Bhagavata Purana

मैत्रेय उवाच - एवं समुदितस्तेन कपिलेन प्रजापतिः । दक्षिणीकृत्य तं प्रीतो वनमेव जगाम ह

Maitreya said: Thus addressed by Kapila, the lord of creatures, pleased, circumambulated him to the right and went to the forest.

व्रतं स आस्थितो मौनं आत्मैकशरणो मुनिः । निःसङ्गो व्यचरत् क्षोणीं अनग्निरनिकेतनः

He undertook a vow of silence, relying solely on the Self, wandering unattached over the earth, without fire and without a fixed dwelling.

मनो ब्रह्मणि युञ्जानो यत्तत् सदसतः परम् । गुणावभासे विगुण एकभक्त्यानुभाविते

Absorbing his mind in Brahman, which is beyond both the manifest and unmanifest, appearing as the qualities yet itself without qualities, realized through single-minded devotion.

निरहङ्कृतिर्निर्ममश्च निर्द्वन्द्वः समदृक् स्वदृक् । प्रत्यक्प्रशान्तधीर्धीरः प्रशान्तोर्मिरिवोदधिः

Free from ego, free from possessiveness, beyond dualities, seeing equally and seeing his own Self, inwardly peaceful and steady in mind, like a calm ocean without waves.

वासुदेवे भगवति सर्वज्ञे प्रत्यगात्मनि । परेण भक्तिभावेन लब्धात्मा मुक्तबन्धनः

In Vāsudeva, the all-knowing Lord, the inner Self, through supreme devotion, he realized his own Self and became free from bondage.

आत्मानं सर्वभूतेषु भगवन्तं अवस्थितम् । अपश्यत्सर्वभूतानि भगवत्यपि चात्मनि

He saw the Lord present in all beings as his own Self, and also saw all beings in the Lord within himself.

इच्छाद्वेषविहीनेन सर्वत्र समचेतसा । भगवद्‍भक्तियुक्तेन प्राप्ता भागवती गतिः

Freed from desire and aversion, with an even mind toward all, endowed with devotion to the Lord, he attained the state of a devotee of the Lord.

स्फुरत्किरीटवलय हारनूपुरमेखलम् । शङ्‌खचक्रगदापद्म मालामण्युत्तमर्द्धिमत्

Radiant with a crown, bracelets, necklace, anklets, and girdle; adorned with conch, discus, mace, lotus, garland, and the finest jewels, full of supreme splendor.

सिंहस्कन्धत्विषो बिभ्रत् सौभग ग्रीवकौस्तुभम् । श्रियानपायिन्या क्षिप्त निकषाश्मोरसोल्लसत्

Bearing the Kaustubha gem on his auspicious neck, with shoulders like a lion's, shining with unfailing glory, his form illuminated like a flawless touchstone.

पूररेचकसंविग्न वलिवल्गुदलोदरम् । प्रतिसङ्‌क्रामयद् विश्वं नाभ्यावर्तगभीरया

His abdomen marked by three lines, moving with the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation, as if the universe itself is being drawn in and released by the deep whirl of his navel.

श्यामश्रोण्यधिरोचिष्णु दुकूलस्वर्णमेखलम् । समचार्वङ्‌घ्रिजङ्‌घोरु निम्नजानुसुदर्शनम्

Wearing a brilliant yellow garment with a golden belt over his dark hips, his thighs, knees, and shins perfectly formed and beautiful to behold.

पदा शरत्पद्मपलाशरोचिषा नखद्युभिर्नोऽन्तरघं विधुन्वता । प्रदर्शय स्वीयमपास्तसाध्वसं पदं गुरो मार्गगुरुस्तमोजुषाम्

With feet shining like autumn lotuses and petals, their nails radiating light, dispelling inner darkness; O Teacher, reveal your own feet, the path for those who seek to cross the darkness of ignorance.

(अनुष्टुप्) एतद् रूपमनुध्येयं आत्मशुद्धिमभीप्सताम् । यद्‍भक्तियोगोऽभयदः स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठताम्

This form is to be meditated upon by those who desire purification of the self; devotion to it grants fearlessness to those who perform their own duty.

भवान् भक्तिमता लभ्यो दुर्लभः सर्वदेहिनाम् । स्वाराज्यस्याप्यभिमत एकान्तेनात्मविद्‍गतिः

You are attainable by the devoted, though difficult to reach for all embodied beings; even the sovereignty of the self is considered inferior to the ultimate state of self-realization gained through exclusive devotion.

तं दुराराध्यमाराध्य सतामपि दुरापया । एकान्तभक्त्या को वाञ्छेत् पादमूलं विना बहिः

Having worshipped Him, who is difficult to approach—even for the virtuous and hard to attain—through exclusive devotion, who would desire anything outside His feet?

यत्र निर्विष्टमरणं कृतान्तो नाभिमन्यते । विश्वं विध्वंसयन् वीर्य शौर्यविस्फूर्जितभ्रुवा

Where death, the ender of life, does not approach those who are indifferent to it, even as he destroys the universe with his might and the fierce arching of his brows.

