Vayu Purana

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.

त्वया सूत महाबुद्धिर्भगवान् ब्रह्मवित्तमः। इतिहासपुराणार्थं व्यासः सम्यगुपासितः। दुदोह वै मतिं तस्य त्वं पुराणाश्रयां कथाम्

O Sūta, you of great intellect, the venerable Vyāsa, knower of Brahman, was properly served by you for the sake of understanding the meaning of itihāsa and Purāṇa; you have drawn from his wisdom—now narrate the Purāṇa-based tale.

एषाञ्च ऋषिमुख्यानां पुराणं प्रति धीमताम्। शुश्रूषास्ति महाबुद्धे तच्छ्रावयितुमर्हसि

Among these foremost sages, there is a desire to hear the Purāṇa, O wise one; you ought to recite it to them.

सर्वे हीमे महात्मानो नाना गोत्राः समागताः। स्वान् स्वान् वंशान् पुराणैस्तु श्रृणुयुर्ब्रह्मवादिनः

All these great souls, assembled from various lineages, wish to hear from the Purāṇas about their own ancestries, O speakers of Brahman.

सपुत्रान् दीर्घसत्रेऽस्मिञ्छ्रवयेथा मुनीनथ। दीक्षिष्यमाणैरस्माभि स्तेन प्रागसि संस्मृतः

O sage, in this long sacrifice, you should cause the sages, along with their sons, to hear; we, about to be initiated, have remembered you for this.

इति सन्नोदितः सूतस्तैरेव मुनिभिः पुरा। पुराणार्थं पुराणज्ञैः सत्यव्रतपरायणैः

Thus addressed by those very sages of old, who were devoted to truth and knowledgeable in the Purāṇa, the sūta was urged to recount the meaning of the Purāṇa.

स्वधर्म एष सूतस्य सद्भिर्दृष्टः पुरातनैः। देवतानामृषीणाञ्च राज्ञाञ्चामिततेजसाम्

This is the proper duty of the sūta, as seen by the virtuous ancients: to recite to the gods, sages, and kings of immeasurable energy.

वंशानां धारणं कार्यं श्रुतानाञ्च महात्मनाम्। इतिहासपुराणेषु दिष्टा ये ब्रह्मवादिभिः

The preservation of the lineages of the great souls, as heard in the itihāsas and Purāṇas, is prescribed by the speakers of Brahman.

न हि वेदेष्वधिकारः कश्वित् सूतस्य दृश्यते। वैन्यस्य हि पृथोर्यज्ञे वर्त्तमाने महात्मनः। सुत्यायामभवत् सूतः प्रथमं वर्णवैकृतः

For indeed, no sūta is seen to have authority over the Vedas; at the sacrifice of the noble Pṛthu, son of Vena, the sūta first arose as a distinct class during the soma pressing.

ऐन्द्रेण हविषा तत्र हविः पृक्तं बृहस्पतेः। जुहावेन्द्राय देवाय ततः सूतो व्यजायत। प्रमादात्तत्र सञ्जज्ञे प्रायश्चित्तञ्च कर्मसु

There, with the oblation dedicated to Indra, the clarified butter meant for Bṛhaspati was offered to Indra; from that, the sūta was born—arising from a mistake, and expiation was performed for that act.

शिष्यहव्येन यत् पृक्तमभिभूतं गुरोर्हविः। अधरोत्तरचारेण जज्ञे तद्वर्णवैकृतः

When the disciple’s oblation was mixed and the teacher’s oblation was overcome, by a reversal of the proper order, that class difference was produced.