Vayu Purana

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.

प्रपच्छ कार्तिकेयं वै मयूरवरवाहनम्। महिषासुरनारीणां नयनाञ्जनतस्करम् ।। ५४.

He questioned Kartikeya, the one with the peacock as his excellent mount, who steals the collyrium from the eyes of the women of Mahishasura.

महासेनं महात्मानं मेघस्तनितनिःस्वनम्। उमामनःप्रहर्षेण बालकं छझरूपिणम् ।। ५४.

He questioned Mahasena, the great-souled one, whose voice is like the rumble of clouds, who, as a child, delighted Uma's heart, and who has a form with six faces.

क्रौञ्चजीवितहर्त्तारं पार्वतीहृदि नन्दनम्। वसिष्ठः पृच्छते भक्त्या कार्तिकेयं महाबलम् ।। ५४.

The slayer of Krauncha, the delight of Parvati's heart—Vasistha, with devotion, questioned Kartikeya, the mighty one.

नमस्ते हरनन्दाय उमागर्भ नमो ऽस्तु ते। नमस्ते अग्निगर्भाय गङ्गागर्भ नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५४.

Salutations to the joy of Hara, to the womb of Uma, I bow to you; salutations to the one born of Agni, to the one born of Ganga, I bow to you.

नमस्ते शरगर्भाय नमस्ते कृत्तिकासुत। नमो द्वादशनेत्राय षण्मुखाय नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५४.

Salutations to the one born of the arrow, salutations to the son of the Krittikas; salutations to the twelve-eyed one, to the six-faced one, I bow to you.

नमस्ते शक्तिहस्ताय दिव्यघण्टापताकिने। एवं स्तुत्वा महासेनं पप्रच्छ शिखिवाहनम् ।। ५४.

Salutations to the one holding the spear, to the one with the divine bell and banner; thus praising Mahasena, he questioned the one who rides the peacock.

यदेतद्दृश्यते वर्णं शुभं शुभ्राञ्जनप्रभम्। तत्किमर्थं समुत्पन्नं कण्ठे कुन्देन्दुसंप्रभे ।। ५४.

That radiant color which is seen, shining like pure white collyrium— for what reason has it arisen on the neck, which is resplendent like jasmine and the moon?

एतदाप्ताय भक्ताय दान्ताय ब्रूहि पृच्छते। कथां मङ्गलसंयुक्तां पवित्रां पापनाशिनीम् । मत्प्रियार्थं महाभाग वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।। ५४.

To this worthy, devoted, and self-controlled questioner, speak the auspicious, sacred, and sin-destroying story, for my sake, O greatly fortunate one, you ought to tell it in full.

श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततस्तस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः सुरारिबलसूदनः ।। ५४.

Hearing these words of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, the mighty and radiant destroyer of the host of gods' enemies replied.

श्रृणुष्व वदतां श्रेष्ठ कथ्यमानं वचो मम। उमोत्सङ्गनिविष्टेन मया पूर्वं यथाश्रुतम् ।। ५४.

Listen, best of speakers, to my words as I recount what I formerly heard while seated on Umā’s lap.