Chapter 12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others

 

3.12.1

maitreya uvāca

iti te varṇitaḥ kṣattaḥ

kālākhyaḥ paramātmanaḥ

mahimā veda-garbho 'tha

yathāsrākṣīn nibodha me

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — Śrī Maitreya said; iti — thus; te — unto you; varṇitaḥ — described; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; kāla-ākhyaḥ — by the name eternal time; paramātmanaḥ — of the Supersoul; mahimā — glories; veda-garbhaḥ — Lord Brahmā, the reservoir of the Vedas; atha — hereafter; yathā — as it is; asrākṣīt — did create; nibodha — just try to understand; me — from me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Maitreya said: O learned Vidura, so far I have explained to you the glories of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His feature of kāla. Now you can hear from me about the creation of Brahmā, the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.

 

3.12.2

sasarjāgre 'ndha-tāmisram

atha tāmisram ādi-kṛt

mahāmohaḿ ca mohaḿ ca

tamaś cājñāna-vṛttayaḥ

 

sasarja — created; agre — at first; andha-tāmisram — the sense of death; atha — then; tāmisram — anger upon frustration; ādi-kṛt — all these; mahā-moham — ownership of enjoyable objects; ca — also; moham — illusory conception; ca — also; tamaḥ — darkness in self-knowledge; ca — as well as; ajñāna — nescience; vṛttayaḥ — engagements.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Brahmā first created the nescient engagements like self-deception, the sense of death, anger after frustration, the sense of false ownership, and the illusory bodily conception, or forgetfulness of one's real identity.

 

3.12.3

dṛṣṭvā pāpīyasīḿ sṛṣṭiḿ

nātmānaḿ bahv amanyata

bhagavad-dhyāna-pūtena

manasānyāḿ tato 'sṛjat

 

dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; pāpīyasīm — sinful; sṛṣṭim — creation; na — did not; ātmānam — unto Himself; bahu — much pleasure; amanyata — felt; bhagavat — on the Personality of Godhead; dhyāna — meditation; pūtena — purified by that; manasā — by such a mentality; anyām — another; tataḥ — thereafter; asṛjat — created.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing such a misleading creation as a sinful task, Brahmā did not feel much pleasure in his activity, and therefore he purified himself by meditation on the Personality of Godhead. Then he began another term of creation.

 

3.12.4

sanakaḿ ca sanandaḿ ca

sanātanam athātmabhūḥ

sanat-kumāraḿ ca munīn

niṣkriyān ūrdhva-retasaḥ

 

sanakam — Sanaka; ca — also; sanandam — Sananda; ca — and; sanātanam — Sanātana; atha — thereafter; ātma-bhūḥ — Brahmā, who is self-born; sanat-kumāram — Sanat-kumāra; ca — also; munīn — the great sages; niṣkriyān — free from all fruitive action; ūrdhva-retasaḥ — those whose semen flows upwards.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the beginning, Brahmā created four great sages named Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra. All of them were unwilling to adopt materialistic activities because they were highly elevated due to their semen's flowing upwards.

 

3.12.5

tān babhāṣe svabhūḥ putrān

prajāḥ sṛjata putrakāḥ

tan naicchan mokṣa-dharmāṇo

vāsudeva-parāyaṇāḥ

 

tān — unto the Kumāras, as above mentioned; babhāṣe — addressed; svabhūḥ — Brahmā; putrān — unto the sons; prajāḥ — generations; sṛjata — to create; putrakāḥ — O my sons; tat — that; na — not; aicchan — desired; mokṣa-dharmāṇaḥ — pledged to the principles of liberation; vāsudeva — the Personality of Godhead; parāyaṇāḥ — who are so devoted.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Brahmā spoke to his sons after generating them. "My dear sons," he said, "now generate progeny." But due to their being attached to Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they aimed at liberation, and therefore they expressed their unwillingness.

 

3.12.6

so 'vadhyātaḥ sutair evaḿ

pratyākhyātānuśāsanaiḥ

krodhaḿ durviṣahaḿ jātaḿ

niyantum upacakrame

 

saḥ — he (Brahmā); avadhyātaḥ — thus being disrespected; sutaiḥ — by the sons; evam — thus; pratyākhyāta — refusing to obey; anuśāsanaiḥ — the order of their father; krodham — anger; durviṣaham — too much to be tolerated; jātam — thus generated; niyantum — to control; upacakrame — tried his best.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On the refusal of the sons to obey the order of their father, there was much anger generated in the mind of Brahmā, which he tried to control and not express.

