विष्णुपुराणम् — तृतीयांशः

Summary AI Seven manvantaras follow a sequence from Svāyambhuva to Vaivasvata. Each period maintains an Indra, seven sages, and royal sons. Viṣṇu assumes a form in every cycle, such as Vāmana, to protect the world. These lords function as manifestations of a single energy that occupies the universe, derived from the verbal root viś.

३.२

तृतीयांशे द्वितीयोऽध्यायः

The Sun's family and future world cycles.

Summary AI Saṃjñā flees her husband’s heat, leaving her shadow-form, Chāyā. Sūrya assumes the form of a horse to reunite with Saṃjñā, fathering the aśvins. To temper the glare, Viśvakarman grinds the Sun on a lathe, using the fragments for the weapons of the gods. Future manvantara rulers are introduced. Viṣṇu maintains these ages as Kapila, Vyāsa, and Kalki.

३.३

तृतीयांशे तृतीयोऽध्यायः

Twenty-eight sages divide the Vedas.

Summary AI Viṣṇu assumes the form of Vedavyāsa during every Dvāpara age to divide the Veda into four parts. Twenty-eight sages, including Vālmīki and Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, have performed this task. In the next age, Drauṇi will succeed them. These divisions emerge from the Oṃ, encompassing the Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva branches. Brahman remains the indivisible soul of all beings.

३.४

तृतीयांशे चतुर्थोऽध्यायः

Vyāsa divides the Veda and assigns branches.

Summary AI Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa assigns the Ṛgveda to Paila, the Yajurveda to Vaiśampāyana, the Sāmaveda to Jaimini, and the Atharvaveda to Sumantu. Romaharṣaṇa receives the Itihāsa and Purāṇa. This division grows into saṃhitās as disciples partition the hymns. These teachers establish Bahvṛca lineages for the Hotṛ, Adhvaryu, Udgātṛ, and Brahman priests.

३.५

तृतीयांशे पञ्चमोऽध्यायः

Yājñavalkya receives new verses from the Sun.

Summary AI Vaiśampāyana commands his disciples to perform penance for his brahmahatyā sin. Yājñavalkya offers to take the burden alone, insulting his peers. The teacher commands him to surrender his knowledge. Yājñavalkya vomits the yajus verses, which other disciples consume as partridges, forming the Taittirīya school. The Sun, as a horse, grants Yājñavalkya the ayātayāma verses, establishing the Vājins.

३.६

तृतीयांशे षष्ठोऽध्यायः

The division of Vedic branches and Puranas.

Summary AI Jaimini’s descendants split the Sāmaveda into a thousand branches. Susantu’s followers divide the Atharvaveda. Romaharṣaṇa receives the Purāṇa Saṃhitā from Vyāsa and transmits it to six disciples. The eighteen Mahāpurāṇas describe creation and dynasties. These texts, alongside the Vedas, form the branches of knowledge. Through these lineages, the original revelation appears in every age.

३.७

तृतीयांशे सप्तमोऽध्यायः

Yama explains who is exempt from punishment.

Summary AI Yama instructs his servant to bypass those who seek refuge in Viṣṇu. A true devotee stays firm in duty, treats others with equality, and regards another's gold as straw. In the presence of Janārdana, sins dissolve like darkness. Neither the noose nor the staff of death can touch those protected by the divine cakra, as they take refuge in Keśava.

३.८

तृतीयांशे अष्टमोऽध्यायः

Viṣṇu is worshipped through assigned duties.

Summary AI Worshipping Viṣṇu begins with the duties of one's varṇa and āśrama. A brāhmaṇa studies the Veda, while a kṣatriya protects the earth. The vaiśya engages in trade, and the śūdra serves others. Universal virtues such as satya and śauca please the deity. By fulfilling these roles, a person secures earthly rewards and eventual nirvāṇa.

३.९

तृतीयांशे नवमोऽध्यायः

Duties for the four stages of life.

Summary AI A student resides in his teacher’s home, mastering the Veda. The householder marries and sustains society by offering food. In the forest, the vānaprastha hermit grows matted hair and subsists on roots. Finally, the mendicant abandons attachments. He wanders without a home, practices non-violence, and internalizes the ritual fire to reach Brahmaloka.

