Vayu Purana

सिंहाः केनापराधेन भूतानां प्रभविष्णुना। वैश्वानरमयैः पाशैः संरुद्धास्तु पृथक्पृथक् ।। ३९.

"By what offense were the lions, by the powerful lord of beings, bound separately with fetters made of fire?"

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वायुर्वाक्यं जगाद ह । यद्वै सहस्रं सिंहानामीश्वरेण महात्मना। व्यपनीय स्वकाद्देहात्क्रोधास्ते सिंहविग्रहाः ।। ३९.

Hearing their words, Vāyu spoke: "That thousand lions, by the great Lord, were cast off from his own body in anger, taking the form of lions."

भूतानामभयं दत्त्वा पुराबद्धाग्निबन्धने। यज्ञभागनिमित्तं च ईश्वरस्याज्ञया तदा ।। ३९.

"Having granted safety to the beings, they were formerly bound with fiery bonds, by the command of the Lord, for the sake of a share in the sacrifice."

तेषां विधानमुक्तेन सिंहेनैकेन लीलया। देव्या मन्युं कृतं ज्ञात्वा हतो दक्षस्य स क्रतुः ।। ३९.

"According to the prescribed arrangement, by a single lion in sport, knowing the wrath of the goddess, the sacrifice of Dakṣa was destroyed."

निःसृता च महादेव्या महाकाली महेश्वरी। आत्मनः कर्म्मसाक्षिण्या भूतैः सार्द्धं तदानुगैः ।। ३९.

"And from the great goddess, Mahākālī, Maheśvarī, emerged, as the witness of her own action, together with attendant beings."

स एष भगवान्क्रोधो रुद्रावासकृतालयः। वीरभद्रोऽप्रमेयात्मा देव्या मन्युप्रमार्ज्जनः ।। ३९.

"This is that blessed Wrath, the abode of Rudra, the immeasurable Vīrabhadra, the purifier of the goddess's anger."

तस्य वेश्म सुरेन्द्रस्य सर्वगुह्यतमस्य वै। सन्निवेशस्त्वनौपम्यो मया वः परिकीर्त्तितः ।। ३९.

"The residence of that Indra among gods, most secret of all, has been described to you by me, its arrangement beyond compare."

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि ये तत्र प्रति वासिनः। रम्ये पुरवरश्रेष्ठे तस्मिन्वैहायभूमिषु ।। ३९.

"Now I shall tell you about those who dwell there, in that most delightful and excellent city, in the aerial realms."

नानारत्नविचित्रेषु पताकाबहुलेषु च। सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु वनोपवनशोभिषु ।। ३९.

"In mansions adorned with various jewels, abundant with banners, filled with every enjoyment, and beautified by groves and gardens—"

राजतेषु महान्तेषु शातकौम्भमयेषु च। सन्ध्याभ्रसन्निकाशेषु कैलासप्रतिमेषु च ।। ३९.

"In splendid, lofty palaces made of gold, resembling the twilight clouds, and like Kailāsa itself—"

इष्टैः शब्दादिभिर्भागैर्ये भवस्यानुसारिणः । प्रासादवर पुष्पेषु तेषु मोदन्ति सुव्रताः ।। ३९.

"Those who follow Bhava, delight in those excellent palaces, enjoying the desired pleasures of sound and the like, and in the flowers there, O virtuous ones."

ब्रह्मघोषैरविरताः कथाश्च विविधाः शुभाः । गीतवादित्रघोषाश्च संस्तवाश्च समन्ततः ।। ३९.

There are unceasing chants of Brahman, various auspicious stories, the sounds of singing and instruments, and hymns of praise resounding everywhere.

संहताश्चैवमतुला नानाश्रयकृतास्तथा। एवमादीनि वर्त्तन्ते तेषां प्रासादमूर्द्धनि ।। ३९.

In this way, incomparable gatherings and assemblies, formed from many sources, take place upon the summit of their palace.

सहस्रपादः प्रासादस्तपनीयमयः शुभः। अनौपम्यैर्वरै रत्नैः सर्वतः परिभूषितः ।। ३९.

The palace, with a thousand pillars, is splendid and made of gold, adorned on all sides with matchless and precious gems.

स्फटिकैश्चन्द्रसङ्काशैर्वैढूर्यमणिसम्प्रभैः। बालसूर्यमयैश्चापि सौवर्णैश्चाग्निसम्प्रभैः ।। ३९.

It is decorated with crystals shining like the moon, with beryl stones radiating brilliance, with young sun-like golden ornaments, and with gold gleaming like fire.

