Vayu Purana

सशरीराः श्रयन्ते स्म जनलोकं सहानुगाः। एवं देवेष्वतीतेषु महर्ल्लोकाज्जनं तपः ।। २४.

With their bodies, they would ascend to the world of Jana, along with their followers; thus, when the gods have passed away, from Maharloka they go to Jana and then to Tapas.

मन्वन्तरेष्वतीतेषु देवाः सर्वे महौजसः। ततस्तेषु गतेषूर्द्ध्वं सायुज्यं कल्पवासिनाम् ।। २४.

In the past Manvantaras, all the gods of great might, when those periods have passed, attain union with the residents of the Kalpa.

समेत्य देवैस्ते देवाः प्राप्ते सङ्कालने तदा। महर्लोकं परित्यज्य गणास्ते वै चतुर्द्दश ।। २४.

Then, when dissolution arrives, those fourteen groups of gods, having assembled, abandon Maharloka.

भूतदिष्ववशिष्टेषु स्थावरान्तेषु वै तदा । शून्येषु तेषु लोकेषु महान्तेषु भुवादिषु। देवेष्वथ गतेषूर्द्ध्वं कल्पवासिषु वै जनम् ।। २४.

At that time, when only the elements remain and all immobile beings have perished, in those vast, empty worlds beginning with the earth, when the gods have ascended, the residents of the Kalpa go to Jana.

तत्संहत्या ततो ब्रह्मा देवर्षिगणदानवान्। संस्थापयति वै सर्व्वान् दाहवृष्‌ट्या युगक्षये ।। २४.

From that gathering, Brahmā establishes all the hosts of gods, sages, and Dānavas, after the destruction by fire and rain at the end of the yuga.

योऽतीतः सप्तमः कल्पो मया वः परिकीर्तितः। समुद्रैः सप्तभिर्गाढमेकीभूतैर्महार्णवैः । आसीदेकार्णवं घोरमविभागं तमोमयम् ।। २४.८ माययैकार्णवे तस्मिन् शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः। जीमूताभोऽम्बुजाक्षश्च किरीटी श्रीपतिर्हरिः ।। २४.

The seventh Kalpa, which has passed, has been described to you by me; it was filled by seven oceans, merged into one great sea, which became a single, terrible, undivided mass of darkness.

नारायणमुखोद्गीर्णः सोऽष्टमः पुरुषोत्तमः। अष्टबाहुर्महोरस्को लोकानां योनिरुच्यते। किमप्यचिन्त्यं युक्तात्मा योगमास्थाय योगवित् ।। २४.

In that single ocean, by his own power, the Supreme Person—Nārāyaṇa—emerged from the mouth, eight-armed, broad-chested, the source of the worlds, possessed of an inconceivable, disciplined mind, established in yoga and knowing yoga.

फणासहस्रकलितं तमप्रतिमवर्चसम्। महाभोगपतेर्भोगमन्वास्तीर्य महोच्छ्रयम्। तस्मिन्महति पर्यङ्के शेते वै कनकप्रभे ।। २४.

He, of incomparable radiance, lay upon the great, golden couch of the Lord of Serpents, adorned with a thousand hoods, spreading out the mighty coils, shining brilliantly.

एवं तत्र शयानेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। आत्मारामेण क्रीडार्थं सृष्टं नाभ्यां तु पङ्कजम् ।। २४.

Thus, as Viṣṇu, the mighty Lord, lay there, delighting in his own Self, for the sake of play he created a lotus from his navel.

शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं तरुणादित्यवर्च्चसम्। बज्रदण्डं महोत्सेधं लीलया प्रभविष्णुना ।। २४.

That lotus, a hundred yojanas wide, radiant like the rising sun, with a stem like a thunderbolt and of great height, was created effortlessly by the mighty Viṣṇu.

तस्यैवं क्रीडमानस्य समीपं देवमीढुषः। हेमब्रह्माण्डजो ब्रह्मा रुक्मवर्णोह्यतीन्द्रियः। चतुर्मुखो विशालाक्षः समागम्य यदृच्छया ।। २४.

As he was thus sporting, near that god worthy of praise, Brahmā was born from the golden egg, golden-hued, beyond the senses, four-faced, with wide eyes, and appeared there by his own will.

श्रिया युक्तेन नव्येन सुप्रभेण सुगन्धिना। तं क्रीडमानं पझेन दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा तु भेजिवान् ।। २४.

Seeing him playing, adorned with new, splendid, fragrant beauty, Brahma approached.

स विस्मयमथागम्य शस्य संपूर्णया गिरा। प्रोवाच को भवान् शेते आक्षितो म्ध्यमम्भसाम् ।। २४.

Filled with wonder, he came and spoke with a full voice: 'Who are you, lying here, unguarded in the midst of the waters?'

अथ तस्याच्युतः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणस्तु शुभं वचः। उदतिष्ठत पर्य्यङ्काद्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः ।। २४.

Hearing Brahma's auspicious words, Achyuta rose from his couch, his eyes wide with astonishment.

