Vayu Purana

प्रजापतेः सृष्टिमिमामनुत्तमां सुरेश देवर्षिगणैरलंकृताम्। शुबामतुल्यामनघामृषिप्रियां प्रजापतीनामपि चोल्बणार्च्चिषाम्

O lord of the gods, I shall recount this supreme creation of Prajāpati, adorned by hosts of gods and sages, auspicious, unequalled, flawless, beloved of the seers, and even cherished by the most radiant of the progenitors.

तपोभृतां ब्रह्मदिनादिकालिकीं प्रभूतमाविष्कृतपौरुषश्रियम्। श्रुतौ स्मृतौ च प्रसृतामुदाहृतां परां पराणामनिलप्रकीर्त्तिताम्

This creation, arising from the ascetics from the very beginning of Brahmā’s day, manifesting abundant and splendid power, is set forth and cited in both the Veda and the Smṛti, and is proclaimed as supreme among the supreme by Vāyu.

समासबन्धैर्नियतैर्यथातथं विशब्दनेनापि मनःप्रहर्षिणीम्। यस्याञ्च बद्धा प्रथमा प्रवृत्तिः प्राधानिकी चेश्वरकारिता च

Bound together with concise and regulated expressions, and even with words that delight the mind, in which the first and principal activity was established, and which was accomplished by the Lord.

यत्तत्स्मृतं कारणमप्रमेयं ब्रह्म प्रधानं प्रकृतिप्रसूतिः। आत्मा गुहा योनिरथापि चक्षुः क्षेत्रं ततैवामृतमक्षरञ्च

That which is remembered as the immeasurable cause—Brahman, the chief principle, the source of nature, the self, the cave, the womb, also the eye, the field, and likewise the immortal and the imperishable.

शुक्रं तपः सत्त्वमतिप्रकाशं तद्व्यष्टि नित्यं पुरुषं द्वितीयम्। तमप्रमेयं पुरुषेण युक्तं स्वयम्भुवा लोकपितामहेन

That which is pure, asceticism, sattva, exceedingly radiant, that is the individual, the eternal, the second Puruṣa, that which is immeasurable, united with the Puruṣa, by the self-born, the grandsire of the worlds.

उत्पादकत्वाद्रजसोतिरेकात् कालस्य योगान्निगमावधेश्च। क्षेत्रज्ञयुक्तान् नियतान्विकारान् लोकस्य सन्तानाविवृद्धिहेतून्। प्रकृत्यवस्था सुषुवे तथाष्टौ सङ्कल्पमात्रेण महेश्वरस्य

Because of its productive nature, the predominance of rajas, the conjunction with time, and the limit set by the Veda, the modifications joined with the knower of the field, fixed and determined, which are the causes of the growth and expansion of the world—these eight states of nature were produced by the mere will of the great Lord.

देवासुराद्रिद्रुमसागराणां मनुप्रजेशर्षिपितृद्विजानाम्। पिशाचयक्षोरगराक्षसानां ताराग्र हार्क्कर्क्षनिशाचराणाम्

Of gods, asuras, mountains, trees, oceans, Manus, lords of progeny, seers, ancestors, twice-born, piśācas, yakṣas, serpents, rākṣasas, stars, planets, hārkkarkṣas, and night-wanderers—

मासर्त्तु संवत्सररात्र्यहानां दिक्कालयोगादियुगायनानाम्। वनौषधीनामपि वीरुधाञ्च जलौकसामप्सरसां पशूनाम्

Of months, seasons, years, days and nights, directions, times, yugas, ayanas, of forest plants and herbs, of creepers, of aquatic beings, of apsarases, and of animals—

विद्युत्सरिन्मेघविहङ्गमानां यत्सूक्ष्मगं यद्भुवि यद्वियत्स्थम्। यत्स्थावरं यत्र यदस्ति किञ्चित् सर्वस्य तस्यास्ति गतिर्विभक्तिः

Of lightning, rivers, clouds, birds, whatever is subtle, whatever is on earth, whatever is in the sky, whatever is stationary, whatever exists anywhere—of all these, there is a course and a distinction.

छन्दांसि वेदाः सऋचो यजूंषि सामानि सोमस्व तथैव यज्ञः। आजीव्यमेषां यदभीप्सितञ्च देवस्य तस्यैव च वै प्रजापतेः

The metres, the Vedas, the Ṛc verses, the Yajus formulas, the Sāman chants, Soma, and likewise the sacrifice, the livelihood and whatever is desired by them—all this belongs to that god, and to Prajāpati.

वैवस्वतस्यास्य मनोः पुरस्तात् सम्भू तिरुक्ता प्रसवश्च तेषाम्। येषामिदं पुण्यकृतां प्रसूत्या लोकत्रयं लोकनमस्कृतानाम्। सुरेशदेवर्षिमनुप्रधीनामापूरितञ्चोपरिभूषितञ्च

Before this Vaivasvata Manu, their origin and birth have been recounted—by whose progeny, the world of the virtuous, revered by the three worlds, filled and adorned above, led by the lord of gods, divine sages, and Manus.

रुद्रस्य शापात् पुनरुद्भवश्च दक्षस्य चाप्यत्र मनुष्यलोके। वासः क्षितौ वा नियमाद्भवस्य दक्षस्य चात्र प्रतिशापलाभः

Because of Rudra’s curse, there was again a birth, and also, here in the world of men, a dwelling on earth by the ordinance of Bhava, and here, too, the obtaining of a counter-curse by Dakṣa.

