Varaha Purana

ततो वाक्यावसाने तु तस्य राज्ञो हि संसदि । मशका मत्कुणा यूका भ्रमराः पक्षिणोरगाः ।। ४.

Then, at the end of the king's speech, in his assembly, there appeared mosquitoes, bugs, lice, bees, birds, and serpents.

अश्वा गावो द्विपाः सिंहा व्याघ्रा गोमायवो मृगाः । अन्येऽपि पशवः कीटा ग्राम्यारण्याश्च सर्वशः । दृश्यन्ते राजभवने कोटिशो भूतधारिणि ।। ४.

Horses, cows, elephants, lions, tigers, jackals, deer, and other animals, as well as insects—both domestic and wild—were seen in the royal palace by the millions, all bearing forms of living beings.

तं दृष्ट्वा भूतसंघातं राजा विस्मितमानसः । यावच्चिन्तयते किं स्यादेतदित्यवगम्य च । जैगीषव्यस्य माहात्म्यं कपिलस्य च धीमतः ।। ४.

Seeing that multitude of beings, the king was filled with wonder; as he pondered what this might be, he realized the greatness of Jaigīṣavya and the wise Kapila.

कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा स राजाऽश्वशिरास्तदा । पप्रच्छ तावृषी भक्त्या किमिदं द्विजसत्तमौ ।। ४.

Then the king Aśvaśirā, with hands joined in reverence, devotedly asked those two eminent sages, 'What is this, O best of twice-born?'

द्विजावूचतुः । आवां पृष्टौ त्वया राजन् कथं विष्णुरिहेज्यते । प्राप्यते वा महाराज तेनेदं दर्शितं तव ।। ४.

The two Brāhmaṇas said: 'You have asked us, O king, how Viṣṇu is to be worshipped here and attained; therefore, this has been shown to you, O great king.'

सर्वज्ञस्य गुणा ह्येते ये राजंस्तव दर्शिताः । स च नारायणो देवः सर्वज्ञः कामरूपवान् ।। ४.

These are the qualities of the all-knowing, O king, which have been shown to you; and that god Nārāyaṇa is all-knowing and assumes any form at will.

सौम्यस्तु संस्थितः क्वापि प्राप्यते मनुजैः किल । आराधनेन चैतस्य वाक्यमर्थवदिष्यते ।। ४.

He, gentle in nature, abides somewhere and is said to be attainable by humans through worship; his words are meaningful.

किन्तु सर्वशरीरस्थः परमात्मा जगत्पतिः । स्वदेहे दृश्यते भक्त्या नैकस्थानगतस्तु सः ।। ४.

However, the Supreme Self, Lord of the universe, dwells in all bodies; he is seen in one's own body through devotion, though he is not confined to any one place.

अतोऽर्थं दर्शितं रूपं देवस्य परमात्मनः । आवयोस्तव राजेन्द्र प्रतीतिः स्याद् यथा तव । एवं सर्वगतो विष्णुस्तव देहे जनेश्वर ।। ४.

Therefore, this form of the Supreme Lord has been shown to you, O king of kings, so that you may have faith; in this way, Viṣṇu, who is all-pervading, is present in your own body, O lord of people.

मन्त्रिणां भृत्यसङ्घस्य सुराद्या ये प्रदर्शिताः । पशवः कीटसङ्घाश्च तेऽपि विष्णुमया नृप ।। ४.

The ministers, the groups of servants, the gods and others who were shown, as well as the animals and multitudes of insects, O king, they too are pervaded by Viṣṇu.

भावनां तु दृढां कुर्याद् यथा सर्वगतो हरिः । नान्यत् तत् सदृशं भूतमिति भावेन सेव्यते ।। ४.

One should cultivate firm contemplation that Hari is all-pervading; there is no other being like him—he is to be worshipped with this understanding.

एष ते ज्ञानसद्भावस्तव राजन् प्रकीर्तितः । परिपूर्णेन भावेन स्मरन् नारायणं हरिम् ।। ४.

This, O king, is the true nature of knowledge that has been declared to you: by remembering Nārāyaṇa, Hari, with complete devotion.

परिपूर्णेन बावेन स्मर नारायणं गुरुम् । पुष्पोपहारैर्धूपैश्च ब्राह्मणानां च तर्पणैः । ध्यानेन सुस्थितेनाशु प्राप्यते परमेश्वरः ।। ४.

Remember Nārāyaṇa, the teacher, with complete devotion; with offerings of flowers, incense, and the satisfying of Brāhmaṇas; by steady meditation, the Supreme Lord is quickly attained.

अश्वशिरा उवाच । भवन्तौ मम संदेहमेकं छेत्तुमिहार्हतः । येन छिन्नेन जायेत मम संसारविच्युतिः ।। ५.

Aśvaśirā said: 'You both are worthy to dispel one doubt of mine here, by the removal of which I may be freed from worldly existence.'

एवमुक्ते नृपतिना तदा योगिवरो मुनिः । कपिलः प्राह धर्मात्मा राजानं यजतां वरम् ।। ५.

