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,
नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च सर्वरत्नोपहारकैः। भक्ष्यभोज्यान्नपानैश्च या पूजा क्रियते नरैः
With dance, instrumental music, singing, all kinds of precious gifts, and with offerings of food, drink, and eatables—such worship is performed by men.
पितामहं समुद्दिश्य भक्तिस्सा लौकिकी मता। वेदमंत्रहविर्योगैर्भक्तिर्या वैदिकी मता
When performed in honor of the Grandfather (Brahmā), that devotion is considered worldly; the devotion that is performed with Vedic mantras and oblations is considered Vedic.
दर्शे वा पौर्णमास्यां वा कर्तव्यमग्निहोत्रकम्। प्रशस्तं दक्षिणादानं पुरोडाशं चरुक्रिया
On the new moon or full moon, the agnihotra should be performed; giving of gifts is praised, as are offerings of cakes and the preparation of caru (rice dish).
इष्टिर्धृतिः सोमपानां यज्ञीयं कर्म सर्वशः। ऋग्यजुःसामजाप्यानि संहिताध्ययनानि च
Sacrifices, firmness, the drinking of soma, all sacrificial acts, recitation of the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas, and study of the Saṃhitās,
क्रियंते विधिमुद्दिश्य सा भक्तिर्वैदिकीष्यते। अग्नि भूम्यनिलाकाशांबुनिशाकरभास्करम्
These are performed according to prescribed rules; this is considered Vedic devotion. Worship directed to fire, earth, wind, space, water, the moon, and the sun,
समुद्दिश्य कृतं कर्म तत्सर्वं ब्रह्मदैवतम्। आध्यात्मिकी तु द्विविधा ब्रह्मभक्तिः स्थिता नृप
All acts performed with these as the focus are considered to have Brahman as their deity. But spiritual devotion to Brahman, O King, is said to be of two kinds.
संख्याख्या योगजा चान्या विभागं तत्र मे शृणु। चतुर्विंशतितत्वानि प्रधानादीनि संख्यया
There is another system called Sāṃkhya, arising from Yoga; listen to its classification from me. The twenty-four principles, beginning with Pradhāna, are enumerated by Sāṃkhya.
अचेतनानि भोग्यानि पुरुषः पंचविंशकः। चेतनः पुरुषो भोक्ता न कर्ता तस्य कर्मणः
They are insentient and objects of enjoyment; the Purusha is the twenty-fifth. The Purusha is sentient, the experiencer, not the agent of action.
आत्मा नित्योऽव्ययश्चैव अधिष्ठाता प्रयोजकः। अव्यक्तः पुरुषो नित्यः कारणं च पितामहः
The self is eternal and imperishable, the presiding cause and instigator. The Purusha is unmanifest, eternal, the cause and the grandfather.
तत्वसर्गो भावसर्गो भूतसर्गश्च तत्त्वतः। संख्यया परिसंख्याय प्रधानं च गुणात्मकम्
The creation of principles, the creation of states, and the creation of elements are, in truth, according to Sāṃkhya enumeration; Pradhāna is composed of qualities.