विष्णुपुराणम् — प्रथमांशे षष्ठोऽध्यायः | viṣṇupurāṇam

श्रीमैत्रेय उवाच ।

अर्वाक्स्त्रोतास्तु कथितो भवता यस्तु मानुषः ।
ब्रह्मन्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि ब्रह्म तमसृजद्यथा ॥

Summary AI O Brāhmaṇa, you have mentioned the human creation characterized by the downward stream of vital currents. Please explain in detail how Brahmā created them.

१.६.२

यथा च वर्णानसृजद्यद्गुणां श्च प्रजापतिः ।
यच्च तेषां स्मृतं कर्म विप्रादीनां तदुच्यताम् ॥

Summary AI Please describe how the Lord of creatures created the various castes (varṇas), their specific qualities, and the duties prescribed for the Brāhmaṇas and others.

श्रीपराशर उवाच ।

१.६.३

सत्याभिध्यायिनः पूर्वं सिसृक्षेर्ब्रह्मणो जगत् ।
अजायन्त द्विजश्रेष्ठ सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता मुखात्प्रजाः ॥

Summary AI O best of the twice-born, from the mouth of Brahmā—who desired to create the world and was fixed in truth—the beings characterized by an abundance of sattva (purity) were first produced.

१.६.४

वक्षमो रजसोद्रिक्तास्तथा वै ब्रह्मणो ऽभवन् ।
रजसा तमसा चैव समुद्रिक्तास्तथोरुतः ॥

Summary AI From the chest of Brahmā, beings dominated by rajas (passion) originated; and from his thighs, those characterized by both rajas and tamas (ignorance) were born.

१.६.५

पद्भ्यामन्याः प्रजा ब्रह्मा ससर्ज द्विजसत्तम ।
तमःप्रधानास्ताः सर्वश्चातुर्वर्ण्यमिदं ततः ॥

Summary AI O virtuous one, Brahmā created other beings from his feet, who were predominated by tamas. From these groups, the system of the four varṇas was established.

१.६.६

ब्रह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वेश्याः शूद्राश्च द्विजसत्तम ।
पादोरुवक्षस्थलतो मुखतश्च समुद्गताः ॥

Summary AI O best of the twice-born, the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras emerged respectively from the mouth, the chest, the thighs, and the feet of the creator.

१.६.७

यज्ञनिष्पत्तये सर्वमेतद्ब्रह्या चकार वै ।
चातुर्वर्ण्यं महाभाग यज्ञसाधनमुत्तमम् ॥

Summary AI O fortunate one, Brahmā created all this for the performance of sacrifice (yajña); for the four-fold caste system is the best instrument for the accomplishment of sacrifices.

१.६.८

यज्ञैराप्यायिता देवा वृष्ट्युत्सर्गेण वै प्रजाः ।
आप्याययन्ते धर्मज्ञ यज्ञाः कल्याणहेतवः ॥

Summary AI O knower of righteousness, the gods, being nourished by sacrifices, nourish the people in turn by sending rain. Thus, sacrifices are the source of all welfare.

१.६.९

निष्पाद्यन्ते नरैस्तैस्तु स्वधर्माभिरतैः सदा ।
विशुद्धाचरणैपेतैः सद्भिः सन्मार्गगामिभिः ॥

Summary AI Sacrifices are performed by those virtuous men who are devoted to their own duties, possess pure conduct, and always walk the path of the righteous.

१.६.१०

स्वर्गापवर्गौ मानुष्यात्प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा मुने ।
यच्चाभिरुचितं स्थानं तद्यान्ति मनुजा द्विज ॥

Summary AI O sage, from the human state, men attain heaven or liberation. O twice-born, they reach whatever destination they desire based on their actions.

१.६.११

प्रजास्ता ब्रह्मणा सृष्टाश्चातुर्वर्ण्यव्यवस्थि ताः ।
सम्यक्छ्रद्धाः समाचारप्रवणा मुनिसत्तम ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, the beings created by Brahmā were organized into the four varṇas; they were full of faith and inclined toward righteous conduct.

१.६.१२

यथेच्छावासनिरताः सर्वबाधाविवर्जिताः ।
शुद्धान्तः करणाः शुद्धाः कर्मानुष्ठा ननिर्मलाः ॥

Summary AI They resided wherever they pleased, were free from all afflictions, possessed pure hearts, and remained untainted through the performance of their duties.

१.६.१३

शुद्धे च तासां मनसि शुद्धेन्तःसंस्थिते हरौ ।
सुद्धज्ञानं प्रपश्यन्ति बिल्वाख्यं येन तत्पदम् ॥

Summary AI With their minds purified and Lord Hari dwelling purely within their hearts, they perceived that pure knowledge by which they attained the supreme state called Bilva.