प्रत्युवाचोत्तरं चैव क्रियते यच्च किञ्चन। द्यौरन्तरिक्षं भूतञ्च परं पदमहं प्रभुः ।। २४.

He replied in turn: 'Whatever is done, whether in heaven, the atmosphere, or among beings, I am the master of the supreme abode.'

तमेवमुक्त्वा भगवान् विष्णुः पुनरथाव्रवीत् । कस्त्वं खलु समायातः समीपं भगवान् कुतः । कुतस्व भूयो गन्तव्यं कुत्र वा ते प्रतिश्रयः ।। २४.

Having spoken thus, the blessed Vishnu again said: 'Who are you, truly, who has come near, O venerable one? From where have you come, and where will you go? Where is your refuge?'

को भवान् विश्वमूर्तिस्त्वं कर्त्तव्यं किञ्च ते मया। एवं ब्रुवाण वैकुण्ठं प्रत्युवाच पितामहः ।। २४.

'Who are you, whose form is the universe? What must I do for you?' Thus speaking, Vaikuntha was addressed by Pitamaha.

यथा भवांस्तथा चाहमादिकर्त्त प्रजापतिः। नारायणसमाख्यातः सर्व्वं वै मयि तिष्ठति ।। २४.

'As you are, so am I—the primordial creator, lord of creatures, known as Narayana. All indeed abides in me.'

सविस्मयं परं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा। सोऽनुज्ञातो भगवता वैकुण्ठो विश्वसम्भवः ।। २४.

Hearing this supreme statement from Brahma, the creator of worlds, Vaikuntha, origin of the universe, was permitted by the blessed one.

कौतूहलान्महायोगी प्रविष्टो ब्रह्मणो मुखम्। इमानष्टादशद्वीपान् ससमुद्रान् सपर्व्वतान्। प्रविश्य स महातेजाश्चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकुलान्। ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्य्यन्तान् सप्तलोकान् सनातनान् ।। २४.

Out of curiosity, the great yogi entered Brahma's mouth, and, passing through, saw the eighteen islands with their oceans and mountains, filled with the four castes, from Brahma down to the stalk, the seven eternal worlds.

ब्रह्मणस्तूदरे दृष्ट्वा सर्व्वान् विष्णुर्महायशाः। अहोऽस्य तपसो वीर्य्यं पुनः पुनरभाषत ।। २४.

Within Brahma's belly, the illustrious Vishnu saw all things and repeatedly exclaimed, 'Ah, the power of his austerity!'

पर्य्यटन् विविधान् लोकान् विष्णुर्नानाविधाश्रमान्। ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते नान्तं हि ददृशे तदा ।। २४.

Wandering through various worlds and diverse hermitages, Vishnu, after a thousand years, did not perceive an end.

तदाऽस्य वक्रान्निष्क्रम्य पन्नगेन्द्रारिकेतनः। अजातशत्रुर्भगवान् पितामहमथाब्रवीत् ।। २४.

Then, emerging from his curved mouth, the blessed, enemyless Lord, abode of the serpent king, spoke to Pitamaha.

भगवन् आदि मध्यञ्च अन्तं कालदिशोर्न च। नाहमन्तं प्रपश्यामि ह्युदरस्य तवानघ ।। २४.

'O venerable one, neither the beginning, middle, nor end of the directions of time do I see—nor the end of your belly, O sinless one.'

एवमुक्त्वाब्रवीद्भूयः पितामहमिदं हरिः। भवानप्येवमेवाद्य ह्युदरं मम शाश्वतम्। प्रविश्य लोकान् पश्यैताननौपम्यान् द्विजोत्तम ।। २४.

Having spoken thus, Hari again addressed Pitamaha: 'You too, in the same way, enter my eternal belly, O best of twice-born, and see these incomparable worlds.'

मनःप्रह्लादनीं वाणीं श्रुत्वा तस्याभिनन्द्य च। श्रीपतेरुदरं भूयः प्रविवेश पितामहः ।। २४.

Hearing that pleasing speech and honoring it, Pitamaha again entered the belly of the Lord of Shri.

तानेव लोकान् गर्भस्थः पश्यन् सोऽचिन्त्यविक्रमः। पर्यटित्वादिदेवस्य ददर्शान्तं न वै हरेः ।। २४.

Dwelling in the womb, seeing those same worlds, the one of inconceivable prowess wandered, but did not see the end of Hari.

ज्ञात्वागमन्तस्य पितामहस्य द्वाराणि सर्वाणि पिधाय विष्णुः। विभुर्मनः कर्त्तुमियेष चाशु सुखं प्रसुप्तोऽस्मि महाजलौघे ।। २४.

Knowing Pitamaha's inability to exit, Vishnu closed all the doors, and, desiring to compose his mind, quickly slept comfortably in the great flood of waters.

ततो द्वाराणि सर्वाणि पिहितान्युपलक्ष्यते। सूक्ष्मं कृत्वात्मनो रूपं नाभ्यां द्वारमविन्दत ।। २४.

Then, observing that all the doors were closed, he made his form subtle and found a door at the navel.