Bheeshma Gita
( Continued )
He that is of the form of the samans, riks, and yajuses (of the Veda),
He that soothes His worshippers burning with the afflictions of the world, like the rays of the moon cooling all living creatures of the world,
He that is endued with blazing effulgence like the sun,
He from whose mind has sprung the moon,
He that blazes forth in His own effulgence,
He that nourishes all creatures even like the luminary marked by the hare,
He that is the Master of the deities,
He that is the great medicine for the disease of worldly attachment,
He that is the great causeway of the universe,
He that is endued with knowledge and other attributes that are never futile, and with prowess that is incapable of being baffled,
He that is solicited by all creatures at all times, that is, the past, the present and the future,
He that rescues His worshippers by casting kind glances upon them,
He that sanctifies even those that are sacred,
He that merges the life-breath in the Soul, or
He that assumes diverse forms for protecting both the emancipated and the un-emancipated,
He that kills desires of those that are emancipated, or
He that prevents evil desires from arising in the minds of His worshippers,
He that is the Principle of kama (the principle of desire or lust),
He that is the most agreeable,
He that is desired by all creatures,
He that grants the fruition of all desires,
He that has the ability to accomplishing all acts,
He that sets the four yugas to begin their course,
He that is endued with the diverse kinds of illusion (and, therefore, the cause from which spring the different kinds of acts that distinguish the different yugas),
He that is the greatest of eaters (in consequence of His swallowing all things at the end of every kalpa),
He that is incapable of being seized (by those that are not His worshippers),
He that is manifest (being exceedingly vast),
He that subjugates thousands of foes (of the deities),
He that subjugates innumerable foes,
He that is desired (by even Brahma and Rudra), or
He that is adored in sacrifices,
He that is distinguished above all,
He that is desired by those that are endued with wisdom and righteousness,
He that has ornament of (peacock’s) feathers on His headgear,
He that stupefies all creatures with His illusion,
He that showers His grace on all His worshippers,
He that kills the wrath of the righteous,
He that fills the unrighteous with wrath,
He that is the accomplisher of all acts,
He that holds the universe on His arms,
He that upholds the Earth,
He that transcends the six well-known modifications,
The modifications are inception in mother’s womb, birth, growth, maturity, decline and dissolution.
He that is endued with great celebrity (in consequence of His feats),
He that causes all living creatures to live (in consequence of His being the all-pervading Soul),
He that gives life,
He that is the younger brother of Vasava (Indra) (in the form of Upendra or the dwarf),
He that is the receptacle of all the waters in the universe,
He that covers all creatures (in consequence of His being the material cause of everything),
He that is ever vigilant (being always above error),
He that is established in His own glory,
He that flows in the form of nectar, or
He that dries up all things,
He that upholds the path of righteousness,
He that bears the burden of the universe,
He that gives desirable boons unto those that solicit them,
He that causes the winds to blow,
He that is the son of Vasudeva, or
He that covers the universe with His illusions and sports in the midst of it,
He that is endued with extraordinary lustre,
He that is the originating cause of the deities,
He that pierces all hostile towns,
He that transcends all sorrow and grief (resulting from infatuation, hunger, thirst, birth and death),
He that leads us safely across the ocean of life or the world,
He that dispels from the hearts of all His worshippers the fear of rebirth,
He that is possessed of infinite courage and prowess,
He that is an offspring of Sura’s race,
He that is the Master of all living creatures,
He that is inclined to show His grace unto all,
He that has come on earth for hundreds of times (for rescuing the good, destroying the wicked and establishing righteousness),
He that holds a lotus in one of His hands,
He whose eyes resemble the petals of the lotus,
He from whose navel sprang the primeval lotus, or
He that is seated upon a lotus,
He that is endued with eyes resembling the petals of the lotus,
He that is adored by worshippers as One seated within the lotus of their heart,
He that assumes the form of embodied Jiva (through His own illusion),
He that is endued with puissance of every kind,
He that grows in the form of the five primal elements,
He that is the Ancient Soul,
He that is endued with vast eyes,
He that has Garuda sitting on the standard of His car (vehicle),
He that is incomparable,
He that is the Sarabha (the lion-killing animal), or
He that illumines the body-mind complex with consciousness,
He that strikes the wicked with terror,
He that knows everything that occurs in Time,
He that accepts, in the forms of the deities, the butter poured into the sacrificial fire,
He that is known by all kinds of evidence or proof,
He upon whose breast sits Prosperity always,
He that is victorious in every battle,
He that is above (beyond) destruction,
He that assumes a red form, or
He that becomes wrathful unto the enemies of His worshippers,
He that is an object of search with the righteous,
He that is at the root of all things,
He that has the mark of the string around his abdomen (for, Yasoda bound Him with a cord while He was Krisna),
He that bears or forgives all injuries,
He that upholds the Earth in the form of its mountains,
He that is the foremost of all objects of worship,
He that is endued with great speed,
He that swallows vast quantities of food,
He that caused the creation to start into life,
He that always agitates both Prakrti and Purusa,
He that shines with resplendence, or
He that sports in joy,
He that has puissance in his stomach,
He that is the Supreme Master of all,
He that is the Material, out of which the universe has been made,
He that is the cause or Agent, who has made the universe,
He that is independent of all things,
He that ordains variety in the universe,
He that is incapable of being comprehended,
He that renders Himself invisible by the screen of illusion,
He that is cit divested of all attributes,
He, on whom all things rest,
He in whom all things reside when the universal dissolution comes,
He that assigns the foremost place to those that worship Him,
He that is durable,
He that is endued with the highest puissance,
He that has been glorified in the Vedanta,
He that is contented,
He that is always full,
He whose glance is auspicious,
He that fills all yogis with delight,
He that is the end of all creatures (for, it is in Him that all things merge at the universal dissolution),
He that is the faultless Path,
He that, in the form of Jiva, leads to Emancipation,
He that leads (Jiva to Emancipation),
He that has none to lead Him,
He that is endued with great might,
He that is the foremost of all beings possessed of might,
He that upholds,
He that is the foremost of all beings conversant with duty and religion,
He that joins, at the time of creation, the disunited elements for forming all objects,
He that resides in all bodies,
He that causes all creatures to act in the form of Kshetrajna,
He that creates all creatures after destroying them at the universal dissolution,
He unto whom every one bows with reverence,
He that is extended over the entire universe,
He that owns the primeval golden egg as His abdomen (as the female uterus) whence everything proceeds,
He that destroys the foes of the deities,
He that overspreads all things (being the material cause whence they spring),
He that spreads sweet perfumes,
He that disregards the pleasures of the senses,
He that is identifiable with the seasons,
He at whose sight alone all worshippers succeed in obtaining the great object of their wish,
He that weakens all creatures,
He that dwells in the firmament of the heart, depending upon His own glory and puissance,
He that is capable of being known everywhere (in consequence of His omnipresence),
He that inspires everyone with dread,
He, in whom all creatures dwell,
He that is clever in accomplishing all acts,
He that constitutes the rest of all creatures (being, as He is, the embodiment of Emancipation), or
He that grants liberation to all beings as the ultimate end,at is endued with competence greater than that of other beings,
He, in whom the whole universe is spread out,
He that is Himself immobile and in whom all things rest for ever,
He that is an object of proof,
He that is the Indestructible and unchanging seed,
He that is sought by all (in consequence of His being happiness),
He that has no desire (in consequence of His desire having been gratified),
He that is the Great Cause (which covers the universe),
He that has all sorts of things to enjoy,
He that has great wealth wherewith to secure all objects of desire,
He that is above despair,
He that exists in the form of Renunciation,
He that is without birth,
He that is the stake, unto which Righteousness is tethered,
He that is the great embodiment of sacrifice,
He that is the nave of the starry-wheel that revolves in the firmament,
Visnu is supposed to be in the constellation called Sisumara or the Northern Bear. The stars, without changing their places per se, seem to revolve round this point, within the constellation.
He that is the Moon among the constellations,
He that is competent to achieve every feat,
He that stays in His own self when all things disappear,
He that cherishes the desire for Creation,
He that is the embodiment of all sacrifices,
He that is adored in all sacrifices and religious rites,
He that is the most adorable of the deities present in the sacrifices that men perform,
He that is the embodiment of all such sacrifices in which animals are offered up according to the ordinance,
He that is adored by persons before they take any food,
In Hinduism, no one should worship the deities with a full stomach. One is to abstain from every kind of food and drink if one is to worship the deities formally.