१.६.१४

ततः कालात्म को यो ऽसौ स चांशः कथितो हरेः ।
स पातयत्यघं घोरमल्पमल्पाल्पसारवत् ॥

Summary AI Then, that part of Hari known as Time caused a terrible sin, though seemingly small and of little substance, to fall upon them.

१.६.१५

अधर्मबीजमुद्भुतं तमोलोभसमुद्भवम् ।
प्रजासु तासु मैत्रेय रागादिकमसाधकम् ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, the seed of unrighteousness, born of ignorance and greed, manifested in those beings as passions like attachment, which hindered their spiritual progress.

१.६.१६

ततः सा सहजा सिद्धस्तासां नातीव जायते ।
रसोल्लासादयश्चान्याः सिद्धयोष्टौ भवन्ति याः ॥

Summary AI Consequently, their innate perfection and the eight other perfections, such as Rasollāsa, no longer manifested prominently among them.

१.६.१७

तासु क्षीणास्वशेषासु वर्धमाने च पातके ।
द्वन्द्वाभिभवदुःखार्तास्ता भवन्ति ततः प्रजाः ॥

Summary AI When those perfections were entirely lost and sin increased, those beings became afflicted by the suffering caused by the pairs of opposites, such as heat and cold.

१.६.१८

ततो दुर्गाणि ताश्चक्रुर्धान्वं पार्वतमौदकम् ।
कृत्रिमं च तथा दुर्गं पुरखर्वटकादिकम् ॥

Summary AI To protect themselves, they constructed various types of forts—desert, mountain, and water fortifications—as well as artificial strongholds like cities and villages.

१.६.१९

गृहीणि च यथान्यायं तेषु चकुः पुरादिषु ।
शीतातपादिबाधानां प्रशमाय महामते ॥

Summary AI O wise one, they built houses within those cities according to proper rules to mitigate the afflictions caused by cold, heat, and other natural forces.

१.६.२०

प्रतीकारमिमं कत्वा शीतादेस्ताः प्रजाः पुनः ।
वार्तोपायं ततश्चक्रुर्हस्तसिद्धिं च कर्मजाम् ॥

Summary AI Having devised these remedies against cold and other hardships, those beings then established means of livelihood and manual skills resulting from labor.

१.६.२१

व्रीहयश्च यवाश्चैव गोधूमाश्चणवस्तिलाः ।
प्रियङ्गवो ह्युदा राश्च कोरदूषाः सतीनकाः ॥

Summary AI Vrīhi (rice), barley, wheat, caṇava, sesame, millet (priyaṅgu), udāra, koradūṣa, and sātīnaka are listed as types of grains.

१.६.२२

माषा मुद्गा मसूराश्च निष्पावाः सकुलात्थकाः ।
आढक्यश्चणकाश्चैव शणाः सप्तदश स्मृताः ॥

Summary AI Māṣa, mudga, masūra, niṣpāva, kulatthaka, āḍhakya, caṇaka, and śaṇa are recorded as the seventeen types of crops.

१.६.२३

इत्येता ओषधीनां तु ग्राम्यानां जातयो मुने ।
ओषध्यो यज्ञियाश्चैव ग्राम्यारण्याश्चतुर्दश ॥

Summary AI These are the categories of domestic grains, O Sage. There are fourteen types of medicinal plants or grains suitable for yajña, consisting of both domestic and wild varieties.

१.६.२४

व्रीहयःसयवा माषा गोधूमाश्चाणव स्तिलाः ।
प्रियङ्गुसप्तमा ह्येते अष्टमास्तु कुलत्थकाः ॥

Summary AI Vrīhi, barley, māṣa, wheat, aṇu, sesame, priyaṅgu (as the seventh), and kulatthaka (as the eighth) are specifically identified.

१.६.२५

श्यामाकास्त्वथ नीवारा जर्तिलाः सगवेधुकाः ।
तथा वेणुयवाः प्रोक्तस्तथा मर्कटका मुने ॥

Summary AI O Sage, śyāmāka, nīvāra, jartila, gavedhuka, veṇu-yava (bamboo seeds), and markataka are also declared as types of grains.

१.६.२६

ग्राम्यारण्याः स्मृता ह्येता ओषध्यस्तु चतुर्दश ।
यज्ञनिष्पत्तये यज्ञस्तथासां हेतुरुत्तमः ॥

Summary AI These fourteen domestic and wild medicinal plants are recognized for the completion of sacrifice; yajña is the ultimate purpose for their existence.

१.६.२७

एताश्च सह यज्ञेन प्रजानां कारणं परम् ।
परावरविदः प्राज्ञास्ततो यज्ञान्वितन्वेत ॥

Summary AI These grains and the performance of yajña are the supreme cause for the sustenance of subjects. Therefore, the wise, knowing high and low, perform sacrifices.

१.६.२८

अहन्यहन्यनुष्ठानं यज्ञानां मुनिसत्तम ।
उपकारकरं पुंसां क्रियमाणा घशान्तिदम् ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, the daily performance of yajña is beneficial to humanity and serves to destroy or pacify sins when practiced regularly.

