Vayu Purana

वर्णाश्रमवतां धर्मो मया सम्यगुदाहृतः। मुक्तिमार्गा बहुविधा उक्ता वेदाविरोधतः ।। ४२.

The duties of those who follow the four social orders and stages of life have been properly described by me; the various paths to liberation have been stated, all in accordance with the Vedas,

जीवेश्वरब्रह्मभेदो निरस्तः सूत्रनिर्णये। निरूपितं परं ब्रह्म श्रुतियुक्तविचारतः ।। ४२.

The distinction between the individual soul, the Lord, and Brahman is refuted in the decision of the aphorisms; the supreme Brahman is established through inquiry based on scripture and reasoning,

अक्षरं परमं ब्रह्म परमात्मा परं पदम्। यदर्थं ब्रह्मचर्यादिवानप्रस्थयतिव्रतम् ।। ४२.

The imperishable supreme Brahman, the supreme Self, the highest state, for the sake of which celibacy, forest-dwelling, and ascetic vows are undertaken,

आचरन्ति महाप्राज्ञा धारणाञ्च पृथग्विधाम्। आसनं प्राणरोधश्च प्रत्याहारश्च धारणा ।। ४२.

The great sages practice various forms of concentration, posture, breath control, withdrawal of the senses, and concentration,

ध्यानं समाधिरेतानि यमैश्च नियमैः सह। अष्टाङ्गानि यदर्थञ्च चरन्ति मुनिपुङ्गवाः ।। ४२.

Meditation and absorption—these, together with restraints and observances, are the eight limbs for which the foremost sages strive,

यदर्थं कर्म कुर्वन्ति वेदाज्ञामात्रतत्पराः। परार्पणधिया सम्यग् निष्कामाः कलिलोज्झिताः ।। ४२.

For that purpose, they perform actions, devoted solely to the command of the Vedas, with the thought of offering to the Supreme, free from desire and untouched by impurity,

यज्ज्ञप्तये निराकर्त्तुं पापाचरणमात्मनः। गङ्गादितीर्थचर्याणि निषेवन्ते शुचिव्रताः ।। ४२.

For the knowledge of that, and to remove sinful conduct from themselves, those of pure vows undertake pilgrimages to holy places like the Ganga,

तद्ब्रह्म परमं शुद्धमनाद्यन्तमनामयम्। नित्यं सर्वगतं स्थाणु कूटस्थं कूटविर्जितम् ।। ४२.

That Brahman is the supreme, pure, without beginning or end, free from affliction, eternal, all-pervading, unchanging, and untouched by illusion,

सर्वेन्द्रियचराभासं प्राकृतेन्द्रियवर्जितम्। दिक्कालाद्यनवच्छिन्नं नित्यं चिन्मात्रमव्ययम् ।। ४२.

It appears as the activity of all the senses, yet is devoid of material senses; unbounded by space, time, and the like, it is eternal, pure consciousness, and imperishable,

अध्यास्तं सर्पवद्यत्र विश्वमेतत्प्रकाशते। विश्वस्मिन्नपि चान्वेति निर्विकारश्च रज्जुवत् ।। ४२.

Where the universe appears superimposed like a snake upon a rope, yet within the universe it follows, remaining unchanged, just as the rope itself.

सम्यग्विचारितं यद्वत्फेनोर्मिबुद्बुदोदकम्। तथा विचारितं ब्रह्म विश्वस्मान्न पृथग्भवेत् ।। ४२.

Just as, when properly examined, foam, waves, and bubbles are found to be nothing but water, so too, when Brahman is rightly investigated, it is not separate from the universe.

सर्वं ब्रह्मैव नानात्वं नास्तीति निगमा जगुः। यस्माद्भवन्ति ब्रह्माण्ड कोटयो न भवन्ति च ।। ४२.

All is truly Brahman; there is no multiplicity, so declare the scriptures, for countless universes arise from it and yet do not truly exist apart.

यदुन्मेषनिमेषाभ्यां जगतां प्रलयोदयौ। भवेतां या परा शक्तिर्यदाधारतया स्थिता ।। ४२.

That supreme power by which, through opening and closing of the eyes, the creation and dissolution of worlds occur, is established as their foundation.

यस्मिन्निदं यतश्चेदं येनेदं यदिदं स्मृतम्। यदज्ञानाज्जगद्भाति यस्मिन् ज्ञाते जगन्न हि ।। ४२.

That in which this exists, from which this arises, by which this is remembered, which appears as the world through ignorance, and upon knowing which, the world ceases to be.