He that is the Refuge of those that seek emancipation,
He that beholds the acts and omissions of all creatures,
He who’s Soul transcends all attributes,
He that is possessed of omniscience,
He that is identical with knowledge that is un-acquired, unlimited, and capable of accomplishing everything,
He that is observant of excellent vows (chief amongst which is the granting of favour unto one that solicits it with a pure heart),
He that has a face always full of delight,
He that is exceedingly subtle,
He that utters the most agreeable sounds (in the form of the Veda or as Krisna playing on the lute),
He that gives happiness (to all His worshippers),
He that does good to others without expecting any return,
He that fills all creatures with delight,
He that has subdued wrath,
He that has mighty arms (so mighty that He had slain, as if in sport, the mightiest of asuras),
He that tears those that are unrighteous,
He that causes those persons, who are destitute of knowledge of the soul, to be steeped in the deep sleep of His illusion,
He that relies on Himself (being entirely independent of all persons and things),
He that overspreads the entire universe,
He that exists in infinite forms,
He that is engaged in vocations infinite in number,
He that lives in everything,
He that is full of affection towards all His worshippers,
He that is the universal father,
He that holds, in the form of the vast Ocean, all jewels and gems in His abdomen,
He that is the Lord of all treasure,
He that is the protector of righteousness,
He that accomplishes all the duties of righteousness,
He that is the substratum of righteousness,
He that is the Existent for all time,
He that is the Non-existent (in the form of the universe, for the manifested universe is the result of illusion),
He that is destructible (in the form of the universe),
He that is indestructible as cit,
He that is, in the form of Jiva, destitute of true knowledge,
He that is, in the form of the Sun, endued with a thousand rays,
He that ordains (even all such great and mighty creatures as Sesha, Garuda, etc),
He that has created all the Sastras,
He that exists, in the form of the Sun, as the centre of innumerable rays of light,
He that dwells in all creatures,
He that is possessed of great prowess,
He that is the Master of even Yama and others of similar puissance,
He that is the oldest of the deities (existing as He does from the beginning),
He that exists in His own glory, casting off all conditions,
He that is the Lord of even all the deities,
He that is the ruler of even him that upholds the deities (that is, Indra),
He that transcends birth and destruction,
He that tended and protected kine (in the form of Krisna),
He that nourishes all creatures,
He that is approachable by knowledge alone,
He that is Ancient,
He that upholds the elements which constitute the body,
He that enjoys and endures (weal and woe, in the form of Jiva),
He that assumed the form of a vast Boar, or
He that, in the form of Rama, was the lord of a large monkey hoard,
He that gave plentiful presents unto all in a grand sacrifice performed by Him,
He that drinks Soma in every sacrifice,
He that drinks nectar,
He that, in the form of Soma (Moon), nourishes all the herbs and plants,
He that conquers foes in a trice when even they are infinite in number,
He that is of universal form and is the foremost of all existent entities,
He that is the chastiser,
He that is victorious over all,
He whose purposes are incapable of being baffled,
He that deserves gifts,
He that gives what His creatures do not have and who protects what they have,
He that holds the life-breaths,
He that beholds all His creatures as objects of direct vision, or
He that never beholds anything beside His own Self,
He that gives emancipation,
He whose footsteps (three in number) covered Heaven, Earth and the Nether regions,
He who is the receptacle of all the waters,
He that transcends all space, time, and all things,
He that lies on the vast expanse of waters after the universal dissolution,
He that causes the destruction of all things,
He that is without birth,
He that is exceedingly adorable,
He that appears in His own nature,
He that has conquered all foes (in the form of wrath and other evil passions),
He that delights those that meditate on Him,
He that is joy,
He that fills others with delight,
He that swells with all causes of delight,
He that has truth and other virtues for His indications,
He whose foot-steps are in the three worlds,
He that is the first of the Rishis (being conversant with the entire Veda), or
He that is identical with the preceptor Kapila,
He that is the knower of the Universe,
He that is Master of the Earth,
He that has feet,
He that is the guardian of the deities,
He that has large horns,
This is an allusion to the piscatorial form in which He saved Manu on the occasion of the universal deluge by scudding through the waters with Manu’s boat tied to His horns.
He that exhausts all acts by causing their doers to enjoy or endure their fruits, or
He that grinds the Destroyer himself,
He that is the great Boar,
He that is understood or apprehended by the aid of the Vedanta,
He that has beautiful troops (in the form of His worshippers),
He that is adorned with golden armlets,
He that is concealed (being knowledge contained in the Upanisads only),
He that is deep (in knowledge and puissance),
He that is difficult of access,
He that transcends both word and thought,
He that is armed with the discus and the mace,
He that is the Ordainer,
He that is the Cause (in the form of helper of the universe),
He that has never been vanquished,
He that is the Island-born Krisna (Maharshi Vyasa),
He that is enduring (in consequence of His transcending decay), He that mows all things and is Himself above deterioration,
He that is the Varuna (the deity of the waters),
He that is the son of Varuna (in the form of Vasista or Agastya),
He that is Immovable as a tree,
He that is displayed in His own true form in the lotus of the heart,
He that creates, preserves, and destroys by only a fiat of the mind,
He that is possessed of the six-fold attributes,
He that destroys the six-fold attributes (at the universal dissolution),
He that is felicity (in consequence of His swelling with all kinds of prosperity),
He that is adorned with the triumphal garland (called Vaijayanta),
He that is adorned with the plough (in allusion to His incarnation as Baladeva),
He that took birth from the womb of Aditi (in the form of the dwarf that beguiled Bali),
He that is endued with effulgence like unto the sun’s,
He that endures all pairs of opposites (such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain, etc),
He that is the fore-most Refuge of all things,
He that is armed with the best of bows (called Saranga),
He that was divested of His battle-axe (by Rama of Bhrigu’s race),
Rama of Bhrigu’s race (Parasu-Rama) went to Mahadeva for acquiring the science of arms. While dwelling in Siva’s retreat, he had a quarrel with Kartikeya or Kumara, the
son of Siva. Rama worsted his preceptor’s son in battle, at which his preceptor, gratified with him, made him a present of his own battle-axe, wherewith the regenerate Rama
exterminated the Kshatriyas for twenty one times.
He that is fierce,
He that is the giver of all objects of desire,
He that is so tall as to touch the very heavens with his head (in allusion to the form He assumed at Bali’s sacrifice),
He whose vision extends over the entire universe,
He that is Vyasa (who compiled the Veda sakhas into different groups), or
He that is the Master of speech or all learning, or
He that has started into existence without the intervention of genital organs,
He that is hymned with the three (foremost samans),
Brihat, Radhantara and Vamadeva are the three samans (hymns) from Samaveda collectively known as the Devavratam. The Lord is praised in these three samans.