When the king had spoken thus, then the foremost sage among yogis, Kapila, righteous in soul, addressed the king, the best among those who perform sacrifices.

कपिल उवाच । कस्ते मनसि संदेहो राजन् परमधार्मिक । छिन्दामि येन तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रूहि यत्तेऽभिवाञ्छितम् ।। ५.

Kapila said: 'What is the doubt in your mind, O king, supremely righteous one? Tell me what you desire; hearing it, I will dispel it.'

राजोवाच । कर्मणा प्राप्यते मोक्ष उताहो ज्ञानिना मुने । एतन्मे संशयं छिन्धि यदि मेऽनुग्रहः कृतः ।। ५.

The king said: 'Is liberation attained by action, or by knowledge, O sage? Remove this doubt of mine, if you have shown me your favor.'

कपिल उवाच । इमं प्रश्नं महाराज पुरा पृष्टो बृहस्पतिः । रैभ्येण ब्रह्मपुत्रेण राज्ञा च वसुना पुरा । वसुरासीन्नृपश्रेष्ठो विद्वान् दानपतिः पुरा ।। ५.

Kapila said: 'This question, O great king, was formerly asked of Bṛhaspati by Raibhya, the son of Brahmā, and by the king Vasu in ancient times. Vasu was a foremost king, learned and generous in days of old.'

चाक्षुषस्य मनोः काले ब्रह्मणोऽन्वयवर्द्धनः । वसुश्च ब्रह्मणः सद्म गतवांस्तद्दिदृक्षया ।। ५.

In the time of Cākṣuṣa Manu, Vasu, who increased the lineage of Brahmā, went to the abode of Brahmā out of desire to see him.

पथि चैत्ररथं दृष्ट्वा विद्याधरवरं नृप । अपृच्छच्च वसुः प्रीत्या ब्रह्मणोऽवसरं प्रभो ।। ५.

On the path, O king, seeing Citraratha, the foremost of the Vidyadharas, Vasu affectionately inquired about the opportunity to meet Brahma, O lord.

सोऽब्रवीद् देवसमितिर्वर्तते ब्रह्मणो गृहे । एवं श्रुत्वा वसुस्तस्थौ द्वारि ब्रह्मौकसस्तदा । तावत् तत्रैव रैभ्यस्तु आजगाम महातपाः ।। ५.

He replied, 'A gathering of the gods is taking place at Brahma's abode.' Hearing this, Vasu waited at the door of Brahma's house; meanwhile, the great ascetic Raibhya arrived there.

स राजा प्रीतमनसा वसुः संपूर्णमानसः । उवाच पूजयित्वाग्रे क्व प्रयातोऽसि वै मुने ।। ५.

That king Vasu, his mind delighted and completely content, honored him and spoke first: 'Where are you coming from, O sage?'

रैभ्य उवाच । अहं बृहस्पतेः पार्श्वे आगतोऽस्मि महानृप । किञ्चित्कार्यान्तरं प्रष्टुमहं देवपुरोहितम् ।। ५.

Raibhya said: 'I have come from the side of Brihaspati, O great king. I wish to ask the priest of the gods about a certain matter.'

एवं वदति रैभ्ये तु ब्रह्मणस्तन्महत्सदः । उत्तस्थौ स्वानि धिष्ण्यानि गता देवगणाः प्रभो ।। ५.

As Raibhya was speaking thus, O lord, the great assembly of Brahma, along with the hosts of gods, rose from their seats and departed.

तावद् बृहस्पतिस्तत्र रैभ्येण सह संविदम् । कृत्वा स्वधिष्ण्यमगमद् वसुना च सुपूजितः ।। ५.

Then, Brihaspati, after conferring there with Raibhya, went to his own seat, having been duly honored by Vasu.

रैभ्य आङ्गिरसो राजा वसुश्चोपविवेश ह । उपविष्टेषु राजेन्द्र तेषु तेष्वपि सोऽब्रवीत् ।। ५.

Raibhya, the descendant of Angiras, and King Vasu sat down; when they were seated, O king of kings, he spoke to them.

बृहस्पतिर्देवगुरू रैभ्यं वचनमन्तिके । किं करोमि महाभाग वेदवेदाङ्गपारग ।। ५.

Brihaspati, the guru of the gods, said to Raibhya in his presence: 'What shall I do for you, O greatly fortunate one, master of the Vedas and Vedangas?'

रैभ्य उवाच । बृहस्पते कर्मणा किं प्राप्यते ज्ञानिनाऽथवा । मोक्ष एतन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः संशयं प्रभो ।। ५.

Raibhya said: 'O Brihaspati, what is attained by action, or by knowledge? Please tell me, O lord, about liberation, for I ask you this out of doubt.'

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । यत्किंचित् कुरुते कर्म पुरुषः साध्वसाधु वा । सर्वं नारायणे न्यस्य कुर्वन् नैव च लिप्यते ।। ५.

Brihaspati said: 'Whatever action a person performs, whether good or bad, by offering all to Narayana and acting thus, he is not tainted.'