Vayu Purana

श्वेतकल्पो यदा ह्यासीदहं श्वेतस्ततोऽभवम्। श्वेतोष्णीषः श्वेतमाल्यः श्वेताम्बरधरः शिवः ।। २३.

When the white epoch was, I became white; white turbaned, adorned with white garlands, clad in white garments, O Śiva.

श्वेतास्थिमांसरोमा च श्वेतत्वक् श्वेतलोहितः। तेन नाम्ना च विख्यातः श्वेतकल्पस्तदा ह्यसौ ।। २३.

White bones, flesh, and hair, white skin, white blood; thus, by that name, the white epoch was renowned.

मत्प्रसादाच्च देवेशः श्वेताङ्गः श्वेतलोहितः। श्वेतवर्णा तदा ह्यासीद्गायत्री ब्रह्मसंज्ञिता ।। २३.

By my grace, O Lord of gods, the body was white, the blood was white; then Gāyatrī, known as Brahman, was of white color.

यस्मादहं च देवेश त्वया गुह्ये पदे स्थितः। विज्ञातः स्वेन तपसा सद्यो जातः सनातनः। सद्यो जातेति ब्रह्मैतद् गुह्यं चैव प्रकीर्तितम् ।। २३.

Because, O Lord of gods, I was established by you in the secret place, known through your own austerity, born instantly, eternal; thus, this Brahman is called 'born instantly,' and is also spoken of as secret.

तस्माद् गुह्यत्वमापन्नं ये वेत्स्यन्ति द्विजातयः। तत्समीपङ्गमिष्यन्ति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् ।। २३.

Therefore, it has attained secrecy; those twice-born who will know it will approach its proximity, and the return is difficult.

यदाऽहं च पुनस्त्वासं लोहितो नाम नामतः। ममकृतेन वर्णेन कल्पो वै लोहितः स्मृतः ।। २३.

When I was again, by name, red; by my own color, the epoch was called red.

तदा लोहितमासास्थिलोहितक्षीरसन्निभा । लोहिताक्षस्तनवती गायत्री गौः प्रकीर्तिता ।। २३.

Then, red bones, resembling red milk; red-eyed, with breasts, Gāyatrī, Gauḥ, was proclaimed.

ततोऽस्य लोहितत्वेन वर्णस्य च विपर्य्यये। वामत्वाच्चैव योगस्य वामदेवत्वमागतः ।। २३.

Then, due to the redness and the reversal of color, and also due to the left-sidedness of yoga, the state of Vāmadeva was attained.

तथापि हि महासत्त्व त्वयाऽहं नियतात्मना। विज्ञातः श्वेत वर्णेन तस्माद्वर्णोत्तमः स्मृतः । ततोऽहं वामदेवेति ख्यातिं यातो महीतले ।। २३.

Yet, O one of great strength, by you, with disciplined self, I was known by the white color; therefore, the highest color is remembered. Thus, I became known as Vāmadeva on earth.

ये चापि वामदेवत्वं ज्ञास्यन्तीह द्विजातयः। विज्ञाय चेमां रुद्राणीं गायत्रीं मातरं विभो ।। २३.

And those twice-born who here come to know the state of Vāmadeva, and who recognize this Rudrāṇī Gāyatrī as the Mother, O Lord,

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता विरजा ब्रह्मवर्चसः। रुद्रलोकं गमिष्यन्ति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् ।। २३.

Freed from all sins, pure, radiant with the brilliance of Brahman, they will attain the world of Rudra, where return is rare.

यदा तु पुनरेवायं कृष्णवर्णो भयानकः। मत्कृतेन च वर्णेन मत्कल्पः कृष्ण उच्यते ।। २३.

But when again this form becomes dark and terrifying, and by my own coloring is called 'dark' and likened to me,

तत्राऽहं कालसंकाशः कालो लोकप्रकाशनः । विज्ञातोऽहं त्वया ब्रहमन् घोरो घोरपराक्रमः ।। २३.

There, I am like Time, Time who illuminates the worlds; I have been recognized by you, O Brahman, as fierce and of dreadful might.

तस्माद्घोरत्वमापन्नं ये मां वेत्स्यन्ति भूतले। तेषामघोरः शान्तश्च भविष्याम्यहमव्ययः ।। २३.

Therefore, when I have assumed a terrible aspect, those who know me upon the earth, for them I will become non-terrible, peaceful, and imperishable.

तस्माद्विश्वत्वमान्नं ये मां पश्यन्ति भूतले । तेषां शिवश्च सौम्यश्च भविष्यामि सदैव तु ।। २३.