He that is the singer of the samans,
He that is the Samaveda itself,
He that is the Extinction of all worldly attachments (in consequence of His being the embodiment of Renunciation),
He that is the Medicine,
He that is the Physician (who applies the medicine),
He that has ordained the fourth or last mode (stage) of life called renunciation (for enabling His creatures to attain to emancipation),
He that causes the passions of His worshippers to be quieted (with a view to give them tranquility of soul),
He that is contented (in consequence of His utter dissociation with all worldly objects),
He that is the Refuge of devotion and tranquility of Soul,
He that is possessed of beautiful limbs,
He that is the giver of tranquility of soul,
He that is the Creator,
He that sports in joy on the bosom of the Earth,
He that sleeps (in yoga) lying on the body of the prince of snakes, Sesha, after the universal dissolution,
He that is the Benefactor of kine, or
He that took a human form for relieving the earth of the weight of its population,
He that is the Master of the universe,
He that is the Protector of the universe,
He that is endued with eyes like those of the bull,
He that cherishes righteousness with love,
He that is the un-returning hero,
He whose soul has been withdrawn from all attachments,
He that reduces, to a subtle form, the universe at the time of universal dissolution,
He that does good to His afflicted worshippers,
He whose name, as soon as heard, cleanses the hearer of all his sins,
He that has the auspicious whorl on His breast,
He that in whom dwells the goddess of Prosperity for ever,
He that was chosen by Lakshmi (the goddess of Prosperity) as her Lord,
He that is the foremost one of all beings endued with prosperity,
He that gives prosperity unto His worshippers,
He that is the Master of prosperity,
He that always lives with those that are endued with prosperity,
He that is the receptacle of all kinds of prosperity,
He that gives prosperity unto all persons of righteous acts according to the measure of their righteousness,
He that holds the goddess of Prosperity on his bosom,
He that bestows prosperity upon those that hear of, praise, and meditate on Him,
He that is the embodiment of that condition, which represents the attainment of unattainable happiness,
He that is possessed of every kind of beauty,
He that is the Refuge of the three worlds,
He that is possessed of beautiful eyes,
He that is possessed of beautiful limbs,
He that is possessed of a hundred sources of delight,
He that represents the highest delight,
He that is the Master of all the luminaries in the firmament (for it is He that maintains them in their places and orbits),
He that has subjugated His mind,
He whose soul is not swayed by any superior being,
He that is always of generous acts,
He whose doubts have all been dispelled (for, He is said to behold the whole universe as an amlaka in the His palm,
He that transcends all creatures,
He whose vision extends in all directions:
He that has no Master,
He that at all times transcends all changes,
He that (in the form of Rama) had to lie down on that bare ground,
He that adorns the Earth (by His incarnations),
He that is puissance’s self,
He that transcends all grief,
He that dispels the sorrow of all His worshippers as soon as they remember Him,
He that is possessed of effulgence,
He that is worshipped by all,
He that is like the water-pot containing all things within Him,
He that is of pure soul,
He that cleanses all as soon as they hear of Him,
He that is free and unrestrained,
He, whose car (vehicle) never turns away from battles,
He that is possessed of great wealth,
He whose prowess is incapable of being measured,
He that is the slayer of the asura named Kalanemi,
He that is the hero,
He that has taken birth in the clan of Sura (that is Krisna),
He that is the Lord of all the deities,
He that is the soul of the three worlds,
He that is the Master of the three worlds,
He that has the solar and lunar rays for his hair,
He that is the slayer of Kesi,
He that destroys all things (at the universal dissolution),
He that is the Deity, from whom the fruition of all desires is sought,
He that grants the wishes of all,
He that has desires (ever fulfilled),
He that has a handsome form,
He that is endued (endowed) with thorough knowledge of srutis and smritis,
He that is possessed of a form that is indescribable by attributes,
He whose brightest rays overwhelm heaven,
He that is all-pervasive, being eternal,
He that has no end,
He that (in the form of Arjuna or Nara) acquired vast wealth on the occasion of his campaign of conquest,
He that is the foremost object of silent recitation, of sacrifice, of Veda, and of all religious acts,
He that is the creator of penances and the like,
He that is of the form of the Brahman,
He that is the augmenter of penances,
He that is conversant with Brahma,
He that is of the form of brahmana,
He that has, for His limbs, him that is called Brahma,
He that knows all the Veda and everything in the universe,
He that is always fond of brahmanas, and of whom the brahmanas also are fond,
He whose footsteps cover vast areas,
He whose feats are mighty,
He that is possessed of vast energy,
He that is identical with Vasuki, the king of the snakes,
He that is the foremost of all sacrifices,
He that is Japa, the first of sacrifices,
He that is the foremost of all offerings made in sacrifices,
Many of these words beginning with Mahat represent Krisna’s own words as spoken to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita such as, ‘I am the foremost of sacrifices; I am the foremost
of sacrificers,’ etc.
He that is hymned by all,
He that loves to be hymned (by his worshippers),
He that is Himself the hymns uttered by His worshippers,
He that is the very form of hymns,
He that is the very act of hymning,
He that is the person that hymns,
He that is fond of battling (with everything that is evil),
He that is full in every respect,
He that fills others with every kind of affluence,
He that destroys all sins as soon as He is remembered (hymned),
He whose acts are all righteous,
He that transcends all kinds of disease,
He that is endued with the speed of the mind,
He that is the creator and promulgator of all kinds of learning,
He whose vital seed is gold,
He that is giver of wealth (being identical with Kubera, the Lord of treasures),
He that takes away all the wealth of the asuras,
He that is the son of Vasudeva,
He, in whom all creatures dwell,
He whose mind dwells in all things, in thorough identity with them,
He that takes away the sins of all who seek refuge in Him,
He that is attainable by the righteous,
He whose acts are always good,
He that is the one entity in the universe,
He that displays Himself in diverse forms,
He that is the refuge of all those that are conversant with truth,
He that has the greatest of heroes for his troops,
This has reference to Hanuman and others among the apes that Rama led against Ravana.
He that is the foremost of the Yadavas,
He that is the abode of the righteous,
He that sports in joy (in the woods of Brinda) on the banks of Yamuna,
He in whom all created things dwell,
He that is the deity that overwhelms the universe with its Maya (illusion),
He in whom all foremost of beings become merged (when they achieve their emancipation),
He, whose hunger is never gratified,
He that humbles the pride of all,
He that fills the righteous with just pride,
He that swells with joy,
He that is incapable of being seized,
He that has never been vanquished,
He that is of universal form,
He that is of vast form,
He whose form blazes forth with energy and effulgence,
He that is without form (that is, Awareness),
He that is of diverse forms,
He that is un-manifest,
He that is of hundred (countless) forms,
He that is of hundred (countless) faces,
He that is One,
He that is many (through illusion),
He that is the sacrifice, in which Soma is offered,
He that is full of felicity,
He that forms the one grand topic of investigation,
He from whom is this all,
He that is called Tat,
He that is the highest Refuge,
He that confines Jiva within material causes,
He that is coveted by all,
He that took birth in the clan of Madhu,
He that is exceedingly affectionate towards His worshippers,
He that is of golden complexion,
He whose limbs are like gold (in hue),
He that is possessed of beautiful lips,
He whose person is decked with angadas made with sandal paste,
He that is the slayer of heroes (among asuras),
He that has no equal,
He that is like cipher,
This is in consequence of no attributes being affirmable of Him.
He that stands in need of no blessings (in view of His fullness),
He that never swerves from his own nature, puissance and knowledge,
He that is mobile in the form of wind,
He that never identifies Himself with anything that is Not-soul,
The Vedanta philosophy states that the universe consists of Soul and Not-soul, that is, matter. Jiva, when cased in matter or Not-soul, takes Not-soul for itself, in its
ignorance. Until true knowledge is attained, the body is always mistaken for ‘self’.
He that confers honours on His worshippers,
He that is honoured by all,
He that is the Lord of the three worlds,
He that upholds the three worlds,
He that is possessed of intelligence and memory capable of holding in His mind the contents of all treatises,
He that took birth in a sacrifice,
He that is worthy of the highest praise,
He whose intelligence and memory are never futile,
He that upholds the Earth,
He that pours forth heat in the form of the Sun,
He that is the bearer of great beauty of limbs,
He that is the foremost of all the bearers of weapons,
He that accepts the flowery and leafy offerings made to Him by His worshippers,
He that has subdued all His passions, and grinds all His foes,
He that has none to walk before Him,
He that has four horns,
He that is the elder brother of Gada,
He that has four forms,
The four forms relate to Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
He that has four arms,
He, from whom the four Purusas have sprung,
He that is the refuge of the four modes of life and the four orders of men,
The modes of life refer to the stages of life; the orders of men refer to their castes, as stated in Dharma-Sastra.
He that is of four souls,
The reference is to mind, understanding, consciousness and memory.
He from who spring the four objects of life,
The reference is to righteousness, wealth, pleasure and emancipation,
He that is conversant with the four Vedas,
He that has displayed only a fraction of His puissance,
He that sets the wheel of the world to revolve round and round,
He whose soul is dissociated from all worldly attachments,
He that is incapable of being vanquished,
He that cannot be transcended,
He that is exceedingly difficult of being attained,
He that is difficult of being approached,
He that is difficult of access,
He that is difficult of being brought into the heart (even by yoga),
He that slays even the most powerful foes,
He that has beautiful limbs,
He that takes the essence of all things in the universe,
He that holds the most beautiful warp and woof,
The allegory is to the universe being a fabric woven by Visnu.
He that weaves with ever-extending warp and woof,
He whose acts are glorious as those of Indra,
He whose acts are great,
He that has no acts undone,
He that has composed all the Veda-sakhas and scriptures,
He whose birth is high,
He that is exceedingly handsome,
He whose heart is full of commiseration,
He that has precious gems in His navel,
He that has excellent knowledge for His eye,
He that is worthy of worship by Brahma and other foremost ones in the universe,
He that is giver of food,
He that assumed horns at the time of the universal dissolution,
He that has always subjugated His foes most wonderfully,
He that knows all things, or
He that is ever victorious over those that are of irresistible prowess,
He whose limbs are like gold,
He that is incapable of being agitated,
The reference is to no agitation to Visnu by wrath, aversion or any passion whatsoever.
