Vayu Purana

ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते उषित्वा विमलौजसः। योगात्मानस्ततः स्नाता ब्राह्मणानां हितैषिणः ।। २३.

After dwelling there for a thousand years, shining with pure energy, those yogic souls, having bathed, became benefactors of the brahmins.

धर्मयोगबलोपेता ऋषीणां दीर्घसत्रिणाम्। उपदिश्य तु ते योगं प्रविष्टा रुद्रमीश्वरम् ।। २३.

Endowed with the strength of dharma and yoga, they taught yoga to the long-sacrificing rishis, and then entered Rudra, the Lord.

एवमेतेन विधिना प्रपन्ना ये महेश्वरम्। अन्येऽपि नियतात्मानो ध्यानयुक्ता जितोन्द्रियाः ।। २३.

In this way, by this method, all those who sought refuge in Maheshvara—others too, with controlled minds, absorbed in meditation, having conquered their senses—

ते सर्वे पापमुत्सृज्य विरजा ब्रह्मवर्च्चसः। प्रविशन्ति महादेवं रुद्रन्ते त्वपुनर्भवाः ।। २३.

All of them, casting off sin, pure and radiant with Brahmanic splendor, enter Mahadeva, Rudra, and do not return to rebirth.

ततस्तस्मिन् गते कल्पे पीतवर्णे स्वयम्भुवः। पुनरन्यः प्रवृत्तस्तु सितकल्पो हि नामतः ।। २३.

Then, when that golden age ended, the self-born one, of golden hue, departed; again, another cycle began, called the White Age.

एकार्णवे तदावृत्ते दिव्ये वर्षसहस्रके । स्रष्टुकामः प्रजा ब्रह्मा चिन्तयामास दुःखितः ।। २३.

When, after a thousand divine years, the world was covered by a single ocean, Brahma, desiring to create beings, pondered in distress.

तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य पुत्रकामस्य वै प्रभोः । कृष्णः समभवद्वर्णो ध्यायतः परमेष्ठिनः ।। २३.

As that lord, longing for a son, was deep in thought, his complexion became dark as he meditated.

अथापश्यन्महातेजाः प्रादुर्भूतं कुमारकम्। कृष्णवर्णं महावीर्यं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ।। २३.

Then, the radiant one saw a boy appear, dark in color, of great strength, shining with his own brilliance.

कृष्णाम्बरवरोष्णीषं कृष्णयज्ञोपवीतिनम्। कृष्णेन मौलिना युक्तं कृष्णस्रगनुलेपनम् ।। २३.

He wore dark garments and a dark turban, had a dark sacred thread, was adorned with a dark crest, and decorated with dark garlands and ointments.

स तं दृष्ट्वा महात्मानममरं घोर मन्त्रिणम्। ववन्दे देवदेवेशं विश्वेशं कृष्णपिङ्गलम् ।। २३.

Seeing that great-souled, immortal, and formidable counselor, he bowed to the Lord of gods, the Lord of the universe, who was dark and tawny.

प्राणायामपरः श्रीमान् हृदि कृत्वा महेश्वरम्। मनसा ध्यानसंयुक्तं प्रपन्नस्तु यतीश्वरम् । अघोरेति ततो ब्रह्मा ब्रह्म एवानुचिन्तयन् ।। २३.

Devoted to breath control, glorious, he placed Maheshvara in his heart; with his mind joined to meditation, he sought refuge in the Lord of ascetics, and then Brahma, contemplating only Brahman, uttered 'Aghora.'

एवं वै ध्यायतस्तस्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। मुमोच भगवान् रुद्रः अट्टहासं महास्वनम् ।। २३.

Thus, as that Brahma, the supreme lord, meditated, the blessed Rudra released a great and resounding laughter.

अथास्य पार्श्वतः कृष्णाः कृष्णस्रगनुलेपनाः । चत्वारस्तु महात्मानः सम्बभूवुः कुमारकाः ।। २३.

Then, at his side, four great-souled boys appeared, dark in color, adorned with dark garlands and ointments.

कृष्णाः कृष्णाम्बरोष्णीषाः कृष्णास्याः कृष्णवाससः। तैश्चाट्टहासः सुमहान् हूङ्कारश्चैव पुष्कलः। नमस्कारश्च सुमहान् पुनः पुनरुदीरितः ।। २३.

They were dark, with dark garments and dark turbans, dark-faced and clothed in black; among them arose great laughter and abundant roaring, and again and again, profound salutations were uttered.

ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते योगात्तत् पारमेश्वरम्। उपासित्वा महाभागाः शिष्येब्यः प्रददुस्ततः ।। २३.

Then, at the end of a thousand years, through yoga, having worshipped that Supreme Lord, those highly fortunate ones bestowed it upon their disciples.

