विष्णुपुराणम् — प्रथमांशे प्रथमोऽध्यायः | viṣṇupurāṇam

अथ श्रीविष्णुमहापुराणं विष्णुचित्त्यात्मप्रकाशाख्यश्रीधरीय व्याख्याद्वयोपेतं प्रारभ्यते

श्रीमते रामानुजाय नमः

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।
देवीं सरस्वतीव्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥

Summary AI After bowing to Nārāyaṇa, Nara—the foremost of men, Goddess Sarasvatī, and Vyāsa, one should recite the word of victory known as Jaya.

श्रीसूत उवाच

१.१.१

पराशरं मुनिवरं कृतपौर्वाह्निकक्रियम् ।
मैत्रेयः परिपप्रच्छ प्रणिपत्याभिवाद्य च ॥

Summary AI Having completed his morning rituals, the great sage Parāśara was approached by Maitreya, who, after bowing and greeting him respectfully, asked his questions.

१.१.२

त्वत्तो हि वेदाध्ययनमधीतमखिलं गुरो ।
धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वाणि तथाङ्गानि यथाक्रमम् ॥

Summary AI O Guru, from you I have studied the entirety of the Vedas, all the Dharmaśāstras, and the various auxiliary sciences (Aṅgas) in their proper order.

१.१.३

त्वाप्रसादान्मुनिश्रेष्ट मामन्ये नाकृतश्रमम् ।
वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वशास्त्रेषु प्रयशो येपि विद्विषः ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, by your grace, I do not consider myself lacking in effort; indeed, even my adversaries would generally acknowledge my proficiency in all the śāstras.

१.१.४

सोहमिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ श्रोतुं त्वत्तो यथा जगत् ।
बभूव भूयश्च यथा महाभाग भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI O knower of Dharma, O illustrious one, I desire to hear from you how this world was created and how it will manifest again in the future.

१.१.५

यन्मयं च जगद्ब्रह्मन्यतश्चौतच्चराचरम् ।
लीनमासीद्यथा यत्र लयमेष्यति यत्र च ॥

Summary AI O Brahman, I seek to know what this world is composed of, the source of this moving and unmoving creation, where it rested during dissolution, and where it will eventually merge.

१.१.६

यत्प्रमाणानि भूतानि देवादीनां च संभवम् ।
समुद्रपर्वतानां च संस्थानं च यथा भुवः ॥

Summary AI I wish to learn the dimensions of the elements, the origins of the gods, the layout of the oceans and mountains, and the configuration of the earth.

१.१.७

सूर्यादीनां च संस्थानं प्रमाणं मुनिसत्तम ।
देवादीनां तथा वंशान्मनून्मन्वन्तराणिच ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, tell me about the positions and sizes of the sun and other celestial bodies, the lineages of the gods, the Manus, and the Manvantaras.

१.१.८

कल्पान्कल्पविभागांश्च चातुर्युगविकल्पितान् ।
कल्पान्तस्य स्वरूपं च युगधर्मांश्च कृत्स्नशः ॥

Summary AI Explain the Kalpas, their divisions into the four Yugas, the nature of the Kalpa's end, and all the duties specific to each Yuga in their entirety.

१.१.९

देवर्षिपार्थिवानां च चरितं यन्महामुने ।
वेदशाखाप्रणयनं यथावव्द्यासकर्तृकम् ॥

Summary AI O great sage, relate the histories of the celestial sages and kings, and how the branches of the Vedas were systematically arranged by Vyāsa.

१.१.१०

धर्मांश्च ब्रह्मणादीनां तथा चाश्रमवासिनाम् ।
श्रेतुमिच्छाम्यहं सर्वं त्वत्तो वासिष्ठनन्दन ॥

Summary AI O descendant of Vasiṣṭha, I wish to hear from you all the duties of the Brāhmaṇas and other castes, as well as those belonging to the different stages of life (āśramas).

१.१.११

ब्रह्मन्प्रसादप्रवणं कुरुष्व मयि मानसम् ।
येनाहमेतज्जानीयां त्वत्प्रसादान्महामुने ॥

Summary AI O Brahman, O great sage, please look upon me with a gracious mind so that, through your favor, I may come to understand all these truths.

श्रीपराशर उवाच ।

१.१.१२

साधु मैत्रेय धर्मज्ञ स्मारितोस्मि पुरातनम् ।
पितुः पिता मे भगवान्वसिष्ठो यदुवाच ह ॥

Summary AI Parāśara replied: Well asked, O knower of Dharma, Maitreya. You have reminded me of the ancient knowledge that my grandfather, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, once imparted.

१.१.१३

विश्वामित्रपुयुक्तेन रक्षसा भक्षितः पुरा ।
श्रुतस्तातस्ततः क्रोधे मैत्रेयाभून्ममातुलः ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, in the past, when I heard that my father had been devoured by a Rākṣasa at the instigation of Viśvāmitra, an immense and uncontrollable anger arose within me.

१.१.१४

ततो ऽहं रक्षसां सत्रं विनाशाय समारभम् ।
भस्मी भूताश्च शतशस्तस्मिन्सत्रे निशाचराः ॥

Summary AI I then initiated a sacrificial ritual for the destruction of the Rākṣasas, during which hundreds of these night-stalkers were reduced to ashes in the fire.

