विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो नाऽसौ दुर्गतिमाप्नुयात्। यथाहं सर्वदेवानां ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः पितामहः
Freed from all sins, he does not attain a bad state, just as I am the eldest, the best, and the grandsire of all the gods.
तथा ज्ञानी सदा पूज्यो निर्ममो निः परिग्रहः। संसारबंधमोक्षार्थं ब्रह्मगुप्तमिदं व्रतम्
In the same way, the knower is always to be worshipped, unattached and without possessions; this vow, approved by Brahma, is for the purpose of liberation from worldly bondage.
मया प्रणीतं विप्राणामपुनर्भवकारणम्। अग्निहोत्रमुपादाय यस्त्यजेदजितेंद्रियः
Composed by me for the twice-born, it is the cause of non-return; if one who has not conquered his senses abandons the Agnihotra sacrifice,
रौरवं स प्रयात्याशु प्रणीतो यमकिंकरैः। लोकयात्रावितंडश्च क्षुद्रं कर्म करोति यः
He quickly goes to Raurava, led away by the servants of Yama; and one who performs petty acts for worldly livelihood,
स रागचित्तः शृंगारी नारीजन धनप्रियः। एकभोजी सुमिष्टाशी कृषिवाणिज्यसेवकः
He whose mind is attached, who is passionate, fond of women and wealth, who eats alone, delights in tasty food, and serves agriculture or trade,
अवेदो वेदनिंदी च परभार्यां च सेवते। इत्यादिदोषदुष्टो यस्तस्य संभाषणादपि
Who is ignorant of the Veda, who reviles the Veda, or who approaches another man's wife—one corrupted by such faults as these,
नरो नरकगामी स्याद्यश्च सद्व्रतदूषकः। असंतुष्टं भिन्नचित्तं दुर्मतिं पापकारिणम्
A man who even converses with such a person, or who corrupts a good vow, goes to hell; one who is discontent, of divided mind, wicked, and a doer of evil,
न स्पृशेदंगसंगेन स्पृष्ट्वा स्नानेन शुद्ध्यति। एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्ब्रह्मा तैरमरैः सह
Should not be touched physically; if touched, one is purified by bathing. Having thus spoken, the blessed Brahma, together with those immortals,
क्षेत्रं निवेशयामास यथावत्कथयामि ते। उत्तरे चंद्रनद्यास्तु प्राची यावत्सरस्वती
Established the field as is proper; I shall tell you about it. To the north is the Chandranadi, to the east as far as the Sarasvati,
पूर्वं तु नंदनात्कृत्स्नं यावत्कल्पं सपुष्करम्। वेदी ह्येषा कृता यज्ञे ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा१५० 1.15.
To the east, from Nandana entirely, as far as Kalpa with Pushkara; this altar was made for the sacrifice by Brahma, the creator of the worlds.
ज्येष्ठं तु प्रथमं ज्ञेयं तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यपावनम्। ख्यातं तद्ब्रह्मदैवत्यं मध्यमं वैष्णवं तथा
The eldest should be known as the first and as the purifier of the three worlds; that is famous as the Brahma sanctuary, the middle as belonging to Vishnu,
कनिष्ठं रुद्रदैवत्यं ब्रह्मपूर्वमकारयत्। आद्यमेतत्परं क्षेत्रं गुह्यं वेदेषु पठ्यते
The youngest as belonging to Rudra; Brahma made it first. This is the foremost and supreme field, spoken of as secret in the Vedas.
अरण्यं पुष्कराख्यं तु ब्रह्मा सन्निहितः प्रभुः। अनुग्रहो भूमिभागे कृतो वै ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्
The forest called Pushkara, where Brahma, the lord, is present; Brahma himself bestowed favor on this piece of earth.
अनुग्रहार्थं विप्राणां सर्वेषां भूमिचारिणाम्। सुवर्णवज्रपर्यंता वेदिकांका मही कृता
For the favor of the twice-born and all who dwell on earth, the land was made with an altar surrounded by gold and diamonds.
विचित्रकुट्टिमारत्नैः कारिता सर्वशोभना। रमते तत्र भगवान्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Adorned with various inlaid gems, made most beautiful in every way; there the blessed Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, delights.
विष्णुरुद्रौ तथा देवौ वसवोप्यश्विनावपि ?। मरुतश्च महेंद्रेण रमंते च दिवौकसः
Vishnu and Rudra, the two gods, the Vasus, the Ashvins, and the Maruts with mighty Indra, and the dwellers in heaven also delight there.