योगेन योगसम्पन्नाः प्रविश्य मनसा शिवम्। अमलं निर्गुणं स्थानं प्रविष्टा विश्वमीश्वरम् ।। २३.

Perfected in yoga, through yoga they entered Shiva with their minds, attaining the pure, attributeless state, and entered the Lord of the universe.

एवमेतेन योगेन ये चाप्यन्ये द्विजातयः। स्मरिष्यन्ति विधानज्ञा गन्तारो रुद्रमव्ययम् ।। २३.

In this way, by this yoga, and likewise other twice-born who are knowledgeable in the rites, remembering thus, will reach the imperishable Rudra.

ततस्तस्मिन् गते कल्पे कृष्णरुपे भयानके। अन्यः प्रवर्त्तितः कल्पो विश्वरुपस्तु नामतः ।। २३.

Then, when that kalpa had passed, in the dreadful form of Krishna, another kalpa was set in motion, known as the Universal Form.

विनिवृत्ते तु संहारे पुनः सृष्टे चराचरे। ब्रह्मणः पुत्रकामस्य ध्यायतः परमेष्ठिनः। प्रादुर्भूता महानादा विश्वरूपा सरस्वती ।। २३.

When the dissolution had ceased and creation, both moving and unmoving, had arisen again, as Brahma, desiring sons, meditated, the great sound Sarasvati of universal form appeared.

विश्वमाल्याम्बरधरं विश्वयज्ञोपवीतिनम्। विश्वोष्णीषं विश्वगन्धं विश्वस्थानं महाभुजम् ।। २३.

Clad in garlands and garments of the universe, wearing the sacred thread of all sacrifices, with a universal turban, universal fragrance, the universal abode, and mighty arms.

अथ तं मनसा ध्यात्वा युक्तात्मा वै पितामहः। ववन्दे देवमीशानं सर्वेशं सर्वगं प्रभुम् ।। २३.

Then, having meditated upon him in his mind, with a disciplined self, the Grandfather (Brahma) bowed to the god Ishana, the Lord of all, the all-pervading master.

ओमीशानं नमस्तेऽस्तु महादेव नमोऽस्तु ते। एवं ध्यानगतं तत्र प्रणमन्तं पितामहम्। उवाच भगवानीशः प्रीतोऽहं ते किमिच्छसि ।। २३.

"Om, salutations to Ishana, salutations to Mahadeva, salutations to you." Thus, as the Grandfather, absorbed in meditation, was bowing there, the blessed Lord spoke: "I am pleased with you. What do you desire?"

ततस्तु प्रणतो भूत्वा वाग्भिः स्तुत्वा महेश्वरम्। उवाच भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रीतः प्रीतेन चेतसा ।। २३.

Then, having bowed, and praised Maheshvara with words, the blessed Brahma, with a delighted heart, spoke.

यदिदं विश्वरूपन्ते विश्वगं विश्वमीश्वरम्। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि कश्चायं परमेश्वरः ।। २३.

"This universal form at your end, the all-pervading, the Lord of the universe—this I wish to know. Who is this Supreme Lord?"

कैषा भगवती देवी चतुष्पादा चतुर्मुखी। चतुःश्रृङ्गी चतुर्वक्रा चतुर्द्दन्ता चतुःस्तनी ।। २३.

"Who is this blessed goddess, four-footed, four-faced, four-horned, four-jawed, four-tusked, and four-breasted?"

चतुर्हस्ता चतुर्नेत्रा विश्वरुपा कथं स्मृता। किन्नामधेया कोऽस्यात्मा किंवीर्या वापि कर्मतः ।। २३.

"Four-armed, four-eyed, called the Universal Form—what is her name, what is her nature, what is her power, and what are her deeds?"

रहस्यं सर्वमन्त्राणां पावनं पुष्ठिवर्द्धनम्। श्रृणुष्वैतत्परं गुह्यमादिसर्गे यथा तथम् ।। २३.

"The secret of all mantras, purifying and bestowing nourishment—listen to this supreme mystery, just as it was at the beginning of creation."

अयं यो वर्त्तते कल्पो विश्वरूपस्त्वसौ स्मृतः। यस्मिन् भवादयो देवाः षड्विंशन्मनवः स्मृताः ।। २३.

"This kalpa which exists is known as the Universal Form, in which Bhava and the other gods, and the twenty-six Manus, are remembered."

ब्रह्मस्थानमिदं चापि यदा प्राप्तं त्वया विभो। तदाप्रभृति कल्पश्च त्रयस्त्रिंशत्तमो ह्ययम् ।। २३.

"This is the station of Brahma, which you have attained, O mighty one; from that time, this is the thirty-third kalpa."