१.१.१५

ततः संक्षीयमाणेषु तेषु रक्षस्वशेषतः ।
मामुवाच महाभागो वसिष्ठी मत्पितामहः ॥

Summary AI As the Rākṣasas were being completely annihilated, my illustrious grandfather Vasiṣṭha approached and spoke these words to me.

१.१.१६

अलमत्यन्तकोपेन तात मन्युमिमं जहि ।
राक्षसा नापराध्यन्ति पितुस्ते विहितं हि तत् ॥

Summary AI "Enough with this excessive anger, my child; give up this resentment. The Rākṣasas are not to blame; your father's death was destined by fate."

१.१.१७

मूढानामेव भवति क्रोधो ज्ञानवतां कुतः ।
हन्यते तात कः केन यतः स्वकृतभुक्पुमान् ॥

Summary AI "Anger belongs only to the ignorant; how can it exist in the wise? My child, who truly kills whom? For a man only experiences the results of his own past actions."

१.१.१८

सञ्चिचस्यापि महता वत्स क्लेशेन मानवैः ।
यशसस्तपसश्चैव क्रोधो नाशकरः परः ॥

Summary AI "O child, anger is the ultimate destroyer of the fame and penance that human beings accumulate with great difficulty and effort."

१.१.१९

स्वर्गापवर्गव्यासेधकारणं परमर्षयः ।
वर्जयन्ति सदा क्रोधं तात मा तद्वशो भवः ॥

Summary AI "Great sages always avoid anger as it is an obstacle to both heaven and liberation. O child, do not fall under its control."

१.१.२०

अलं निशाचरैर्धग्धैर्दीनैरनपकारिभिः ।
सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्क्षमासारा हि साधवः ॥

Summary AI Enough with these burnt, wretched, and harmless night-stalkers. Let this sacrifice of yours cease, for the virtuous possess forgiveness as their essence.

१.१.२१

एवं तातेन तेनाहमनुनीतो महात्मना ।
उपसंहृतवान्सत्रं सद्यस्तद्वाक्यगौरवात् ॥

Summary AI Thus entreated by that high-souled grandfather, I immediately concluded the sacrifice out of respect for his words.

१.१.२२

ततः प्रीतः स भगवान्वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः ।
संप्राप्तश्च तदा तत्र पुलस्त्यो ब्रह्मणः सुतः ॥

Summary AI Then, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, the best of sages, was pleased, and at that moment, Pulastya, the son of Brahmā, arrived there.

१.१.२३

पितामहेन दत्तर्घ्यः कृतासनपरिग्रहः ।
मामुवाच महाभागो मैत्रेय पुलहाग्रजः ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, after being offered the respectful oblation and accepting a seat from my grandfather, the illustrious elder brother of Pulaha spoke to me.

पुलास्त्य उवाच ।

१.१.२४

वैरे महति यद्वाक्याद्गुरोरद्याश्रिता क्षमा ।
त्वया तस्मात्समस्तानि भवाञ्शास्त्राणि वेत्स्यति ॥

Summary AI Because you practiced forgiveness today upon your preceptor's command despite your great animosity, you shall gain knowledge of all the scriptures.

१.१.२५

संततेर्न ममोच्छेदः क्रुद्धेनापि यतः कृतः ।
त्वया तस्मान्महाभाग ददाम्यन्यं महावरम् ॥

Summary AI O illustrious one, since you did not destroy my lineage even while enraged, I grant you another great boon.

१.१.२६

पुराणसंहिताकर्त भवान्वत्स भविष्यति ।
देवतापारमार्थ्यं च यथावद्वेत्स्यते भवान् ॥

Summary AI My child, you shall become the author of the Purāṇa compendium and shall accurately understand the ultimate reality of the deities.

१.१.२७

प्रवृत्ते च निवृत्ते च कर्मण्यस्तमला मतिः ।
मत्प्रसादादसंदिग्धा तव वत्स भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI My child, by my grace, your mind shall become stainless and free from doubt regarding both active and contemplative religious duties.

१.१.२८

ततश्च प्राह भगवान्वसिष्ठो मे पितामहः ।
पुलस्त्येन यदुक्तं ते सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI Then my grandfather, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, said, "Everything that Pulastya has told you shall surely come to pass."

१.१.२९

इति पूर्वं वसिष्ठेन पुलस्त्येन च धीमता ।
यदुक्तं तत्स्मृतिं याति त्वत्प्रश्रादखिलं मम ॥

Summary AI Thus, all that was previously said by Vasiṣṭha and the wise Pulastya returns to my memory due to your inquiry.

१.१.३०

सो ऽहं वदाम्यशेषं ते मैत्रेय परिपृच्छते ।
पुरामसंहितां सम्यक्तां निबोध यथातथम् ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, I shall relate everything to you who asks. Listen attentively to that Purāṇa compendium exactly as it is.

१.१.३१

विष्णोः सकाशादुद्भुतं जतत्तत्रैव च स्थितम् ।
स्थितिसंयमकर्तासौ जगतोस्य जगच्च सः ॥

Summary AI The universe originated from Viṣṇu and exists within him alone. He is the sustainer and the destroyer of this world, and he is the world itself.

इति श्रिविष्णुपुराणे प्रथमेऽंशे प्रथमो ऽध्यायः ।

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