Vayu Purana

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.

मातरिश्वाऽब्रवीत्पुण्यामित्येतामीश्वरोऽप्युत। अथ ते ऋषयः सर्वे दिवाकरसमप्रभाः। श्रुत्वेमां परमां पुण्यां कथां त्रैयम्बकीं ततः ।। ३९.

Mātariśvan spoke, 'This is holy,' and so did the Lord as well; then all those sages, radiant as the sun, having heard this supreme and sacred tale of Triyambaka,

भृशञ्चानुग्रहं प्राप्य हर्षं चैवाप्यनुत्तमम्। सम्भावयित्वा चाप्येनां वायुमूचुर्महाबलम् ।। ३९.

Having received great favor and unsurpassed joy, and having duly honored this story, they addressed mighty Vāyu.

ऋषय ऊचुः।। समीरण महाभाग ह्यस्माकं च त्वया विभो। ईश्वरस्योत्तमं पुण्यमष्टमन्त्वौपसर्गिकम् ।। ३९.

The sages said: O Samīraṇa, greatly fortunate one, by you and for us, O Lord, the supreme and sacred eighth power of Īśvara, free from obstacles, has been described.

तस्य स्थानं प्रमाणञ्च यथावत्परिकीर्त्तितम्। यो गन्धेन समृद्धं वै परमं परमात्मनः ।। ३९.

Its place and measure have been properly recounted—he who is endowed with fragrance, the supreme of the Supreme Self.

महादेवस्य माहात्म्यं दुर्विज्ञेयं सुरैरपि । स्वेन माहात्म्ययोगेन सहस्रस्यामितौजसः ।। ३९.

The greatness of Mahādeva is difficult even for the gods to comprehend; by his own power and might, he is of immeasurable energy.

यस्य भक्तेष्वसंमोहो ह्यनुकम्पार्थमेव च। ब्राह्मलक्ष्म्या स्वयं जुष्ठा या साप्रतिमशालिनी ।। ३९.

For his devotees, there is no delusion, solely out of compassion; he is personally endowed with Brāhmī prosperity, which is unmatched and glorious.

ज्योत्स्नया व्याप्य खं चन्द्रं विन्यस्ता विश्वरूपधृक् । विभूतिर्भ्राजतेऽत्यर्थं देवदेवस्य वेश्मनि ।। ३९.

Spreading with her radiance like moonlight across the sky and the moon, she, assuming all forms, shines exceedingly in the abode of the God of gods.

महादेवस्य तुल्यानां रुद्राणान्तु महात्मनाम्। तत्सर्वं निखिलेनेदं वक्त्रादमृतनिस्रवम् ।। ३९.

Of those Rudras who are equal to Mahādeva, all that, in its entirety, flows from his mouth like nectar.

अपीत्वा खलु सर्वस्य भक्त्यास्माभिस्तु सुव्रताः। नास्ति किञ्चिदविज्ञेयमन्यच्चैवानुगामिनः। प्रश्नं देववर प्राण यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ।। ३९.

Having drunk of all this with devotion, O you of good vows, there remains nothing unknown to us, nor to those who follow; O best of gods, O Prāṇa, you should answer our question as is proper.

सूत उवाच।। स खलूवाच भगवान्किं भूयो वर्त्तयाम्यहम्। किं मया चैव वक्तव्यं तद्वदिष्यामि सुव्रताः ।। ३९.

Sūta said: Then the venerable one spoke, 'What more shall I relate? What should I say? That I will declare, O you of good vows.'

ऋषय ऊचुः।। आदित्याः पारिपार्श्वेयाः सिंहा वै क्रोधविक्रमाः। वैश्वानरा भूतगणा व्याघ्राश्चैवानुगामिनः ।। ३९.

The sages said: The Ādityas are on the sides, the lions are fierce with wrath and valor, the Vaiśvānaras are hosts of beings, and the tigers follow as well.

आभूतसंप्लवे घोरे सर्वप्राणभृतां क्षये। किमवस्था भवन्त्येते तन्नो ब्रूहि यथार्थवत् ।। ३९.

At the dreadful dissolution of beings, when all living creatures are destroyed, what is the state of these? Tell us truly.

एते ये वै त्वया प्रोक्ताः सिंहव्याघ्रगणैः सह। ये चान्ये सिद्धिसम्प्राप्ता मातरिश्वा जगाद ह ।। ३९.

Those whom you have mentioned, along with the groups of lions and tigers, and others who have attained perfection—Mātariśvan spoke of them.

इदञ्च परमं तत्त्वं समाख्यास्यामि श्रृण्वताम्। विज्ञातेश्वरसद्भावमव्यक्तं प्रभवं तथा ।। ३९.

And this highest truth I shall now declare to you who listen: the existence of the Lord, the unmanifest, and his origin.

तत्र पूर्वगतास्तेषु कुमारा ब्रह्मणः सुताः। सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः ।। ३९.

There, among those who came before, were the Kumāras, sons of Brahmā: Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana.

वोढुश्च कपिलस्तेषामासुरिश्च महायशाः। मुनिः पञ्चशिखश्चैव ये चान्येऽप्येवमादयः ।। ३९.

Kapila was among them, as was the renowned Āsuri, and the sage Pañcaśikha, and others of similar kind.

ततः काले व्यतिक्रान्ते कल्पानां पर्यये गते। महाभूतविनाशान्ते प्रलये प्रत्युपस्थिते ।। ३९.

Then, when time had passed and the cycle of aeons had ended, at the approach of dissolution after the destruction of the great elements,

अनेकरुद्रकोट्यस्तु याः प्रसन्ना महेश्वरी । शब्दादीन्विषयान्भोगान्सत्यस्याष्टविधश्रयात् ।। ३९.

The many crores of Rudras, and the gracious Great Goddess, from the eightfold seat of truth, enjoy the objects of sound and the rest.

प्रविश्य सर्वभूतानि ज्ञानयुक्तेन तेजसा। वैहायपदमव्यग्रं भूतानामनुकम्पया ।। ३९.

Entering all beings with knowledge-infused radiance, he attains the celestial realm, undisturbed, out of compassion for creatures.

तत्र यान्ति महात्मानः परमाणुं महेश्वरम्। तरन्ति सुमहावर्त्तां जन्ममृत्यूदकां नदीम् ।। ३९.

There, the great souls reach the atomic Lord Maheshvara; they cross the vast, swirling river of birth and death.