 

3.12.7

dhiyā nigṛhyamāṇo 'pi

bhruvor madhyāt prajāpateḥ

sadyo 'jāyata tan-manyuḥ

kumāro nīla-lohitaḥ

 

dhiyā — by intelligence; nigṛhyamāṇaḥ — being controlled; api — in spite of; bhruvoḥ — of the eyebrows; madhyāt — from between; prajāpateḥ — of Brahmā; sadyaḥ — at once; ajāyata — generated; tat — his; manyuḥ — anger; kumāraḥ — a child; nīla-lohitaḥ — mixture of blue and red.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although he tried to curb his anger, it came out from between his eyebrows, and a child mixed blue and red was immediately generated.

 

3.12.8

sa vai ruroda devānāḿ

pūrvajo bhagavān bhavaḥ

nāmāni kuru me dhātaḥ

sthānāni ca jagad-guro

 

saḥ — he; vai — certainly; ruroda — cried loudly; devānām pūrvajaḥ — the eldest of all demigods; bhagavān — the most powerful; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; nāmāni — different names; kuru — designate; me — my; dhātaḥ — O destiny maker; sthānāni — places; ca — also; jagat-guro — O teacher of the universe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After his birth he began to cry: O destiny maker, teacher of the universe, kindly designate my name and place.

 

3.12.9

iti tasya vacaḥ pādmo

bhagavān paripālayan

abhyadhād bhadrayā vācā

mā rodīs tat karomi te

 

iti — thus; tasya — his; vacaḥ — request; pādmaḥ — one who is born from the lotus flower; bhagavān — the powerful; paripālayan — accepting the request; abhyadhāt — pacified; bhadrayā — by gentle; vācā — words; mā — do not; rodīḥ — cry; tat — that; karomi — I shall do it; te — as desired by you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The all-powerful Brahmā, who was born from the lotus flower, pacified the boy with gentle words, accepting his request, and said: Do not cry. I shall certainly do as you desire.

 

3.12.10

yad arodīḥ sura-śreṣṭha

sodvega iva bālakaḥ

tatas tvām abhidhāsyanti

nāmnā rudra iti prajāḥ

 

yat — as much as; arodīḥ — cried loudly; sura-śreṣṭha — O chief of the demigods; sa-udvegaḥ — with great anxiety; iva — like; bālakaḥ — a boy; tataḥ — therefore; tvām — you; abhidhāsyanti — will call; nāmnā — by the name; rudraḥ — Rudra; iti — thus; prajāḥ — people.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter Brahmā said: O chief of the demigods, you shall be called by the name Rudra by all people because you have so anxiously cried.

 

3.12.11

hṛd indriyāṇy asur vyoma

vāyur agnir jalaḿ mahī

sūryaś candras tapaś caiva

sthānāny agre kṛtāni te

 

hṛt — the heart; indriyāṇi — the senses; asuḥ — life air; vyoma — the sky; vāyuḥ — the air; agniḥ — fire; jalam — water; mahī — the earth; sūryaḥ — the sun; candraḥ — the moon; tapaḥ — austerity; ca — as well as; eva — certainly; sthānāni — all these places; agre — hereinbefore; kṛtāni — already made; te — for you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear boy, I have already selected the following places for your residence: the heart, the senses, the air of life, the sky, the air, the fire, the water, the earth, the sun, the moon and austerity.

 

3.12.12

manyur manur mahinaso

mahāñ chiva ṛtadhvajaḥ

ugraretā bhavaḥ kālo

vāmadevo dhṛtavrataḥ

 

manyuḥ, manuḥ, mahinasaḥ, mahān, śivaḥ, ṛtadhvajaḥ, ugaretāḥ, bhavaḥ, kālaḥ, vāmadevaḥ, dhṛtavrataḥ — all names of Rudra.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: My dear boy Rudra, you have eleven other names: Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahān, Śiva, Ṛtadhvaja, Ugraretā, Bhava, Kāla, Vāmadeva and Dhṛtavrata.

 

3.12.13

dhīr dhṛti-rasalomā ca

niyut sarpir ilāmbikā

irāvatī svadhā dīkṣā

rudrāṇyo rudra te striyaḥ

 

dhīḥ, dhṛti, rasalā, umā, niyut, sarpiḥ, ilā, ambikā, irāvatī, svadhā, dīkṣā rudrāṇyaḥ — the eleven Rudrāṇīs; rudra — O Rudra; te — unto you; striyaḥ — wives.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Rudra, you also have eleven wives, called the Rudrāṇīs, and they are as follows: Dhī, Dhṛti, Rasalā, Umā, Niyut, Sarpi, Ilā, Ambikā, Irāvatī, Svadhā and Dīkṣā.

