Garuda Purana

एवं स्तुतो हरिः कृष्णो सुप्रबुद्धोऽपि सर्बदा । उद्वुद्धवन्महा विष्णुरभूदज्ञपरीक्षया ॥ ३,११.

Thus praised, Hari Krishna, though always fully awakened, became as if asleep, O best of birds, in order to test knowledge.

तस्य नाभेरभूत्पद्मं सौवर्णं भुवनाश्रयम् । तत्प्राकृतं च विज्ञेयं भूदेवी त्वभिमानिनी ॥ ३,११.

From his navel arose a golden lotus, the support of the worlds. That is to be understood as material; the earth goddess identified herself with it.

अनन्तसूर्यवच्चैव प्रकाशकरमीरितम् । चिदानन्दमयो विष्णुस्तस्माद्भिन्नो न संशयः ॥ ३,११.

Just as the endless sun radiates light, so too did it shine forth. Vishnu, full of consciousness and bliss, is distinct from that—of this there is no doubt.

विष्णोः स्वरूपभूतं च ये विजानन्ति ते नराः । ते यान्ति ह्यधरं लोकं तथा तत्संगिसंगिनः ॥ ३,११.

Those people who know the true form of Vishnu, and those who associate with such people, indeed go to the lower worlds.

किरीटादिकवच्चैव ज्ञातव्यं च खगेश्वर । किरीटाद्या अपि हरेर्द्विधा संति न संशयः ॥ ३,११.

Just as with crowns and similar ornaments, O Lord of Birds, know that even crowns and such things of Hari are of two kinds, without doubt.

स्वरूपा ह्यस्वरूपाश्च स्वस्वरूपनि दर्शने । गृहीता इति विज्ञेया न स्वरूपाः खगेश्वर ॥ ३,११.

There are true forms and non-true forms; those that appear as one's own true form are to be understood as assumed, not as the true forms, O Lord of Birds.

भ्माण्डं ह्यसृजत्तत्र सर्वलोकविधायकम् । प्रलये मुक्तिहीनश्च सुप्त इत्युच्यते बुधः ॥ ३,११.

He created the cosmic egg there, which brings about all worlds; at dissolution, one without liberation is called 'asleep' by the wise.

तस्य समिवस्त्रिवं च न ज्ञातव्या खगेश्वर । प्रलयोपि महाभाग ब्रह्मवाय्वोर्न चास्ति हि ॥ ३,११.

Its true nature, O Lord of Birds, is not to be known; even at dissolution, O greatly fortunate one, there is no true existence of Brahma and Vayu.

वृत्तिरूपं परं ज्ञानं पाद्यार्घ्यं नात्र संशयः । इन्द्रियाणामुपरतिः सुप्तिरित्युच्यते बुधैः ॥ ३,११.

The supreme knowledge in the form of cessation is the washing of the feet and offering of water, without doubt; the cessation of the senses is called 'sleep' by the wise.

ब्रह्मवाय्वोश्च पासग्नि वास्तवं स्यात्खगेश्वर । कथं तर्हि तयोर्वर्ते ह्यविलत्यत्वमुच्यते ॥ ३,११.

The real existence of Brahma and Vayu is said to be like a rope and fire, O Lord of Birds; then how is their continued existence called non-existence?

तस्मात्तद्वास्तवं नास्ति ब्रह्मवाय्वोः खगेश्वर । स्वप्नावस्थायाः सदृशी ह्यवस्था सुप्तिसंज्ञिका ॥ ३,११.

Therefore, the real existence of Brahma and Vayu does not exist, O Lord of Birds; the state called 'sleep' is similar to the dream state.

ब्रह्मण्यमुख्यया वृत्त्या ह्यस्तीत्येवं निबोध मे । अतो न वास्तवमिदमङ्गीकार्यं खगेश्वर ॥ ३,११.

Understand from me that, by the primary function of Brahman, it is said to exist; therefore, O Lord of Birds, this is not to be accepted as truly real.

वास्तवं ये विजानन्ति तेषां नित्यं धनं तपः । श्रीगरुड उवाच । सुप्तिस्त्वज्ञानकार्यत्वात्सुप्तिर्नास्तीत्युदीरिता ॥ ३,११.

Those who know the real, for them wealth and austerity are eternal. Śrī Garuḍa said: Sleep is said not to exist, since it is the result of ignorance.

यदा हि कारणं चास्ति तदा कार्यमिति प्रभो । इत्यभिप्रायगर्भेण त्वं समाधास्य ते यदि ॥ ३,११.