He that is Master of all those who are masters of all speech and learning,
He that is the deepest lake,
He that is the deepest pit,
He that transcends the influence of Time,
He, in whom the primal elements are established,
He that gladdens the Earth,
He that grants boons which are as agreeable as the kunda flowers,
He that gave away the Earth unto Kasyapa (in His incarnation as Parasu-Rama),
He that extinguishes the three kinds of misery (as stated in the Sankhya philosophy), like a rain-charged cloud cooling the heat of the earth by its downpour,
He that cleanses all creatures,
He that has none to urge Him,
He that drank nectar,
He that has an undying body,
He that is possessed of omniscience,
He that has face and eyes turned towards every direction,
He that is easily won (with such gifts as flowers, leaves),
He that has performed excellent vows,
He that is crowned with success by Himself,
He that is victorious over all foes,
He that scorches all foes,
He that is ever-growing and tall banyan tree that overtops all others,
He that, in the form of food, nourishes all creatures,
He that is sacred fig tree, or
He that is not durable,
This is in consequence of His being all perishable forms in the universe even as He is all the imperishable forms that exist.
He that is the slayer of Chanura, the wrestler,
He that is endued with a thousand rays,
He that has seven tongues,
This has reference to the tongues of the forms of Kali, Karali, etc.
He that has seven flames,
This is in consequence of His being identical with the deity of Fire.
He that has seven horses for bearing His vehicle, or
He that owns the steed called Sapta,
He that is formless,
He that is sinless,
He that is inconceivable,
He that dispels all fears,
He that destroys all fears,
He that is extremely subtle,
He that is huge,
He that is consciousness (spirit), devoid of matter,
He that is gross,
He that is emaciated,
He that is adipose,
He that is endued with attributes,
He that transcends all attributes,
He that is unseizable,
He that suffers Himself to be easily seized (by His worshippers),
He that has an excellent face,
He that has for His descendents the people of all the regions of the world,
He that extends the creation consisting of the five-fold primal elements,
He that bears heavy weights (in the form of Ananta),
He that has been declared by the Veda,
He that is devoted to yoga,
He that is the lord of all yogis,
He that is the giver of all wishes,
He that affords an asylum to those that seek it,
He that sets yogis to practise yoga after their return to life upon the conclusion of their life of felicity in heaven,
He that invests yogis with puissance even after the exhaustion of their merits,
He that has goodly leaves,
This has reference to the Sakhas or Schhandas of the Vedas, Himself being the Tree of the Creation.
He that causes the winds to blow,
He that is armed with the bow (in the form of Rama),
He that is conversant with the science of arms,
He that is the rod of chastisement,
He that is chastiser,
He that executes all sentences of chastisement,
He that has never been vanquished,
He that is competent in all acts,
He that sets all persons to their respective duties,
He that has none to set Him to any work,
He that has no Yama to slay Him,
He that is endued with heroism and prowess,
He that has the attribute of sattva (goodness),
He that is identical with Truth,
He that is devoted to Truth and Righteousness,
He that is sought by those who are resolved to achieve emancipation, or
He towards whom the universe proceeds when the dissolution comes,
He that deserves to have all objects which His worshippers present unto Him,
He that is worthy of being adored (with hymns, flowers and other offerings of reverence),
He that does good to all,
He that enhances the delights of all,
He whose track is through the firmament,
He that blazes forth in His own effulgence,
He that is endued with great beauty,
He that eats the offerings made on the sacrificial fire,
He that dwells everywhere and is endued with supreme puissance,
He that sucks the moisture of the earth in the form of the sun,
He that has diverse desires,
He that brings forth all things,
He that is the parent of the universe,
He that has the Sun for His eye,
He that is Infinite,
He that accepts all sacrificial offerings,
He that enjoys Prakrti in the form of Mind,
He that is giver of felicity,
He that has taken repeated births (for the protection of righteousness and the righteous),
He that is the First-born of all existent things,
He that transcends despair (in consequence of the fruition of all His wishes),
He that forgives the righteous when they trip,
He that is the foundation, upon which the universe rests,
He that is the most wonderful,
He that is existent from the beginning of Time (eternal),
He that has existed from before the birth of Brahma and others,
He that is of tawny hue, or
He that discovers or illumines all existing things by His rays,
He that assumed the form of the great Boar,
He that exists even when all things are dissolved,
He that is the giver of all blessings,
He that creates blessings,
He that is identifiable with all blessings,
He that enjoys blessings,
He that is able to scatter blessings,
He that is without wrath,
He that lies ensconced in folds (in the form of Sesha), or
He that is adorned with ear-rings,
He that is armed with the discuss,
He that is endued with great prowess,
He whose sway is regulated by the high precepts of the srutis and the smritis,
He that is incapable of being described by the aid of speech,
He whom the Vedantins have striven to express with the aid of speech,
He that is the dew which cools those who are afflicted with the three kinds of grief,
He that lives in all bodies, endued with the capacity of dispelling darkness,
He that is divested of wrath,
He that is well-skilled in accomplishing all acts by thought, word and deed,
He that can accomplish all acts within the shortest period of time,
He that destroys the wicked,
He that is the foremost of all forgiving persons,
He that is the foremost of all persons endued with knowledge,
He that transcends all fear,
He whose names and feats, heard and recited, lead to righteousness and merit,
He that rescues the righteous from the tempestuous ocean of the world,
He that destroys the wicked,
He that is Righteousness,
He that dispels all evil dreams,
He that destroys all bad paths while leading His worshippers to the good path of emancipation,
He that protects the universe by staying in the attribute of sattva,
He that walks along the good path,
He that is Life,
He that exists overspreading the universe,
He that is of infinite forms,
He that is endued with infinite prosperity,
He that has subdued wrath,
He that destroys the fears of the righteous,
He that gives just fruits, on every side, to sentient beings according to their thoughts and acts,
He that is immeasurable Soul,
He that bestows diverse kinds of fruits on deserving persons for their diverse acts,
He that sets diverse commands (on gods and men),
He that attaches to every act its proper fruit,
He that has no beginning,
He that is the receptacle of all causes, as well as of the earth,
He that has the goddess of Prosperity ever by his side,
He that is the foremost of all heroes,
He that is adorned with beautiful armlets,
He that produces all creatures,
He that is the original cause of the birth of all creatures,
He that is the terror of all the wicked asuras,
He that is endowed with terrible prowess,
He that is the receptacle and abode of the five primal elements,
He that gulps down His throat all creatures at the time of the universal dissolution,
He that smiles in the form of flowers,
He that is always wakeful,
He that stays at the head of all creatures,
He whose conduct consists of those acts which the righteous do,
He that revives the dead (such as Parikshit),
He that is the initial syllable Aum,
He that has ordained all righteous acts,
He that displays the truth about the Supreme Soul,
He that is the abode of the five life-breaths and the senses,
He that is the food which supports the life of living creatures,
He that causes all living creatures to live with the aid of the life-breath called prana,
He that is the great topic of every system of philosophy,
He that is the One Soul in the universe,
He that transcends birth, decrepitude and death,
He that rescues the universe in consequence of the sacred syllables Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah and the others with which homa offerings are made,
He that is the great rescuer,
He that is the sire of all,
He that is the sire of even Brahma,
He that is of the form of Sacrifice,
He that is the Lord of all sacrifices,
This is an allegory to Visnu being the great deity that is adored in all sacrifices.
He that is the sacrificer,
He that has sacrifices for his limbs,
He that upholds all sacrifices,
He that protects sacrifices,
He that has created sacrifices,
He that is the foremost of all performers of sacrifices,
He that enjoys the rewards of all sacrifices,
He that causes the accomplishment of all sacrifices,
He that completes all sacrifices by accepting the full libation at the end,
He that is identical with such sacrifices as are performed without desire of fruit,
He that is the food which sustains all living creatures,
He that is also the consumer of that food,
He that is Himself the cause of His existence,
He that is self-born,
He that penetrated through the solid earth,
He that sings the samans,
He that is the delighter of Devaki,
He that is the creator of all,
He that is the lord of the Earth,
He that is the destroyer of the sins of His worshippers,
He that bears the conch (Panchajanya) in His hand,
He that bears the sword of knowledge and spiritual illumination,
He that sets the cycle of the yugas to revolve without end,
He that invests Himself with consciousness and senses,
He that is endued with the mace of the most solid understanding,
He that is armed with a circular wheel,
He that is incapable of being agitated,
He that is armed with all kinds of weapons,
Aum! Salutations to Him!
Bhishma said:
Even thus have I recited to thee, without any exception, the thousand excellent names of the high-souled Kesava whose glory should always be sung……………….
The man who hymns the praises of that foremost of beings by reciting His thousand names with devotion succeeds in quickly crossing all difficulties.
That mortal who takes refuge in Vasudeva, and who becomes devoted to Him, becomes freed of all sins and attains to the eternal Brahman.
That man who, with devotion and faith, recites this hymn succeeds in acquiring felicity of soul, forgiveness of disposition, prosperity, intelligence, memory and fame.
Those persons that worship and adore the Lord of the universe, the Deity that is unborn and possessed of blazing effulgence, who is the source or cause of the universe,
who knows no change or deterioration have never to meet with any discomfiture.