चुक्रुशुऋषयः श्रुत्वा नैमिषेयास्तपस्विनः। आपन्नसंशयाश्चेमं वाक्यमूचुः समीरणम् ।। ३९.

Hearing this, the ascetic sages of Naimisha, filled with doubt, addressed these words to Vāyu.

ऋषय ऊचुः।। के तु तत्र महात्मानो ये भवस्यानुसारिणः। अनुग्राह्यतमाः सम्यक् प्रमोदन्ते पुरोत्तमे। ऋषीणां वचनं श्रुत्वा वायुर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। ३९.

The sages said: Who are those great souls there who follow Bhava, who are most worthy of grace and rejoice in the supreme city? Hearing the words of the sages, Vāyu then spoke.

वायुरुवाच।। श्रूयतां देवदेवस्य भक्तिर्यैरनुकल्पिता। ह्रीमन्तः सूर्जिता दान्ताः शौर्ययुक्ता ह्यलोलुपाः ।। ३९.

Vāyu said: Listen to those by whom devotion to the God of gods has been cultivated—modest, self-conquered, restrained, endowed with heroism, and free from greed.

मध्याहाराश्च मात्राश्च ह्यात्मारामा जितेन्द्रियाः। जितद्वन्द्वा महोत्साहाः सौम्या विगतमत्सराः ।। ३९.

They eat in moderation, are content with what is allotted, delight in the Self, have mastered their senses, have overcome dualities, are of great enthusiasm, gentle, and free from envy.

भावस्थाः सर्व्वभूतानामव्यापारा अनाकुलाः। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना। अनन्यमनसो भूत्वा प्रपन्ना ये महेश्वरम् ।। ३९.

They are established in the well-being of all beings, inactive and untroubled, acting with pure mind, speech, and deed, with a purified inner self, single-minded, and surrendered to Maheśvara.

तैर्लब्धं रुद्रसालोक्यं शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम्। भवस्य रूपसादृश्यं नीताश्चैव ह्यनुत्तमम् ।। ३९.

By them, the eternal, imperishable abode of Rudra is attained, and they are led to the unsurpassed likeness of Bhava's form.

वैश्वानरमुखाः सर्वे विश्वरूपाः कपर्द्दिनः । नीलकण्ठाः सितग्रीवास्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रास्त्रिलोचनाः ।। ३९.

All are of fiery mouths, of universal form, with matted locks, blue-throated, white-necked, sharp-toothed, and three-eyed.

अर्द्धचन्द्रकृतोऽणीषा जटामुकुटधारिणः । सर्वे दशभुजा वीराः पद्मान्तर सुगन्धिनः ।। ३९.

They wear crowns of matted hair adorned with crescent moons, all are heroic with ten arms, and fragrant with lotuses at their hearts.

तरुणादित्यसङ्काशाः सर्वे ते पीतवाससः । पिनाकपाणयः सर्व्वे श्वेतगोवृषवाहनाः ।। ३९.

All shine like the rising sun, clad in yellow garments, holding the bow Pināka, and all ride upon white bulls.

श्रियान्विताः कुण्डलिनो मुक्ताहारविभूषिताः। तेजसोऽभ्यधिका देवैः सर्वज्ञाः सर्वदर्शिनः ।। ३९.

They are endowed with splendor, coiled with earrings, adorned with pearl necklaces, surpassing the gods in brilliance, all-knowing and all-seeing.

विभज्य बहुधात्मानं जरामृत्युविवर्जिताः। क्रीडन्ते विविधैर्भावैर्भोगान् प्राप्य सुदुर्लभान् ।। ३९.

Dividing themselves in many forms, free from old age and death, they sport in various ways, enjoying pleasures that are exceedingly rare.

स्वच्छन्दगतयः सिद्धाः सिद्धैश्चान्यौर्विबोधिताः। एकादशानां रुद्राणां कोट्योऽनेकमहात्मनाम् ।। ३९.

These perfected beings move at will, enlightened by other siddhas, and there are countless millions of Rudras among the eleven great souls.

एभिः सह महात्मा हि देवदेवो महेश्वरः। भक्तानुकम्पी भगवान्मोदते पार्वतीप्रियः ।। ३९.

Together with these great souls, the God of gods, Maheśvara, compassionate to devotees and beloved of Pārvatī, rejoices.

नाहन्तेषान्तु रुद्राणां भवस्य च महात्मनः। नानात्वमनुपश्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः ।। ३९.

I see no difference among these Rudras or the great-souled Bhava; this is the truth I declare to you.