Vayu Purana

ध्रुवः कालो ग्रहाणां तु विभक्तानां चतुर्दिशम् । नक्षत्राणां श्रविष्ठा स्यादयनानां तथोत्तरम् ।। ५३.

Dhruva is considered the time-marker for the planets distributed in the four directions; among the nakshatras, Shravishtha is the foremost, and among the ayanas, the northern is so regarded.

वर्षाणाञ्चापि पञ्चानामाद्यः संवत्सरः स्मृतः। ऋतूनां शिशिरञ्चापि मासानां माघ एव च ।। ५३.

Among the five years, the first is known as the Samvatsara; among the seasons, Shishira, and among the months, Magha is the foremost.

पक्षाणां शुक्लपक्षस्तु तिथीनां प्रतिपत्तथा। अहोरात्रविभागानामहश्चापि प्रकीर्तितम् ।। ५३.

Among the lunar fortnights, the bright fortnight is foremost; among the lunar days, the first day (Pratipat); and among the divisions of day and night, the day is declared foremost.

मुहूर्त्तानां तथैवादिर्मुहूर्त्तो रुद्रदैवतः। अक्ष्णोश्चापि निमेषादिः कालः कालविदो मतः ।। ५३.

Among the muhurtas, the first is the Rudra-muhurta; among the divisions of the eye, the nimeṣa is considered the beginning of time by those who know time.

श्रवणान्तं श्रविष्ठादियुगं स्यात् पञ्चवार्षिकम्। भानोर्गतिविशेषेण चक्रवत् परिवर्त्तते ।। ५३.

The period beginning with Shravishtha and ending with Shravana is a five-year cycle; by the special motion of the Sun, it revolves like a wheel.

दिवाकरः स्मृतस्तस्मात्कालस्तं विद्धि चेश्वरम्। चतुर्वनिधानां भूतानां प्रवर्त्तकनिवर्त्तकः ।। ५३.

Therefore, the Sun is remembered as time; know him as the lord who initiates and concludes the activity of all fourfold beings.

इत्येष ज्योतिषामेव सन्निवेशोऽर्थनिश्चयात्। लोकसंव्यवहारार्थमीश्वरेण विनिर्मितः ।। ५३.

Thus, this arrangement of the luminaries is established for the determination of meaning, created by the Lord for the conduct of the world.

उत्पन्नः श्रवणेनासौ संक्षिप्तश्च ध्रुवे तथा। सर्वतोऽन्तेषु विस्तीर्णो वृक्षाकार इति स्थितिः ।। ५३.

It arises from Shravana, is contracted at Dhruva, and is expanded in all directions at the ends; its form is like a tree—such is its state.

बुद्धिपूर्वम्भगवता कल्पादौ संप्रकीर्तितः। साश्रयः सोऽभिमानी च सर्वस्य ज्योतिरात्मकः। विश्वरूपः प्रधानस्य परिणामोऽयमद्भुतः ।। ५३.

At the beginning of the kalpa, the Blessed One declared it with intelligence; it has a basis, is endowed with self-consciousness, is the essence of all luminaries, and is the marvelous transformation of Pradhana, the universal form.

नैव शक्यं प्रसंख्यातुं याथातथ्येन केनचित्। गतागतं मनुष्येषु ज्योतिषां मांसचक्षुषा ।। ५३.

It cannot be accurately enumerated by anyone—the coming and going of the luminaries among humans cannot be perceived by the fleshly eye.

आगमादनुमानाच्च प्रत्यक्षादुपपत्तितः। परीक्ष्य निपुणं भक्त्या श्रद्धातव्यं विपश्चिता ।। ५३.

Through scripture, inference, direct perception, and reasoning, one should examine carefully and accept with devotion—so say the wise.

चक्षुः शास्त्रं जलं लेख्यं गणितं बुद्धिसत्तमाः। पञ्चैते हेतवो ज्ञेया ज्योतिर्गणविचिन्तने ।। ५३.

Sight, scripture, water, writing, and calculation—these five causes are to be known by those of excellent intellect in the contemplation of the group of luminaries.

कस्मिन् देशे महापुण्यमेतदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। वृत्तं ब्रह्मपुरोगाणां कस्मिन् काले महाद्युते। एतदाख्याहि नः सम्यग् यथा वृत्तं तपोधन ।। ५४.

In which land did this most virtuous and excellent narrative occur, involving Brahma and the foremost ones? At what time of great splendor? Tell us fully, O ascetic, just as it happened.

यथा श्रुतं मया पूर्वं वायुना जगदायुना। कथ्यमानं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सत्रे वर्षसहस्रके ।। ५४.

As I heard before from Vayu, the life-breath of the world, being narrated to the best of twice-born ones during a thousand-year sacrifice.

नीलता येन कण्ठस्य देवदेवस्य शूलिनः। तदहं कीर्त्तयिष्यामि श्रृणुध्वं शंसितव्रताः ।। ५४.

That which caused the blue hue of the throat of the god of gods, the wielder of the trident—I shall recount it; listen, you who are devoted to vows.

