Vayu Purana

कुलानां शतमुद्धृत्य ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत् पितॄन्। गया गयो गया दित्यो गायत्री च गदाधरः ।। ५०.

By uplifting a hundred families, one leads the ancestors to the world of Brahma; Gaya, Gaya, Gayaditya, Gayatri, and the wielder of the mace are all mentioned.

गया गयासुरश्चैव षङ्गया मुक्तिदायकाः। गयाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत्सततं नरः ।। ५०.

Gaya, Gayasura, and the six Gayas are givers of liberation; whoever continually recites this sacred account of Gaya, O man—

श्रृणुयाच्छ्रद्धया यस्तु स याति परमां गतिम्। पाठयेद्वा गयाख्यानं विप्रेभ्यः पुण्यकृन्नरः ।। ५०.

Whoever listens to it with faith attains the highest state; or whoever recites the account of Gaya to the Brahmins, that meritorious man—

गयाश्राद्धं कृतं तेन कृतं तेन सुनिश्चितम्। गयाया महिमानञ्च ह्यभ्यसेद्यः समाहितः ।। ५०.

For him, the Gaya śrāddha is considered as performed, certainly performed; and whoever studies the greatness of Gaya with concentration—

तेनेष्टं राजसूयेन अश्वमेधेन नारद। लिखेद्वा लेखयेद्वापि पूजयेद्वापि पुस्तकम् ।। ५०.

For him, it is as if he has performed the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices, O Narada; or if he writes or has written, or worships this book.

तस्य गेहे स्थिरा लक्ष्मीः सुप्रसन्ना भविष्यति। उपाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं गृहे तिष्ठति पुस्तकम् ।। ५०.

In his house, enduring fortune, most auspicious, will abide; if this sacred tale is kept as a book in the home.

सर्पाग्निचौरजनितं भयं तत्र न विद्यते। श्राद्धकाले पठेद्यस्तु गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ।। ५०.

There, no fear arises from snakes, fire, or thieves; whoever recites this supreme glory of Gayā at the time of ancestral rites—

विधिहीनन्तु तत्सर्वं पितॄणान्तु गयासमम्। यानि तीर्थानि त्रैलोक्ये तानि दृष्टानि तत्र वै। येन ज्ञातं गयाख्यानं श्रुतं वा पठितं मुने ।। ५०.

Even if performed without proper rites, all offerings to the ancestors there are equal to those at Gayā; all the holy places in the three worlds are seen there, by one who knows, hears, or recites the story of Gayā, O sage.

सनत्कुमारो मुनिपुङ्गवाय पुण्यां कथाञ्चाथ निवेद्य भक्त्या। स्वमाश्रमं पुण्यवनैरुपेतं विसृज्य संगीतगुरुं जगाम ।। ५०.

Sanatkumāra, having devotedly conveyed this sacred story to the foremost sage, departed for his own hermitage, surrounded by blessed groves, after taking leave of his revered teacher.

श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।। नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरञ्चैव नरोत्तमम्। देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्।। जयति पराशरसूनुः सत्यवतीहृदयनन्दनो व्यासः। यस्यास्यकमलगलितं वाङ्मयममृतं जगत् पिबति।। प्रपद्ये देवमीशानं शाश्वतं ध्रुवमव्ययम्। महादेवं महात्मानं सर्वस्य जगतः पतिम्

Salutations to Śrī Gaṇeśa. Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa, to Nara the supreme man, and to the goddess Sarasvatī, then let victory be proclaimed. Victorious is Vyāsa, son of Parāśara, delight of Satyavatī’s heart, from whose lotus mouth the nectar of speech flows, which the world drinks. I seek refuge in the god Īśāna, eternal, steadfast, imperishable, the great lord, the great soul, the master of all the worlds.

ब्रह्माणं लोककर्त्तारं सर्वज्ञमपराजितम्। प्रभुं भूतभविष्यस्य साम्प्रतस्य च सत्पतिम्

To Brahmā, creator of the worlds, all-knowing, unconquered, lord of past, future, and present, the true master—

ज्ञानमप्रतिमं यस्य वैराग्यं च जगत्पतेः। ऐश्वर्यञ्चैव धर्मश्च सहसिद्धिचतुष्टयः

Whose knowledge is without equal, whose detachment is supreme, lord of the world, whose sovereignty, righteousness, and the fourfold perfections are complete—

य इमान् पश्यते भावान्नित्यं सदसदात्मकान्। आविशन्ति पुनस्तं वै क्रियाभावार्थमीश्वरम्

He who always perceives these realities, both existent and non-existent; all beings enter him again, for the sake of action, that lord.