Even thus have I recited to thee, without any exception, the thousand excellent names of the high-souled Kesava whose glory should always be sung……………….
The man who hymns the praises of that foremost of beings by reciting His thousand names with devotion succeeds in quickly crossing all difficulties.
That mortal who takes refuge in Vasudeva, and who becomes devoted to Him, becomes freed of all sins and attains to the eternal Brahman.
That man who, with devotion and faith, recites this hymn succeeds in acquiring felicity of soul, forgiveness of disposition, prosperity, intelligence, memory and fame.
Those persons that worship and adore the Lord of the universe, the Deity that is unborn and possessed of blazing effulgence, who is the source or cause of the universe,
who knows no change or deterioration have never to meet with any discomfiture.
Sanjaya said
Listen, O king, with attention, and having listened, let it go to thy heart. Nothing (in this world) is the result of incantation, nothing the result of illusion of any
king……………………………………………………
Listen again, O King, to what you have asked me, that is, the true cause, O chief of the Bharatas, of the victory of the Pandavas! I will tell you what I have heard, O chastiser
of foes. Duryodhana had asked the grandsire this very question. Beholding his brothers, all mighty car-warriors, vanquished in battle, your son Duryodhana, O Kaurava, with
heart confounded with grief, repairing with humility during the night to the grandsire possessed of great wisdom, asked him this question. Listen to me, O monarch, about it
all!
Listen, O king, with attention, and having listened, let it go to thy heart. Nothing (in this world) is the result of incantation, nothing the result of illusion of any
king……………………………………………………
Listen again, O King, to what you have asked me, that is, the true cause, O chief of the Bharatas, of the victory of the Pandavas! I will tell you what I have heard, O chastiser
of foes. Duryodhana had asked the grandsire this very question. Beholding his brothers, all mighty car-warriors, vanquished in battle, your son Duryodhana, O Kaurava, with
heart confounded with grief, repairing with humility during the night to the grandsire possessed of great wisdom, asked him this question. Listen to me, O monarch, about it
all!
Duryodhana said:
Drona and you, Salya, Kripa, Drona’s son, Kritavarman the son of Hridika, Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas, Bhurisravas, Vikarna, and Bhagadatta, of exceeding
prowess, are all regarded as mighty car-warriors. All of these, again, are high-born, and prepared to throw away their lives in battle. It is my opinion that these are a match,
for even the three worlds (united together) cannot bear your prowess. A doubt has arisen in my mind. Explain it to me who enquires of you. Who it is, relying on whom the
Pandavas are vanquishing us repeatedly?
Drona and you, Salya, Kripa, Drona’s son, Kritavarman the son of Hridika, Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas, Bhurisravas, Vikarna, and Bhagadatta, of exceeding
prowess, are all regarded as mighty car-warriors. All of these, again, are high-born, and prepared to throw away their lives in battle. It is my opinion that these are a match,
for even the three worlds (united together) cannot bear your prowess. A doubt has arisen in my mind. Explain it to me who enquires of you. Who it is, relying on whom the
Pandavas are vanquishing us repeatedly?
Bhishma said:
Listen, O King, to the words that I will speak unto you, O you of Kuru’s race! Frequently were you addressed by me to the same effect, but you did not do what I had
said. Let peace be made with the Pandavas, O best of the Bharatas! I regard this to be beneficial both to the world and you, O Lord!
Enjoy this earth, O King, with your brothers and be happy, gratifying all your well-wishers and delighting your kinsfolk. Although I had cried myself hoarse before, you did not
listen to me, O Sire! You had always disregarded the sons of Pandu. The effect of all that has now overtaken you! Listen also, O King, from me as I speak of it, O Lord, to
the reason why the Pandavas, whose achievements tire them not, are un-slayable.
There is not, was not, will not be, the being in all the worlds who would or will be able to vanquish the sons of Pandu who are all protected by the wielder of Saranga. Listen
truly, O you that are conversant with morality, to that ancient history which was recited to me by sages of souls under control.
In days of yore, all the celestials and the Rishis, united together, waited reverentially on the Grandsire (Brahma) upon the mountains of Gandhamadana. And the Lord of all
creatures, seated at his ease in their midst, beheld an excellent car stationed in the firmament, blazing with effulgence. Having ascertained (everything about it) by
meditation, joining his hands with restrained heart, Brahma, with delighted soul, made his salutations to the highest Divine Being. And the Rishis and the celestials,
beholding in the firmament (the form thus) displayed, all stood up with joined hands, their eyes fixed on that wonder of wonders.
Worshipping Him duly, Brahma, the foremost of all conversant with the Brahman, the Creator of the universe, acquainted with the highest morality, uttered these high words:
Listen, O King, to the words that I will speak unto you, O you of Kuru’s race! Frequently were you addressed by me to the same effect, but you did not do what I had
said. Let peace be made with the Pandavas, O best of the Bharatas! I regard this to be beneficial both to the world and you, O Lord!
Enjoy this earth, O King, with your brothers and be happy, gratifying all your well-wishers and delighting your kinsfolk. Although I had cried myself hoarse before, you did not
listen to me, O Sire! You had always disregarded the sons of Pandu. The effect of all that has now overtaken you! Listen also, O King, from me as I speak of it, O Lord, to
the reason why the Pandavas, whose achievements tire them not, are un-slayable.
There is not, was not, will not be, the being in all the worlds who would or will be able to vanquish the sons of Pandu who are all protected by the wielder of Saranga. Listen
truly, O you that are conversant with morality, to that ancient history which was recited to me by sages of souls under control.
In days of yore, all the celestials and the Rishis, united together, waited reverentially on the Grandsire (Brahma) upon the mountains of Gandhamadana. And the Lord of all
creatures, seated at his ease in their midst, beheld an excellent car stationed in the firmament, blazing with effulgence. Having ascertained (everything about it) by
meditation, joining his hands with restrained heart, Brahma, with delighted soul, made his salutations to the highest Divine Being. And the Rishis and the celestials,
beholding in the firmament (the form thus) displayed, all stood up with joined hands, their eyes fixed on that wonder of wonders.
Worshipping Him duly, Brahma, the foremost of all conversant with the Brahman, the Creator of the universe, acquainted with the highest morality, uttered these high words:
Aum!
Thou art the Glory of the universe for Thy form,
Thou art the Lord of the universe,
Thou whose protection extends through the whole universe,
Thou that has the universe for Thy work,
Thou that has Thy soul under control,
Thou art the Supreme Master of the universe,
Thou art Vasudeva. Therefore, I seek refuge in Thee that art the soul of Yoga and the highest Divinity.
Victory to Thee that art the Supreme God of the universe,
Victory to Thee that art ever employed in the good of the worlds, Victory to Thee that art the Lord of Yoga,
Having the lotus springing from Thy navel, and having large expansive eyes, victory to Thee that art Lord of lords of the universe,
O Lord of the past, the present and the future,
Victory to Thee that art the embodiment of gentleness,
Victory to Thee that art the Sun of suns, and
Thee that art the receptacle of untold attributes,
Victory to Thee that art the refuge of all things,
Thou art Narayana.
Thou art incapable of being understood.
Victory to Thee that art the wielder of the bow called Saranga, Victory to Thee that art endued with every attribute,
Thou art the Glory of the universe for Thy form,
Thou art the Lord of the universe,
Thou whose protection extends through the whole universe,
Thou that has the universe for Thy work,
Thou that has Thy soul under control,
Thou art the Supreme Master of the universe,
Thou art Vasudeva. Therefore, I seek refuge in Thee that art the soul of Yoga and the highest Divinity.
Victory to Thee that art the Supreme God of the universe,
Victory to Thee that art ever employed in the good of the worlds, Victory to Thee that art the Lord of Yoga,
Having the lotus springing from Thy navel, and having large expansive eyes, victory to Thee that art Lord of lords of the universe,
O Lord of the past, the present and the future,
Victory to Thee that art the embodiment of gentleness,
Victory to Thee that art the Sun of suns, and
Thee that art the receptacle of untold attributes,
Victory to Thee that art the refuge of all things,
Thou art Narayana.
Thou art incapable of being understood.
Victory to Thee that art the wielder of the bow called Saranga, Victory to Thee that art endued with every attribute,
O Thou that hast the universe for Thy form,
O Thou that art ever hale,
O Lord of the Universe,
O Thou of mighty arms,
Victory to Thee that art always ready for benefiting the worlds,
O great Snake!
O huge Boar!
O first Cause!
O Thou of tawny locks, victory to Thee that art Almighty.