 

3.12.14

gṛhāṇaitāni nāmāni

sthānāni ca sa-yoṣaṇaḥ

ebhiḥ sṛja prajā bahvīḥ

prajānām asi yat patiḥ

 

gṛhāṇa — just accept; etāni — all these; nāmāni — different names; sthānāni — as well as places; ca — also; sa-yoṣaṇaḥ — along with wives; ebhiḥ — with them; sṛja — just generate; prajāḥ — progeny; bahvīḥ — on a large scale; prajānām — of the living entities; asi — you are; yat — since; patiḥ — the master.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear boy, you may now accept all the names and places designated for you and your different wives, and since you are now one of the masters of the living entities, you may increase the population on a large scale.

 

3.12.15

ity ādiṣṭaḥ sva-guruṇā

bhagavān nīla-lohitaḥ

sattvākṛti-svabhāvena

sasarjātma-samāḥ prajāḥ

 

iti — thus; ādiṣṭaḥ — being ordered; sva-guruṇā — by his own spiritual master; bhagavān — the most powerful; nīla-lohitaḥ — Rudra, whose color is mixed blue and red; sattva — power; ākṛti — bodily features; svabhāvena — and with a very furious mode of nature; sasarja — created; ātma-samāḥ — like his own prototype; prajāḥ — generations.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The most powerful Rudra, whose bodily color was blue mixed with red, created many offspring exactly resembling him in features, strength and furious nature.

 

3.12.16

rudrāṇāḿ rudra-sṛṣṭānāḿ

samantād grasatāḿ jagat

niśāmyāsańkhyaśo yūthān

prajāpatir aśańkata

 

rudrāṇām — of the sons of Rudra; rudra-sṛṣṭānām — who were generated by Rudra; samantāt — being assembled together; grasatām — while devouring; jagat — the universe; niśāmya — by observing their activities; asańkhyaśaḥ — unlimited; yūthān — assembly; prajā-patiḥ — the father of the living entities; aśańkata — became afraid of.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sons and grandsons generated by Rudra were unlimited in number, and when they assembled together they attempted to devour the entire universe. When Brahmā, the father of the living entities, saw this, he became afraid of the situation.

 

3.12.17

alaḿ prajābhiḥ sṛṣṭābhir

īdṛśībhiḥ surottama

mayā saha dahantībhir

diśaś cakṣurbhir ulbaṇaiḥ

 

alam — unnecessary; prajābhiḥ — by such living entities; sṛṣṭābhiḥ — generated; īdṛśībhiḥ — of this type; sura-uttama — O best among the demigods; mayā — me; saha — along with; dahantībhiḥ — who are burning; diśaḥ — all sides; cakṣurbhiḥ — by the eyes; ulbaṇaiḥ — fiery flames.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Brahmā told Rudra: O best among the demigods, there is no need for you to generate living entities of this nature. They have begun to devastate everything on all sides with the fiery flames from their eyes, and they have even attacked me.

 

3.12.18

tapa ātiṣṭha bhadraḿ te

sarva-bhūta-sukhāvaham

tapasaiva yathā pūrvaḿ

sraṣṭā viśvam idaḿ bhavān

 

tapaḥ — penance; ātiṣṭha — be situated; bhadram — auspicious; te — unto you; sarva — all; bhūta — living entities; sukha-āvaham — bringing happiness; tapasā — by penance; eva — only; yathā — as much as; pūrvam — before; sraṣṭā — will create; viśvam — the universe; idam — this; bhavān — yourself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear son, you had better situate yourself in penance, which is auspicious for all living entities and which will bring all benediction upon you. By penance only shall you be able to create the universe as it was before.

 

3.12.18

tapa ātiṣṭha bhadraḿ te

sarva-bhūta-sukhāvaham

tapasaiva yathā pūrvaḿ

sraṣṭā viśvam idaḿ bhavān

 

tapaḥ — penance; ātiṣṭha — be situated; bhadram — auspicious; te — unto you; sarva — all; bhūta — living entities; sukha-āvaham — bringing happiness; tapasā — by penance; eva — only; yathā — as much as; pūrvam — before; sraṣṭā — will create; viśvam — the universe; idam — this; bhavān — yourself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear son, you had better situate yourself in penance, which is auspicious for all living entities and which will bring all benediction upon you. By penance only shall you be able to create the universe as it was before.

