त्यात्मा सिद्धैरपि न संशयः॥
nabhaścordhvaṃ śirastasya kṣitiḥ pādau bhujau diśaḥ| durvijñeyo hyacintyātmā siddhairapi na saṃśayaḥ||
The sky is above his head. The Earth is his two feet. The cardinal and minor points of compass are his arms, Forsooth, He is incapable of being known and His Soul cannot be conceived even by successful ascetics.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.20
स एष भगवान् विष्णुरनन्त इति विश्रुतः। सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थो दुर्विज्ञेयोऽकृतात्मभिः॥
sa eṣa bhagavān viṣṇurananta iti viśrutaḥ| sarvabhūtātmabhūtastho durvijñeyo'kṛtātmabhiḥ||
That Divine Being, who pervades the entire universe, passes also by the name of Ananta (Infinite). He lives in Consciousness, and persons of impure souls cannot know him.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.21
अहंकारस्य यः स्रष्टा सर्वभूतभवाय वै। यतः समभवद् विश्वं पृष्टोऽहं यदिह त्वया॥
ahaṃkārasya yaḥ sraṣṭā sarvabhūtabhavāya vai| yataḥ samabhavad viśvaṃ pṛṣṭo'haṃ yadiha tvayā||
Asked by you I have now told you of Him who created objects, and from whom this universe had originated.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.22
भरद्वाज उवाच गगनस्य दिशां चैव भूतलस्यानिलस्य वा। कान्यत्र परिमाणानि संशयं छिन्धि तत्त्वतः॥
bharadvāja uvāca gaganasya diśāṃ caiva bhūtalasyānilasya vā| kānyatra parimāṇāni saṃśayaṃ chindhi tattvataḥ||
Bharadwaja said What is the extent of the sky, of the points of the horizon, of the surface of this Earth, and of the Wind? By telling me the truth, remove my doubts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.23
भृगुरुवाच अनन्तमेतदाकाशं सिद्धदैवतसेवितम्। रम्यं नानाश्रयाकीर्णं यस्यान्तो नाधिगम्यते॥
bhṛguruvāca anantametadākāśaṃ siddhadaivatasevitam| ramyaṃ nānāśrayākīrṇaṃ yasyānto nādhigamyate||
The sky you see above is infinite. It is the abode of successful ascetics and of celestial beings. It is lovely and consists of various regions. Its limits cannot be determined.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.24
उर्ध्वं गतेरधस्तात्तु चन्द्रादित्यौ न दृश्यतः। तत्र देवाः स्वयं दीप्ता भास्वराभाग्निवर्चसः॥
urdhvaṃ gateradhastāttu candrādityau na dṛśyataḥ| tatra devāḥ svayaṃ dīptā bhāsvarābhāgnivarcasaḥ||
The Sun and Moon cannot sec, above or below, beyond the range of their own rays. There where are rays of the Sun and the Moon cannot go are luminaries which are selfeffulgent and shining like the Sun or the fire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.25
ते चाप्यन्तं न पश्यन्ति नभसः प्रथितौजसः। दुर्गमत्वादनन्तत्वादिति मे विद्धि मानद॥
te cāpyantaṃ na paśyanti nabhasaḥ prathitaujasaḥ| durgamatvādanantatvāditi me viddhi mānada||
Know this, O giver of honours, that even these luminaries which have great effulgence, do not see the limits of the sky for the inaccessibility and infinity of those limits.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.26
उपरिष्टोपरिष्टात्तु प्रज्वलद्भिः स्वयंप्रभैः। निरुद्धमेतदाकाशमप्रमेयं सुरैरपि॥
upariṣṭopariṣṭāttu prajvaladbhiḥ svayaṃprabhaiḥ| niruddhametadākāśamaprameyaṃ surairapi||
This Space which even the very celestials cannot measure contains many shining and self-luminous worlds each above the other.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.27
पृथिव्यन्ते समुद्रास्तु समुद्रान्ते तमः स्मृतम्। तमसोऽन्ते जलं प्राहुर्जलस्यान्तेऽग्निरेव च॥
pṛthivyante samudrāstu samudrānte tamaḥ smṛtam| tamaso'nte jalaṃ prāhurjalasyānte'gnireva ca||
Beyond the limits of land are oceans, Beyond water is darkness. Beyond darkness is water again, and beyond water is fire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.28
रसातलान्ते सलिलं जलान्ते पन्नगाधिपाः। तदन्ते पुनराकाशमाकाशान्ते पुनर्जलम्॥
rasātalānte salilaṃ jalānte pannagādhipāḥ| tadante punarākāśamākāśānte punarjalam||
Underneath, beyond the neither regions is water. Beyond water is the region of the great serpents. Beyond that is sky once more, and beyond the sky is water again.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.29