O Thou of yellow robes,
O Lord of the cardinal, and the subsidiary points of the compass, O Thou that hast the universe for Thy abode,
O Thou that art Infinite,
O Thou that hast no decay,
O Thou that art the Manifest,
O Thou that art the Un-manifest,
O Thou that art the immeasurable Space,
O Thou that hast all thy senses under control,
O Thou that always achievest what is good,
O Thou that art immeasurable,
O Thou that alone knowest Thy own nature,
Victory to Thee that art deep,
O Thou that art the giver of all wishes,
O Thou that art without end,
O Thou that art known as the Brahman,
O Thou that art Eternal,
O Thou that art the Creator of all creatures,
O Thou that art ever successful,
O Thou whose acts always display wisdom,
O Thou that art conversant with morality,
O Thou that givest victory,
O Thou of mysterious Self,
O Thou that art the Soul of all Yoga,
O Thou that art the Cause of everything that hath sprung into existence,
O Thou that art the knowledge of the selves of all beings,
O Lord of the worlds! Victory to Thee that art the creator of all beings!
O Thou that hath Thyself for Thy origin,
O Thou that art highly blessed,
O Thou that art the Destroyer of everything,
O Thou that art the inspirer of all mental thoughts,
Victory to Thee that art dear to all conversant with the Brahman,
O Thou that art busy in creation and destruction,
O Controller of all wishes,
O Supreme Lore,
O Thou that art the Cause of Amrita,
O Thou that art All-existent,
O Thou that art the first that appears at the end of the Yuga,
O Thou that art the giver of victory,
O Divine Lord of the lord of all creatures,
O Thou that hast the lotus springing from thy navel,
O Thou of mighty strength,
O Thou that art sprung from Thyself,
O Thou that art the great elements in their primeval state,
O Thou that art the soul of all (religious) rites,
Victory to Thee that givest all.
The goddess Earth represents Thy two feet, the cardinal and the subsidiary directions Thy arms, and the heavens Thy head. I am Thy form, the celestials constitute Thy
limbs, and the Sun and the Moon are Thy two eyes. Ascetic austerities and Truth born of morality and (religious) rites constitute Thy strength. Fire is Thy energy, the wind is
Thy breath, and the waters have sprung from Thy sweat. The twins Aswins constitute Thy ears, and the goddess Saraswati is Thy tongue. The Vedas are Thy Knowledge,
and upon Thee rests this Universe.
O Lord of Yoga and Yogis! We do not know Thy extent, Thy measure, Thy energy, Thy prowess, Thy might and Thy origin.
O God! O Visnu! Filled with devotion in Thee, and depending upon Thee with vows and observances, we ever worship Thee as the highest Lord, the God of gods. The Rishis,
the gods, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Pannagas, the Pisachas, human beings, beasts, birds and reptiles were all created by me on earth through
Thy grace.
O Thou having the lotus springing from Thy navel,
O Thou of large expansive eyes,
O Krisna,
O Dispeller of all woe,
Thou art the Refuge of all creatures, and
Thou art their Guide,
Thou hast the universe for Thy mouth,
Through Thy grace, O Lord of the gods, the gods are ever happy.
Through Thy grace the Earth hath always been freed from terrors.
Therefore, O Thou of large eyes, take birth in the race of Yadu. For the sake of establishing righteousness, for slaying the sons of Diti and for upholding the universe do what
I have said.
O Lord! O Vasudeva! That which is Thy supreme mystery, that, O Lord, has been sung by me through Thy grace.
Having created the divine Sankarshana out of Thy own Self by Thyself, Thou didst then, O Krisna, create Thyself as Pradyumna born of Thyself. From Pradyumna Thou didst
then create Aniruddha who is known as the eternal Visnu. And it was Aniruddha who created me as Brahma, the upholder of the Universe. Created out of Vasudeva’s
Essence, I have, therefore, been created by Thee.
Dividing Thyself into portions, take birth, O Lord, among human beings. And slaughtering the asuras there for happiness of all the worlds, and establishing righteousness,
and winning renown, Thou wilt again truly attain to Yoga (Divinity).
The regenerate Rishis on earth and the gods, O Thou of infinite prowess, devoted to Thee, sing of Thy wondrous Self, under those names that belong to Thee.
O Thou of excellent arms! All classes of creatures rest on Thee, having taken refuge in Thee, Thou being the giver of boons. The regenerate ones sing of Thee as the world’s
bridge, having no beginning, middle and end, and as possessed of unlimited Yoga.
Bhishma said:
Then that illustrious Deity, the Lord of the worlds, replied unto Brahma in a soft deep voice, saying:
Through Yoga, O sire, all that is wished by thee is known to me. It will be even as thou wishest.
And saying this, He disappeared then and there.
Then the gods, Rishis and the Gandharvas, filled with great wonder and curiosity, all asked the Grandsire, saying:
Who is that One, O Lord, that was worshipped by thy illustrious self with such humility, and praised in such high words? We desire to hear.
Thus addressed, the illustrious Grandsire replied unto saying:
He who is called TAT,
He who is Supreme,
He who is existent at present and who will be for all time,
He who is the highest Self,
He who is the Soul of beings, and
He who is the great Lord,
I was talking with His ever-cheerful Self, ye bulls among gods.
The Lord of the universe was solicited by me, for the good of the universe, to take His birth among mankind in the family of Vasudeva. I said unto Him, ‘for the slaughter of
the asuras, take Thy birth in the world of men. Those daityas and rakshasas, of fierce form and great strength that were slain in battle, have been born among men. Indeed,
the illustrious and mighty Lore, taking birth in the human womb, will live on the earth, accompanied by Nara. Those ancient and the best of Rishis, that is, Nara and
Narayana, when born together in the world of men, will not be known (as such) by fools.
He, from whose Self, I, Brahma, the lord of the whole universe, have sprung, that Vasudeva, that Supreme God of all the worlds, is worthy of your adoration. Endued with
great energy, and bearing the conch, the discus and the mace, he should never be disregarded as a man, ye best of deities.
He is the Supreme Mystery, the Supreme Refuge, the Supreme Brahman and the Supreme Glory. He is without decay, Un-manifest, and Eternal. He it is who hath been
sung as Purusa, though none can comprehend Him. The divine Artificer hath sung of Him as the Supreme Energy, the Supreme Felicity and the Supreme Truth. Therefore,
the Lord Vasudeva of immeasurable prowess should never be disregarded as a man, by all the asuras and the gods with Indra at their head.
That person of foolish understanding is called a wretch, who, from disregard, speaketh of Hrishikesa as only a man. People speak of Him as one labouring under darkness
who disregardeth Vasudeva, that Yogi of illustrious Soul, for his entering into a human form. People speak of Him as one labouring under darkness, who knoweth not that
Divine personage, that Soul of the mobile and the immobile creation, that One bearing the auspicious wheel (on his breast), that One of dazzling effulgence, that One from
whose navel hath sprung the (primeval) lotus.
He, who disregardeth that wearer of the diadem and the Kaustubha gem, that dispeller of fears of His friends, that high-souled One, sinketh in this darkness. Having known
all these truths duly, that Lord of the worlds, that is, Vasudeva, should be adored by every one, ye the best of gods.
Then that illustrious Deity, the Lord of the worlds, replied unto Brahma in a soft deep voice, saying:
Through Yoga, O sire, all that is wished by thee is known to me. It will be even as thou wishest.
And saying this, He disappeared then and there.
Then the gods, Rishis and the Gandharvas, filled with great wonder and curiosity, all asked the Grandsire, saying:
Who is that One, O Lord, that was worshipped by thy illustrious self with such humility, and praised in such high words? We desire to hear.
Thus addressed, the illustrious Grandsire replied unto saying:
He who is called TAT,
He who is Supreme,
He who is existent at present and who will be for all time,
He who is the highest Self,
He who is the Soul of beings, and
He who is the great Lord,
I was talking with His ever-cheerful Self, ye bulls among gods.
The Lord of the universe was solicited by me, for the good of the universe, to take His birth among mankind in the family of Vasudeva. I said unto Him, ‘for the slaughter of
the asuras, take Thy birth in the world of men. Those daityas and rakshasas, of fierce form and great strength that were slain in battle, have been born among men. Indeed,
the illustrious and mighty Lore, taking birth in the human womb, will live on the earth, accompanied by Nara. Those ancient and the best of Rishis, that is, Nara and
Narayana, when born together in the world of men, will not be known (as such) by fools.
He, from whose Self, I, Brahma, the lord of the whole universe, have sprung, that Vasudeva, that Supreme God of all the worlds, is worthy of your adoration. Endued with
great energy, and bearing the conch, the discus and the mace, he should never be disregarded as a man, ye best of deities.