 

3.12.19

tapasaiva paraḿ jyotir

bhagavantam adhokṣajam

sarva-bhūta-guhāvāsam

añjasā vindate pumān

 

tapasā — by penance; eva — only; param — the supreme; jyotiḥ — light; bhagavantam — unto the Personality of Godhead; adhokṣajam — He who is beyond the approach of the senses; sarva-bhūta-guhā-āvāsam — residing in the heart of all living entities; añjasā — completely; vindate — can know; pumān — a person.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By penance only can one even approach the Personality of Godhead, who is within the heart of every living entity and at the same time beyond the reach of all senses.

 

3.12.20

maitreya uvāca

evam ātmabhuvādiṣṭaḥ

parikramya girāḿ patim

bāḍham ity amum āmantrya

viveśa tapase vanam

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — Śrī Maitreya said; evam — thus; ātma-bhuvā — by Brahmā; ādiṣṭaḥ — being so requested; parikramya — by circumambulating; girām — of the Vedas; patim — unto the master; bāḍham — that is right; iti — thus; amum — unto Brahmā; āmantrya — thus addressing; viveśa — entered into; tapase — for the matter of penance; vanam — into the forest.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Maitreya said: Thus Rudra, having been ordered by Brahmā, circumambulated his father, the master of the Vedas. Addressing him with words of assent, he entered the forest to perform austere penances.

 

3.12.21

athābhidhyāyataḥ sargaḿ

daśa putrāḥ prajajñire

bhagavac-chakti-yuktasya

loka-santāna-hetavaḥ

 

atha — thus; abhidhyāyataḥ — while thinking of; sargam — creation; daśa — ten; putrāḥ — sons; prajajñire — were begotten; bhagavat — regarding the Personality of Godhead; śakti — potency; yuktasya — empowered with; loka — the world; santāna — generation; hetavaḥ — the causes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Brahmā, who was empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thought of generating living entities and begot ten sons for the extension of the generations.

 

3.12.22

marīcir atry-ańgirasau

pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ

bhṛgur vasiṣṭho dakṣaś ca

daśamas tatra nāradaḥ

 

marīciḥ, atri, ańgirasau, pulastyaḥ, pulahaḥ, kratuḥ, bhṛguḥ, vasiṣṭhaḥ, dakṣaḥ — names of sons of Brahmā; ca — and; daśamaḥ — the tenth; tatra — there; nāradaḥ — Nārada.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Marīci, Atri, Ańgirā, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Dakṣa, and the tenth son, Nārada, were thus born.

 

3.12.23

utsańgān nārado jajñe

dakṣo 'ńguṣṭhāt svayambhuvaḥ

prāṇād vasiṣṭhaḥ sañjāto

bhṛgus tvaci karāt kratuḥ

 

utsańgāt — by transcendental deliberation; nāradaḥ — Mahāmuni Nārada; jajñe — was generated; dakṣaḥ — Dakṣa; ańguṣṭhāt — from the thumb; svayambhuvaḥ — of Brahmā; prāṇāt — from the life air, or breathing; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; sañjātaḥ — was born; bhṛguḥ — the sage Bhṛgu; tvaci — from the touch; karāt — from the hand; kratuḥ — the sage Kratu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada was born from the deliberation of Brahmā, which is the best part of the body. Vasiṣṭha was born from his breathing, Dakṣa from a thumb, Bhṛgu from his touch, and Kratu from his hand.

 

3.12.24

pulaho nābhito jajñe

pulastyaḥ karṇayor ṛṣiḥ

ańgirā mukhato 'kṣṇo 'trir

marīcir manaso 'bhavat

 

pulahaḥ — the sage Pulaha; nābhitaḥ — from the navel; jajñe — generated; pulastyaḥ — the sage Pulastya; karṇayoḥ — from the ears; ṛṣiḥ — the great sage; ańgirāḥ — the sage Ańgirā; mukhataḥ — from the mouth; akṣṇaḥ — from the eyes; atriḥ — the sage Atri; marīciḥ — the sage Marīci; manasaḥ — from the mind; abhavat — appeared.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pulastya was generated from the ears, Ańgirā from the mouth, Atri from the eyes, Marīci from the mind and Pulaha from the navel of Brahmā.

 

3.12.25

dharmaḥ stanād dakṣiṇato

yatra nārāyaṇaḥ svayam

adharmaḥ pṛṣṭhato yasmān

mṛtyur loka-bhayańkaraḥ

 

dharmaḥ — religion; stanāt — from the breast; dakṣiṇataḥ — on the right side; yatra — wherein; nārāyaṇaḥ — the Supreme Lord; svayam — personally; adharmaḥ — irreligion; pṛṣṭhataḥ — from the back; yasmāt — from which; mṛtyuḥ — death; loka — to the living entity; bhayam-karaḥ — horrible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Religion was manifested from the breast of Brahmā, wherein is seated the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa, and irreligion appeared from his back, where horrible death takes place for the living entity.

