एतद्ब्रह्मवचः श्रुत्वा सूतस्य विहितात्मनः । पप्रच्छुर्मुनयो भूयः सूतं तस्माद्यदुत्तरम् ।। १०.
Having heard these words of Brahmā, spoken by the Sūta whose mind was established, the sages again questioned the Sūta about what followed.
कियन्तो वै पितृगणाः कस्मिन्काले च ते गणाः । वर्त्तन्ते देवप्रवरा देवानां सोमवर्द्धनाः ।। १०.
How many groups of ancestors are there, and at what times do these groups exist, O best among the gods, those who nourish Soma among the gods?
एतद्वोऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितृसर्गमनुत्तमम्। शंयुः पप्रच्छ यत्पूर्वं पितरं वै बृहस्पतिम् ।। १०.
I will declare to you the supreme origin of the ancestors, which Śaṃyu formerly asked of Bṛhaspati.
बृहस्पतिमुपासीनं सर्वज्ञानार्थकोविदम्। पुत्रः शंयुरिमं प्रश्नं पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः ।। १०.
Śaṃyu, the son, approached Bṛhaspati, who was versed in all knowledge, and respectfully asked this question.
क एते पितरो नाम कियन्तः के च नामतः। समुद्भूताः कथञ्चैते पितृत्वं समुपागताः ।। १०.
Who are these ancestors by name, how many are there, and what are their names? How did they arise, and how did they attain the status of ancestors?
कस्माच्च पितरं पूर्वं यज्ञे युज्यन्ति नित्यशः। क्रियाश्च सर्वा वर्त्तन्ते श्राद्धपूर्वा महात्मनाम् ।। १०.
Why are the ancestors always joined in sacrifice from the beginning, and why do all rites of the great-souled proceed preceded by śrāddha?
कस्मै श्राद्धानि देयानि किञ्च दत्तं महाफलम्। केषु वाप्यक्षयं श्राद्धं तीर्थेषु च नदीषु च ।। १०.
To whom should śrāddha offerings be given, and what is the great fruit of what is given? In which places is śrāddha imperishable—in holy sites and rivers?
केषु वै सर्वमाप्नोति श्राद्धं कृत्वा द्विजोत्तमः। कश्च कालो भवेच्च्राद्धे विधिः कश्चानुवर्त्तते ।। १०.
In which places does a best of twice-born attain everything by performing śrāddha? What time is proper for śrāddha, and what procedure is followed?
एतदिच्छामि भगवन् विस्तरेण यथातथम्। व्याख्यातुमानुपूर्व्येण यत्र चोदाहृतं मया ।। १०.
O revered one, I wish for you to explain all this in detail and in proper sequence, as I have asked.
बृहस्पतिरिदं सम्यगेवं पृष्टो महामतिः। व्याजहारानुपूर्व्येण प्रश्नं प्रश्नविदां वरः ।। १०.
Bṛhaspati, of great intellect, thus questioned, spoke in proper sequence, being foremost among those skilled in answering questions.
कथयिष्यामि ते तात यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। विनयेन यथान्यायं गम्भीरं प्रश्नमुत्तमम् ।। १०.
I will tell you, dear one, what you have asked me, the profound and excellent question, with due respect and according to proper order.
द्यौरन्तरिक्षं पृथिवी नक्षत्राणि दिशस्तथा। सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ चैव तथाहोरात्रमेव च ।। १०.
The sky, the atmosphere, the earth, the stars, the directions, the sun and moon, and likewise day and night.
न बभूवुस्तदा तात तमोभूतमिदं जगत्। ब्रह्मैको दुश्चरं तत्र चचार परमं तपः ।। १०.
At that time, O dear one, there was nothing; this world was enveloped in darkness. Only Brahma existed, performing the most arduous austerity there.
शंयुस्तमब्रवीद्भूयः पितरं ब्रह्मवित्तमम्। सर्वदैव व्रतस्नातं सर्वज्ञानविदांवरम् ।। १०.
Shamyu then spoke again to his father, the foremost knower of Brahma, always purified by vows, the best among those who possess all knowledge.
कीदृशं सर्वभूते शस्तपस्तेपे प्रजापतिः। एवमुक्तो बृहत्तेजा बृहस्पतिरुवाच तम् ।। १०.
What kind of supreme austerity did Prajapati undertake for all beings? Thus addressed, the greatly radiant Brihaspati replied to him.
सर्वेषां तपसां युक्तिस्तपोयोगमनुत्तमम्। ध्यायंस्तदा तद्भगवांस्तेन लोकनवासृजत् ।। १०.
