Vayu Purana

ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि मन्त्राश्चाथर्वणानि च। सप्तर्षिभिस्तु ते प्रोक्ताः स्मार्तं धर्मं मनुर्जगौ ।। ५७.

The hymns, yajus, samans, and Atharvan mantras were spoken by the seven sages; Manu proclaimed the customary law.

त्रेतादौ संहिता वेदाः केवला धर्मशेषतः। संरोधादायुषश्चैव व्यस्यन्ते द्वापरेषु ते ।। ५७.

At the beginning of Treta, the Vedas existed as unified collections, with only the remainder of law; due to restriction and lifespan, they were dispersed in the Dvapara Yuga.

ऋषयस्तपसा देवाः कलौ च द्वापरेषु वै। अनादिनिधना दिव्याः पूर्वं सृष्टाः स्वयम्भुवा ।। ५७.

The sages, through austerity, and the gods, in Kali and Dvapara, were created by Svayambhuva in ancient times, divine, without beginning or end.

सधर्माः सप्रजाः साङ्गा यथाधर्मं युगे युगे। विक्रीडन्ते समानार्था वेदवादा यथायुगम् ।। ५७.

With their own law, offspring, and limbs, according to dharma in each age, they play together with shared purpose, expounding the Vedas as suited to each yuga.

आरम्भयज्ञा क्षत्रस्य हविर्यज्ञा विशाम्पतेः। परिचार यज्ञाः शूद्रास्तु जपयज्ञा द्विजोत्तमाः ।। ५७.

Initiatory sacrifices belong to the Kshatriya; oblation sacrifices to the lord of the people; service sacrifices to the Shudras; recitation sacrifices to the best of the twice-born.

तथा प्रमुदिता वर्णास्त्रेतायां धर्मपालिताः। क्रियावन्तः प्रजावन्तः समृद्धाः सुखिनस्तथा ।। ५७.

Thus, the varnas in Treta, protected by dharma, were joyful, active in rites, fruitful in offspring, prosperous, and happy.

ब्राह्मणाननुवर्त्तन्ते क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियान् विशः। वैश्यानुवर्तिनः शूद्राः परस्परमनुव्रताः ।। ५७.

The Kshatriyas follow the Brahmanas; the people follow the Kshatriyas; the Shudras follow the Vaishyas; all follow one another.

शुभाः प्रवृत्तयस्तेषां धर्मा वर्णाश्रमास्तथा। सङ्कल्पितेन मनसा वाचोक्तेन स्वसर्मणा। त्रेतायुगे त्वविकलः कर्म्मारम्भः प्रसिद्ध्यति ।। ५७.

Their auspicious activities, dharmas, varnas, and ashramas, with resolved mind, spoken word, and their own duties, in Treta Yuga, the undertaking of action is flawless and accomplished.

आयुर्मेधा बलं रूपमारोग्यं धर्मशीलता। सर्वसाधारणा ह्येते त्रेतायां वै भवन्त्युत ।। ५७.

Long life, intelligence, strength, beauty, health, and righteousness are common to all in Treta Yuga.

वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थानं तेषां ब्रह्मा तथाकरोत् । पुनः प्रजास्तु ता मोहात्तान् धर्मान्न ह्यपालयन् ।। ५७.

Brahma established the arrangement of varnas and ashramas for them; but again, due to delusion, the people did not uphold those laws.

परस्परविरोधेन मनुन्ताः पुनरन्वयुः। मनुः स्वायम्भुवो दृष्ट्वा याथातथ्यं प्रजापतिः ।। ५७.

Through mutual conflict, they again followed Manu; seeing the reality, Svayambhuva Manu, the lord of creatures, acted accordingly.

धाता तु शतरूपायाः पुमान् स उदपादयत्। प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ प्रधमन्तौ महीपती ।। ५७.

Dhātā, the male, begot upon Śatarūpā two illustrious sons, Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, who became great kings.

ततः प्रभृति राजान उत्पन्ना दण्डधारिणः। प्रजानां रञ्जनाच्चैव राजानस्त्वभवन्नृषाः ।। ५७.

From that time onward, kings arose who wielded the rod of punishment; and because they delighted their subjects, these kings were called nṛṣāḥ.

प्रच्छन्नपापा ये जेतुमशक्या मनुजा भुवि। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय तेषां शास्त्रे तपो मया ।। ५७.

Those humans on earth, whose hidden sins are difficult to conquer, for the sake of establishing righteousness among them, I have prescribed discipline and scripture.

वर्णानां प्रविभागाश्च त्रेतायां संप्रकीर्तिताः। संहिताश्च ततो मन्त्रा ऋषभिर्ब्रह्मणैस्तु ते ।। ५७.