He is the Supreme Mystery, the Supreme Refuge, the Supreme Brahman and the Supreme Glory. He is without decay, Un-manifest, and Eternal. He it is who hath been
sung as Purusa, though none can comprehend Him. The divine Artificer hath sung of Him as the Supreme Energy, the Supreme Felicity and the Supreme Truth. Therefore,
the Lord Vasudeva of immeasurable prowess should never be disregarded as a man, by all the asuras and the gods with Indra at their head.
That person of foolish understanding is called a wretch, who, from disregard, speaketh of Hrishikesa as only a man. People speak of Him as one labouring under darkness
who disregardeth Vasudeva, that Yogi of illustrious Soul, for his entering into a human form. People speak of Him as one labouring under darkness, who knoweth not that
Divine personage, that Soul of the mobile and the immobile creation, that One bearing the auspicious wheel (on his breast), that One of dazzling effulgence, that One from
whose navel hath sprung the (primeval) lotus.
He, who disregardeth that wearer of the diadem and the Kaustubha gem, that dispeller of fears of His friends, that high-souled One, sinketh in this darkness. Having known
all these truths duly, that Lord of the worlds, that is, Vasudeva, should be adored by every one, ye the best of gods.
Bhishma continued:
Having said these words unto those gods and Rishis in days of yore, the illustrious Grandsire, dismissing them all, repaired to his own abode. And the gods and the
Gandharvas, and the munis and the apsaras also, having listened to those words spoken by Brahma, were filled with delight and repaired to heaven. Even this was heard by
me, O sire, from Rishis of cultured souls, talking in their assembly, of Vasudeva, that ancient One.
O thou that art well-versed in scriptures, I heard this from Rama, the son of Jamadagni, Markandeya of great wisdom, Vyasa and Narada also. Having learnt all this and
heard of the illustrious Vasudeva as the Eternal Lord, the Supreme God of all the worlds, and the great Master, from who hath sprung Brahma himself, the Father of the
universe, why should not that Vasudeva be adored and worshipped by men?
Forbidden wert thou before, O sire, by sages of cultured souls (who said unto thee) ‘never go to war with that Vasudeva armed with bow, as also with the Pandavas’. This,
from folly, thou couldst not apprehend. I regard thee, therefore, as a wicked rakshasa. Thou art, besides, enveloped in darkness.
It is for this, O King, that I say unto thee that this One is Eternal and Unfading, Pervading the whole universe, Unchanging, the Ruler, Creator and Upholder of all, and the
truly Existent. He it is who upholdeth the three worlds. He is the Supreme Lord of all mobile and immobile creatures, He is the great Master, He is Warrior, He is Victory, He
is Victor, and He is the Lord of all nature. O King, He is full of goodness and divested of all the qualities of darkness and passion.
There, where Krisna is, righteousness is; and there is victory where righteousness is. It is by the Yoga of His Supreme Excellence and the Yoga of His Self that the sons of
Pandu, O King, are supported. Victory, therefore, will surely be theirs.
He it is that always imparteth to the Pandavas the understanding endued with righteousness, and strength in battle; and He it is that always protecteth them from danger.
He is the Eternal God, pervading all beings, and ever blessed.
He, of whom thou hadst asked me, is known by the name of Vasudeva. He it is whom brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras, having distinctive features of their own,
humbly serve and worship with restrained hearts, while performing their own duties. He it is who, towards the close of the Dwapara-yuga and the beginning of the Kali -yuga,
is sung of, with Sankarshana, by believers with devotion. It is that Vasudeva that createth yuga after yuga, the worlds of the gods and the mortals, all cities girt by the sea,
and the region of human habitation.
Having said these words unto those gods and Rishis in days of yore, the illustrious Grandsire, dismissing them all, repaired to his own abode. And the gods and the
Gandharvas, and the munis and the apsaras also, having listened to those words spoken by Brahma, were filled with delight and repaired to heaven. Even this was heard by
me, O sire, from Rishis of cultured souls, talking in their assembly, of Vasudeva, that ancient One.
O thou that art well-versed in scriptures, I heard this from Rama, the son of Jamadagni, Markandeya of great wisdom, Vyasa and Narada also. Having learnt all this and
heard of the illustrious Vasudeva as the Eternal Lord, the Supreme God of all the worlds, and the great Master, from who hath sprung Brahma himself, the Father of the
universe, why should not that Vasudeva be adored and worshipped by men?
Forbidden wert thou before, O sire, by sages of cultured souls (who said unto thee) ‘never go to war with that Vasudeva armed with bow, as also with the Pandavas’. This,
from folly, thou couldst not apprehend. I regard thee, therefore, as a wicked rakshasa. Thou art, besides, enveloped in darkness.
It is for this, O King, that I say unto thee that this One is Eternal and Unfading, Pervading the whole universe, Unchanging, the Ruler, Creator and Upholder of all, and the
truly Existent. He it is who upholdeth the three worlds. He is the Supreme Lord of all mobile and immobile creatures, He is the great Master, He is Warrior, He is Victory, He
is Victor, and He is the Lord of all nature. O King, He is full of goodness and divested of all the qualities of darkness and passion.
There, where Krisna is, righteousness is; and there is victory where righteousness is. It is by the Yoga of His Supreme Excellence and the Yoga of His Self that the sons of
Pandu, O King, are supported. Victory, therefore, will surely be theirs.
He it is that always imparteth to the Pandavas the understanding endued with righteousness, and strength in battle; and He it is that always protecteth them from danger.
He is the Eternal God, pervading all beings, and ever blessed.
He, of whom thou hadst asked me, is known by the name of Vasudeva. He it is whom brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras, having distinctive features of their own,
humbly serve and worship with restrained hearts, while performing their own duties. He it is who, towards the close of the Dwapara-yuga and the beginning of the Kali -yuga,
is sung of, with Sankarshana, by believers with devotion. It is that Vasudeva that createth yuga after yuga, the worlds of the gods and the mortals, all cities girt by the sea,
and the region of human habitation.
Duryodhana said:
In all the worlds, Vasudeva is spoken of as the Supreme Being. I desire, O grandsire, to know His origin and glory.
In all the worlds, Vasudeva is spoken of as the Supreme Being. I desire, O grandsire, to know His origin and glory.
Bhishma said:
Vasudeva is the Supreme Being. He is the God of all gods. None superior to him of eyes like lotus-petals is to be seen, O bull of Bharata’s race!
Markandeya speaketh of Govinda as the most Wonderful and the most High, as the All-being, as the All-soul, as the Highest soul, and as the Supreme Being. Water, Air
and Fire were created by Him. That Divine Master and Lord of all the worlds created this Earth. That Supreme Being of illustrious Soul laid himself down on the waters. And
that Divine Being, made up of all kinds of energy, slept thereon in Yoga.
From His mouth, He created Fire; and from His breath, the Wind. Of unfading glory, He created from His mouth Speech and the Vedas. It is thus that He created first the
worlds, and also the gods along with the diverse classes of Rishis. And He created decay and death also of all creatures, as well as birth and growth.
He is Righteousness and of righteous soul. He is the giver of boons and the giver of all (our) wishes. He is the Actor and Action, and He is Himself the Divine Master. He first
made the past, the present and the future; He is the Creator of the universe. He is of illustrious Soul; He is the Master possessed of unfading glory.
He created Sankarshana, the first-born of all creatures. He created the divine Sesha who is known as Ananta and who upholdeth all creatures and the earth with its
mountains. Of Supreme Energy, He it is whom the regenerate ones know by yoga-meditation.
Sprung from the secretions of his ear, the great asura known by the name Madhu, fierce and of fierce deeds, entertaining a fierce intent and about to destroy Brahma, was
slain by that Supreme Being. O sire! In consequence of Madhu’s slaughter, the gods, the danavas, the human beings and the Rishis call Janardana, the slayer of Madhu.
He is the great Boar. He is the great Lion. And He is the three-stepped Lord. He is the mother and the father of all living creatures. There never was, nor be, any superior to
Him of eyes like lotus-petals.
From His mouth, He created the brahmanas, from His two arms the kshatriyas, from His thighs the vaisyas and from His feet the sudras. One, waiting dutifully on Him,
observant of vows with ascetic austerities on days of the full-moon and the new-moon, is sure to obtain the Divine Kesava, that Refuge of all embodied creatures, that
Essence of the Brahman and of Yoga.
Kesava is the higher Energy, the Grandsire of all the worlds. Him O King, the sages call Hrishikesa (the lord of the senses). He, should all know, is the Preceptor, the
Father and the Master.
