The Supreme Brahman - Revealed by Rishi Markandeya

                                        नारायणं सुरगुरुं जगदेकनाथं भक्तप्रियं सकललोकनमस्कृतं च । 

त्रैगुण्यवर्जितमजं विभुमाद्यमीशं वन्दे भवघ्नममरासुरसिद्धवन्द्यम् ॥

Introduction

When the Pandavas were in their exile, they went to Kāmyaka forest, where Rṣī Mārkandeya was there. Śrī Krşņa also arrived there along with Satyabhāmā. Yudhisthira asked many series of questions, with answers given by the Rsī, and now he asked the following -

नैके युगसहस्रान्तास्त्वया दृष्टा महामुने । न चापीह समः कश्चिदायुषा तव विद्यते । वर्जयित्वा महात्मानं ब्राह्मणं परमेष्ठिनम् ॥ वर्जयित्वा महात्मानं ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्। न तेऽस्ति सदृशः कश्चिदायुषा ब्रह्मसत्तम ॥  अथाऽन्तरिक्षे लोकेऽस्मिन्देवदानववर्जिते। त्वमेव प्रलये विप्र ब्रह्माणमुपतिष्ठसे ॥  प्रलये चापि निर्वृत्ते प्रबुद्धे च पितामहे। त्वमेकः सृज्यमानानि भूतानीह प्रपश्यसि ॥ चतुर्विधानि विप्रर्षे यथावत्परमेष्ठिना। वायुभूता दिशः कृत्वा विक्षिप्यापस्ततस्ततः ॥  त्वया लोकगुरुः साक्षात्सर्वलोकपितामहः। आराधितो द्विजश्रेष्ठ तत्परेण समाधिना ॥ स्वप्रमाणमथो विप्र त्वया कृतमनेकशः। घोरेणाविश्य तपसा वेधसो निर्जितास्त्वया ॥ नारायणाङ्कप्रख्यस्त्वं सांपरायेऽतिपठ्यसे ॥  भगवाननेकशः कृत्वा त्वया विष्णोश्च विश्वकृत्। कर्णिकोद्धरणं दिव्यं ब्रह्मणः कामरूपिणः। रत्नालंकारयोगाभ्यां दृग्भ्यां दृष्टस्त्वया पुरा ॥  तस्मात्तवान्तको मृत्युर्जरा वा देहनाशिनी। न त्वां विशति विप्रर्षे प्रसादात्परमेष्ठिनः ॥  यदा नैव रविर्नाग्निर्न वायुर्न च चन्द्रमाः। नैवान्तरिक्षं नैवोर्वी शेषं भवति किंचन ॥ तस्मिन्नेकार्णवे लोके नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे। नष्टे देवासुरगणे समुत्सन्नमहोरगे ॥  शयानममितात्मानं पद्मे पद्मनिकेतनम्। त्वमेकः सर्वभूतेशं ब्रह्माणमुपतिष्ठसि ॥  एतत्प्रत्यक्षतः सर्वं पूर्वं वृत्तं द्विजोत्तम। तस्मादिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं सर्वांहेत्वात्मिकां कथां ॥ अनुभूतं हि बहुशस्त्वयैकेन द्विजोत्तम । न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्सर्वलोकेषु नित्यदा ॥ 3.191.2-16

"Mahamuni, you have seen many thousands of yugas. Best of Mahatmas, there is no one in this world who has lived as long as you, other than Brahma of the fathomless mind, who lives in the holiest of realms. Only you, O Brahmana, will worship Brahma at the time of the dissolution of the universe, when this earth is without a sky and without Devas and Danavas. And when that Pralaya ends and Narayana awakes, you alone, O enlightened one, will see Brahma re-create the four orders of beings after filling the void with air and restricting the endless waters with shores. 

You, Brahmanottama, have worshipped Brahma in his body, your soul rapt in dhyana, and have been lost in him. You have often been witness to the primeval acts of creation; you have surpassed the Prajapatis in the depth of your tapasya; in the next world, you are revered as one who is nearest to Narayana. Long ago, you beheld Mahavishnu, not with your bodily eyes but in a pure state of the Spirit, with your blemishless, lotus-like heart—the only way in which the manifold Vishnu of universal knowledge can be seen! This is why, most learned Rishi, God’s grace is upon you, and neither Death the universal destroyer nor old age, the cause of bodily decay, has any power over you. 

When neither the Sun nor the Moon, nor Fire, nor Earth, nor Air, nor Sky remains; when the world, on the brink of extinction, is one vast ocean, Ekarnava; when the Devas and Asuras and the great Nagas are gone; and when Brahma of the fathomless mind, Lord of all creatures, sleeps in a lotus, you alone will remain to worship him. Brahmanottama, you have seen all that has happened before. You alone have seen many things with your mind’s eye. Indeed, there is nothing you do not know, and I want to hear you explain why all things happen as they do."