क्षणार्धेनापि तुलये न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् । भगवत् सङ्‌गिसङ्‌गस्य मर्त्यानां किमुताशिषः

Not even heaven or liberation can be weighed against even half a moment of association with the Lord’s devotees for mortals—what then of other blessings?

अथानघाङ्‌घ्रेस्तव कीर्तितीर्थयोः अन्तर्बहिःस्नानविधूतपाप्मनाम् । भूतेष्वनुक्रोशसुसत्त्वशीलिनां स्यात्सङ्‌गमोऽनुग्रह एष नस्तव

Therefore, O sinless one, may we have the association of those whose character is pure and compassionate toward all beings, whose sins are washed away by bathing within and without in the sacredness of Your fame—this alone is Your grace to us.

न यस्य चित्तं बहिरर्थविभ्रमं तमोगुहायां च विशुद्धमाविशत् । यद्‍भक्तियोगानुगृहीतमञ्जसा मुनिर्विचष्टे ननु तत्र ते गतिम्

He whose mind is not distracted by external objects, nor enters the dark cave of ignorance, whose mind is purified by the favor of devotion and yoga—such a sage surely perceives Your path.

(अनुष्टुप्) यत्रेदं व्यज्यते विश्वं विश्वस्मिन् अवभाति यत् । तत्त्वं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः आकाशमिव विस्तृतम्

That in which this universe appears, and by which the universe is illumined—that reality, the supreme Brahman, the highest light, is vast like space.

यो माययेदं पुरुरूपयासृजद् बिभर्ति भूयः क्षपयत्यविक्रियः । यद्‍भेदबुद्धिः सदिवात्मदुःस्थया त्वमात्मतन्त्रं भगवन्प्रतीमहि

He who, by His own power of illusion, created this world of many forms, sustains it, and again dissolves it, remaining unchanged; the perception of difference is due to the instability of the mind—O Lord, we recognize You as self-dependent.

क्रियाकलापैरिदमेव योगिनः श्रद्धान्विताः साधु यजन्ति सिद्धये । भूतेन्द्रियान्तःकरणोपलक्षितं वेदे च तन्त्रे च ते एव कोविदाः

With faith, yogis worship You alone through various rituals for the attainment of perfection; You are perceived in all beings, senses, and the mind—thus, those skilled in the Veda and Tantra know You.

त्वमेक आद्यः पुरुषः सुप्तशक्तिः तया रजःसत्त्वतमो विभिद्यते । महानहं खं मरुदग्निवार्धराः सुरर्षयो भूतगणा इदं यतः

You alone are the primeval Person, whose power lies dormant; by that power, the modes of passion, goodness, and darkness are differentiated; from You arise the great ego, space, air, fire, water, earth, the gods, sages, and all beings.

सृष्टं स्वशक्त्येदमनुप्रविष्टः चतुर्विधं पुरमात्मांशकेन । अथो विदुस्तं पुरुषं सन्तमन्तः भुङ्‌क्ते हृषीकैर्मधु सारघं यः

Having entered this creation by Your own power, You dwell within the fourfold body as a portion of the self; thus, the wise know that Person who, abiding within, enjoys the essence of the senses like honey.

स एष लोकानतिचण्डवेगो विकर्षसि त्वं खलु कालयानः । भूतानि भूतैरनुमेयतत्त्वो घनावलीर्वायुरिवाविषह्यः

You, who are the swift chariot of time, drag all worlds with irresistible force; the elements, whose nature is inferred, are like masses of clouds, and You are like the wind—unbearable.

प्रमत्तमुच्चैरिति कृत्यचिन्तया प्रवृद्धलोभं विषयेषु लालसम् । त्वमप्रमत्तः सहसाभिपद्यसे क्षुल्लेलिहानोऽहिरिवाखुमन्तकः

While people, intoxicated and distracted by thoughts of action, greedily long for sense objects, You, ever alert, suddenly seize them like a snake licking up a mouse, O Death.

कस्त्वत्पदाब्जं विजहाति पण्डितो यस्तेऽवमानव्ययमानकेतनः । विशङ्‌कयास्मद्‍गुरुरर्चति स्म यद् विनोपपत्तिं मनवश्चतुर्दश

What wise person would abandon Your lotus feet, which are the abode of honor and humility? Out of fear, even the fourteen Manus, our revered teachers, worshipped You, lest they fall from their position.

(अनुष्टुप्) अथ त्वमसि नो ब्रह्मन् परमात्मन् विपश्चिताम् । विश्वं रुद्रभयध्वस्तं अकुतश्चिद्‍भया गतिः

Therefore, O Brahman, Supreme Self, You are the refuge of the wise; when the universe is struck by the fear of Rudra, You are the shelter free from all fear.

इदं जपत भद्रं वो विशुद्धा नृपनन्दनाः । स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठन्तो भगवति अर्पिताशयाः

Recite this, O noble sons of kings, remaining pure, performing your own duties, and offering your intentions to the Lord—may all be well for you.