असत्यं यज्जडं दुःखमवस्त्विति निरूपितम्। विपरीतमतो यद्वै सच्चिदानन्दमूर्त्तिकम् ।। ४२.

That which is false, inert, and sorrowful is determined to be unreal; therefore, what is contrary to this is of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss.

जीवे जाग्रति विश्वाख्यं स्वप्ने यत्तैजसं स्मृतम् । सुषुप्तौ प्राज्ञसंज्ञं तत्सर्वावस्थासु संस्मृतम् ।। ४२.

In the waking state, the individual is called 'viśva'; in the dream state, 'taijasa'; in deep sleep, 'prājña'; thus, it is remembered in all conditions.

यच्चक्षुषां चक्षुरथ श्रोत्राणां श्रोत्रमस्ति च। त्वक् त्वचां रसनं तस्य प्राणं प्राणस्य यद्विदुः ।। ४२.

That which is the eye of the eyes, the ear of the ears, the skin of the skins, the tongue of the tongues, and the breath of the breaths, is known by the wise.

बुद्धिर्ज्ञानेन च प्राणाः क्रियाशक्त्या निरन्तरम्। यन्नेशिरि समभ्येतुं ज्ञातुं च परमार्थतः ।। ४२.

Intellect operates through knowledge, vital forces through the power of action, yet that which cannot be controlled or fully known is the ultimate reality.

रज्जावहिर्मरौ वारि नीलिमा गगने यथा। असद्विश्वमिदं भाति यस्मिन्नज्ञानकल्पितम् ।। ४२.

Just as a rope appears as a snake, water as a mirage in the desert, or blue in the sky, so this unreal universe shines, imagined through ignorance.

घटावच्छिन्न एवायं महाकाशो विभिद्यते। कार्योपाधिपरिच्छिन्नं तद्वद्यज्जीवसंज्ञिकम् ।। ४२.

Just as the vast space is divided by a pot, so too, that which is called the individual soul is limited by the adjuncts of action.

मायया चित्रकारिण्या विचित्रगुणशीलया । ब्रह्माण्डं चित्रमतुलं यस्मिन् भित्ताविवार्पितम् ।। ४२.

By the creative power of Māyā, possessing wondrous qualities, the marvelous universe is projected, like a painting upon a wall.

धावतोऽन्यानतिक्रान्तं वदतो वागगोचरम् । वेदवेदान्तसिद्धान्तैर्विनिर्णीतं तदक्षरम् ।। ४२.

That which surpasses all others in speed, which speech cannot reach, which is established by the conclusions of the Vedas and Vedānta, is the imperishable.

अक्षरान्न परं किञ्चित्सा काष्ठा सा परा गतिः । इत्येवं श्रूयते वेदे बहुधापि विचारिते ।। ४२.

There is nothing higher than the imperishable; that is the ultimate, the supreme goal, so it is heard in the Vedas, even after much inquiry.

अक्षरस्यात्मनश्चापि स्वात्मरूपतया स्थितम्। परमानन्दसन्दोहरूपमानन्द विग्रहम् ।। ४२.

The imperishable and the Self are established as one's own true nature, the embodiment of supreme bliss, the very form of joy.

लीलाविलासरसिकं बल्लवीयूथमध्यगम्। शिखिपिच्छकिरीटेन बास्वद्रत्नचितेन च ।। ४२.

Delighting in play and sport, surrounded by groups of cowherd maidens, adorned with a crown of peacock feathers and gems.

उल्लसद्विद्युदाटोपकुण्डलाभ्यां विराजितम्। कर्णोपान्तचरन्नेत्रखञ्जरीटमनोहरम् ।। ४२.

Radiant with flashing earrings like lightning, charming with eyes moving near the ears, and a beautiful crest.

कुञ्जकुञ्जप्रियावृन्दविलासरतिलम्पटम्। पीताम्बरधरं दिव्यं चन्दनालेपमण्डितम् ।। ४२.

Fond of playful pastimes in groves with beloved companions, wearing yellow garments, divine, and adorned with sandal paste.

अधरामृत संसिक्तवेणुनादेन वल्लवीः। मोहयन्तञ्चिदानन्दमनङ्गमदभञ्जनम् ।। ४२.

Enchanting the cowherd women with the sound of his flute, moistened by the nectar of the lower lip, he shattered the pride of Cupid, embodying the bliss of consciousness.

कोटिकामकलापूर्णं कोटिचन्द्रांशुनिर्मलम्। त्रिरेखकम्ठविलसद्रत्नगुञ्जामृगा कुलम् ।। ४२.

Filled with millions of forms of desire, pure as the rays of millions of moons, adorned with three lines on the neck, and a host of deer marked by strings of gems.