मूले मृगे भाद्रपदे मांसं गोमांसतुल्यकम्
At the root of the deer in the month of Bhādrapada, meat is considered equal to cow's flesh.
कृत्वा तु मैथुनं क्षौरं यो देवांस्तर्पयेत्पितॄन्
Whoever, after engaging in sexual union or shaving, offers satisfaction to the gods and ancestors—
यत्कर्त्तव्यमकर्त्तव्यं यद्भोज्यं यदभोज्यकम्
Whatever ought to be done or not done, whatever is fit to be eaten or not eaten—
नारद उवाच भवान्ब्रह्मस्वरूपं च वद ब्रह्मनिरूपणम्
Nārada said: Please describe the true nature of Brahman and the definition of Brahman.
प्रभो किं ब्रह्म साकारं किं निराकारमीश्वर
O Lord, is Brahman with form or formless, O Master?
किं वा दृश्यमदृश्यं वा लिप्तं देहिषु किं न वा
Is it visible or invisible, attached to embodied beings or not?
ब्रह्मातिरिक्ता प्रकृतिः किं वा ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी
Is Prakṛti distinct from Brahman, or is she of the same nature as Brahman?
प्राधान्यं तस्य सृष्टौ च द्वयोर्मध्ये वरं परम्
Which of the two holds supremacy in creation, and which is the highest choice between them?
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पञ्चवक्त्रः प्रहस्य च
Hearing Nārada’s words, the five-faced one smiled—
महादेव उवाच सुदुर्लभं च वेदेषु पुराणेषु च नारद
Mahādeva said: O Nārada, this is extremely rare in the Vedas and Purāṇas.
अहं ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शेषो धर्मो महान्विराट्
I, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śeṣa, Dharma, the great Virāṭ—
यद्विशेषणयुक्तं च दृश्यं प्रत्यक्षमेव च
Whatever is endowed with attributes and is visible, perceptible—
वैकुण्ठे च पुरा पृष्टे धर्मेण ब्रह्मणा तदा 1.28.
Formerly, in Vaikuṇṭha, this was asked by Dharma to Brahmā.
सारभूतं च तत्त्वानामज्ञानान्धकलोचनम्
It is the essence of the principles, the eye for those blinded by ignorance.
परमात्मस्वरूपं च परं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
It is the true form of the Supreme Self, the supreme, eternal Brahman.
प्राणाः पञ्च स्वयं विष्णुर्मनो ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः
The five vital airs are Viṣṇu himself; the mind is Brahmā, the lord of creatures.
आत्माधीना वयं सर्वे स्थिते तस्मिन्वयं स्थिताः
We all depend on the Self; as long as that abides, we abide.
जीवस्तत्प्रतिबिम्बं च सर्वभोगी हि कर्मणाम्
The individual soul is its reflection, the enjoyer of all results of actions.
बिम्बं घटेषु भग्नेषु प्रलीनं चन्द्रसूर्य्ययोः
Just as the reflection disappears from broken pots, so too do the forms of the moon and sun vanish.
एकमेव परं ब्रह्म शेषे वत्स भवक्षये
Only the supreme Brahman remains, dear one, at the end of the world.
तच्च ज्योतिःस्वरूपं च मण्डलाकारमेव च
And that is of the nature of light, having the form of a radiant circle.
आकाशमिव विस्तीर्णं सर्वव्यापकमव्ययम्
It is vast like space, all-pervading and imperishable.
वदन्ति योगिनस्तत्र परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् 1.28.
There, the yogis declare, is the supreme, eternal Brahman.
निरीहं च निराकारं परमात्मानमीश्वरम्
It is without desire, without form—the supreme Self, the Lord.
परमानन्दरूपं च परमानन्दकारणम् तत्रैव लीना प्रकृतिः सर्वबीजस्वरूपिणी
It is of the nature of supreme bliss, the cause of supreme bliss; and there, too, merges Prakriti, the source of all seeds.
यथाऽग्नौ दाहिका शक्तिः प्रभा सूर्य्ये यथा मुने
Just as the power to burn is in fire, and radiance is in the sun, O sage,
यथा शब्दश्च गगने यथा गन्धः क्षितौ सदा
Just as sound is in the sky, and scent is always in the earth,
सृष्ट्युन्मुखेन तद् ब्रह्म चांशेन पुरुषः स्मृतः
So, when Brahman is inclined toward creation, a portion of it is known as Purusha.
त्रिगुणा सा हि तत्रैव परा च्छायामयी स्मृता
There, she is threefold in qualities, and is remembered as the supreme, shadowy form.
यथा मृदा कुलालश्च घटं कर्तुं क्षमः सदा
Just as a potter is always able to make a pot from clay,