The highest union of all austerities is the supreme discipline of austerity; at that time, the blessed one meditated, and through that, he created the worlds anew.
भूतभव्यानि ज्ञानानि लोकान्वेदांश्च कृत्स्नशः। योगमाविश्य तत्सृष्टं ब्रह्मणा योगचक्षुषा ।। १०.
All knowledge of past and future, all worlds, and the Vedas in their entirety—having entered into yoga, Brahma created them with the vision of yoga.
लोकाः सान्तानिका नाम यत्र तिष्ठन्ति भास्वराः। ते वैराजा इति ख्याता देवानां दिवि देवताः ।। १०.
The worlds called Santanika are where the radiant ones reside; they are known as the Virajas, the divine beings among the gods in heaven.
योगेन तपसा युक्तः पूर्वमेव तदा प्रभुः। देवानसृजत ब्रह्मा योगं युक्त्वा सनातनम् ।। १०.
Previously, the Lord, united with yoga and austerity, created the gods; Brahma, established in eternal yoga, brought them forth.
आदिदेवा इति ख्याता महासत्त्वा महौजसः। सर्वकामप्रदाः पूज्या देवदानवमानवैः ।। १०.
They are known as the Adidevas, beings of great strength and mighty brilliance, bestowers of all desires, revered by gods, demons, and humans.
तेषां सप्त समाख्याता गणास्त्रैलोक्यपूजिताः । अमूर्त्तयस्त्रयस्तेषां चत्वारस्तु सुमूर्त्तयः ।। १०.
Among them, seven groups are described, honored throughout the three worlds; three are formless, and four possess beautiful forms.
उपरिष्टात्रयस्तेषां वर्त्तन्ते भावमूर्त्तयः। तेषामधस्ताद्वर्त्तन्ते चत्वारः सूक्षममूर्त्तयः ।। १०.
Above them, three exist as beings with manifest forms; below them, four exist as subtle, unmanifest forms.
ततो देवास्ततो भूमिरेषा लोकपरम्परा। लोके वर्त्तन्ति ते ह्यस्मिंस्तेभ्यः पर्जन्यसम्भवः । वृष्टिर्भवति तैर्वृष्ट्या लोकानां सम्भवः पुनः ।। १०.
From those gods comes the earth, and this is the succession of worlds; they dwell in this world, and from them arises rain. Through that rain, the worlds are born again.
आप्याययन्ति ते यस्मात्सोमञ्चान्नञ्च योगतः। ऊचुस्तान्वै पितॄंस्तस्माल्लोकानां लोकसत्तमाः ।। १०.
By yoga, they nourish soma and food; thus, the best of the worlds spoke to the ancestors.
मनोजवाः स्वधाभक्षाः सर्वकामपरिच्छदाः। लोभमोहभयापेता निश्चिताः शोकवर्जिताः ।। १०.
Swift as thought, feeding on svadha, adorned with all desires, free from greed, delusion, and fear, resolute, and devoid of sorrow.
एते योगं परित्यज्य प्राप्ता लोकान्सुदर्शनान्। दिव्याः पुण्या महात्मानो विपाप्मानो भवन्त्युत ।। १०.
Having abandoned yoga, they attain beautiful worlds; divine, virtuous, great-souled, and indeed free from sin.
ततो युगसहस्रान्ते जायन्ते ब्रह्मवादिनः। प्रतिलभ्य पुनर्योगं मोक्षं गच्छन्त्यमूर्त्तयः ।। १०.
Then, at the end of a thousand ages, the Brahma-knowers are born; having regained yoga, the formless ones attain liberation.
व्यक्ताव्यक्तं परित्यज्य महायोगबलेन वा । नश्यन्त्युल्केव गगने क्षीणविद्युत्प्रभेव च ।। १०.
Having abandoned both manifest and unmanifest, by the power of great yoga, they perish like meteors in the sky or like fading flashes of lightning.
उत्सृज्य देहजातानि महायोगबलेन च। निराख्योपाख्यतां यान्ति सरितः सागरे यथा ।। १०.
Casting off bodies born of form, by the power of great yoga, they attain nameless and anonymous states, like rivers merging into the ocean.
क्रियया गुरुपूजाभिर्ये च कुर्वन्ति नित्यशः। ताभिराप्याययन्त्येते पितरो योगवर्द्धनाः ।। १०.
Those who constantly perform actions and worship of elders, by these acts, the ancestors are nourished, their yoga increased.