Chapter 1
अध्यायः 1
Amsha I — Sarga (Creation), Chapter 1
Shlokas (31)
+ Add ShlokaInvocation - Verse 1
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.1
पराशरं मुनिवरं कृतपूर्वाह्णिकक्रियम मैत्रेयः परिपप्रच्छ प्रणिपत्याभिवाद्य च ।।
parāśaraṃ munivaraṃ kṛtapūrvāhṇikakriyam maitreyaḥ paripapraccha praṇipatyābhivādya ca ||
Maitreya, having bowed down and saluted, asked the great sage Parashara, who performed the ancient rituals.
Invocation - Verse 2
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.2
त्वत्तो हि वेदाध्ययनम अधीतम अखिलं गुरो धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वाणि वेदाङ्गानि यथाक्रमम ।।
tvatto hi vedādhyayanam adhītam akhilaṃ guro dharmaśāstrāṇi sarvāṇi vedāṅgāni yathākramam ||
O Guru, from you indeed, I have studied all the Vedas and the scriptures of Dharma, along with all the branches of the Vedas in order.
Invocation - Verse 3
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.3
त्वत्प्रसादान मुनिश्रेष्ठ माम अन्ये नाकृतश्रमम वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वशास्त्रेषु प्रायशो ये ऽपि विद्विषः ।।
tvatprasādān muniśreṣṭha mām anye nākṛtaśramam vakṣyanti sarvaśāstreṣu prāyaśo ye 'pi vidviṣaḥ ||
By your grace, O best of sages, others will not speak of me as unworthy, even those who are generally hostile in all scriptures.
Invocation - Verse 4
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.4
सो ऽहम इच्छामि धर्मज्ञ श्रोतुं त्वत्तो यथा जगत बभूव भूयश च यथा महाभाग भविष्यति ।।
so 'ham icchāmi dharmajña śrotuṃ tvatto yathā jagat babhūva bhūyaś ca yathā mahābhāga bhaviṣyati ||
I wish to hear from you, O knower of Dharma, how the world came to be and how it will be in the future, O great being.
Invocation - Verse 5
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.5
यन्मयं च जगद ब्रह्मन यतश चैतच चराचरम लीनम आसीद यथा यत्र लयम एष्यति यत्र च ।।
yanmayaṃ ca jagad brahman yataś caitac carācaram līnam āsīd yathā yatra layam eṣyati yatra ca ||
That which is the essence of the universe, from which all the moving and non-moving beings emerged, was in a state of dissolution, and where it will merge again.
Invocation - Verse 6
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.6
यत्प्रमाणानि भूतानि देवादीनां च संभवम समुद्रपर्वतानां च संस्थानं च यथा भुवः ।।
yatpramāṇāni bhūtāni devādīnāṃ ca saṃbhavam samudraparvatānāṃ ca saṃsthānaṃ ca yathā bhuvaḥ ||
The entities that exist, including the gods, and the establishments of the ocean and mountains, are as they are in the world.
Invocation - Verse 7
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.7
सूर्यादीनां च संस्थानं प्रमाणं मुनिसत्तम देवादीनां तथा वंशान मनून मन्वन्तराणि च ।।
sūryādīnāṃ ca saṃsthānaṃ pramāṇaṃ munisattama devādīnāṃ tathā vaṃśān manūn manvantarāṇi ca ||
The establishment of the sun and others is a measure, O best of sages, as are the lineages of the gods and the Manus of the Manvantaras.
Invocation - Verse 8
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.8
कल्पान कल्पविकल्पांश च चतुर्युगविकल्पितान कल्पान्तस्य स्वरूपं च युगधर्मांश च कृत्स्नशः ।।
kalpān kalpavikalpāṃś ca caturyugavikalpitān kalpāntasya svarūpaṃ ca yugadharmāṃś ca kṛtsnaśaḥ ||
The cycles of creation and the various forms of the four ages are completely defined, along with the essence of the end of a cycle and the duties of the ages.
Invocation - Verse 9
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.9
देवर्षिपार्थिवानां च चरितं यन महामुने वेदशाखाप्रणयनं यथावद व्यासकर्तृकम ।।
devarṣipārthivānāṃ ca caritaṃ yan mahāmune vedaśākhāpraṇayanaṃ yathāvad vyāsakartṛkam ||
The deeds of the divine sages and kings, as well as the compilation of the Vedic branches, are as narrated by the great sage Vyasa.
Invocation - Verse 10
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.10
धर्मांश च ब्राह्मणादीनां तथा चाश्रमवासिनाम श्रोतुम इच्छाम्य अहं सर्वं त्वत्तो वासिष्ठनन्दन ।।
dharmāṃś ca brāhmaṇādīnāṃ tathā cāśramavāsinām śrotum icchāmy ahaṃ sarvaṃ tvatto vāsiṣṭhanandana ||
I wish to hear all the aspects of righteousness, including those of the Brahmins and the residents of the ashrams, from you, O son of Vasishtha.
