Reading section 1

A PROSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF VISHNUPURĀNAM

Transcriber's Note

This book was transcribed from scans of the original found at the Internet Archive. The original text badly needed proofreading. It contained inconsistent spellings of names, misplaced punctuation, misspellings, inconsistent use of the macron (ā), improper nested quotations, and other problems. I have attempted to correct these where the author's intent was obvious. Manmatha Nath Dutt's translation is based on an earlier one by H. H. Wilson, available at sacred-texts.com. Where the wording or meaning of certain passages was unclear, either because of damage to the book or bad proofing, I have consulted the Wilson translation to make sure I got the meaning right.

There are two words in the text that may seem like one word inconsistently spelled but which are not: Brahma and Brahmā. The former refers to the impersonal form of Vishnu, and the latter is the demigod in charge of creation of the material universe.

The cover illustration makes use of art from the Met Museum, Krishna Govardhandhara, a miniature painting commissioned by Akbar (c.1590-95) Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper.

A

PROSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION

OF

VISHNUPURĀNAM

(BASED ON PROFESSOR H. H. WILSON'S TRANSLATION.)

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY

MANMATHA NATH DUTT, M. A., M.R.A.S.,

Rector, Keshub Academy;

Author of the English Translations of the Srimadbhagavatam, Mahabharata, Bhagavat-Gita and other works.

CALCUTTA:

PRINTED BY H. C. DASS,

Elysium Press 65/2 Beadon Street.

1896

PREFACE.

That Purāna in which Parāsara, beginning with the events of Varāha Kalpa, expounds all duties, is called Vaishnava and is said to consist of twenty-three thousand stanzas. But the actual number of verses falls far short of the enumeration of the Matsya and the Bhagavata. Vishnu Purānam consists of all the characteristics of the Purāna, namely, five specified topics and has been divided into six books.

In this translation of Vishnupurānam I have principally drawn upon Professor H. H. Wilson's splendid work, and have tried, as best as lies in my power, to interpret the ancient thought entombed in this great work. My work is not so much intended for scholars as for the general readers who have not the time and leisure to read the original. Professor Wilson's book is very costly and cannot be always procured by the readers; and in the face of this difficulty I hope my edition will not be unwelcome to the general public.

CALCUTTA:

September 1894

CONTENTS:

PART I.

Section I.—Invocation. Maitreya inquires of his teacher Parāçara, the origin and nature of the universe. Parāçara performs a rite to destroy the demons; reproved by Vasishtha, he desists; Pulastya appears, and bestows upon him divine knowledge; he repeats the Vishnu Purāna, Vishnu the origin, existence, and end of all things.

Section II.—Prayer of Parāçara to Vishnu. Successive narration of the Vishnupurana. Explanation of Vasudeva; his existence before creation; his first manifestations. Description of Pradhana or the chief principle of things. Cosmogony. Of Prakrita or material creation; of time; of the active cause. Development of effects; Mahat; Ahankara; Tanmatras; elements; objects of sense; senses; of the mundane egg. Vishnu the same as Brahmā the creator; Vishnu the preserver; Rudra the destroyer.

Section III.—Measure of time, Moments or Kastha's, &c., day and fortnight, month, year, divine year; Yugas or ages; Mahajuga, or great age; day of Brahmā; periods of the Manus; a Manwantara; night of Brahmā, and destruction of the world; a year of Brahmā, his life; a Kalpa; Parardha; the past or Padma Kalpa the present or Varaha.

Section IV.—Nārāyana's appearance, in the beginning of the Kalpa, as the Varaha or Boar; Prīthivi addresses him; he raises the world from beneath the waters; hymned by Sanandana and the Yogis. The earth floats on the ocean; divided into seven zones. The lower spheres of the universe restored. Creation renewed.

Section V.—Vishnu as Brahmā creates the world. General characteristics of creation. Brahmā meditates, and gives origin to immovable things, animals, gods, men. Specific creation of nine kinds; Mahat, Tanmatra, Aindriya, inanimate objects, animals, gods, men, Anugraha Kaumara. More particular account of creation. Origin of different orders of beings from Brahmā's body under different conditions; and of the Vedas from his mouths. All things created again as they existed in a former Kalpa.

Section VI.—Origin of the four castes; their primitive state. Progress of Society. Different kinds of grain. Efficacy of sacrifice. Duties of men; regions assigned them after death.

Section VII.—Creation continued. Production of the mind-born sons of Brahmā; of the Prajāpatis; of Sanandana and others; of Rudra and the eleven Rudras; of the Manu Swayambhuva, and his wife Satarupa; of their children. The daughters of Daksha, and their marriage to Dharma and others. The progeny of Dharma and Adharma. The perpetual succession of worlds, and different modes of mundane dissolution.

Section VIII.—Origin of the Rudra; his becoming eight Rudras; their wives and children. The posterity of Bhrigu. Account of Sri in conjunction with Vishnu. (Sacrifice of Daksha).

Section IX.—Legend of Lakshmi, Durvasa gives a garland to Indra; he treats it disrespectfully, and is cursed by the Muni. The power of the gods impaired; they are oppressed by the Dānavas, and have recourse to Vishnu. The churning of the ocean. Praises of Sri.

Section X.—The descendants of the daughters of Daksha married to the Rishis.

Section XI.—Legend of Dhruva, the son of Uttanpada; he is unkindly treated by his father's second wife; applies to his mother; her advice; he resolves to engage in religious exercises; sees the seven Rishis, who recommend him to propitiate Vishnu.