एवमन्तं भगवतः प्रमाणं सलिलस्य च। अग्निमारुततोयेभ्यो दुर्जेयं दैवतैरपि॥
evamantaṃ bhagavataḥ pramāṇaṃ salilasya ca| agnimārutatoyebhyo durjeyaṃ daivatairapi||
Thus exist water and sky alternately without end. Such are the limits of the god of water. The very gods cannot determine the limits of fire and wind and water.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.30
अग्निमारुततोयानां वर्णाः क्षितितलस्य च। आकाशादवगृह्यन्ते भिद्यन्तेऽतत्त्वदर्शनात्॥
agnimārutatoyānāṃ varṇāḥ kṣititalasya ca| ākāśādavagṛhyante bhidyante'tattvadarśanāt||
The nature of fire, wind, water, and land, is like that of space. It is the absence of true knowledge that draws distinction between them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.31
पठन्ति चैव मुनयः शास्त्रेषु विविधेषु च। त्रैलोक्ये सागरे चैव प्रमाणं विहितं यथा॥
paṭhanti caiva munayaḥ śāstreṣu vividheṣu ca| trailokye sāgare caiva pramāṇaṃ vihitaṃ yathā||
Sages read in various scriptures the limits of the three worlds and the ocean.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.32
अदृश्याय त्वगम्याय कः प्रमाणमुदाहरेत्। सिद्धानां देवतानां च यदा परिमिता गतिः॥
adṛśyāya tvagamyāya kaḥ pramāṇamudāharet| siddhānāṃ devatānāṃ ca yadā parimitā gatiḥ||
Who is there, however, who can set limits to what cannot be seen and what is inaccessible?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.33
तदा गौणमनन्तस्य नामानन्तेति विश्रुतम्। नामधेयानुरूपस्य मानसस्य महात्मनः॥
tadā gauṇamanantasya nāmānanteti viśrutam| nāmadheyānurūpasya mānasasya mahātmanaḥ||
If even it becomes possible to learn the limits of the sky which is the region of the gods and successful ascetics, it is not possible to set limits to that which is limitless and passes by the name of the Infinite, to that which answers its name, viz., the high-souled Manasa?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.34
यदा तु दिव्यं तद् रूपं ह्रसते वर्धते पुनः। कोऽन्यस्तद्वेदितुं शक्तो योऽपि स्यात् तद्विधोऽपरः॥३४
yadā tu divyaṃ tad rūpaṃ hrasate vardhate punaḥ| ko'nyastadvedituṃ śakto yo'pi syāt tadvidho'paraḥ||34
When again His form is sometimes contracted and sometimes expanded, how can any one else save one who is equal to him, perceive his limits?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.35
ततः पुष्करतः सृष्टः सर्वज्ञो मूर्तिमान् प्रभुः। ब्रह्मा धर्ममयः पूर्वः प्रजापतिरनुत्तमः॥
tataḥ puṣkarataḥ sṛṣṭaḥ sarvajño mūrtimān prabhuḥ| brahmā dharmamayaḥ pūrvaḥ prajāpatiranuttamaḥ||
From the Lotus sprang first the Omniscient lord Brahman, endued with form, of the essence of Righteousness, and the Creator of all mobile and immobile things.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.36
भरद्वाज उवाच पुष्कराद् यदि सम्भूतो ज्येष्ठं भवति पुष्करम्। ब्रह्माणं पूर्वजं चाह भवान् संदेह एव मे॥
bharadvāja uvāca puṣkarād yadi sambhūto jyeṣṭhaṃ bhavati puṣkaram| brahmāṇaṃ pūrvajaṃ cāha bhavān saṃdeha eva me||
Bharadwaja said If Brahman originated from the Lotus, then it is the Lotus that should be considered as the first-born and not Brahman. Why, however, is Brahman said to be the first? Do you dispel this doubt of mine.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.37
भृगुरुवाच मानसस्येह या मूर्तिर्ब्रह्मत्वं समुपागता। तस्यासनविधानार्थं पृथिवी पद्ममुच्यते॥
bhṛguruvāca mānasasyeha yā mūrtirbrahmatvaṃ samupāgatā| tasyāsanavidhānārthaṃ pṛthivī padmamucyate||
Bhrigu said The Earth is called that Lotus. It was created for giving a seat to that form of Manasa which became Brahman.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 9.38
कर्णिका तस्य पद्मस्य मेरुर्गगनमुच्छ्रितः। तस्य मध्ये स्थितो लोकान् सृजते जगतः प्रभुः॥
karṇikā tasya padmasya merurgaganamucchritaḥ| tasya madhye sthito lokān sṛjate jagataḥ prabhuḥ||
Extending up to heaven itself, the Sumeru became the pericarp of that Lotus. Remaining within it, the powerful Lord of the Universe created all the worlds.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)