Vayu Purana

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.

पझसूत्रानुमार्गेण ह्यनुगम्य पितामहः। उज्जहारात्मनो रूपं पुष्कराच्चतुराननः। विरराजारविन्दस्थः पझगर्भसमद्युतिः ।। २४.

Following the path of the lotus-stalk, the Four-faced Creator, having traced it, lifted his own form from the lotus; he shone, seated upon the lotus, radiant as the lotus's womb.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ताभ्यामेकैकस्य तु कार्त्स्न्यतः। प्रवर्त्तमाने संहर्षे मध्ये तस्यार्णवस्य तु ।। २४.

Meanwhile, as both of them were each entirely engaged in joy, in the midst of that ocean—

ततो ह्यपरिमेयात्मा भूतानां प्रभुरीश्वरः। शूलपाणिर्महादेवो हैमचीराम्बरच्छदः। आगच्छद् यत्र सोऽनन्तो नागभोगपतिर्हरिः ।। २४.

Then, the immeasurable Lord, the Master of beings, the wielder of the trident, Mahadeva, clad in golden garments, arrived there, where Ananta, the lord of serpent-hoods, and Hari were.

शीघ्रं विक्रमतस्तस्य पद्भ्यामत्यन्तपीडिताः। उद्धूतास्तूर्णमाकाशे पृथुलास्तोयबिन्दवः। अत्युष्णाश्चातिशीताश्च वायुस्तत्र ववौ भृशम् ।। २४.

As he strode swiftly, his feet caused great distress; thick drops of water were quickly flung into the sky; both extremely hot and exceedingly cold winds blew fiercely there.

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं ब्रह्मा विष्णुमभाषत। अब्बिन्दवो हि स्थूलोष्णाः कम्पते चाम्बुजं भृशम्। एतं मे संशयं ब्रूहि किञ्चान्यत् त्वञ्चिकीर्षसि ।। २४.

Seeing this great wonder, Brahma spoke to Vishnu: 'The drops are large and hot, and the lotus trembles greatly; tell me this doubt of mine, and what else you intend to do.'

एतदेवंविधं वाक्यं पितामहमुखोद्भवम्। श्रुत्वाप्रतिमकर्माह भगवानसुरान्तकृत् ।। २४.

Hearing such words, arising from the mouth of the Grandfather, the Lord, destroyer of the Asuras, of incomparable deeds, spoke.

किन्नु खल्वत्र मे नाभ्यां भूतमन्यत्कृतालयम् । वदन्ति प्रियमत्यर्थं विप्रियेपि च ते मया ।। २४.

'Is there perhaps some other being, apart from me, who has made a dwelling in my navel? I speak to you what is most pleasing, and even what is displeasing, for your sake.'

इत्येवं मनसा ध्यात्वा प्रत्युवाचेदमुत्तरम्। किन्न्वत्र भगवांस्तस्मिन् पुष्करे जातसम्भ्रमः ।। २४.

Thus reflecting in his mind, he gave this reply: 'O Lord, what is this confusion that has arisen in the lotus?'

किं मया यत् कृतं देव यन्मां प्रियमनुत्तमम्। भाषसे पुरुषश्रेष्ठ किमर्थं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ।। २४.

'O best of men, what have I done, O God, that you, desiring my utmost good, speak to me? Tell me truly, for what reason?'

एवं ब्रुवाणं देवेशं लोकया त्रान्तु तत्त्वगाम्। प्रत्युवाचाम्बुजाभास्को ब्रह्म वेदनिधिः प्रभुः ।। २४.

To the Lord, who thus spoke, seeking the truth, the lotus-hued, radiant Brahma, the master, the repository of the Vedas, replied.