Invocation - Verse 11
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.11
ब्रह्मन प्रसादप्रवणं कुरुष्व मयि मानसम येनाहम एतज जानीयां त्वत्प्रसादान महामुने ।।
brahman prasādapravaṇaṃ kuruṣva mayi mānasam yenāham etaj jānīyāṃ tvatprasādān mahāmune ||
O Brahman, grant me your grace, so that I may understand this through your blessings, O great sage.
Invocation - Verse 12
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.12
साधु मैत्रेय धर्मज्ञ स्मारितो ऽस्मि पुरातनम पितुः पिता मे भगवान वसिष्ठो यद उवाच ह ।।
sādhu maitreya dharmajña smārito 'smi purātanam pituḥ pitā me bhagavān vasiṣṭho yad uvāca ha ||
O Maitreya, I am reminded of the ancient wisdom spoken by my father, the divine Vasistha.
Invocation - Verse 13
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.13
विश्वामित्रप्रयुक्तेन रक्षसा भक्षितो मया श्रुतस तातस ततः क्रोधो मैत्रेयासीन ममातुलः ।।
viśvāmitraprayuktena rakṣasā bhakṣito mayā śrutas tātas tataḥ krodho maitreyāsīn mamātulaḥ ||
I was consumed by a demon sent by Vishwamitra, and thus my anger arose, O Maitreya, against that unparalleled being.
Invocation - Verse 14
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.14
ततो ऽहं रक्षसां सत्रं विनाशाय समारभम भस्मीकृताश च शतशस तस्मिन सत्रे निशाचराः ।।
tato 'haṃ rakṣasāṃ satraṃ vināśāya samārabham bhasmīkṛtāś ca śataśas tasmin satre niśācarāḥ ||
Then I began the sacrifice to destroy the demons, and in that sacrifice, hundreds of night-walkers were turned to ashes.
Invocation - Verse 15
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.15
ततः संक्षीयमाणेषु तेषु रक्षःस्व अशेषतः माम उवाच महाभागो वसिष्ठो ऽस्मत्पितामहः ।।
tataḥ saṃkṣīyamāṇeṣu teṣu rakṣaḥsv aśeṣataḥ mām uvāca mahābhāgo vasiṣṭho 'smatpitāmahaḥ ||
Then, as the demons were being diminished, the great sage Vasistha, my grandfather, spoke to me.
Invocation - Verse 16
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.16
अलम अत्यन्तकोपेन तात मन्युम इमं जहि राक्षसा नापराध्यन्ते पितुस ते विहितं तथा ।।
alam atyantakopena tāta manyum imaṃ jahi rākṣasā nāparādhyante pitus te vihitaṃ tathā ||
Enough of this extreme anger, dear one, cast away this wrath. The demons do not commit offenses as prescribed by your father.
Invocation - Verse 17
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.17
मूढानाम एष भवति क्रोधो ज्ञानवतां कुतः हन्यते तात कः केन यतः स्वकृतभुक पुमान ।।
mūḍhānām eṣa bhavati krodho jñānavatāṃ kutaḥ hanyate tāta kaḥ kena yataḥ svakṛtabhuk pumān ||
For the foolish, anger arises; how can the wise be affected? O dear one, who is killed by whom, as a man enjoys the fruits of his own actions?
Invocation - Verse 18
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.18
संचितस्यापि महता वत्स क्लेशेन मानवैः यशसस तपसश चैव क्रोधो नाशकरः परः ।।
saṃcitasyāpi mahatā vatsa kleśena mānavaiḥ yaśasas tapasaś caiva krodho nāśakaraḥ paraḥ ||
Even for the greatly accumulated, O calf, through suffering by humans, the anger of fame and austerity is indeed a great destroyer.
Invocation - Verse 19
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.19
स्वर्गापवर्गव्यासेधकारणं परमर्षयः वर्जयन्ति सदा क्रोधं तात मा तद्वशो भव ।।
svargāpavargavyāsedhakāraṇaṃ paramarṣayaḥ varjayanti sadā krodhaṃ tāta mā tadvaśo bhava ||
The great sages always avoid anger, which is the cause of heaven and liberation. O dear one, do not fall under its influence.
Invocation - Verse 20
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.20
अलं निशाचरैर दग्धैर दीनैर अनपराधिभिः सत्रं ते विरमत्व एतत क्षमासारा हि साधवः ।।
alaṃ niśācarair dagdhair dīnair anaparādhibhiḥ satraṃ te viramatv etat kṣamāsārā hi sādhavaḥ ||
Enough of being burnt by the night-walkers, the wretched, and the unoffending. Let this assembly cease; indeed, the righteous are full of forgiveness.
