पितॄन्देवांस्तर्पयतः स्वाध्यायेन महात्मनः। आत्मानं कर्षतश्चास्य तुष्टो देवः पितामहः
As the great-souled one satisfied the ancestors and gods through self-study, and disciplined himself, the god Pitāmaha was pleased with him.
उवाच तनयं ब्रह्मा पुलस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्। स त्वं देवव्रतं भीष्मं वीरं कुरुकुलोद्भवम्
Brahmā spoke to his son, the eminent sage Pulastya: You must go to Bhīṣma, son of the Kuru line, devoted to vows and a hero.
तपसः संनिवर्त्तस्व कारणं चास्य कीर्त्तय। पितॄन्भक्त्या महाभागो ध्यायमानस्समास्थितः
Withdraw him from his austerities and declare to him the reason; this highly fortunate one is absorbed in meditation, devoted to his ancestors.
यो ह्यस्य मनसः कामस्तं संपादयमाचिरम्। पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा पुलस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः
Whatever desire is in his mind, fulfill it promptly; hearing the words of Pitāmaha, the eminent sage Pulastya—
गंगाद्वारमथागत्य भीष्मं वचनमब्रवीत्। वरं वरय भद्रं ते यत्ते मनसि वर्त्तते
Then, coming to Gaṅgādvāra, Pulastya spoke to Bhīṣma: Choose a boon, O blessed one, whatever is in your heart.
तुष्टस्ते तपसा वीर साक्षाद्देवः पितामहः। ब्रह्मणा प्रेषितस्तेहं वरान्दास्यामि कांक्षितान्
O hero, the god Pitāmaha is pleased with your austerity; sent by Brahmā, I am here to grant you the boons you desire.
भीष्मोपि तद्वचः श्रुत्वा मनःश्रोत्रसुखावहम्। उन्मील्य नयने दृष्ट्वा पुलस्त्यं पुरतः स्थितम्
Hearing those pleasing words, Bhīṣma opened his eyes and saw Pulastya standing before him.
अष्टांगप्रणिपातेन नत्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम्। उवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा सर्वांगालिंगितावनिः
With eightfold prostration, bowing to that eminent sage, he spoke, having bowed down, embracing the earth with all his limbs.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म दिनं चेदं सुशोभनम्। भवतश्चरणौ दृष्टौ जगद्वंद्यौ मया त्विह
Today my birth is fulfilled, and this day is most auspicious; I have seen your feet here, worthy of worship by the world.
तपसश्च फलं प्राप्तं यद्दृष्टोभगवान्मया। वरप्रदो विशेषेण संप्राप्तश्च नदीतटे
The fruit of my austerity is attained, for I have seen the venerable one; the bestower of boons has especially come to the riverbank.
इयं ब्रसी मया क्लप्ता आस्यतां सुखदा कृता। अर्घ्यपात्रे तु पालाशे दूर्वाक्षतसुमैः कुशैः
This ladle has been prepared by me; let it be placed, as it brings comfort. In the vessel for offering, made of palāśa wood, are durvā grass, rice grains, flowers, and kuśa grass.
सर्षपैश्च दधिक्षौद्रैर्यवैश्च पयसा सह। अष्टांगो ह्येष निर्द्दिष्टो ह्यर्घो हि मुनिभिः पुरा
With mustard seeds, curd, honey, barley, and milk together, this eightfold offering is prescribed, as established by the sages of old.
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं तस्य भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः। उपविष्टो ब्रह्मसुतः पुलस्त्यो भगवानृषिः
Hearing these words of Bhīṣma, whose energy is immeasurable, the divine sage Pulastya, son of Brahma, sat down.
विष्टरं सहपाद्येन अर्घपात्रं मुदान्वितः। जुजोष भगवान्प्रीतः सदाचारेण तेन तु
With a seat and water for washing the feet, and the vessel for offering, filled with joy, the blessed one, pleased, accepted it with proper conduct.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। सत्यवान्दानशीलोसि सत्यसंधिर्नरेश्वरः। ह्रीमान्मैत्रः क्षमाशीलो विक्रांतः शत्रुशासने
Pulastya said: You are truthful, generous, steadfast in your word, O king; modest, friendly, patient, valiant in subduing enemies.