Therefore, when I have assumed a universal aspect, those who see me upon the earth, for them I will always be auspicious and gentle.

तस्माच्च विश्वरूपो वै कल्पोऽयं समुदाहृतः। विश्वरूपा तथा चेयं सावित्री समुदाहृता ।। २३.

Thus, this universal form is declared as my manifestation; and likewise, this Sāvitrī is proclaimed as universal in form.

सर्वरूपास्तथा चेमे संवृत्ता मम पुत्रकाः। चत्वारस्ते समाख्याताः पादा वै लोकसंमताः ।। २३.

All these forms have arisen, O my sons; four have been named, the feet acknowledged by the worlds.

तस्माच्च सर्व वर्णत्वं प्रजात्वं मे भविष्यति। सर्वभक्ष्या च मेध्या च वर्णतश्च भविष्यति ।। २३.

Therefore, all colors and all births will belong to me; all foods, pure and impure, will be mine according to color.

मोक्षो धर्मस्तथार्थश्च कामश्चेति चतुष्टयम्। तस्माद्वेत्ता च वेद्यं च चतुर्द्धा वै भविष्यति ।। २३.

Liberation, righteousness, wealth, and desire—these four; thus, the knower and the known will be fourfold.

भूतग्रामाश्च चत्वारः आश्रमाश्चतुरस्तथा। धर्मस्य पादाश्चत्वार श्चत्वारो मम पुत्रकाः ।। २३.

The four groups of beings, and likewise the four stages of life; the four feet of righteousness, and four are my sons.

तस्माच्चतुर्युगावस्थं जगद्वै सचराचरम्। चतुर्द्धाऽवस्थितं चैव चतुष्पादं भविष्यति ।। २३.

Therefore, the world, with its moving and unmoving beings, exists in fourfold states, and will be four-footed.

भूर्लोकोऽथ भुवर्लोकः स्वर्लोकोऽथ महस्तथा। जनस्तपश्च शांतश्च रुद्रलोकस्ततः परम् ।। २३.

The earth realm, then the atmosphere, the heaven, and the great realm; the world of creation, of austerity, of peace, and beyond that, the world of Rudra.

स्वर्लोको हि तृतीयस्तु चतुर्थस्तु महः स्मृतः। तत्र लोकः परं स्थानं परन्तद्योगिनां स्मृतम् ।। २३.

The heaven is indeed the third, and the fourth is called the great realm; there, the world is the supreme place, remembered as the highest by yogis.

निर्ममा निरहंकाराः कामक्रोधविवर्ज्जिताः। द्रक्ष्यन्ते तद्विदो युक्ता ध्यानतत्परयुञ्जकाः ।। २३.

Without possessiveness, without ego, free from desire and anger, those who know that place, engaged in yoga, devoted to meditation, will perceive it.

यस्माच्चतुष्पदा ह्येषा त्वया दृष्टा सरस्वती। तस्माच्च पशवः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति चतुष्पदाः। तस्माच्चैषां भविष्यन्ति चत्वारो वै पयोधराः ।। २३.

Since you have seen Sarasvatī as four-footed, therefore all animals will be four-footed; and thus, they will have four udders.

सोमश्च मन्त्रसंयुक्तो यस्मान्मम मुखाच्च्युतः। जीवः प्राणभृतां ब्रह्मन् सर्वः पीत्वा स्तनैर्घृतम् ।। २३.

Since Soma, joined with mantra, has flowed from my mouth, O Brahman, the life of all living beings drinks ghee from their udders.

तस्मात् सोममयं चैतदमृतं चैव संज्ञितम्। चतुष्पादा भविष्यन्ति श्वेतत्वं चास्य तेन तत् ।। २३.

Therefore, this is called Soma-made nectar; they will be four-footed, and its whiteness is due to that.

यस्माच्चैवं क्रियाभूत्वा द्विपादा वै महेश्वरी। दृष्टा पुनस्त्वया चैषा सावित्री लोकभाविनी। तस्माद्वै द्विपदाः सर्वे द्विस्तनाश्च नराः स्मृताः ।। २३.

Because, having become active, the great goddess appeared as two-footed; and you have seen this Savitri, who brings forth worlds. Therefore, all two-footed beings, all men, are remembered as having two breasts.

यस्माच्चैवमजा भूत्वा सर्ववर्णा महेश्वरी। दृष्टा त्वया महासत्त्वा सर्वभूतधरा परा। तस्मात्तु विश्वरूपत्वमजानां वै भविष्यति ।। २३.

Because, having become unborn, the great goddess appeared in all castes; and you have seen her, of great strength, the supreme bearer of all beings. Therefore, the unborn ones will have the form of the universe.