Vishnu Purana

त्वत्तो हि वेदाध्ययनमधीतमखिलं गुरो । धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वाणि तथांगनि यथाक्रमम्

For from you, revered teacher, I have studied all the Vedas, the treatises on dharma, and all their subsidiary branches in proper order.

त्वत्प्रसादान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ मानन्ये नाकृतश्रमम् । वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वशास्त्रेषु प्रायशो येऽपि विद्विषः

By your grace, O foremost of sages, even those who are not your devoted students, and even those who are hostile, are often able to expound upon all the scriptures without great effort.

सोऽहमिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ श्रोतुं त्वत्तो यथा जगत् । बभूव भूयश्च​ यथा महाभाग भविष्यति

Therefore, O knower of dharma, I wish to hear from you how the universe came to be, how it exists, and, O greatly fortunate one, how it will be in the future.

यन्मयं च जगद्ब्रह्मन्यतश्चैतच्चराचरम् । लीनमासीद्यथा यत्र लयमेष्यति यत्र च

And how this universe, composed of Brahman, and all that is moving and unmoving, was absorbed, where it was dissolved, and where it will again merge.

यत्प्रमाणानि भूतानि देवादीनां च सम्भवम् । समुद्रपर्वतानां च संस्थानं च यथा भुवः

What are the measures of beings, the origins of gods and others, and the forms of the oceans and mountains, as well as the structure of the earth?

सूर्यादीनां च संस्थानं प्रमाणं मुनिसत्तम । देवादीनां तथा वंशान्मनून्मन्वन्तराणि च

O best of sages, what are the forms and measures of the sun and other luminaries, the lineages of gods and others, the Manus and the cycles of the Manus?

कल्पान् कल्पविभागांश्च चातुर्युगविकल्पितान् । कल्पान्तस्य स्वरूपं च युगधर्माश्च कृत्स्नशः

The kalpas, their divisions, the arrangement of the four yugas, the nature of the end of a kalpa, and the complete dharmas of the yugas—

देवर्षिपार्थिवानां च चरितं यन्महामुने । वेदशाखाप्रणयनं यथावद्व्‌यासकर्तृकम्

And the deeds of the gods, sages, and kings, O great sage, and the proper compilation of the Vedic branches by Vyāsa—

धर्माश्च ब्राह्मणादीनां तथा चाश्रमवासिनाम् । श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं सर्वं त्वृत्तो वासिष्ठनन्दन

And the duties of the Brāhmaṇas and others, as well as those who dwell in the different āśramas—I wish to hear all this from you, O son of Vasishtha.

ब्रह्मन्प्रसादप्रवणं कुरुष्व मयि मानसम् । येनाहमेतज्जानीयां त्वत्प्रसादान्महामुने

O Brāhmaṇa, incline your mind toward me with favor, so that by your grace, O great sage, I may come to know all this.

श्रीपराशर उवाच साधु मैत्रेय धर्मज्ञ स्मारितोऽस्मि पुरातनम् । पितुः पिता मे भगवान् वसिष्ठो यदुवाच ह

Śrī Parāśara said: Well asked, Maitreya, knower of dharma! You have reminded me of ancient matters. My grandfather, the venerable Vasishtha, once spoke thus—

विश्वामित्रप्रयुक्तेन रक्षसा भक्षितः पुरा । श्रुतस्तातस्ततः क्रोधो मैत्रेयाभून्ममातुलः

Long ago, my father was devoured by a demon sent by Viśvāmitra; when I heard this, O Maitreya, anger arose in my maternal uncle.

ततोऽहं रक्षसां सत्रं विनाशाय समारभम् । भस्मीभूताश्च शतशस्तस्मिन्सत्रे निशाचराः

Then I began a sacrifice for the destruction of the demons; in that sacrifice, hundreds of night-wandering demons were reduced to ashes.

ततः सड्‌क्षीयमाणेषु तेषु रक्षस्स्वशेषतः । मामुवाच महाभागो वसिष्ठो मत्पितामहः

As those demons were being diminished, my revered grandfather Vasishtha, the greatly fortunate one, addressed me.