१.६.२९

येषां तु कालसृषो ऽसौ पापबन्दुर्महामुने ।
चेतःसु ववृधे चक्रुस्ते न यज्ञेषु मानसम् ॥

Summary AI O great sage, those in whose hearts the stain of sin produced by the influence of Time grew stronger did not focus their minds on performing yajña.

१.६.३०

वेदवादांस्तथा वेदान्यज्ञ कर्मादिकं च यत् ।
तत्सर्वं निन्दयामासुर्यज्ञव्यासेधकारिणः ॥

Summary AI Obstructing the performance of sacrifice, they criticized the Vedic arguments, the Vedas themselves, and all sacrificial rites and actions.

१.६.३१

प्रवृत्तिमार्गव्युच्छित्तिकारिणो वेदनिन्दकाः ।
दुरात्मानो दुराचारा बभूवुः कुटिलाशयाः ॥

Summary AI These critics of the Vedas, who sought to destroy the path of action, became wicked-souled, ill-behaved, and crooked-minded individuals.

१.६.३२

संसिद्धायां तु वार्तायां प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा प्रजापतिः ।
सर्यादां स्थापयामास यथास्थानं यथागुणम् ॥

Summary AI Once the means of livelihood (vārtā) were established, Prajāpati created subjects and instituted social boundaries and rules according to their status and qualities.

१.६.३३

वर्णा नामाश्रमाणां च धर्मधर्मभृतां वर ।
लोकांश्च सर्ववर्णानां सम्यग्धर्मानुपालिनाम् ॥

Summary AI O best of the righteous, Prajāpati established the duties for the varṇas and āśramas and designated specific worlds for those who diligently follow their dharma.

१.६.३४

प्रजापत्यं ब्रह्मणानां स्मृतं स्थानं क्रियावताम् ।
स्थानमैन्द्रं क्षत्रियाणां संग्रमेष्वनिवर्तताम् ॥

Summary AI The realm of Prajāpati is for active Brāhmaṇas, while the realm of Indra is designated for Kṣatriyas who do not retreat in battle.

१.६.३५

वैश्यानां मारुतं स्थानं स्वधर्ममनुवर्तिनाम् ।
गान्धर्वं शूद्रजातीनां ।
परिचर्यानुवर्तिनाम् ॥

Summary AI The Māruta realm is for Vaiśyas who follow their duty, and the Gāndharva realm is for the Śūdra classes devoted to service.

१.६.३६

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् ।
स्मृतं तेषां तु यत्स्थानं तदेव गुरुवासिनाम् ॥

Summary AI The realm attained by eighty-eight thousand celibate sages is also designated for those students who reside permanently with their Guru.

१.६.३७

सप्तर्षिणां तु यत्स्थानं स्मृतं तद्वै वनौकसाम् ।
प्राजापत्यं गृहस्थानां न्यासिनां ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम् ॥

Summary AI The Saptarṣi realm is for forest-dwellers, Prajāpati's realm for householders (gṛhasthas), and the Brahman realm for renunciants (saṃnyāsīs).

१.६.३८

योगिनाममृतं स्थानं ।
स्वात्मसंतोषकारिणाम् ॥

Summary AI The immortal state is reserved for yogis who find complete satisfaction and contentment within their own Self.

१.६.३९

एकान्तिनः सदा ब्रह्मध्यायिनो योगिनश्च ये ।
तेषां तु परमं स्थानं यत्तत्पश्यन्ति सूरयः ॥

Summary AI For the solitary yogis who constantly meditate on Brahman, there is that supreme abode which the wise (sūris) eternally perceive.

१.६.४०

गत्वागत्वा निवर्तन्ते चन्द्रसूर्यादयो ग्रहाः ।
अद्यापि न निवर्तन्ते द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तकाः ॥

Summary AI While celestial bodies like the Sun and Moon repeatedly return, those who contemplate the twelve-syllable mantra (dvādaśākṣara) do not return to the cycle of rebirth.

१.६.४१

तामिस्त्रमन्धतामिस्त्रं महारौरवरौरवौ ।
असिपत्रवनं घोरं कालसूत्रमवीचिकम् ॥

Summary AI The hells are identified as Tāmisra, Andhatāmisra, Mahāraurava, Raurava, the terrifying Asipatravana, Kālasūtra, and Avīci.

१.६.४२

विनिन्दकानां वेदस्य यज्ञव्याघातकारिणाम् ।
स्थानमेतत्समाख्यातं स्वधर्मत्यागिनश्च ये ॥

Summary AI This destination is declared for those who disparage the Vedas, those who create obstacles for the performance of sacrifices, and those who abandon their own dharma.

इति श्रीविष्णुरुराणे प्रथमेऽंशे षष्ठो ऽध्यायः ।

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