 

3.12.26

hṛdi kāmo bhruvaḥ krodho

lobhaś cādhara-dacchadāt

āsyād vāk sindhavo meḍhrān

nirṛtiḥ pāyor aghāśrayaḥ

 

hṛdi — from the heart; kāmaḥ — lust; bhruvaḥ — from the eyebrows; krodhaḥ — anger; lobhaḥ — greed; ca — also; adhara-dacchadāt — from between the lips; āsyāt — from the mouth; vāk — speaking; sindhavaḥ — the seas; meḍhrāt — from the penis; nirṛtiḥ — low activities; pāyoḥ — from the anus; agha-āśrayaḥ — reservoir of all vices.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lust and desire became manifested from the heart of Brahmā, anger from between his eyebrows, greed from between his lips, the power of speaking from his mouth, the ocean from his penis, and low and abominable activities from his anus, the source of all sins.

 

3.12.27

chāyāyāḥ kardamo jajñe

devahūtyāḥ patiḥ prabhuḥ

manaso dehataś cedaḿ

jajñe viśva-kṛto jagat

 

chāyāyāḥ — by the shadow; kardamaḥ — Kardama Muni; jajñe — became manifested; devahūtyāḥ — of Devahūti; patiḥ — husband; prabhuḥ — the master; manasaḥ — from the mind; dehataḥ — from the body; ca — also; idam — this; jajñe — developed; viśva — the universe; kṛtaḥ — of the creator; jagat — cosmic manifestation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sage Kardama, husband of the great Devahūti, was manifested from the shadow of Brahmā. Thus all became manifested from either the body or the mind of Brahmā.

 

3.12.28

vācaḿ duhitaraḿ tanvīḿ

svayambhūr haratīḿ manaḥ

akāmāḿ cakame kṣattaḥ

sa-kāma iti naḥ śrutam

 

vācam — Vāk; duhitaram — unto the daughter; tanvīm — born of his body; svayambhūḥ — Brahmā; haratīm — attracting; manaḥ — his mind; akāmām — without being sexually inclined; cakame — desired; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; sa-kāmaḥ — being sexually inclined; iti — thus; naḥ — we; śrutam — have heard.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Vidura, we have heard that Brahmā had a daughter named Vāk who was born from his body and who attracted his mind toward sex, although she was not sexually inclined towards him.

 

3.12.29

tam adharme kṛta-matiḿ

vilokya pitaraḿ sutāḥ

marīci-mukhyā munayo

viśrambhāt pratyabodhayan

 

tam — unto him; adharme — in the matter of immortality; kṛta-matim — the mind being so given; vilokya — seeing thus; pitaram — unto the father; sutāḥ — sons; marīci-mukhyāḥ — headed by Marīci; munayaḥ — sages; viśrambhāt — with due respect; pratyabodhayan — submitted as follows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus, finding their father so deluded in an act of immorality, the sages headed by Marīci, all sons of Brahmā, spoke as follows with great respect.

 

3.12.30

naitat pūrvaiḥ kṛtaḿ tvad ye

na kariṣyanti cāpare

yas tvaḿ duhitaraḿ gaccher

anigṛhyāńgajaḿ prabhuḥ

 

na — never; etat — such a thing; pūrvaiḥ — by any other Brahmā, or yourself in any previous ka[la; kṛtam — performed; tvat — by you; ye — that which; na — nor; kariṣyanti — will do; ca — also; apare — anyone else; yaḥ — that which; tvam — you; duhitaram — unto the daughter; gaccheḥ — would do; anigṛhya — without controlling; ańgajam — sex desire; prabhuḥ — O father.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O father, this performance in which you are endeavoring to complicate yourself was never attempted by any other Brahmā, nor by anyone else, nor by you in previous kalpas, nor will anyone dare to attempt it in the future. You are the supreme being in the universe, so how is it that you want to have sex with your daughter and cannot control your desire?

 

3.12.31

tejīyasām api hy etan

na suślokyaḿ jagad-guro

yad-vṛttam anutiṣṭhan vai

lokaḥ kṣemāya kalpate

 

tejīyasām — of the most powerful; api — also; hi — certainly; etat — such an act; na — not suitable; su-ślokyam — good behavior; jagat-guro — O spiritual master of the universe; yat — whose; vṛttam — character; anutiṣṭhan — following; vai — certainly; lokaḥ — the world; kṣemāya — for prosperity; kalpate — becomes eligible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even though you are the most powerful being, this act does not suit you because your character is followed for spiritual improvement by people in general.