Section XII.—Dhruva commences a course of religious austerities. Unsuccessful attempts of Indra and ministers to distract Dhruva's attention; they appeal to Vishnu, who allays their fears and appears to Dhruva. Dhruva praises Vishnu, and is raised to the skies as the pole-star.

Section XIII.—Posterity of Dhruva. Legend of Vena; his impiety, he is put to death by the Rishis. Anarchy ensues. The production of Nishad and Prithu; the latter the first king. The origin of Suta and Magadha they enumerate the duties of kings. Prithu compels Earth to acknowledge his authority; he levels it; introduces cultivations; erects cities. Earth called after him Prithivi; typified as a cow.

Section XIV.—Descendants of Prithu. Legend of the Prachetas they are desired by their father to multiply mankind by worshipping Vishnu; they plunge into the sea, and meditate on and praise him; he appears and grants their wishes.

Section XV.—The world overrun with trees; they are destroyed by the Prachetasas. Soma pacifies them, and gives them Marisha to wife; her story; the daughter of nymph Pramlocha. Legend of Kandu, Marisha's former history. Daksha the son of the Prachetasas; his different characters; his sons; his daughters; their marriage and progeny allusion to Prahlāda, his descendant.

Section XVI.—Inquiries of Maitreya respecting the history of Prahlāda.

Section XVII.—Legend of Prahlāda. Hiranyakashipu, the sovereign of the universe; the gods dispersed, or in servitude to him; Prahlāda, his son remains devoted to Vishnu; questioned by his father, he praises Vishnu; Hiranyakashipu orders him to be put to death, but in vain; his repeated deliverance; he teaches his companions to adore Vishnu.

Section XVIII.—Hiranyakashipu's reiterated attempts to destroy his son; their being always frustrated.

Section XIX.—Dialogue between Prahlāda and his father; he is cast from the top of the palace unhurt; baffles the incantation of Samvara; he is thrown fettered into the sea; he praises Vishnu.

Section XX.—Vishnu appears to Prahlāda. Hiranyakashipu relents and is reconciled to his son; he is put to death by Vishnu as the Nrisingha, Prahlāda becomes king of the Daityas; his posterity; fruit of hearing the story.

Section XXI.—Families of the Daityas. Descendants of Kasyapa by Danu. Children of Kasyapa by his other wives. Birth of the Mārutas, the sons of of Diti.

Section XXII.—Dominion over different provinces of creation assigned to different beings. Universality of Vishnu. Four varieties of spiritual contemplation. Two conditions of spirit. The perceptible attributes of Vishnu; types of his imperceptible properties. Vishnu everything. Merit of hearing the first book of the Vishnu Purana.

PART II.

Section I.—Descendants of Priyavrata, the eldest son of Swayambhuva Manu; his ten sons; three adopt a religious life; the others become kings of seven Dwipas, or isles, of the earth. Agnidhras, king of Jambu-dwipa divides it into nine portions, which he distributes amongst his sons, Nabhi king of the south succeeded by Bharata; India named after him Bhārata; his descendants reign during the Swayambhuva Manwantara.

Section II.—Description of the earth. The seven Dwipas and seven seas Jambu-dwipa. Mount Meru; its existence and boundaries. Extent of Illavrita. Groves, lakes, and branches of Meru. Cities of the Gods. Rivers. The forms of Vishnu worshipped in different Varthas.

Section III.—Description of Bharata-Varsha; extent; chief mountains; nine divisions; principal nations; superiority over other Varshasi especially as the seat of religious acts.

Section IV.—Account of kings, divisions, mountains, rivers, and inhabitants of the other Dwipas viz. Plaksha, Silmala, Kusa, Krauneba, Sāka, and Pushkara; of the oceans separating them; of the tides; the confines of the earth; the Lokaloka Mountain. Extent of the whole.

Section V.—Of the regions of Patala, below the earth. Nārada's praises of Patala. Account of the serpent Sesha. First teacher of astronomy and astrology.

Section VI.—Of the different hells, or divisions of Naraka, below Patala; the crimes punished in them respectively; efficacy of expiation; meditation on Vishnu the most effective expiation.

Section VII.—Extent and situation of the seven spheres viz., earth, sky, planets, Moharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka. Of the egg of Brahmā and its elementary envelopes. Of the influence of the energy of Vishnu.

Section VII.—Description of the Sun; his chariot; its two axles; his horses. The cities of the regents of the cardinal points. The Sun's course; nature of his rays; his path along the ecliptic. Length of day and night. Divisions of time; equinoxes and solstices, months, years, the cyclical yuga, or age of five years. Northern and southern declinations. Saints on the Lokaloka mountain. Celestial paths of the Pitris, gods, Vishnu. Origin of the Ganga, and separation, on the top of Meru into four great rivers.

Section IX.—Planetary system, under the type of a Sisumara or porpoise. The earth nourished by the Sun. Of rain whilst the Sun shines. Of rain from clouds. Rain the support of vegetation, and thence of animal life. Nārāyana the support of all beings.

Section X.—Names of the twelve Adityas. Names of the Rishis, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Yakshas, Uragas, and Rākshasas, who attend the chariot of the sun in each month of the year. Their respective functions.

Section XI.—The sun distinct from, and supreme over, the attendance on his car; identical with the three Vedas and with Vishnu; his functions.

Section XII.—Description of the Moon; his chariot, horses, and course, fed by the Sun; drained periodically of ambrosia by the progenitors and gods. The chariots and horses of the planets; kept in their orbits by aerial chains attached to Dhruva. Tropical members of the planetary porpoise. Vasudeva alone real.