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.
श्राद्धे प्रीताः पुनः सोमं पितरो योगमास्थिताः। आप्याययन्ति योगेन त्रैलोक्यं येन जीवति ।। १०.
When pleased by the śrāddha, the ancestors, established in union, nourish Soma through their yoga, by which the three worlds are sustained.
तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिभ्यो यत्नतः सदा। पितॄणां हि बलं योगो योगात्सोमः प्रवर्त्तते ।। १०.
Therefore, offerings of śrāddha should always be given with care to yogis; for the strength of the ancestors is yoga, and from yoga Soma arises.
सहस्रशस्तु विप्रान्वै भोजयेद्यावदागतान् १०.
One should feed thousands of Brāhmaṇas, as many as have arrived.
कल्पितानां सहस्रेण स्नातकानां शतेन च। योगाचार्येण यद्भुक्तं त्रायते महतो भयात् ।। १०.
What is eaten by a teacher of yoga, among a thousand appointed guests and a hundred initiated students, protects from great danger.
गृहस्थानां सहस्रेण वानप्रस्थशतेन च। ब्रह्मचारिसहस्रेण योगी ह्येको विशिष्यते ।। १०.
Among a thousand householders, a hundred forest-dwellers, and a thousand celibate students, a single yogi excels.
नास्तिको वा विकर्मा वा सङ्कीर्णस्तस्करोऽपि वा। नान्यत्र कारणं दानं योगेष्वाह प्रजापतिः ।। १०.
Whether atheist, wrongdoer, mixed-caste, or even a thief—there is no other reason for giving except to yogis, so declares Prajāpati.
पितरस्तस्य तुष्यन्ति सुवृष्टेनेव कर्षकाः। पुत्रो वाप्यथ वा पौत्रो ध्यानिनं भोजयिष्यति ।। १०.
The ancestors are satisfied by him, just as farmers are by good rain, when a son or grandson feeds a meditator.
अलाभे ध्यानिभिक्षूणां भोजयेद्ब्रह्मचारिणौ । तदलाभेप्युदासीनं गृहस्थमपि भोजयेत् ।। १०.
If meditators or mendicants are not found, one should feed celibate students; if they are also unavailable, even a neutral person or a householder may be fed.
यस्तिष्ठेदेकपादेन वायुभक्षः शतं समाः । ध्यानयोगी परस्तस्मादिति ब्रह्मानुशासनम् ।। १०.
He who stands on one foot, subsisting on air for a hundred years, is surpassed by the meditator in yoga—so is the instruction of Brahmā.
सिद्धा हि विप्ररूपेण चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्। तस्मादतिथिमायान्तमभिगच्छेत्कृताञ्जलिः ।। १०.
Perfected beings wander this earth in the form of Brāhmaṇas; therefore, one should approach a guest who arrives, with joined palms.