Invocation - Verse 21
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.21
एवं तातेन तेनाहम अनुनीतो महात्मना उपसंहृतवान सत्रं सद्यस तद्वाक्यगौरवात ।।
evaṃ tātena tenāham anunīto mahātmanā upasaṃhṛtavān satraṃ sadyas tadvākyagauravāt ||
Thus, I was invited by that great soul and immediately brought to the sacrifice due to the weight of his words.
Invocation - Verse 22
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.22
ततः प्रीतः स भगवान वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः संप्राप्तश च तदा तत्र पुलस्त्यो ब्रह्मणः सुतः ।।
tataḥ prītaḥ sa bhagavān vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ saṃprāptaś ca tadā tatra pulastyo brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ ||
Then, the blessed Vasistha, the greatest of sages, was pleased and at that time, Pulastya, the son of Brahma, arrived there.
Invocation - Verse 23
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.23
पितामहेन दत्तार्घ्यः कृतासनपरिग्रहः माम उवाच महाभागो मैत्रेय पुलहाग्रजः ।।
pitāmahena dattārghyaḥ kṛtāsanaparigrahaḥ mām uvāca mahābhāgo maitreya pulahāgrajaḥ ||
Having received the offering from the grandfather and having taken my seat, the great sage Maitreya, the brother of Pulaha, spoke to me.
Invocation - Verse 24
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.24
वैरे महति यद वाक्याद गुरोर अस्याश्रिता क्षमा त्वया तस्मात समस्तानि भवाञ छास्त्राणि वेत्स्यति ।।
vaire mahati yad vākyād guror asyāśritā kṣamā tvayā tasmāt samastāni bhavāñ chāstrāṇi vetsyati ||
In great enmity, if the words of the guru are relied upon, then you will know all the scriptures.
Invocation - Verse 25
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.25
संततेर न ममोच्छेदः क्रुद्धेनापि यतः कृतः त्वया तस्मान महाभाग ददाम्य अन्यं महावरम ।।
saṃtater na mamocchedaḥ kruddhenāpi yataḥ kṛtaḥ tvayā tasmān mahābhāga dadāmy anyaṃ mahāvaram ||
There is no destruction of the lineage, even when done in anger; therefore, O great being, I will give another great boon.
Invocation - Verse 26
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.26
पुराणसंहिताकर्ता भवान वत्स भविष्यति देवतापारमार्थ्यं च यथावद वेत्स्यते भवान ।।
purāṇasaṃhitākartā bhavān vatsa bhaviṣyati devatāpāramārthyaṃ ca yathāvad vetsyate bhavān ||
O son, the creator of the Purana will reveal the ultimate truth about the deities as it is.
Invocation - Verse 27
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.27
प्रवृत्ते च निवृत्ते च कर्मण्य अस्तमला मतिः मत्प्रसादाद असंदिग्धा तव वत्स भविष्यति ।।
pravṛtte ca nivṛtte ca karmaṇy astamalā matiḥ matprasādād asaṃdigdhā tava vatsa bhaviṣyati ||
In both action and inaction, the mind is untainted; by my grace, it will surely be so for you.
Invocation - Verse 28
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.28
ततश च भगवान प्राह वसिष्ठो मे पितामहः पुलस्त्येन यद उक्तं ते सर्वम एतद भविष्यति ।।
tataś ca bhagavān prāha vasiṣṭho me pitāmahaḥ pulastyena yad uktaṃ te sarvam etad bhaviṣyati ||
Then the Lord spoke: 'My grandfather Vasistha, as told by Pulastya, all this will come to pass.'
Invocation - Verse 29
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.29
इति पूर्वं वसिष्ठेन पुलस्त्येन च धीमता यद उक्तं तत स्मृतिं यातं त्वत्प्रश्नाद अखिलं मम ।।
iti pūrvaṃ vasiṣṭhena pulastyena ca dhīmatā yad uktaṃ tat smṛtiṃ yātaṃ tvatpraśnād akhilaṃ mama ||
Thus, previously, Vasistha and the wise Pulastya spoke; all that was said has come to my memory due to your inquiry.
Invocation - Verse 30
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.30
सो ऽहं वदाम्य अशेषं ते मैत्रेय परिपृच्छते पुराणसंहितां सम्यक तां निबोध यथातथम ।।
so 'haṃ vadāmy aśeṣaṃ te maitreya paripṛcchate purāṇasaṃhitāṃ samyak tāṃ nibodha yathātatham ||
I shall tell you everything, O Maitreya, as you ask; understand the Purana properly as it is.
Invocation - Verse 31
Vishnu Purana (GRETIL; M. M. Pathak critical edition) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.31
विष्णोः सकाशाद उद्भूतं जगत तत्रैव च स्थितम स्थितिसंयमकर्तासौ जगतो ऽस्य जगच च सः ।।
viṣṇoḥ sakāśād udbhūtaṃ jagat tatraiva ca sthitam sthitisaṃyamakartāsau jagato 'sya jagac ca saḥ ||
From Vishnu, the world has emerged and is sustained there; he is the one who maintains the stability of the universe.