 

3.12.32

tasmai namo bhagavate

ya idaḿ svena rociṣā

ātma-sthaḿ vyañjayām āsa

sa dharmaḿ pātum arhati

 

tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Personality of Godhead; yaḥ — who; idam — this; svena — by His own; rociṣā — effulgence; ātma-stham — situated in Himself; vyañjayām āsa — has manifested; saḥ — He; dharmam — religion; pātum — for protection; arhati — may kindly do so.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, who, by His own effulgence, while situated in Himself, has manifested this cosmos. May He also protect religion for all goodness.

 

3.12.33

sa itthaḿ gṛṇataḥ putrān

puro dṛṣṭvā prajāpatīn

prajāpati-patis tanvaḿ

tatyāja vrīḍitas tadā

tāḿ diśo jagṛhur ghorāḿ

nīhāraḿ yad vidus tamaḥ

 

saḥ — he (Brahmā); ittham — thus; gṛṇataḥ — speaking; putrān — sons; puraḥ — before; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; prajā-patīn — all the progenitors of living entities; prajāpati-patiḥ — the father of them (Brahmā); tanvam — body; tatyāja — quit; vrīḍitaḥ — ashamed; tadā — at that time; tām — that body; diśaḥ — all directions; jagṛhuḥ — accepted; ghorām — blamable; nīhāram — fog; yat — which; viduḥ — they know as; tamaḥ — darkness.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The father of all Prajāpatis, Brahmā, thus seeing all his Prajāpati sons speaking in that way, became very much ashamed and at once gave up the body he had accepted. Later that body appeared in all directions as the dangerous fog in darkness.

 

3.12.34

kadācid dhyāyataḥ sraṣṭur

vedā āsaḿś catur-mukhāt

kathaḿ srakṣyāmy ahaḿ lokān

samavetān yathā purā

 

kadācit — once upon a time; dhyāyataḥ — while contemplating; sraṣṭuḥ — of Brahmā; vedāḥ — the Vedic literature; āsan — became manifested; catuḥ-mukhāt — from the four mouths; katham srakṣyāmi — how shall I create; aham — myself; lokān — all these worlds; samavetān — assembled; yathā — as they were; purā — in the past.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Once upon a time, when Brahmā was thinking of how to create the worlds as in the past millennium, the four Vedas, which contain all varieties of knowledge, became manifested from his four mouths.

 

3.12.35

cātur-hotraḿ karma-tantram

upaveda-nayaiḥ saha

dharmasya pādāś catvāras

tathaivāśrama-vṛttayaḥ

 

cātuḥ — four; hotram — paraphernalia for sacrifice; karma — action; tantram — expansions of such activities; upaveda — supplementary to the Vedas; nayaiḥ — by logical conclusions; saha — along with; dharmasya — of religiosity; pādāḥ — principles; catvāraḥ — four; tathā eva — in the same way; āśrama — social orders; vṛttayaḥ — occupations.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The four kinds of paraphernalia for conducting the fire sacrifice became manifest: the performer [the chanter], the offerer, the fire, and the action performed in terms of the supplementary Vedas. Also the four principles of religiosity [truth, austerity, mercy and cleanliness] and the duties in the four social orders all became manifest.

 

3.12.36

vidura uvāca

sa vai viśva-sṛjām īśo

vedādīn mukhato 'sṛjat

yad yad yenāsṛjad devas

tan me brūhi tapo-dhana

 

viduraḥ uvāca — Vidura said; saḥ — he (Brahmā); vai — certainly; viśva — the universe; sṛjām — of those who created; īśaḥ — the controller; veda-ādīn — the Vedas, etc.; mukhataḥ — from the mouth; asṛjat — established; yat — that; yat — which; yena — by which; asṛjat — created; devaḥ — the god; tat — that; me — unto me; brūhi — please explain; tapaḥ-dhana — O sage whose only wealth is penance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura said: O great sage whose only wealth is penance, kindly explain to me how and with whose help Brahmā established the Vedic knowledge which emanated from his mouth.