एतत्ते तथ्यमाख्यातं लोकानुग्रहकारणम्। संहितानुक्रमेणात्र मंत्रैश्च विधिपूर्वकम्
This has been truly declared to you, for the benefit of the worlds, in accordance with the collection and with proper mantras and rites.
वेदान्पठंति ये विप्रा गुरुशुश्रूषणे रताः। वसंति ब्रह्मसामीप्ये सर्वे तेनानुभाविताः
The twice-born who recite the Vedas, devoted to serving their teacher, all dwell near Brahma, blessed by him.
भीष्म उवाच। भगवन्केन विधिना अरण्ये पुष्करे नरैः। ब्रह्मलोकमभीप्सद्भिर्वस्तव्यं क्षेत्रवासिभिः
Bhīṣma said: O Lord, by what method should those who dwell in sacred places, desiring to reach the world of Brahmā, live in the forest or at Puṣkara?
किं मनुष्यैरुतस्त्रीभिरुत वर्णाश्रमान्वितैः। वसद्भिः किमनुष्ठेयमेतत्सर्वं ब्रवीहि मे
Should this be done by men, or by women, or by those established in the social orders and stages of life? What should those who reside there practice? Tell me all of this.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। नरैः स्त्रीभिश्च वस्तव्यं वर्णाश्रमनिवासिभिः। स्वधर्माचारनिरतैर्दंभमोहविवर्जितैः
Pulastya said: Men and women, and those established in the social orders and stages of life, should reside there, devoted to their own duties and conduct, free from hypocrisy and delusion.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्मभक्तैर्जितेंद्रियैः। अनसूयुभिरक्षुद्रैः सर्वभूतहिते रतैः
With actions, mind, and speech, devoted to Brahman, with senses subdued, free from envy and pettiness, intent on the welfare of all beings.
भीष्म उवाच। किं कुर्वाणो नरः कर्म ब्रह्मभक्तस्त्विहोच्यते। कीदृशा ब्रह्मभक्ताश्च स्मृता नॄणां वदस्व मे
Bhīṣma said: By performing what actions is a man called a devotee of Brahman here? And what kind of devotees of Brahman are spoken of among men? Tell me this.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। त्रिविधा भक्तिरुद्दिष्टा मनोवाक्कायसंभवा। लौकिकी वैदिकी चापि भवेदाध्यात्मिकी तथा
Pulastya said: Threefold devotion is described, arising from mind, speech, and body; it may be worldly, Vedic, or spiritual.
ध्यानधारणया बुद्ध्या वेदार्थस्मरणे हि यत्। ब्रह्मप्रीतिकरी चैषा मानसी भक्तिरुच्यते
That which is performed by meditation, concentration, intellect, and recollection of the meaning of the Vedas, and which brings delight to Brahman, is called mental devotion.
मंत्रवेदनमस्कारैरग्निश्राद्धादिचिंतनैः। जाप्यैश्चावश्यकैश्चैव वाचिकी भक्तिरिष्यते
By recitation of mantras, Vedic hymns, salutations, meditations on fire and ancestral rites, and obligatory chants, this is considered verbal devotion.
व्रतोपवासनियतैश्चितेंद्रियनिरोधिभिः। भूषणैर्हेमरत्नाढ्यैस्तथा चांद्रायणादिभिः
By vows, fasts, observances, restraint of the senses, adorning with ornaments rich in gold and jewels, and also by lunar fasts and similar practices,
ब्रह्मकृच्छ्रोपवासैश्च तथाचान्यैः शुभव्रतैः। कायिकीभक्तिराख्याता त्रिविधा तु द्विजन्मनाम्
By Brahmakṛcchra fasts and other auspicious vows, bodily devotion is declared; this threefold devotion pertains to the twice-born.
गोघृतक्षीरदधिभिः रत्नदीपकुशोदकैः। गंधैर्माल्यैश्च विविधैर्धातुभिश्चोपपादितैः
With offerings of cow's ghee, milk, curds, jewels, lamps, sacred grass, water, various fragrances and garlands, and substances prepared from metals,
घृतगुग्गुलुधूपैश्च कृष्णागरुसुगंधिभिः। भूषणैर्हेमरत्नाढ्यैश्चित्राभिः स्रग्भिरेव च
With clarified butter, incense of guggulu, fragrant black aloe, ornaments adorned with gold and jewels, and with splendid garlands as well,