Inexhaustible regions (of blessedness) are won by him with whom Krisna is gratified. He who, in a place of fear, seeketh the protection of Kesava, and he who frequently
readeth this description, becometh happy and endued with prosperity. Those men who attain to Krisna are never beguiled. Janardana always saveth those that are sunk in
great terrors. Knowing this truly, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, with his whole soul, O King, hath sought the shelter of the highly blessed Kesava, the Lord of Yoga, and the Lord
of the Earth.
Vasudeva is the Supreme Being. He is the God of all gods. None superior to him of eyes like lotus-petals is to be seen, O bull of Bharata’s race!
Markandeya speaketh of Govinda as the most Wonderful and the most High, as the All-being, as the All-soul, as the Highest soul, and as the Supreme Being. Water, Air
and Fire were created by Him. That Divine Master and Lord of all the worlds created this Earth. That Supreme Being of illustrious Soul laid himself down on the waters. And
that Divine Being, made up of all kinds of energy, slept thereon in Yoga.
From His mouth, He created Fire; and from His breath, the Wind. Of unfading glory, He created from His mouth Speech and the Vedas. It is thus that He created first the
worlds, and also the gods along with the diverse classes of Rishis. And He created decay and death also of all creatures, as well as birth and growth.
He is Righteousness and of righteous soul. He is the giver of boons and the giver of all (our) wishes. He is the Actor and Action, and He is Himself the Divine Master. He first
made the past, the present and the future; He is the Creator of the universe. He is of illustrious Soul; He is the Master possessed of unfading glory.
He created Sankarshana, the first-born of all creatures. He created the divine Sesha who is known as Ananta and who upholdeth all creatures and the earth with its
mountains. Of Supreme Energy, He it is whom the regenerate ones know by yoga-meditation.
Sprung from the secretions of his ear, the great asura known by the name Madhu, fierce and of fierce deeds, entertaining a fierce intent and about to destroy Brahma, was
slain by that Supreme Being. O sire! In consequence of Madhu’s slaughter, the gods, the danavas, the human beings and the Rishis call Janardana, the slayer of Madhu.
He is the great Boar. He is the great Lion. And He is the three-stepped Lord. He is the mother and the father of all living creatures. There never was, nor be, any superior to
Him of eyes like lotus-petals.
From His mouth, He created the brahmanas, from His two arms the kshatriyas, from His thighs the vaisyas and from His feet the sudras. One, waiting dutifully on Him,
observant of vows with ascetic austerities on days of the full-moon and the new-moon, is sure to obtain the Divine Kesava, that Refuge of all embodied creatures, that
Essence of the Brahman and of Yoga.
Kesava is the higher Energy, the Grandsire of all the worlds. Him O King, the sages call Hrishikesa (the lord of the senses). He, should all know, is the Preceptor, the
Father and the Master.
Inexhaustible regions (of blessedness) are won by him with whom Krisna is gratified. He who, in a place of fear, seeketh the protection of Kesava, and he who frequently
readeth this description, becometh happy and endued with prosperity. Those men who attain to Krisna are never beguiled. Janardana always saveth those that are sunk in
great terrors. Knowing this truly, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, with his whole soul, O King, hath sought the shelter of the highly blessed Kesava, the Lord of Yoga, and the Lord
of the Earth.
Bhishma continued:
Hear from me, O King, this hymn that was uttered by Brahma himself. This hymn was, in days of yore, communicated by regenerate Rishis and the gods (to men) on earth.
Narada described Him as the Master and the Lord of the God of gods, and all the Sadhyas and the celestials, and as one acquainted with the nature of the Creator of the
worlds.
Markandeya spoke of Him as the Past, the Present and the Future, the Sacrifice of sacrifices and the Austerity of austerities.
The illustrious Bhrigu said of Him that ‘Thou art the God of the gods, and that Thine is the ancient form of Visnu’.
Dwaipayana said of Him that ’Thou art Vasudeva of the Vasus, the establisher of Sakra and the God of gods and all creatures’.
In days of yore, on the occasion of procreating creatures, the sages spoke of Him as Daksha, the Father of Creation.
Angiras said that ‘Thou art the Creator of all beings’.
Devala said of Him that the ‘Un-manifest is all Thy body, and the Manifest is in Thy mind, and that the gods are all the result of Thy breath. With Thy head is pervaded the
heavens, and Thy two arms support the earth. In Thy stomach are the three worlds, and Thou art the Eternal Being’.
Men exalted by asceticism know Him thus: ‘Thou art the Sat of Sat, with Rishis gratified with sight of Self. With royal sages of liberal minds, never retreating from battle, and
having morality for their highest end, Thou, O slayer of Madhu, art, the sole refuse’.
Even thus is that illustrious and Supreme Being, Hari, adored and worshipped by Sanatkumara and other ascetics endued with yoga. The truth about Kesava, O sire, is now
narrated to thee, both in brief and in detail. Turn thy heart in love to Kesava.
Hear from me, O King, this hymn that was uttered by Brahma himself. This hymn was, in days of yore, communicated by regenerate Rishis and the gods (to men) on earth.
Narada described Him as the Master and the Lord of the God of gods, and all the Sadhyas and the celestials, and as one acquainted with the nature of the Creator of the
worlds.
Markandeya spoke of Him as the Past, the Present and the Future, the Sacrifice of sacrifices and the Austerity of austerities.
The illustrious Bhrigu said of Him that ‘Thou art the God of the gods, and that Thine is the ancient form of Visnu’.
Dwaipayana said of Him that ’Thou art Vasudeva of the Vasus, the establisher of Sakra and the God of gods and all creatures’.
In days of yore, on the occasion of procreating creatures, the sages spoke of Him as Daksha, the Father of Creation.
Angiras said that ‘Thou art the Creator of all beings’.
Devala said of Him that the ‘Un-manifest is all Thy body, and the Manifest is in Thy mind, and that the gods are all the result of Thy breath. With Thy head is pervaded the
heavens, and Thy two arms support the earth. In Thy stomach are the three worlds, and Thou art the Eternal Being’.
Men exalted by asceticism know Him thus: ‘Thou art the Sat of Sat, with Rishis gratified with sight of Self. With royal sages of liberal minds, never retreating from battle, and
having morality for their highest end, Thou, O slayer of Madhu, art, the sole refuse’.
Even thus is that illustrious and Supreme Being, Hari, adored and worshipped by Sanatkumara and other ascetics endued with yoga. The truth about Kesava, O sire, is now
narrated to thee, both in brief and in detail. Turn thy heart in love to Kesava.
Sanjaya continued:
Hearing this sacred story, thy son, O great King, began to regard highly both Kesava and these mighty car-warriors, that is, the sons of Pandu. Then, O Monarch, Bhishma,
the son of Santanu, once more addressed thy son, saying:
Thou hast now heard truly, O King, about the glory of the high-souled Kesava and of Nara, about which thou hadst asked me. Thou hast also heard about the object for
which both Nara and Narayana have taken their births among men. Thou hast also been told the reason why those heroes are invincible and have never been vanquished in
battle, and why also, O King, the sons of Pandu are incapable of being slain in battle, by anybody.
Krisna beareth great love for the illustrious sons of Pandu. It is for this, O King of kings, that I say, ‘let peace be made with the Pandavas.’ Restraining thy passions, enjoy
thou the earth with thy mighty brothers (around thee). By disregarding the divine Nara and Narayana, thou shalt certainly be destroyed.
Having said these words, thy sire became silent, O Monarch, and dismissing the King, entered his tent. And the King also came back to his (own) tent, having worshipped
the illustrious grandsire. And then, O bull of Bharata’s race, he laid himself down on his white bed for passing the night in sleep.
Hearing this sacred story, thy son, O great King, began to regard highly both Kesava and these mighty car-warriors, that is, the sons of Pandu. Then, O Monarch, Bhishma,
the son of Santanu, once more addressed thy son, saying:
Thou hast now heard truly, O King, about the glory of the high-souled Kesava and of Nara, about which thou hadst asked me. Thou hast also heard about the object for
which both Nara and Narayana have taken their births among men. Thou hast also been told the reason why those heroes are invincible and have never been vanquished in
battle, and why also, O King, the sons of Pandu are incapable of being slain in battle, by anybody.
Krisna beareth great love for the illustrious sons of Pandu. It is for this, O King of kings, that I say, ‘let peace be made with the Pandavas.’ Restraining thy passions, enjoy
thou the earth with thy mighty brothers (around thee). By disregarding the divine Nara and Narayana, thou shalt certainly be destroyed.
Having said these words, thy sire became silent, O Monarch, and dismissing the King, entered his tent. And the King also came back to his (own) tent, having worshipped
the illustrious grandsire. And then, O bull of Bharata’s race, he laid himself down on his white bed for passing the night in sleep.
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