धर्मज्ञस्त्वं कृतज्ञस्त्वं दयावान्प्रियभाषिता। मान्यमानयिता विज्ञो ब्रह्मण्यः साधुवत्सलः
You know righteousness, you are grateful, compassionate, and speak kindly; you honor the honorable, are wise, devoted to Brahmins, and cherish the virtuous.
तुष्टस्तेहं सदा वत्स प्रणिपातपरस्य वै। प्रब्रूहि त्वं महाभाग कथनं ते वदाम्यहम्
I am always pleased with you, child, who are devoted to reverence; tell me, O fortunate one, what you wish to ask, and I shall speak.
भीष्म उवाच। भगवन्भगवान्ब्रह्मा कस्मिन्काले स्थितो विभुः। सृष्टिं चकार वै पूर्वं देवादीनां वदस्व मे
Bhīṣma said: O revered one, O blessed Brahma, at what time did the mighty one exist? Tell me how he first created the gods and others.
स्थितिं वा भगवान्विष्णुः कथं रुद्रस्तु निर्मितः। कथं वा ऋषयो देवास्सृष्टास्तेन महात्मना
Or how did the blessed Viṣṇu sustain, and how was Rudra created? How were the sages and gods brought forth by that great soul?
कथं पृथ्वी कथं व्योम कथं चेमे तु सागराः। कथं द्वीपाः पर्वताश्च ग्रामारण्यपुराणि च
How was the earth, how was the sky, and how were these oceans? How were the islands, mountains, villages, forests, and cities?
मुनीन्प्रजापतींश्चैव सप्तर्षीन्प्रवरानपि। वर्णान्वायुं पुरास्थानं गंधर्वान्यक्षराक्षसान्
And the sages, the progenitors, the eminent seven seers, the castes, the wind, the ancient places, the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, and Rākṣasas?
तीर्थानि सरितो वाथ सूर्यादीन्ग्रहतारकान्। यथा ससर्ज भगवांस्तथा मे त्वं वदस्व ह
The sacred places, rivers, and also the sun, planets, and stars—how did the blessed one create them? Tell me this as it happened.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। परः पराणां परमः परमात्मा पितामहः। रूपवर्णादिरहितो विशेषण विवर्जितः
Pulastya said: The supreme among the supreme, the highest Self, the ancestor, is without form, color, or attributes, devoid of any distinguishing marks.
अपक्षयविनाशाभ्यां परिणामर्द्धिजन्मभिः। गुणैर्विवर्जितः सर्वैः स भातीति हि केवलम्
He is free from decrease, destruction, transformation, growth, and birth; he is devoid of all qualities, and thus he alone shines.
सर्वत्रासौ समश्चापि वसन्ननुपमो मतः। भावयन्ब्रह्मरूपेण विद्वद्भिः परिपठ्यते
He is equal everywhere, dwelling in all, incomparable; contemplating in the form of Brahman, he is expounded by the wise.
तं गुह्यं परमं नित्यमजमक्षयमव्ययम्। तथा पुरुषरूपेण कालरूपेण संस्थितम्
That secret, supreme, eternal, unborn, imperishable, and unchanging one is also established in the form of the person and of time.
तं नत्वाहं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा सृष्टिं चकार ह। पूर्वं तु पद्मशयनादुत्थाय जगतःप्रभुः
Having bowed to him, I shall speak of how he created the world, rising first from the lotus-seat, the Lord of the universe.
गुणव्यंजनसंभूतः सर्गकाले नराधिप। सात्विको राजसश्चैव तामसश्च त्रिधा महान्
At the time of creation, O king, the great one arose, composed of qualities and distinctions: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic, in threefold form.
प्रधानतत्वेन समं तथा बीजादिभिर्वृतः। वैकारिकस्तैजसश्च भूतादिश्चैव तामसः
As the chief principle, it is equally enveloped by the seeds and so forth; the sattvic (vaikārika), rajasic (taijasa), and tamasic (bhūtādi) forms arise.
त्रिविधोयमहंकारो महत्तत्त्वादजायत। भूतेंद्रियाणां पंचानां तथा कर्मेन्द्रियैः सह
This threefold ego (ahaṃkāra) was born from the great principle (mahat); along with the five elements, the five organs of action also emerged.