The divisions of the social orders were proclaimed in the Tretā Yuga, and from then on, the collections of mantras were composed by the sages and the Brāhmaṇas.

यज्ञः प्रवर्तितश्चैव तदा ह्येवन्तु दैवतैः। यामैः शुक्लैर्जपैश्चैव सर्वसम्भारसंवृतैः ।। ५७.

At that time, sacrifice was established by the gods, with proper rituals, pure recitations, and all necessary materials.

सार्द्धं विश्वभुजा चैव देवेन्द्रेण महौजसा। स्वायम्भुवेऽन्तरे देवैर्यज्ञास्ते प्राक् प्रवर्तिताः ।। ५७.

Together with Viśvabhuj and the mighty Indra, during the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, sacrifices were formerly set in motion by the gods.

सत्यं जपस्तपो दानं त्रेतायां धर्म उच्यते। क्रिया धर्मश्च ह्रसते सत्यधर्मः प्रवर्त्तते ।। ५७.

In the Tretā Yuga, truth, recitation, austerity, and charity are declared as dharma; ritual acts and righteousness diminish, and the dharma of truth prevails.

प्रजायन्ते ततः शूरा आयुष्मन्तो महाबलाः। न्यस्तदण्डमहाभागा यज्वानो ब्रह्मवादिनः ।। ५७.

Then are born valiant men, long-lived and mighty, endowed with great fortune, performers of sacrifice, and speakers of Brahman.

पद्म पत्रायताक्षाश्च पृथूरस्काः सुसंहिताः। सिंहान्तका महासत्त्वा मत्तमातङ्गगामिनः ।। ५७.

With eyes broad as lotus petals, broad-chested, well-formed, lion-like in valor, possessing great strength, and moving like intoxicated elephants.

महाधनुर्द्धराश्चैव त्रेतायां चक्रवर्तिनः। सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्ना न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलाः ।। ५७.

In the Tretā Yuga, the universal emperors bore great bows, were endowed with all auspicious marks, and had bodies shaped like the banyan tree.

न्यग्रोधौ तौ स्मृतौ बाहू व्यामो न्यग्रोध उच्यते। वामेनैवोच्छ्रयाद्यस्य सम ऊर्द्ध्वन्तु देहिनः। समुच्छ्रयः परीणाहो ज्ञेयो न्यग्रोधमण्डलः ।। ५७.

The two arms are remembered as banyan trees; a span is called a banyan. By measuring with the left, if the height equals the upright body, that is known as the banyan's measure.

चक्रं रथो मणिर्भार्या निधिरश्चागजास्तथा। सप्तातिशयरत्नानि सर्वेषाञ्चक्रवर्त्तिनाम् ।। ५७.

The wheel, chariot, gem, wife, treasure, and elephants—these seven are declared as the supreme jewels of all universal emperors.

thumb|400px|चक्रवर्ती thumb|400px|चतुर्दशरत्नानि चक्रं रथो मणिः खड्गं धनूरत्नञ्च पञ्चमम्। केतुर्निधिश्च सप्तैते प्राणहीनाः प्रकीर्त्तिताः ।। ५७.

The wheel, chariot, gem, sword, bow as the fifth, banner, and treasure—these seven are called the inanimate jewels.

भार्या पुरोहितश्चैव सेनानी रथकृच्च यः। मन्त्र्यश्वः कलभश्चैव प्राणिनः सम्प्रकीर्त्तिताः ।। ५७.

Wife, priest, commander, charioteer, counselor, horse, and elephant—these are proclaimed as the animate jewels.

रत्नान्येतानि दिव्यानि संसिद्धानि महात्मनाम्। चतुर्दश विधेयानि सर्वेषां चक्रवार्तिनाम् ।। ५७.

These fourteen divine and perfected jewels are to be known as belonging to all universal emperors.

विष्णोरंशेन जायन्ते पृथिव्यां चक्रवर्त्तिनः। मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु अतीतानागतेषु वै ।। ५७.

By a portion of Viṣṇu, universal emperors are born on earth in every Manvantara, past and future.

भूतभव्यानि यानीह वर्त्तमानानि यानि च। त्रेतायुगादिकेष्वत्र जायन्ते चक्रवर्त्तिनः ।। ५७.

Whatever has existed, exists now, or will exist here, in the beginning of the Tretā Yuga and other ages, universal emperors are born.

भद्राणीमानि तेषां वै भवन्तीह महीक्षिताम्। अद्भुतानि च चत्वारि बलं धर्मः सुखं धनम् ।। ५७.

For those kings, these auspicious things arise here: four wondrous qualities—strength, righteousness, happiness, and wealth.