Vayu Purana

अनागतेषु तद्वच्च तर्क्कः कार्यो विजानता। मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु अतीतानागतेष्विह ।। ५८.

Likewise, in the ages yet to come, one who knows should reason similarly; in all Manvantaras, both past and future, here.

मन्वन्तरेण चैकेन सर्वाण्येवान्तराणि वै। व्याख्यातानि विजानीद्वं कल्पे कल्पेन चैव हि ।। ५८.

By a single Manvantara, all the intervals are indeed explained; you should understand this in each Kalpa, and in every Kalpa as well.

अस्याभिमानिनः सर्वे नामरूपैर्भवन्त्युत। देवा ह्यष्टविधा ये च इह मन्वन्तरेश्वराः ।। ५८.

All those who are proud of this become manifest with names and forms; and the eightfold gods, as well as the rulers of the Manvantaras here.

ऋषयो मनवश्चैव सर्वे तुल्याः प्रयोजनैः। एवं वर्णाश्रमाणान्तु प्रविभागो युगे युगे ।। ५८.

The sages and Manus are all equal in their purposes; thus, the division of castes and stages of life occurs in every age.

युगस्वभावाच्च तथा विधत्ते वै सदा प्रभुः । वर्णाश्रमविभागश्च युगानि युगसिद्धये ।। ५८.

And so, according to the nature of the ages, the Lord always establishes the division of castes and stages of life for the fulfillment of the ages.

अनुषङ्गः समाख्यातः सृष्टिसर्गन्निबोधत। विस्तरेणानुपूर्व्या च स्थितिं वक्ष्ये युगेष्विह ।। ५८.

The connection has been described; now learn about the creation and the creative process. I will explain the order of existence in the ages here in detail.

युगेषु यास्तु जायन्ते प्रजास्ता वै निबोधत। आशुरी सर्पगोपक्षिपैशाची यक्षराक्षसी। यस्मिन् युगे च सम्भूतिस्तासां यावत्तु जीवितम् ।। ५९.

Now learn about the beings that are born in the ages: Asurī, serpent, cowherd, Piśācī, Yakṣa, Rākṣasī; in whichever age their birth occurs, so long lasts their life.

पिशाचासुरगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः। युगमात्रन्तु जीवन्ति ऋते मृत्युवधेन ते ।। ५९.

Piśācas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents live only for the duration of the age, except when killed by death.

मानुषाणां पशूनाञ्च पक्षिणां स्थावरैःसह। तेषामायुः परिक्रान्तं युगधर्मेषु सर्वशः ।। ५९.

For humans, animals, birds, and plants, their lifespan is determined entirely by the dharma of the age.

अस्थितिस्तु कलौ दृष्टा भूतानामायुषस्तु वै। परमायुः शतन्त्वेतन्मनुष्याणां कलौ स्मृतम् ।। ५९.

In the Kali age, the observed lifespan of beings is diminished; the highest lifespan for humans in this age is said to be one hundred years.

देवासुरप्रमाणात्तु सप्तसप्ताङ्गुलं ह्रसत्। अह्गुलानां शतं पूर्णमष्टपञ्चाशदुत्तरम् ।। ५९.

Compared to the measure of gods and demons, it is reduced by forty-nine finger-breadths; the full measure is one hundred fingers, with an additional fifty-eight.

देवासुरप्रमाणन्तदुच्छ्रायं कलिजैः स्मृतम्। चत्वारश्चाप्यशीतिश्च कलिजैरङ्गुलैः स्मृतम् ।। ५९.

That measure of gods and demons is considered the height for those born in the Kali age; for those in Kali, it is said to be eighty-four finger-breadths.

स्वेनाङ्गुलप्रमाणेन ऊर्द्ध्वमापादमस्तकम्। इत्येष मानुषोत्सेधो ह्रसतीह युगान्तिके ।। ५९.

By one's own finger measure, from feet to head, this is the human height, which diminishes here at the end of the age.

सर्वेषु युगकालेषु अतीतानागतेष्विह। स्वेनाङ्गुलप्रमाणेन अष्टतालः स्मृतो नरः ।। ५९.

In all ages, past and future, the human is said to be eight tālas tall, measured by his own finger-breadth.

आपादतो मस्तकन्तु नवतालो भवेत्तु यः। संहताजानुबाहुस्तु स सुरैरपि पूज्यते ।। ५९.

He whose height from foot to head is nine tālas, and whose arms reach the knees when joined, is honored even by the gods.

