Vayu Purana

चतुर्वक्रं महा योगं पुरुषं काञ्चनप्रभम्। कृष्णाजिनधरं देवं कमण्डलुविभूषितम्। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण प्राप्तोऽसौ पुरुषोत्तमः ।। ५५.

A four-faced, great yogi, a person of golden splendor, wearing a black antelope skin, adorned with a water-pot—he, the best of persons, arrived in the blink of an eye.

ततो मामब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा सर्वलोक नमस्कृतः। कस्त्वं कुतो वा किञ्चेह तिष्ठसे वद मे विभो ।। ५५.

Then Brahma, honored by all worlds, spoke to me: 'Who are you? From where have you come? Why do you remain here? Tell me, O Lord.'

अहं कर्त्ताऽस्मि लोकानां स्वयम्बूर्विश्वतोमुखः। एवमुक्तस्तदा देन ब्रह्मणाहमुवाच तम् ।। ५५.

'I am the creator of the worlds, the self-born, facing in all directions.' Thus addressed, I then spoke to Brahma.

अहं कर्त्ता च लोकानां संहर्त्ता च पुनः पुनः। एवं सम्भाषमाणाभ्यां परस्परजयैषिणाम्। उत्तरां दिशमास्थाय ज्वाला दृष्टाप्यधिष्ठिता ।। ५५.

I am the creator of the worlds and their destroyer again and again. Thus, as the two, desiring victory over each other, spoke, a flame appeared in the northern direction, standing before our eyes.

ज्वालान्ततस्तामालोक्य विस्मित्तौ च तदानयोः । तेजसा चैव तेनाथ सर्वं ज्योतिःकृतं जलम् ।। ५५.

Seeing that flame from within, both of them were astonished; and by its radiance, all the water became filled with light.

वर्द्धमाने तदा वह्नावत्यन्तपरमाद्भुते। अतिदुद्राव तां ज्वालां ब्रह्मा चाहञ्च सत्वरः ।। ५५.

As that fire grew, exceedingly wondrous and extraordinary, both Brahma and I quickly rushed toward that flame.

दिवं भूमिञ्च विष्टभ्य तिष्ठन्तं ज्वालमण्डलम्। तस्य ज्वालस्य मध्ये तु पश्यावो विपुलप्रभम् ।। ५५.

Spanning both heaven and earth stood a circle of flame; and in the midst of that flame, we beheld a great brilliance.

प्रादेशमात्रमव्यक्तं लिङ्गं परमदीपितम्। न च तत्काञ्चनं मध्ये न शैलं न च राजतम् ।। ५५.

There, in the center, was a sign—indistinct, about a span in size, supremely radiant; yet it was neither gold, nor mountain, nor silver.

अनिर्द्देश्यमचिन्त्यञ्च लक्ष्यालक्ष्यं पुनः पुनः। महौजसं महाघोरं वर्द्धमानं भृशं तदा। ज्वालामालायतं न्यस्तं सर्वभूतभयङ्करम् ।। ५५.

Indescribable, inconceivable, sometimes visible, sometimes not, immensely powerful, exceedingly terrifying, ever-growing, it was encircled by a garland of flames, terrifying to all beings.

अस्य लिङ्गस्य योऽन्तं वै गच्छते मन्त्रकारणम्। घोर रूपिणमत्यर्थं भिन्दन्तमिव रोदसी ।। ५५.

Whoever seeks the end of this sign, by means of mantra and ritual, finds it of a most dreadful form, as if splitting apart heaven and earth.

ततो मामब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा अधो गच्छ त्वतन्द्रितः। अन्तमस्य विजानीमो लिङ्गस्य तु महात्मनः ।। ५५.

Then Brahma said to me, 'Go downward without delay; let us discover the end of this great sign.'

अहमूर्द्ध्वं गमिष्यामि यावदन्तोऽस्य दृश्यते। तदा तौ समयं कृत्वा गतावूर्द्ध्वमधश्च ह ।। ५५.

'I will go upward until the end of it is seen.' Thus, having made this agreement, the two of us went, one upward and one downward.

ततो वर्षसहस्रन्तु अहं पुनरधो गतः। न च पश्यामि तस्यान्तं भीतश्चाहं न संशयः ।। ५५.

Then, for a thousand years, I went downward; but I did not see its end, and I was afraid—there is no doubt.

तथा ब्रह्मा च श्रान्तश्च न चान्तन्तस्य पश्यति। समागतो मया सार्द्धं तत्रैव च महाम्भसि ।। ५५.

Likewise, Brahma, exhausted, did not see its end; he returned and joined me there in the great waters.

ततो विस्मयमापन्नावुभौ तस्य महात्मनः ५५.