लोककृल्लोकतत्त्वज्ञो योगमास्थाय तत्त्ववित्। असृजत् सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च

The creator of the worlds, knower of their true nature, established in yoga and wisdom, created all beings, both immobile and mobile.

तमजं विश्वकर्माणं चित्पतिं लोकसाक्षिणम्। पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुर्व्रजामि शरणं प्रभुम्

To that unborn, all-creating lord, master of consciousness, witness of the worlds, desiring to know the ancient tales, I go for refuge.

ब्रह्मवायुमहेन्द्रेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य समाहितः। ऋषीणाञ्च वरिष्ठाय वसिष्ठाय महात्मने

Having bowed with concentration to Brahmā, Vāyu, and Indra, and to the most eminent of sages, the great-souled Vasiṣṭha—

तन्नप्त्त्रे चातियशसे जातूकर्णाय चर्षये। वसिष्ठाय च शुचये कृष्णद्वैपायनाय च

And to his most renowned grandson, the sage Jātūkarṇa, to the pure Vasiṣṭha, and to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana as well—

पुराणं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि ब्रह्मोक्तं वेदसम्मितम्। धर्मार्थन्यायसंयुक्तैरागमैः सुविभूषितम्

I shall now declare the Purāṇa, spoken by Brahmā, in accord with the Veda, adorned with doctrines of righteousness, prosperity, and justice.

असीमकृष्णे विक्रान्ते राजन्येऽनुपमत्विषि। प्रशासतीमां धर्मेण भूमिं भूमिपसत्तमे

When Asīmakṛṣṇa, unrivaled in valor among kings, ruled this earth with righteousness, foremost among rulers—

ऋषयः संशितात्मानः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः। ऋजवो नष्टरजसः शान्ता दान्ता जितेन्द्रियाः

The sages, self-restrained, devoted to truth and vows, upright, free from passion, peaceful, disciplined, and masters of their senses—

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे दीर्घसत्रन्तु ईजिरे। नद्यास्तीरे दृषद्वत्याः पुण्यायाः शुचिरोधसः। दीक्षितास्ते यथाशास्त्रं नैमिषारण्यगोचराः

In the field of righteousness, Kurukṣetra, they performed a long sacrifice on the pure banks of the holy river Dṛṣadvatī, consecrated according to scripture, dwelling in the region of Naimiṣāraṇya.

द्रष्टुं तान् स महाबुद्धिः सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः। लोमानि हर्षयाञ्चक्रे श्रोत्रूणां यत् सुभाषितैः। कर्मणा प्रथितस्तेन लोकेऽस्मिँल्लोमहर्षणः

To see them, the wise Sūta, foremost among narrators, caused the hairs of his listeners to stand on end with his eloquent words; thus, he became renowned in the world as Lomaharṣaṇa.

तपःश्रुताचारनिधेर्वेदव्यासस्य धीमतः। शिष्यो बभूव मेधावी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः

A disciple of the wise Vedavyāsa, a treasure of austerity, learning, and conduct, he became famous throughout the three worlds.

पुराण वेदो ह्यखिलो यस्मिन् सम्यक् प्रतिष्ठितः। भारती चैव विपुला महाभारतवर्द्धिनी

The entire Purāṇa and Veda are firmly established in it, as is the vast Bhārati, the enhancer of the Mahābhārata.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षार्थाः कथा यस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठिताः। सूक्ताः सुपरिभाषाश्च भूमावोषधयो यथा

Within it are established the narratives concerning dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa, as well as wise sayings and clear expressions, just as herbs are found upon the earth.

स तान् न्यायेन सुधियो न्यायविन्मुनिपुङ्गवान्। अभिगम्योपसंसृत्य नमस्कृत्य कृताञ्जलिः। तोषयामास मेधावी प्रणिपातेन तानृषीन्

He, intelligent and learned in justice, approached those foremost sages, masters of justice and wisdom, greeted them with joined palms, and satisfied them by his respectful salutation.

ते चापि सर्त्रिणः प्रीताः ससदस्या महौजसः। तस्मै साम च पूजाञ्च यथावत् प्रतिपेदिरे

And those powerful sages, together with their assembly, being pleased, offered him due honor and worship.

अथ तेषां पुराणस्य शुश्रूषा समपद्यत। दृष्ट्वा तमातिविश्वस्तं विद्वांसं लोमहर्षणम्

Then, seeing Lomaharṣaṇa, the wise one, so fully devoted, the desire to hear the Purāṇa arose among them.

तस्मिन् सत्रे गृहपतिः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। इङ्गितैर्भावमालक्ष्य तेषां सूतमनोदयत्

In that assembly, the householder, expert in all the śāstras, discerning their intent by their gestures, encouraged the sūta to speak.