गवाश्वहस्तिनाञ्चैव महिष स्थावरात्मनाम्। क्रमेणैतेन योगेन ह्रासवृद्धी युगे युगे ।। ५९.

For cows, horses, elephants, buffaloes, and stationary beings, in order, by this same calculation, their size decreases or increases in each age.

षट्सप्तत्यङ्गुलोत्सेधः पशूनां ककुदस्तु वै। अङ्गुलाष्टशतं पूर्णमुत्सेधः करिणां स्मृतः ।। ५९.

The height of cattle is seventy-six finger-breadths at the hump; the full height of elephants is said to be one hundred and eight finger-breadths.

अङ्गुलानां सहस्रन्तु चत्वारिंशाङ्गुलं विना । पञ्चाशतं हयानाञ्च उत्सेधः शाखिनां स्मृतः ।। ५९.

The height of horses is said to be one thousand finger-breadths, less forty-four; and for trees, it is fifty finger-breadths.

मानुषस्य शरीरस्य सन्निवेशस्तु यादृशः। तल्लक्षणस्तु देवानां दृश्यते तत्त्वर्शनात् ।। ५९.

The arrangement of the human body is as it is; those same characteristics are seen in the gods, according to true knowledge.

बुद्ध्यातिशययुक्तञ्च देवानां कायमुच्यते । देवानतिशयञ्चैव मानुषं कायमुच्यते ।। ५९.

The body of the gods is said to be endowed with exceptional intelligence; likewise, the human body is said to be superior to others.

इत्येते वै परिक्रान्ता भावा ये दिव्यमानुषाः। पशूनां पक्षिणाञ्चैव स्थावराणां निबोधत ।। ५९.

Thus have been described the natures of divine and human beings; now learn of those of animals, birds, and immovable beings.

गावो ह्यजा महिष्योऽश्वा हस्तिनः पक्षिणो नगाः। उपयूक्ताः क्रियास्वेते यज्ञियास्विह सर्वशः ।। ५९.

Cows, goats, buffaloes, horses, elephants, birds, and trees—all these are used in rituals, and are fit for sacrifice in every way.

देवस्थानेषु जायन्ते तद्रूपा एव ते पुनः । यथाशयोपभोगास्तु देवानां शुभमूर्त्तयः ।। ५९.

They are born in the abodes of the gods, again in those very forms; according to their desires and enjoyments, the gods have auspicious bodies.

तेषां रूपानुरूपैस्तैः प्रमाणैः स्थाणुजङ्गमैः। मनोज्ञैस्तत्त्वभावज्ञैः सुखिनो ह्युपपेदिरे ।। ५९.

With forms and measures appropriate to them, both stationary and moving beings, delightful and knowing their true nature, they attain happiness.

अतः शिष्टान् प्रवक्ष्यामि सतः साधूंस्तथैव च। सदिति ब्रह्मणः शब्दस्तद्वन्तो ये भवन्त्युत। सायुज्यं ब्रह्मणोऽत्यन्तं तेन सन्तः प्रजक्ष्यते ।। ५९.

Now I shall speak of the remaining, the good and the virtuous; the word 'sat' comes from Brahman, and those who possess it are called so; complete union with Brahman is thus called 'santaḥ'.

दशात्मके ये विषये कारणे चाष्टलक्षणे । न क्रुध्यन्ति न हृष्यन्ति जितात्मानस्तु ते स्मृताः ।। ५९.

Those who, in the tenfold sphere and in the eightfold cause, neither become angry nor delighted, and have mastered themselves, are known as such.

सामान्येषु च धर्मेषु तथा वैशेषिकेषु च। ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशो युक्ता यस्मात्तस्माद्द्विजातयः ।। ५९.

In both general and particular duties, those endowed with Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya qualities—therefore, these are the twice-born.

वर्णाश्रमेषु युक्तस्य स्वर्गगोमुखचारिणः। श्रौतस्मार्तस्य धर्मस्य ज्ञानाद्धर्मः स उच्यते ।। ५९.

The dharma that is practiced by one who is established in the varṇas and āśramas, who moves in the path of heaven and cows, and who follows both Vedic and traditional duties, is said to be true dharma through knowledge.

विद्यायाः साधनात्साधुर्ब्रह्मचारी गुरोर्हितः। क्रियाणां साधनाच्चैव गृहस्थः साधुरुच्यते ।। ५९.

By pursuing knowledge, the devoted student who serves his teacher is called virtuous; and by performing prescribed actions, the householder is also called virtuous.