Vayu Purana

तदा वै नैमिषेयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके। यथा विवदमानस्तु ऐडः संस्थापितस्तु तैः

Then, during the twelve-year sacrificial session of the Naimisha sages, as they disputed, Aiḍa was established by them.

जनयित्वा त्वरण्यान्ते ऐडपुत्रं यथायुषम्। समापयित्वा तत्सत्रमायुषं पर्युपासते

Having begotten Aiḍa's son at the edge of the forest, as long-lived; having completed that session, they attended upon him for his lifespan.

एतत्सर्वं यथावृत्तं व्याख्यातं द्विजसत्तमाः। ऋषीणां परमं चात्र लोकतन्त्रमनुत्तमम्

All this, as it happened, has been explained, O best of twice-born; and here is the supreme, unsurpassed tradition of the sages.

ब्रह्मणा यत्पुरा प्रोक्तं पुराणं ज्ञानमुत्तमम्। अवतारश्च रुद्रस्य द्विजानुग्रहकारणात्

That ancient, supreme knowledge which was formerly spoken by Brahmā; and the descent of Rudra for the sake of blessing the twice-born.

तथा पाशुपता योगाः स्थानानाञ्चैव कीर्त्तनम्। लिङ्गोद्भवस्य देवस्य नीलकण्ठत्वमेव च

Likewise, the Pāśupata yogas, and the praise of the places; the manifestation of the god Liṅga, and the very attainment of the blue-throated one.

कथ्यते यत्र विप्राणां वायुना ब्रह्मवादिना। धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं पापप्रणाशनम्। कीर्त्तनं श्रवणं चास्य धारणञ्च विशेषतः

Where the wind, as the speaker of Brahman, narrates to the Brahmins, there the recitation, hearing, and especially the retention of this, is blessed, brings fame, long life, merit, and destroys sin.

अनेन हि क्रमेणेदं पुराणं संप्रचक्ष्यते। सुखमर्थः समासेन महानप्युपलभ्यते। तस्मात् किञ्चित्सुमुद्दिश्य पश्चाद्वक्ष्यामि विस्तरम्

In this manner, this Purāṇa will be declared; its essence is easily grasped in summary, and even the great meaning is obtained; therefore, having indicated a little, I will later explain in detail.

पादमाद्यमिदं सम्यक् योऽधीयीत जितेन्द्रियः। तेनाधीतं पुराणं तत् सर्वं नास्त्यत्र संशयः

Whoever, with self-control, thoroughly studies this first section, for him the entire Purāṇa is considered studied—of this there is no doubt.

यो विद्याच्चतुरो वेदान् साङ्‌गोपनिषदो द्विजः। न चेत्पुराणं संविद्यान्नैव स स्याद्विचक्षणः

A twice-born who knows the four Vedas with their limbs and Upanishads, but does not know the Purāṇa, is not truly learned.

इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां वेदं समुपबृंहयेत्। बिभेत्यल्पश्रुताद्वेदो मामयं प्रतरिष्यति

One should supplement the Veda with Itihāsa and Purāṇa; the Veda fears that, due to little hearing, 'this one will misinterpret me.'

अभ्यसन्निममध्यायं साक्षात् प्रोक्तं स्वयम्भुवा। आपदं प्राप्य मुच्येत यथेष्टां प्राप्नुयाद्घतिम्

By repeatedly studying this chapter, which was directly spoken by the Self-born, one is freed from calamity and attains the desired state.

यस्मात् पुरा ह्यनतीदं पुराणं तेन तत् स्मृतम्। निरुक्तमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

Because this Purāṇa was composed long ago, it is called 'ancient'; whoever knows its etymology is freed from all sins.

नारायणः सर्वमिदं विश्वं व्याप्य प्रवर्त्तते। तस्यापि जगतः स्रष्टुः स्रष्टा देवो महेश्वरः

Nārāyaṇa pervades and operates this entire universe; and even for him, the creator of the world, the creator is the god Maheśvara.

अतश्च संक्षेपमिमं श्रृणुध्वं महेश्वरः सर्वमिदं पुराणम्। स सर्गकाले च करोति सर्गान् संहारकाले पुनराददीत

Therefore, listen in brief: Maheśvara is this entire Purāṇa; at the time of creation, he creates the worlds, and at the time of dissolution, he withdraws them.