 

3.12.37

maitreya uvāca

ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvākhyān

vedān pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ

śāstram ijyāḿ stuti-stomaḿ

prāyaścittaḿ vyadhāt kramāt

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; ṛk-yajuḥ-sāma-atharva — the four Vedas; ākhyān — of the name; vedān — Vedic literatures; pūrva-ādibhiḥ — beginning with the front; mukhaiḥ — by the mouths; śāstram — Vedic hymns not pronounced before; ijyām — priestly rituals; stuti-stomam — the subject matter of the reciters; prāyaścittam — transcendental activities; vyadhāt — established; kramāt — one after another.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Maitreya said: Beginning from the front face of Brahmā, gradually the four Vedas — Ṛk, Yajur, Sāma and Atharva — became manifest. Thereafter, Vedic hymns which had not been pronounced before, priestly rituals, the subject matters of the recitation, and transcendental activities were all established, one after another.

 

3.12.38

āyur-vedaḿ dhanur-vedaḿ

gāndharvaḿ vedam ātmanaḥ

sthāpatyaḿ cāsṛjad vedaḿ

kramāt pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ

 

āyuḥ-vedam — medical science; dhanuḥ-vedam — military science; gāndharvam — musical art; vedam — they are all Vedic knowledge; ātmanaḥ — of his own; sthāpatyam — architectural; ca — also; asṛjat — created; vedam — knowledge; kramāt — respectively; pūrva-ādibhiḥ — beginning from the front face; mukhaiḥ — by the mouths.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He also created the medical science, military art, musical art and architectural science, all from the Vedas. They all emanated one after another, beginning from the front face.

 

3.12.39

itihāsa-purāṇāni

pañcamaḿ vedam īśvaraḥ

sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyaḥ

sasṛje sarva-darśanaḥ

 

itihāsa — histories; purāṇāni — the Purāṇas (supplementary Vedas); pañcamam — the fifth; vedam — the Vedic literature; īśvaraḥ — the Lord; sarvebhyaḥ — all together; eva — certainly; vaktrebhyaḥ — from his mouths; sasṛje — created; sarva — all around; darśanaḥ — one who can see all time.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then he created the fifth Veda — the Purāṇas and the histories — from all his mouths, since he could see all the past, present and future.

 

3.12.40

ṣoḍaśy-ukthau pūrva-vaktrāt

purīṣy-agniṣṭutāv atha

āptoryāmātirātrau ca

vājapeyaḿ sagosavam

 

ṣoḍaśī-ukthau — types of sacrifice; pūrva-vaktrāt — from the eastern mouth; purīṣi-agniṣṭutau — types of sacrifice; atha — then; āptoryāma-atirātrau — types of sacrifice; ca — and; vājapeyam — type of sacrifice; sa-gosavam — type of sacrifice.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All the different varieties of fire sacrifices [ṣoḍaśī, uktha, purīṣi, agniṣṭoma, āptoryāma, atirātra, vājapeya and gosava] became manifested from the eastern mouth of Brahmā.

 

3.12.41

vidyā dānaḿ tapaḥ satyaḿ

dharmasyeti padāni ca

āśramāḿś ca yathā-sańkhyam

asṛjat saha vṛttibhiḥ

 

vidyā — education; dānam — charity; tapaḥ — penance; satyam — truth; dharmasya — of religion; iti — thus; padāni — four legs; ca — also; āśramān — orders of life; ca — also; yathā — as they are; sańkhyam — in number; asṛjat — created; saha — along with; vṛttibhiḥ — by vocations.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Education, charity, penance and truth are said to be the four legs of religion, and to learn this there are four orders of life with different classifications of castes according to vocation. Brahmā created all these in systematic order.

 

3.12.42

sāvitraḿ prājāpatyaḿ ca

brāhmaḿ cātha bṛhat tathā

vārtā sañcaya-śālīna-

śiloñcha iti vai gṛhe

 

sāvitram — the thread ceremony of the twice-born; prājāpatyam — to execute the vow for one year; ca — and; brāhmam — acceptance of the Vedas; ca — and; atha — also; bṛhat — complete abstinence from sex life; tathā — then; vārtā — vocation in terms of Vedic sanction; sañcaya — professional duty; śālīna — livelihood without asking anyone for cooperation; śila-uñchaḥ — picking up rejected grains; iti — thus; vai — even though; gṛhe — in household life.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then the thread ceremony for the twice-born was inaugurated, as were the rules to be followed for at least one year after acceptance of the Vedas, rules for observing complete abstinence from sex life, vocations in terms of Vedic injunctions, various professional duties in household life, and the method of maintaining a livelihood without anyone's cooperation by picking up rejected grains.

