Vayu Purana

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.

उपोद्वातोऽनुषङ्गश्च उपसंहार एव च। धर्म्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

Introduction, connection, and conclusion—this is righteous, brings fame and longevity, and destroys all sins.

एवं हि पादाश्चत्वारः समासात् कीर्त्तिता मया। वक्ष्याम्येतान् पुनस्तांस्तु विस्तरेण यथाक्रमम्

Thus, the four sections have been briefly mentioned by me; I shall now describe them again, in detail and in proper order.

तस्मै हिरण्यगर्भाय पुरुषायेश्वराय च। अन्ताय प्रथमायैव विशिष्टाय प्रजात्मने। ब्रह्मणे लोकतन्त्राय नमस्कृत्य स्वयम्भुवे

To Him, Hiraṇyagarbha, the Supreme Person, the Lord, the end and the beginning, the distinguished progenitor, Brahmā, the ruler of the worlds, I bow, the self-born.

महदाद्यं विशेषान्तं सवैरुप्यं सलक्षणम्। पञ्चप्रमाणं षट्श्येतं पुरुषाधिष्ठितं नुतम्। असंशयात् प्रवक्ष्यामि भूतसर्गमनुत्तमम्

From the great principle to the particular, with all its distinctions and marks, with five proofs and six divisions, established by the Supreme Person, I shall declare without doubt the supreme creation of beings.

अव्यक्तं कारणं यत्तु नित्यं सदसदात्मकम्। प्रधानं प्रकृतिं चैव यमाहुस्तत्त्व चिन्तकाः

That unmanifest cause, which is eternal and both existent and non-existent, is called the chief principle and nature by those who contemplate reality.

गन्धवर्णरसैर्हीनं शब्दस्पर्शविवर्ज्जितम्। अजातं ध्रुवमक्षय्यं नित्यं स्वात्मन्यवस्थितम्

Devoid of smell, color, and taste, free from sound and touch, unborn, constant, imperishable, and eternally abiding in its own self.

जगद्योनिं महद्भूतं परं ब्रह्म सनातनम्। विग्रहं सर्वभूतानामव्यक्तमभवत् किल

The eternal, supreme Brahman, the great source of the universe, became the unmanifest form of all beings.

अनाद्यन्तमजं सूक्ष्मन्त्रिगुणं प्रभवाव्ययम्। असाम्प्रतमविज्ञेयं ब्रह्माग्रे समवर्त्तत

Without beginning or end, unborn, subtle, possessing the three qualities, the imperishable and incomprehensible Brahman existed at the outset.

तस्यात्मना सर्वमिदं व्याप्तमासीत्तमोमयम्। गुणसाम्ये तदा तस्मिन् गुणभावे तमोमये

By its own nature, all this, filled with darkness, was pervaded; when the qualities were in equilibrium, in that state of darkness, the qualities themselves were dark.

गर्गकाले प्रधानस्य क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितस्य वै। गुणभावाद्वाच्यमानो महान् प्रादुर्बभूव ह

At the time of dissolution, from the condition of the primordial matter, governed by the knower of the field, due to the manifestation of qualities, the great principle arose.

सूक्ष्मेण महता सोऽथ अव्यक्तेन समावृतः। सत्वोद्रिक्तो महानग्रे सत्त्वमात्रप्रकाशकम्। मनो महांश्च विज्ञेयो मनस्तत्कारणं स्मृतम्

That great principle, subtle and enveloped by the unmanifest, at first was dominated by purity, revealing only purity; mind and the great principle are to be understood, and mind is remembered as its cause.

लिङ्गमात्रसमुत्पन्नः) क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितस्तु सः। धर्मादीनान्तु रूपाणि लोकतत्त्वार्थहेतवः। महांस्तु सृष्टिं कुरुते नोद्यमानः सिसृक्षया

Born only as a subtle mark, governed by the knower of the field, its forms such as virtue and others are causes for the purpose of the elements of the world; the great principle creates the world without striving or desire to create.

मनो महान्मतिर्ब्रह्मा पूर्बुद्धिः ख्यातिरीश्वरः। प्रज्ञा चितिः स्मृतिः संवित् विपुरं चोच्यते बुधैः

Mind, the great principle, intellect, Brahma, prior understanding, discernment, lordship, wisdom, consciousness, memory, awareness, and vastness are spoken of by the wise.

मनुते सर्वभूतानां यस्माच्चेष्टाफलं विभुः। सौक्ष्मत्वेन विवृद्धानां तेन तन्मन उच्यते

Because it comprehends the actions and results of all beings, and due to its subtlety among those that have grown, it is therefore called mind.

तत्त्वानामग्रजो यस्मान्महांश्च परिमाणतः। शेषेभ्योऽपि गुणेभ्योऽसौ महानिति ततः स्मृतः

Because it is the eldest among the principles and greater in measure than the rest of the qualities, it is therefore called the great principle.

बिभर्ति मानं मनुते विभागं मन्यतेऽपि च। पुरुषो भोगसम्बन्धात् तेन चासौ मतिः स्मृतः

It bears esteem, discerns division, and considers distinctions; because the person is connected with enjoyment, it is therefore remembered as intellect.

बृहत्त्वादृंहणत्वाच्च भावानां सलिलाश्रयात्। यस्माद्‌बृंहयते भावान् ब्रह्मा तेन निरुच्यते

Because of its vastness and capacity to strengthen beings, and its association with water, since it enlarges beings, it is therefore called Brahma.

आपूरयित्वा यस्माच्च कृत्स्नान् देहाननुग्रहैः। तत्त्वभावांश्च नियतां स्तेन पूरिति चोच्यते

Because it fills all bodies with its favor and maintains the states of the elements, it is therefore called fullness.

बुध्यते पुरुषश्चात्र सर्वभावान् हिताहितान् । यस्माद्बोधयते चैव तेन बुद्धिर्निरुच्यते

Here, the person understands all beings, both beneficial and harmful; because it enlightens, it is therefore called intellect.

ख्यातिः प्रत्युपभोगश्च यस्मात् संवर्त्तते ततः। भोगश्च ज्ञाननिष्ठत्वात्तेन ख्यातिरिति स्मृतः

Because enjoyment and experience arise from it, and enjoyment is based on knowledge, it is therefore remembered as discernment.