शुक उवाच।। प्रत्यब्रुवन् पुनः सूतमृषयस्ते तपोधनाः। कुत्र सत्रं समभवत् तेषामद्भुतकर्मणाम्

Śuka said: Again, those ascetic sages asked Sūta, 'Where was the sacrificial session held by those of wondrous deeds?'

कियन्तं चैव तत्कालं कथं च समवर्त्तत। आचचक्ष पुराणं च कथं तेभ्यः प्रभञ्चनः

'And for how long did it last, and how was it conducted? How did Prabhañcana relate the Purāṇa to them?'

आचक्ष्व विस्तरेणेदं परं कौतूहलं हि नः। इति सन्नोदितः सूतः प्रत्युवाच शुभं वचः

'Tell us this in detail, for we are greatly curious.' Thus urged, Sūta spoke auspicious words.

श्रृणुध्वं यत्र ते धीरा ईजिरे सत्रमुत्तमम्। यावन्तं चाभवत् कालं यथा च समवर्तत

'Listen to where those wise ones performed the supreme sacrifice, for how long it lasted, and how it was conducted.'

सिसृक्षमाणा विश्वं हि यत्र विश्वसृजः पुरा। सत्रं हि ईजिरे पुण्यं सहस्रं परिवत्सरान्

Where, desiring to create the universe, the creators of the world once performed a holy sacrifice for a thousand years.

तपो गृहपतिर्यत्र ब्रह्मा ब्रह्माऽभवत् स्वयम्। इलाया यत्र पत्नीत्वं शामित्रं यत्र बुद्धिमान्। मृत्युश्चक्रे महातेजास्तस्मिन् सत्रे महात्मनाम्

Where the householder Tapas became Brahmā himself; where Ilā became a wife; where the wise Śāmitra was; and where mighty Mṛtyu performed in that great sacrifice of the great-souled.

विबुधा ईजिरे तत्र सहस्रं प्रतिवत्सरान्। भ्रमतो धर्मचक्रस्य यत्र नेमिरशीर्यत। कर्मणा तेन विख्यात नैमिषं मुनिपूजितम्

There, the gods performed the sacrifice for a thousand years; where the rim of Dharma's wheel did not wear out as it turned; by that act, Naimiṣa, honored by sages, became renowned.

यत्र सा गोमती पुण्या सिद्धचारण सेविता। रोहिणी सुषुवे तत्र ततः सौम्योऽभवत् सुतः

There, the sacred river Gomati, frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, flowed; there Rohiṇī gave birth, and from her was born the gentle son.

शक्तिर्ज्येष्ठः समभवद्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। अरुन्धत्याः सुता यत्र शतमुत्तमतेजसः

Śakti, the eldest, was born to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha; and there, from Arundhatī, a hundred sons of supreme brilliance were born.

कल्माषपादो नृपतिर्यत्र शप्तश्च शक्तिना। यत्र वैरं समभवद्विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः

Where King Kalmāṣapāda was cursed by Śakti, and where enmity arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha.

अदृश्यन्त्यां समभवन्मुनिर्यत्र पराशरः। पराभवो वसिष्ठस्य यस्मिन् जातेऽप्यवर्त्तत

Where the sage Parāśara was born of the invisible union, and where Vasiṣṭha’s defeat persisted even after his birth.

तत्र ते ईजिरे सत्रं नैमिषे ब्रह्मवादिनः। नैमिषे ईजिरे यत्र नैमिषेयास्ततः स्मृताः

There, the Brahman-knowers performed a sacrificial session at Naimiṣa; because they performed it at Naimiṣa, they are called Naimiṣeyas.

तत्सत्रमभवत्तेषां समा द्वादश धीमताम्। पुरूरवसि विक्रान्ते प्रशासति वसुन्धराम्

That sacrificial session of the wise lasted twelve years, while the mighty Purūravas ruled the earth.

अष्टादश समुद्रस्य द्वीपानश्नन् पुरूरवाः। तुतोष नैव रत्नानां लोभादिति हि नः श्रुतम्

Purūravas consumed the eighteen islands of the ocean, yet he was never satisfied by the desire for jewels—so we have heard.

उर्वशी चकमे यं च देवहूतिप्रणोदिता। आजहार च तत्सत्रं स्वर्वेश्यासहसङ्गतः

Urvaśī desired him, prompted by Devahūti, and she brought him to that sacrificial session, joining him with the queen of heaven.