उत्तरे शैलराजस्य सरांसि सरितो ह्रदाः। पुण्योद्यानेषु तीर्थेषु देवतायतनेषु च। गिरिश्रृङ्गेषु तुङ्गेषु गह्वरोपवनेषु च ।। ५४.

To the north of the king of mountains are lakes, rivers, and ponds; in sacred gardens, holy places, temples of deities, on lofty mountain peaks, and in deep forests and groves.

देवभक्ता महात्मानो मुनयः शंसितव्रताः। स्तुवन्ति च महादेवं यत्र यथाविधि ।। ५४.

There, the great-souled sages, devoted to the gods and steadfast in vows, praise the great god according to proper rites.

ऋग्यजुःसामवेदैश्च नृत्यगीतार्च्चनादिभिः। ओङ्कारेण नमस्कारैरर्च्चयन्ति सदा शिवम् ।। ५४.

With the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, with dance, song, worship, and the like, with the syllable Om and with salutations, they always worship Shiva.

प्रवृत्ते ज्योतिषां चक्रे मध्यव्याप्ते दिवाकरे। देवता नियतात्मानः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ति तां कथाम् । अथ नियमप्रवृत्ताश्च प्राणशेषव्यवस्थिताः ।। ५४.

When the cycle of the luminaries began and the sun was in the middle, all the deities, self-controlled, remained attentive to that account, and those engaged in discipline, sustained by only breath, were present.

नमस्ते नीलकण्ठाय इत्युवाच सदागतिः। तच्छुत्वा भावितात्मानो मुनयः शंशितव्रताः। वालखिल्येति विख्याताः पतङ्गसहचारिणः ।। ५४.

One called Sadagati said, 'Salutations to Nilakantha.' Hearing this, the sages of concentrated mind and firm vows, renowned as the Valakhilyas, companions of the sun, responded.

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम्। तस्मात् पृच्छन्ति वै वायुं वायुपर्णाम्बुभोजनाः ।। ५४.

Eighty-eight thousand sages, with their seed retained upwards, who subsist on air, leaves, and water, then questioned Vayu.

नीलकण्ठेति यत् प्रोक्तं त्वया पवनसत्तम। एतद्दुह्यं पवित्राणां पुण्यं पुण्यकृतां वराः ।। ५४.

O best of winds, what you have spoken about Nilakantha is secret among the pure, meritorious among the virtuous.

तद्वयं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रभञ्जन। नीलता येन कण्ठस्य कारणेनाम्बिकापतेः ।। ५४.

Therefore, O Prabhanjana, by your grace, we wish to hear the reason for the blue throat of Ambika's Lord.

श्रोतुमिच्छा महे सम्यक् तव वक्राद्विशेषतः। यावद्वाचः प्रवर्त्तन्ते सार्थास्ताश्च त्वयेरिताः ।। ५४.

We wish to hear this in detail from your speech, O great one, for as long as your words continue, they are meaningful.

वर्णस्थानगते वायौ वाग्विधिः संप्रवर्तते। ज्ञानं पूर्वमथोत्साह स्त्वत्तो वायो प्रवर्तते ।। ५४.१३ . त्वयि निष्पन्दमाने तु शेषा वर्णप्रवृत्तयः। यत्र वाचो निवर्तन्ते देहबन्धाश्च दुर्लभाः ।। ५४.

When Vayu is present in the proper place of sound, speech arises; first comes knowledge, then enthusiasm, both proceeding from you, O Vayu. When you are inactive, the other movements of sound cease; there, speech turns back, and bodily bonds become difficult to maintain.

तत्रापि तेऽस्ति सद्भावः सर्वगस्त्वं सदानिल। नान्यः सर्वगतो देवस्त्वदृतेश़स्ति समीरण ।। ५४.

Even there, your presence remains, O ever-pervading Wind; there is no other all-pervading deity besides you, O Samiraṇa.

एष वै जीवलोकस्ते प्रत्यक्षः सर्वतोऽनिल। वेत्थ वाचस्पतिं देवं मनोनायकमीस्वरम् ।। ५४.

You are indeed the vital air in all living beings, manifest everywhere; you know Vachaspati, the Lord of Speech, the ruler of the mind.

ब्रूहि तत्कण्ठदेशस्य किं कृता रूपविक्रिया। श्रुत्वा वाक्यन्ततस्तेषामृषीणां भावितात्मानाम्। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा वायुर्लोक नमस्कृतः ।। ५४.

Tell us, what transformation occurred at the region of the throat? Hearing the end of the words of those sages of concentrated mind, the illustrious Vayu, honored by the world, replied.

पुरा कृतयुगे विप्रो वेदनिर्णयतत्परः। वसिष्ठो नाम धर्मात्मा मानसो वै प्रजापतेः ।। ५४.

In ancient times, in the Krita Yuga, there was a Brahmin named Vasistha, devoted to the determination of the Vedas, righteous, and mind-born son of the Lord of Creatures.