When the cause exists, then the effect exists, O Lord; if you resolve this with such an intention, then—

तर्हि तस्य महाभाग कथं ब्रूहि भयादिकम् । भयादिकं ह्यस्तु नाम का वास्माकं क्षतिर्भवेत् ॥ ३,११.

Then, O greatly fortunate one, tell me how fear and the like arise; let there be fear and such, but what harm would come to us?

एवमुक्तस्तु गोविन्दोब्रवीत्तत्रापि कारणम् । भयं त्वज्ञानकार्यं स्यात्कार्याकारणमत्र हि ॥ ३,११.

Thus addressed, Govinda spoke: Even there, the cause is present; fear is the result of ignorance, for here the effect is without a cause.

प्रीयते मत्वा ब्रह्म तस्मात्सुप्तिश्च तत्र हि । अज्ञादिकं यदि ब्रह्म तस्य न स्यात्कथञ्चन ॥ ३,११.

Thinking of Brahman, one is pleased; therefore, sleep is there. If Brahman were ignorance and the like, then it would never be so.

कथं सुखी प्रदृश्येत न कथञ्चित्करिष्यति । कथं वा मुक्तिपर्यन्तं ज्ञानव्यक्तिर्वदस्व मे ॥ ३,११.

How could one be happy or act in any way? Tell me, how does the manifestation of knowledge continue up to liberation?

यद्यज्ञानं तस्य सत्यं न स्यात्तर्हि महाप्रभो । अत्यादरात्कथं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रवणं कुरुते वद ॥ ३,११.

If ignorance truly belonged to it, then, O great Lord, how could Brahman, out of great respect, listen to the teaching?

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कृष्णो वचनमब्रवीत् । भयं च वास्तवं तस्य न जानीहि महामते ॥ ३,११.

Hearing these words, Krishna spoke: Know that fear is not real for it, O greatly wise one.

दृश्यते मद्भयं तस्य हरिप्रीत्यर्थमेव च । भयाकामवतीवानमुवास्तवमीरितम् ॥ ३,११.

Fear of me is seen in it, and also for the sake of pleasing Hari; fear, like desire, is said to be unreal.

प्राप्तप्राब्धलेशस्त तस्य नास्ति खगेश्वर । दुः खाज्ञानादिकं किञ्चित्कथं तस्मिन् भविष्यति ॥ ३,११.

O King of Birds, for him who has attained even a fraction of his destined portion, there is no suffering, ignorance, or the like; how could such things exist in him?

विष्णोराज्ञानुसारेण भयायानुकरोत्यसौ । तेन प्रीणाति च हरिस्तस्य नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥ ३,११.

He acts out of fear in accordance with the command of Viṣṇu; by this, he pleases Hari—of this there is no doubt.

शृणोति सततं ब्रह्मा न चिन्त्यात्तावताज्ञता । कदाचिद्दृश्यते ब्रह्मा दुः खी न च खगेश्वर ॥ ३,११.

Brahmā always hears, but does not think; thus, ignorance is not to be considered here. Sometimes Brahmā appears to be suffering, but not truly, O King of Birds.

यद्ब्रह्म च न जानीयाद्धरिप्रीत्यर्थमेव च । दुः खिवद्दृश्यते ब्रह्मा आज्ञानां मोहनाय च ॥ ३,११.

If Brahmā does not know something, it is only for the sake of pleasing Hari; Brahmā appears as if suffering, for the delusion of the ignorant.

योग्यतामनतिक्रम्य यावज्ज्ञानं च तिष्ठति । ब्रह्मणस्तावदेवास्ति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ३,११.

So long as knowledge remains, within the bounds of his own capacity, it exists for Brahmā; there is no need for further inquiry here.

ज्ञानस्य व्यक्तता नाम विद्यमानस्य चादरात् । ज्ञानस्यासादनं चैव ज्ञानव्यक्तिरिति स्मृता ॥ ३,११.

The manifestation of knowledge, when it is present and approached with reverence, and the attainment of knowledge—this is what is called the manifestation of knowledge.

अतो ज्ञानादिकं नास्ति ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः । पद्माद्धिरण्म याज्जातो ब्रह्मा तु चतुराननः ॥ ३,११.

Therefore, there is no ignorance or the like in Brahmā, the supreme creator; Brahmā, the four-faced one, was born from the lotus arising from the golden egg.

सर्वदाऽलोचनायुक्तस्तेन स्वालोचनं कृतम् । अज्ञानां मोहनार्थाय हरिप्रीत्यर्थमेव च ॥ ३,११.

He is always endowed with reflection, and thus his own reflection is performed—for the delusion of the ignorant and for the pleasure of Hari.