Then both of us were filled with wonder at the greatness of that being.

ततो ध्यानगतन्तत्र ईश्वरं सर्वतोमुखम्। प्रभवं निधऩञ्चैव लोकानां प्रभुमव्ययम् ।। ५५.

There, absorbed in meditation, we beheld the Lord, facing all directions, the source and end of the worlds, the imperishable master.

ब्रह्माञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा तस्मै शर्वाय शूलिने। महाभैरवनादाय भीमरूपाय दंष्ट्रिणे। अव्यक्ताय महान्ताय नमस्कारं प्रकुर्महे ।। ५५.

Brahma, with hands joined in reverence, to Sharva, the wielder of the trident, of terrible roar, of fearsome form and fangs, the unmanifest, the great one, we offered our salutations.

नमोऽस्तु ते लोकसुरेश देव नमोऽस्तु ते भूतपते महांश्च। नमोऽस्तु ते शाश्वत सिद्धयोने नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वजगत्प्रतिष्ठ ।। ५५.

Salutations to you, Lord of gods and asuras, O great one, salutations to you, Lord of beings; salutations to you, eternal source of perfection; salutations to you, foundation of all the worlds.

परमेष्ठी परं ब्रह्म अक्षरं परमं पदम्। श्रेष्ठस्त्वं वामदेवश्च रुद्रः स्कन्दः शिवः प्रभुः ।। ५५.

You are the supreme creator, the highest Brahman, the imperishable, the supreme abode; you are the best, Vamadeva, Rudra, Skanda, Shiva, the Lord.

त्वं यज्ञस्त्वं वषट्‌कारस्त्वमोङ्कारः परं पदम्। स्वाहाकारो नमस्कारः संस्कारः सर्वकर्मणाम् ।। ५५.

You are the sacrifice, you are the vaṣaṭ-call, you are the sacred syllable Om, the supreme goal; you are the svāhā-offering, the act of salutation, the consecration of all rites.

स्वधाकारश्च जाप्यश्च व्रतानि नियमास्तथा। वेदा लोकाश्च देवाश्च भगवानेव सर्वशः ।। ५५.

You are the svadhā-offering, the recitation, the vows and observances; the Vedas, the worlds, and the gods—O Lord, you are all of these entirely.

आकाशस्य च शब्दस्त्वं भूतानां प्रभवाव्ययम्। भूमेर्गन्धो रसश्वापां तेजोरूपं महेश्वर ।। ५५.

You are the sound of space, the origin and imperishable essence of beings; you are the scent of earth, the taste of waters, the form of fire, O great Lord.

वायोः रुपर्शश्च देवश्च वपुश्चन्द्रमसस्तथा । बुधो ज्ञानञ्च देवेश प्रकृतौ बीजमेव च ।। ५५.

You are the touch and form of air, the beauty of the moon, the wisdom of Mercury, O Lord of gods, and the seed within nature itself.

त्वं कर्त्ता सर्वभूतानां कालो मृत्युर्यमोऽन्तकः। त्वं धारयसि लोकास्त्रींस्त्वमेव सृजसि प्रभो ।। ५५.

You are the creator of all beings, time, death, Yama the ender; you support the three worlds and you alone, O Lord, bring them forth.

पूर्वेण वदनेन त्वमिन्द्रत्वञ्च प्रकाशसे। दक्षिणेन च वक्रेण लोकान् संक्षीयसे प्रभो ।। ५५.

With your eastern face you reveal the role of Indra; with your southern, curved face, O Lord, you diminish the worlds.

पश्चिमेन तु वक्रेण वरुणत्वं करोषि वै। उत्तरेण तु वक्रेण सौम्यत्वञ्च व्यवस्थितम् ।। ५५.

With your western, curved face you assume the role of Varuna; with your northern, curved face, serenity is established.

राजसे बहुधा देव लोकानां प्रभवाव्ययः। आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा मरुतश्चाश्विनीसुतौ ।। ५५.

O god, in many ways you are the origin and imperishable essence of the worlds; the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, and the twin Ashvins.

साध्या विद्याधरा नागाश्वारणाश्च तपोधनाः. वालखिल्या महात्मानस्तपः सिद्धाश्च सुव्रताः ।। ५५.

The Sadhyas, Vidyadharas, Nagas, guardians of horses, ascetics, Valakhilyas of great soul, accomplished ascetics, and those of noble vows.

त्वत्तः प्रसूता देवेश ये चान्ये नियतव्रताः। उमा सीता सिनी वाली कुहूर्गायत्रिरेव च ।। ५५.

From you are born, O Lord of gods, and others who are steadfast in their vows: Uma, Sita, Sini, Vali, Kuhū, and Gayatri.