मन्वन्तराणां परिवर्त्तनानि युगेषु सम्भूतिविकल्पनञ्च। ऋषित्वमार्षस्य च संप्रवृद्धिर्यथा युगादिष्वपि चेत्तदत्र

The cycles of the Manus, their changes, the various manifestations in the ages, the growth of the seerhood of the sages, and how it occurs at the beginning of each age—this, too, is here.

ये द्वापरेषु प्रथयन्ति वेदान् व्यासाश्च तेऽज्ञ क्रमशो निबद्धाः। कल्पस्य संख्या भुवनस्य संख्या ब्राह्मस्य चाप्यत्र दिनस्य संख्या

Those who, in the Dvāpara ages, propagate the Vedas, and the Vyāsas—O wise one, they are arranged in order; the reckoning of a kalpa, the reckoning of the world, and also the reckoning of Brahmā’s day are here.

अण्डोद्भिजस्वेदजरायुजानां धर्मात्मनां स्वर्गनिवासिनां वा। ये यातनास्थानगताश्च जीवास्तर्केण तेषामपि च प्रमाणम्

Of those born from eggs, sweat, womb, or sprout, of the righteous, or those dwelling in heaven, and of those beings who have reached places of torment—by reasoning, their measure is also given here.

आत्यन्तिकः प्राकृतिकश्च योऽयं नैमित्तिकश्च प्रतिसर्गहेतुः। बन्धश्च मोक्षश्च विशिष्य तत्र प्रोक्ता च संसारगतिः परा च

The absolute, the natural, and the occasional causes of re-creation, bondage and liberation—these are especially described here, as well as the supreme course of transmigration.

प्रकृत्यवस्थैषु च कारणेषु याच स्थितिर्या च पुनः प्रवृत्तिः। तच्छास्त्रयुक्त्या स्वमतिप्रयत्नात् समस्तमाविष्कृतधीधृतिभ्यः। विप्रा ऋषिभ्यः समुदाहृतं यद्यथातथं तच्छृणुतोच्यमानम्

In the states of nature and in the causes, whatever is the state and whatever is the renewed activity—by the reasoning of scripture, by one’s own intelligence and effort, all this, as declared by the wise and steadfast seers, hear now as it is being spoken.

ऋषयस्तु ततः श्रुत्वा नैमिषारण्यवासिनः। प्रत्यूचुस्ते ततः सर्वे सूतं पर्याकुलेक्षणाः

Then, the sages dwelling in Naimisha forest, having heard, all replied to Sūta, their eyes filled with excitement.

भवान् वै वंशकुशलो व्यासात् प्रत्यक्षदर्शवान्। तस्मात्त्वं भवनं कृत्स्नं लोकस्यामुष्य वर्णय

You are indeed skilled in genealogies and have seen them directly through Vyāsa; therefore, describe for us the entire lineage of this world.

यस्य यस्यान्वया ये ये तांस्तानिच्छाम वेदितुम्। तेषां पूर्वर्षिसृष्टिं च विचित्रां तां प्रजापतेः

We wish to know the descendants of each and every one, and also the wondrous creation of the earlier sages by Prajāpati.

असकृत्परिपृष्टस्तैर्महात्मा लोमहर्षणः। विस्तरेणानुपूर्व्या च कथयामास सत्तमः

The great-souled Lomaharṣaṇa, repeatedly questioned by them, narrated in detail and in proper sequence, O noble one.

पृष्टां चैतां कथां दिव्यां श्लक्ष्णां पापप्रणाशिनीम्। कथ्यमानां मया चित्रां बह्वर्थां श्रुतिसम्मताम्

This divine tale, which was asked about, is gentle and destroys sin; as I narrate it, it is marvelous, full of meaning, and approved by the scriptures.

यश्चेमांधारयेन्नित्यं श्रृणुयाद्वाप्यभीक्ष्णशः। श्रावयेच्चापि विप्रेभ्यो यतिभ्यश्च विशेषतः

Whoever always upholds this, or listens to it frequently, or recites it especially to Brāhmins and ascetics,

शुचिः पर्वसु युक्तात्मा तीर्थेष्वायतनेषु च। दीर्घमायुरवाप्नोति स पुराणानुकीर्त्तनात्। स्ववंशधारणं कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Pure, self-controlled at sacred times, in holy places and temples, he attains long life by recounting the Purāṇa, and after establishing his own lineage, is honored in the heavenly world.

विस्तारावयवं तेषां यथाशब्दं यथाश्रुतम्। कीर्त्त्यमानं निबोधध्वं सर्वेषां कीर्त्तिवर्द्धनम्

The extent and parts of their accounts, as spoken and as heard, are being narrated; listen, for it increases the fame of all.

धन्यं यशस्यं शत्रुघ्नं स्वर्ग्यमायुर्विवर्धनम्। कीर्त्तनं स्थिरकीर्त्तीनां सर्वेषां पुण्यकारिणाम्

This narration is blessed, brings fame, destroys enemies, leads to heaven, increases lifespan, and is the praise of all those of steadfast renown who perform virtuous deeds.

सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च। वंशानुचरितञ्चेति पुराणं पंचलक्षणम्

Creation, dissolution, genealogy, the ages of Manus, and the deeds of lineages—these are the five characteristics of the Purāṇa.

कल्पेभ्योऽपि हि यः कल्पः शुचिभ्यो नियतः शुचिः। पुराणं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि मारुतं वेदसम्मितम्

I shall declare the Māruta Purāṇa, esteemed by the Vedas, which is pure, regulated, and pure even among the pure, and is the best of all cycles.

प्रबोधः प्रलयश्चैव स्थितिरुत्पत्तिरेव च। प्रक्रिया प्रथमः पादः कथ्यवस्तुपरिग्रहः

Awakening, dissolution, stability, and creation—these are the first section, along with the enumeration of the subjects to be narrated.