क्व गतं तस्य विज्ञानं जीवतश्चेष्टितं कुतः । सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग कथयस्व यथाशुभम्
Where did his knowledge go, and how did his actions cease while living? This doubt, O illustrious one, tell me as it truly is.
का सा शक्तिः पुरा प्रोक्ता यया विष्णुजितः प्रभुः । कुतो जाता कथं शक्ता का शक्तिर्वद सुव्रत
What is that power spoken of before, by which the Lord Vishnu was overcome? From where did it arise, how is it potent, what is its nature? Tell me, O virtuous one.
यस्तु सर्वेश्वरो विष्णुर्वासुदेवो जगद्गुरुः । परमात्मा परानन्दः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः
He who is the Lord of all, Vishnu, Vasudeva, the teacher of the world, the supreme self, supreme bliss, whose form is existence, consciousness, and joy—
सर्वकृत्सर्वभृत्स्रष्टा विरजः सर्वगः शुचिः । स कथं निद्रया नीतः परतन्त्रः परात्परः
Who does all, sustains all, is creator, unstained, all-pervading, pure—how was he led into sleep, made dependent, though supreme among the supreme?
एतदाश्चर्यभूतो हि सन्देहो नः परन्तप । छिन्धि ज्ञानासिना सूत व्यासशिष्य महामते
This is indeed a wondrous doubt for us, O scorcher of foes; dispel it with the sword of knowledge, Suta, disciple of Vyasa, wise one.
सूत उवाच कः सन्देहं भिनत्त्येनं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे । मुह्यन्ति मुनयः कामं ब्रह्मपुत्राः सनातनाः
Suta said: Who in the three worlds, among moving and unmoving beings, can break this doubt? Even the ancient sons of Brahma, the sages, are bewildered by it.
नारदः कपिलश्चैव प्रश्नेऽस्मिन्मुनिसत्तमाः । किं ब्रवीमि महाभागा दुर्घटेऽस्मिन्विमर्शने
Narada and Kapila, O best of sages, are present in this inquiry; what can I say, O illustrious ones, in this difficult discussion?
देवेषु विष्णुः कथितः सर्वगः सर्वपालकः । यतो विराडिदं सर्वमुत्पन्नं सचराचरम्
Among the gods, Vishnu is described as all-pervading, protector of all; from whom this entire universe, moving and unmoving, has arisen.
ते सर्वे समुपासन्ते नत्वा देवं परात्परम् । नारायणं हृषीकेशं वासुदेवं जनार्दनम्
All of them worship, bowing to the supreme Lord, Narayana, Hrishikesha, Vasudeva, Janardana.
तथा केचिन्महादेवं शङ्करं शशिशेखरम् । त्रिनेत्रं पञ्चवक्त्रं च शूलपाणिं वृषध्वजम्
Likewise, some worship Mahadeva, Shankara, crowned with the moon, three-eyed, five-faced, holding the trident, with the bull as his banner.
तथा वेदेषु सर्वेषु गीतं नाम्ना त्रियम्बकम् । कपर्दिनं पञ्चवक्त्रं गौरीदेहार्धधारिणम्
Thus, in all the Vedas, he is sung as Triyambaka by name, with matted hair, five-faced, bearing half the body of Gauri.
कैलासवासनिरतं सर्वशक्तिसमन्वितम् । भूतवृन्दयुतं देवं दक्षयज्ञविघातकम्
Dwelling in Kailasa, engaged in meditation, endowed with all powers, accompanied by hosts of spirits, the god who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice.
तथा सूर्यं वेदविदः सायंप्रातर्दिने दिने । मध्याह्ने तु महाभागाः स्तुवन्ति विविधैः स्तवैः
Likewise, the knowers of the Vedas praise the Sun morning and evening, day by day, and at midday, O illustrious ones, with various hymns.
तथा वेदेषु सर्वेषु सूर्योपासनमुत्तमम् । परमात्मेति विख्यातं नाम तस्य महात्मनः
Thus, in all the Vedas, worship of the Sun is considered supreme; he is renowned as the Supreme Self, that great soul.
अग्निः सर्वत्र वेदेषु संस्तुतो वेदवित्तमैः । इन्द्रश्चापि त्रिलोकेशो वरुणश्च तथापरः
Agni is praised everywhere in the Vedas by those most learned in them; likewise, Indra, the lord of the three worlds, and Varuna are also extolled.