३.१०

तृतीयांशे दशमोऽध्यायः

Life cycle rituals from birth to marriage.

Summary AI Rituals begin with the jātakarma and offerings of piṇḍa. On the tenth day, the father bestows a name ending in śarman, varman, gupta, or dāsa according to varṇa. After providing dakṣiṇā, the man chooses between asceticism or the householder life. He identifies a bride seven generations removed from his father’s line and selects from eight marriage forms, including the brāhma and daiva styles.

३.११

तृतीयांशे एकादशोऽध्यायः

Daily rituals for a householder.

Summary AI Rising at brāhma-muhūrta, the householder purifies himself before performing Agnihotra. Following the Vaiśvadeva ritual, he feeds guests and mendicants. The day concludes with sandhyā prayers. By honoring guests as the embodiment of Hiraṇyagarbha and observing rules for marital life, he sustains the cosmic order.

३.१२

तृतीयांशे द्वादशोऽध्यायः

Rules for daily conduct and etiquette.

Summary AI A man honors elders and sacred fires. Social conduct requires speaking pleasant truths. Physical hygiene involves covering the mouth while yawning. He circumambulates temples to his right and treats guests with hospitality. By mastering speech and respecting elders, he secures dharma, artha, and kāma while his conduct sustains the earth.

३.१३

तृतीयांशे त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः

Procedures for birth and funeral rites.

Summary AI A father offers curd and jujube fruits to the Nāndīmukha ancestors at a son's birth. For the deceased, relatives offer water libations while facing south. After collecting the bones, the ekoddiṣṭa and sapiṇḍīkaraṇa rituals merge the deceased with the ancestors. Sons perform these rites by offering piṇḍa.

३.१४

तृतीयांशे चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः

Proper times and methods for honoring ancestors.

Summary AI One performs śrāddha during the dark fortnight, eclipses, and solstices. Specific constellations like Anurādhā or Puṣya sustain the ancestors. The worshiper offers food or sesame seeds. For those without wealth, the ancestors accept fodder given to cows or a prayer made with arms raised toward the sky in a forest.

३.१५

तृतीयांशे पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः

Rules for choosing priests and ancestor rituals.

Summary AI A host selects brāhmaṇa scholars or yogīs to represent his ancestors, seating them on kuśa grass and offering water mixed with tila. After pouring oblations into the fire for Agni and Soma, he serves the guests in silence. He places piṇḍa offerings on the ground for his maternal and paternal lines before dismissing the priests with dakṣiṇā.

३.१६

तृतीयांशे षोडशोऽध्यायः

Rules for food and rituals for ancestors.

Summary AI Ancestors receive gratification through offerings of wild grains like nīvāra along with barley and sesame. The practitioner excludes garlic and lentils. To protect the ritual, one scatters sesame seeds against yātudhāna spirits. Rites performed at Gayā carry special weight. The ancestors hope for descendants who release a nīla vṛṣa to sustain them.

३.१७

तृतीयांशे सप्तदशोऽध्यायः

Viṣṇu creates a deluder to weaken the demons.

Summary AI After losing a war to the asuras, the devas perform austerities. They recite a hymn to Viṣṇu, who appears seated upon Garuḍa. To overcome the asuras, who remain strong through adherence to the Vedas, Viṣṇu produces a deceptive form called Māyāmoha. This figure accompanies the devas to delude their enemies, leading them away from their duties.

३.१८

तृतीयांशे अष्टादशोऽध्यायः

Kṛṣṇa leaves for Mathurā and Akrūra sees a vision.

Summary AI Akrūra reports Kaṃsa’s cruelty. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma mount a chariot while the gopīs weep. At the Yamunā, Akrūra plunges into the river and sees Balarāma as a thousand-hooded serpent and Kṛṣṇa in a four-armed form. Akrūra recognizes their nature and offers a prayer to the Lord as Vāsudeva, Saṃkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha.

Other texts to read

श्रीमद्भागवतम्

भट्टिकाव्यम् भट्टिः

About

Resources