अलमत्यन्तकोपेन तात मन्युमिमं जहि । राक्षसा नापराध्यन्ति पितुस्ते विहितं हि तत्

Enough of this excessive anger, my child; restrain this wrath. The demons are not at fault—what happened to your father was destined.

मूढानामेव भवति क्रोधो ज्ञानवतां कृतः । हन्यते तात कः केन यतः स्वकृतभुक्पुमान्

Anger arises only in the ignorant, not in those who possess wisdom. Who is slain by whom, since every person experiences the results of their own actions?

सत्र्चितस्यापि महता वत्स क्लेशेन मानवैः । यशसस्तपसश्र्चैव क्रोधो नाशकरः परः

Even for one engaged in a great sacrifice, my son, anger brings about the destruction of fame and ascetic merit, and causes only the utmost distress for people.

स्वर्गापवर्गव्यासेधकारणं परमर्षयः । वर्जयन्ति सदा क्रोधं तात मा तद्वशो भव

The great sages, who are the cause of the removal of heaven and liberation, always avoid anger; dear one, do not be subject to it.

अलं निशाचरैर्दग्धैदीनैरनपकारिभिः । सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्क्षमासारा हि साधवः

Enough of this sacrifice, tormented by night-dwellers, miserable and undeserving; let it cease, for the virtuous are founded upon patience.

एवं तातेन तेनाहमनुनीतो महात्मना । उपसंहृतवान्सत्रं सद्यस्तद्वाक्यगौरवात्

Thus, I was admonished by my noble father; out of respect for his words, I immediately ended the sacrifice.

ततः प्रीतः स भगवान्वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः । सम्प्राप्तश्च तदा तत्र पुलस्त्यो ब्रह्मणः सुतः

Then the blessed Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, was pleased; and at that moment, Pulastya, son of Brahmā, arrived there.

पितामहेन दत्तार्घ्यः कृतासनपरिग्रहः । मामुवाच महाभागो मैत्रेय पुलहाग्रजः

Having received the offering of water from the grandsire and taken his seat, the illustrious Pulastya, elder brother of Pulaha, addressed me, Maitreya.

वैरे महति यद्दाक्याद्‌गुरोरद्याश्रिता क्षमा । त्वया तस्मात्समस्तानि भवात्र्च्छास्त्राणि वेत्स्यति

Because you have embraced patience today, even in the midst of great hostility, as taught by your teacher, you will know all the sacred texts.

सन्ततेर्न ममोच्छेदः क्रुद्धेनापि यतः कृतः । त्वया तस्मान्महाभाग ददाम्यन्यं महावरम्

Since my lineage was not interrupted even by anger, O noble one, I now grant you another great boon.

पुराणसंहिताकर्ता भवान्वत्स भविष्यति । देवतापारमार्थ्यं च यथावद्वेत्स्यते भवान्

You, my child, will become the composer of the Purāṇa-saṃhitā, and you will know the true nature of the gods as it truly is.

प्रवृत्ते च निवृत्ते च कर्मण्यस्तमला मतिः । मत्प्रसादादसन्दिग्धा तव वत्स भविष्यति

In both action and cessation, your mind will remain pure; by my grace, O child, it will be free from doubt.

ततश्च प्राह भगवान्वसिष्ठो मे पितामहः । पुलस्त्येन यदुक्तं ते सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति

Then my grandsire, the blessed Vasiṣṭha, said to me: All that Pulastya has spoken to you will surely come to pass.

इति पूर्वं वसिष्ठेन पुलस्त्येन च धीमता । यदुक्तं तत्स्मृतिं याति त्वत्प्रश्नादखिलं मम

Thus, what was formerly spoken by wise Vasiṣṭha and Pulastya returns to my memory in full because of your question.

सोऽहं वदाम्यशेषं ते मैत्रेय परिपृच्छते । पुराणसंहितां सम्यक् तां निबोध यथातथम्

Therefore, Maitreya, as you inquire, I will tell you everything; listen well to the Purāṇa-saṃhitā, exactly as it is.