 

3.12.43

vaikhānasā vālakhilyau-

dumbarāḥ phenapā vane

nyāse kuṭīcakaḥ pūrvaḿ

bahvodo haḿsa-niṣkriyau

 

vaikhānasāḥ — the section of men who retire from active life and live on half-boiled meals; vālakhilya — one who quits his former stock of grains on receipt of more; audumbarāḥ — one who lives on what he gets from the direction towards which he starts after rising from bed; phenapāḥ — one who lives on the fruits which automatically fall from the tree; vane — in the forest; nyāse — in the order of renunciation; kuṭīcakaḥ — life in the family without attachment; pūrvam — in the beginning; bahvodaḥ — giving up all material activities and engaging fully in transcendental service; haḿsa — fully engaged in transcendental knowledge; niṣkriyau — stopping all kinds of activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The four divisions of retired life are the vaikhānasas, vālakhilyas, audumbaras and phenapas. The four divisions of the renounced order of life are the kuṭīcakas, bahvodas, haḿsas and niṣkriyas. All these were manifested from Brahmā.

 

3.12.44

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā

daṇḍa-nītis tathaiva ca

evaḿ vyāhṛtayaś cāsan

praṇavo hy asya dahrataḥ

 

ānvīkṣikī — logic; trayī — the three goals, namely religion, economy and salvation; vārtā — sense gratification; daṇḍa — law and order; nītiḥ — moral codes; tathā — as also; eva ca — respectively; evam — thus; vyāhṛtayaḥ — the celebrated hymns bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ and svaḥ; ca — also; āsan — came into existence; praṇavaḥ — the oḿkāra; hi — certainly; asya — of him (Brahmā); dahrataḥ — from the heart.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The science of logical argument, the Vedic goals of life, and also law and order, moral codes, and the celebrated hymns bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ and svaḥ all became manifested from the mouths of Brahmā, and the praṇava oḿkāra was manifested from his heart.

 

3.12.45

tasyoṣṇig āsīl lomabhyo

gāyatrī ca tvaco vibhoḥ

triṣṭum māḿsāt snuto 'nuṣṭub

jagaty asthnaḥ prajāpateḥ

 

tasya — his; uṣṇik — one of the Vedic meters; āsīt — generated; lomabhyaḥ — from the hairs on the body; gāyatrī — the principal Vedic hymn; ca — also; tvacaḥ — from the skin; vibhoḥ — of the Lord; triṣṭup — a particular type of poetic meter; māḿsāt — from the flesh; snutaḥ — from the sinews; anuṣṭup — another type of poetic meter; jagatī — another type of poetic meter; asthnaḥ — from the bones; prajāpateḥ — of the father of the living entities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter the art of literary expression, uṣṇik, was generated from the hairs on the body of the almighty Prajāpati. The principal Vedic hymn, gāyatrī, was generated from the skin, triṣṭup from the flesh, anuṣṭup from the veins, and jagatī from the bones of the lord of the living entities.

 

 3.12.46

majjāyāḥ pańktir utpannā

bṛhatī prāṇato 'bhavat

 

majjāyāḥ — from the bone marrow; pańktiḥ — a particular type of verse; utpannā — became manifested; bṛhatī — another type of verse; prāṇataḥ — out of the life-breathing; abhavat — generated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The art of writing verse, pańkti, became manifested from the bone marrow, and that of bṛhatī, another type of verse, was generated from the life-breath of the Lord of the living entities.

 

3.12.47

sparśas tasyābhavaj jīvaḥ

svaro deha udāhṛta

ūṣmāṇam indriyāṇy āhur

antaḥ-sthā balam ātmanaḥ

svarāḥ sapta vihāreṇa

bhavanti sma prajāpateḥ

 

sparśaḥ — the set of letters from ka to ma; tasya — his; abhavat — became; jīvaḥ — the soul; svaraḥ — vowels; dehaḥ — his body; udāhṛtaḥ — are expressed; ūṣmāṇam — the letters śa, ṣa, sa and ha; indriyāṇi — the senses; āhuḥ — are called; antaḥ-sthāḥ — the set of letters so known (ya, ra, la and va); balam — energy; ātmanaḥ — of his self; svarāḥ — music; sapta — seven; vihāreṇa — by the sensual activities; bhavanti sma — became manifested; prajāpateḥ — of the lord of the living entities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Brahmā's soul was manifested as the touch alphabets, his body as the vowels, his senses as the sibilant alphabets, his strength as the intermediate alphabets and his sensual activities as the seven notes of music.

 

3.12.48

śabda-brahmātmanas tasya

vyaktāvyaktātmanaḥ paraḥ

brahmāvabhāti vitato

nānā-śakty-upabṛḿhitaḥ