यथा गङ्गा प्रवाहैश्च बहुभिः परिवर्तते । तथैव सर्वदेवेषु विष्णुः प्रोक्तो महर्षिभिः
Just as the Ganga flows and turns in many streams, so too, among all the gods, Vishnu is declared by the great sages.
त्रीण्येव हि प्रमाणानि पठितानि सुपण्डितैः । प्रत्यक्षं चानुमानं च शाब्दं चैव तृतीयकम्
Only three means of knowledge are taught by the truly learned: direct perception, inference, and verbal testimony as the third.
चत्वार्येवेतरे प्राहुरुपमानयुतानि च । अर्थापत्तियुतान्यन्ये पञ्च प्राहुर्महाधियः
Others declare four means, including comparison; yet others, endowed with great intellect, speak of five, adding postulation.
सप्त पौराणिकाश्चैव प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । एतैः प्रमाणैर्दुर्ज्ञेयं यद्ब्रह्म परमं च तत्
Seven means are spoken of by the wise in the Puranas; by these means, the supreme Brahman is difficult to know.
वितर्कश्चात्र कर्तव्यो बुद्ध्या चैवागमेन च । निश्चयात्मिकया युक्त्या विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
Reasoning must be applied here, both by intellect and scripture, and by decisive logic, examined again and again.
प्रत्यक्षतस्तु विज्ञानं चिन्त्यं मतिमता सदा । दृष्टान्तेनापि सततं शिष्टमार्गानुसारिणा
Knowledge from direct perception should always be considered by the wise, constantly with examples, following the path of the learned.
विद्वांसोऽपि वदन्त्येवं पुराणैः परिगीयते । द्रुहिणे सृष्टिशक्तिश्च हरौ पालनशक्तिता
Even the learned say thus, as sung in the Puranas: Brahma possesses the power of creation, and Hari the power of preservation.
हरे संहारशक्तिश्च सूर्ये शक्तिः प्रकाशिका । धराधरणशक्तिश्च शेषे कूर्मे तथैव च
Hari has the power of dissolution, Surya the illuminating power, and the power of sustaining the earth is in Shesha and likewise in Kurma.
साद्या शक्तिः परिणता सर्वस्मिन्या प्रतिष्ठिता । दाहशक्तिस्तथा वह्नौ समीरे प्रेरणात्मिका
That primal power, transformed, is established in all; the power of burning is in fire, and the power of movement is in wind.
शिवोऽपि शवतां याति कुण्डलिन्या विवर्जितः । शक्तिहीनस्तु यः कश्चिदसमर्थः स्मृतो बुधैः
Even Shiva becomes lifeless when deprived of Kundalini; whoever is without power is considered incapable by the wise.
एवं सर्वत्र भूतेषु स्थावरेषु चरेषु च । ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तं ब्रह्माण्डेऽस्मिन्महातपाः
Thus, in all beings, both immobile and mobile, from Brahma down to a blade of grass, in this universe, O great ascetics,
शक्तिहीनं तु निन्द्यं स्याद्वस्तुमात्रं चराचरम् । अशक्तः शत्रुविजये गमने भोजने तथा
That which is without power is to be censured, mere substance, whether moving or unmoving; powerless in victory over enemies, in movement, and in eating.
एवं सर्वगता शक्तिः सा ब्रह्मेति विविच्यते । सोपास्या विविधैः सम्यग्विचार्या सुधिया सदा
Thus, the all-pervading power is discerned as Brahman; it is to be worshipped in various ways, always thoroughly examined by the wise.
विष्णौ च सात्त्विकी शक्तिस्तया हीनोऽप्यकर्मकृत् । द्रुहिणे राजसी शक्तिर्यया हीनो ह्यसृष्टिकृत्
In Vishnu, the sattvic power; deprived of it, he performs no action. In Brahma, the rajasic power; without it, he does not create.
शिवे च तामसी शक्तिस्तया संहारकारकः । इत्यूह्यं मनसा सर्वं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
In Shiva, the tamasic power; by it, he causes dissolution. Thus, all this must be inferred and repeatedly examined in the mind.