यामेनां भाषसे देव मम मायेति नित्यशः
You always speak of this as my illusion, O Deva.
ज्ञातुमिच्छामि मायार्थं रहस्यं परमुत्तमम्
I wish to know the meaning of this illusion, the supreme and most secret truth.
प्रत्युवाच तदा वाक्यं प्रहस्य तु वसुन्धराम्
Then, smiling, he spoke these words to Vasundharā.
वृथा क्लेशं किमर्थं त्वं प्राप्स्यते यद्विलोकनात्
Why do you undergo needless trouble for what you will see?
मम मायां विशालाक्षि किं पुनस्त्वं वसुन्धरे
O wide-eyed one, what more shall I say to you, Vasundharā, about my illusion?
देशो निर्जलतां याति एषा माया मम प्रिये। सोमो यत्क्षीयते पक्षे पक्षे वापि च वर्द्धते ।। 125.
A land becomes arid—this is my illusion, dear one; just as the moon wanes and waxes fortnight by fortnight.
अमायां न स दृश्येत मायेयं मम तत्त्वतः
At new moon it is not seen; this, truly, is my illusion.
भवेच्च शीतलं ग्रीष्मे मायेयं मम तत्त्वतः
When coolness arises in the summer, this, truly, is my illusion.
उदेति पूर्वतः प्रातर्मायेयं मम सुन्दरि
When the sun rises in the east at dawn, this, O beautiful one, is my illusion.
गर्भे च जायते जन्तुर्मायेयं मम सुन्दरि। जीवः प्रविश्य गर्भं तु सुखदुःखे च विन्दति
When a creature is born in the womb, this, O beautiful one, is my illusion; the soul, entering the womb, experiences pleasure and pain.
जातश्च विस्मरेत्सर्वमेषा माया ममोत्तमा
And when born, it forgets everything—this is my supreme illusion.
कर्मणा नीयतेऽन्यत्र मायैषा मम चोत्तमा
By action, one is led elsewhere—this, too, is my supreme illusion.
अङ्गुल्यश्चरणौ चैव भुजौ शीर्षं कटिस्तथा
The fingers, feet, arms, head, and waist,
कर्णौ नेत्रे कपालौ च ललाटं जिह्वया सह
The ears, eyes, skull, forehead, and tongue,
तस्यैव जीर्यते भुक्तमग्निना पीतमेव च
What is eaten by him is digested by fire, as is what is drunk.
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च पंचम 125.
Sound, touch, form, taste, and the fifth—smell.
सर्वर्तुषु निजाकारः स्थावरे जङ्गमे तथा
In all seasons, their own forms exist, both among the immobile and the mobile beings.
आपो दिव्यास्तथा भौमा आपो येषु प्रतिष्ठिताः
There are celestial waters, and likewise terrestrial waters, in which all things are established.
वृष्टौ बहूदकाः सर्वे पल्वलानि सरांसि च
During rainfall, all the ponds and lakes are filled with abundant water.
हिमवच्छिखरान्मुक्ता नाम्ना मन्दाकिनी नदी
From the peaks of the Himalayas flows the river named Mandākinī.
मेघा वहन्ति सलिलमुद्धृत्य लवणार्णवात्
The clouds, having drawn up water from the salty ocean, carry it away.
रोगार्ता जन्तवः केचिद्भक्षयन्ति महौषधम्
Some creatures afflicted by disease consume great medicinal herbs.
औषधे दीयमानेऽपि जन्तुः पंचत्वमेति यत्
Even when medicine is administered, sometimes a creature meets its end.
प्रथमं जायते गर्भः पश्चात्संजायते पुमान्
First, the embryo is formed; afterwards, the person is born.
तत इन्द्रियनाशश्च एतन्मायाबलं मम
Then comes the destruction of the senses; this is the power of my illusion.
पुनश्च पत्रादियुतमेतन्मायाबलं मम 125.
Again, this is my power of illusion, endowed with leaves and the like.
तत्रामृतं विसृजामि मायायोगेन भूरिशः
There, by means of illusion, I release the nectar again and again.
भूत्वा वेगेन गरुडो वहाम्यात्मानमात्मना
Becoming Garuḍa with speed, I carry myself by myself.
मायामेतामहं कृत्वा यक्ष्यामि त्रिदिवौकसः
Having created this illusion, I perform sacrifices for the dwellers of heaven.
मायामाङ्गिरसीं कृत्वा याजयामि दिवौकसः
Having assumed the Angirasa illusion, I cause the gods to perform sacrifice.