Then Markandeya answered as follows -

मार्कण्डेय उवाच : हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवे । पुरुषाय पुराणाय शाश्वतायाव्ययाय च । अव्यक्ताय सुसूक्ष्माय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने ॥ य एष पृथुदीर्घाक्षः पीतवासा जनार्दनः। एष कर्ता विकर्ता च भूतात्मा भूतकृत्प्रभुः ॥ अचिन्त्यं महदाश्चर्यं पवित्रमिति चोच्यते । अनादिनिधनं भूतं विश्वमव्ययमक्षयम् ॥ एष कर्ता न क्रियते कारणं चापि पौरुषे । को ह्येनं परुषं वेत्ति देवा अपि न तं पौरषे ॥ सर्वमाश्चर्यमेवैतन्निर्वृत्तं राजसत्तम । आदितो मनुजव्याघ्र कृत्स्त्रस्य जगतः क्षये ॥ 3.191.17-18

"I am happy to tell you what you want to know. First, I must bow down to Nārāyaņa, the self-existent, primordial Being, who is undecaying, indestructible and inconceivable.

Jānardana (referring to Śrī Kṛṣṇa present in the scene), who wears golden raiment, this Pitāmbara, is the creator and mover of all things; he is within and outside all things, and he is the Lord of all. He is also called the Great, the Incomprehensible, the Wonderful and the Immaculate Being.

He has no beginning or end; he pervades all the world; he is constant, unchangeable and ageless. He is the creator of all, but is himself Un-created; he is the source of all power. Even the Devas don't know a person who knows this Lord completely. After the dissolution of the universe, all this wonderful creation again comes to life."

Then he explains the Yugachakra Tattva, with durations and descriptions of each Yuga briefly, explained the Guņas of people in Kali Yuga, after which, he described the Pralaya which occurs at the end of every Kalpa. The earth become flooded with water after 12 continous years of rain, and Markandeya wandered on the Earth.

Then he came across something which he had never seen before, and experienced something no one has ever gone through before. He saw a boy on a cot with celestial bedclothes, attached to a vast Banyan tree:

ततो मे पृथिवीपाल विस्मयः सुमहानभूत् । कथं त्वयं शिशुः शेते लोके नाशमुपागते ॥ तपसा चिन्तयंश्चापि तं शिशुं नोपलक्षये । भूतं भव्यं भविष्यच्च जानन्नपि नराधिप ॥ अतसीपुष्पवर्णाभः श्रीवत्सकृतलक्षणः । साक्षाल्लक्ष्म्या इवावासः स तदा प्रतिभाति मे ॥ ततो मामब्रवीद् बालः स पद्मनिभलोचनः । श्रीवत्सधारी द्युतिमान्वाक्यं श्रुतिसुखावहम् ॥ जानामि त्वा परिश्रान्तं तात विश्रामकाङ्क्षिणम् । मार्कण्डेय इहास्स्व त्वं यावदिच्छसि भार्गव ॥ अभ्यन्तरं शरीरं मे प्रविश्य मुनिसत्तम । आस्स्व भो विहितो वासः प्रसादस्ते कृतो मया ॥ 3.191.94-99

"My heart fills with wonder at this sight, Rajan, and I ask myself, How does this boy sit here when the world is being destroyed? Although I know all there is to know about the past, the present and the future, I still cannot understand this, even with deep meditation. The boy glows with the lustre of the Atasī flower and bears the hallowed mark of the Śrīvatsa. He seems to embody the Devī Lakṣmī. That boy with the Śrīvatsa, of the lotus-petal eyes and dazzling radiance speaks to me with sweet words.

He says, "Sire, I know that you are tired and need to rest. O Markandeya of Bhrigu's race, rest here as long as you wish. Best of Munis, enter into me and rest there. I have assigned my body to be your home, for I am pleased with you." When the boy speaks, I feel a complete disregard for my life as a man. The boy opens his mouth and, powerless to stop myself, I enter into it."

Virāta Svarūpa of Bhagavān

Then here is the description of what he has seen in it.

ततः प्रविष्टस्तत्कुक्षिं सहसा मनुजाधिप। सराष्ट्रनगराकीर्णां कृत्स्नां पश्यामि मेदिनीम् ॥ गङ्गां शतद्रुं सीतां च यमुनामथ कौशिकीम्। चर्मण्वतींवेत्रवतीं चन्द्रभागां सरस्वतीम् ॥  सिन्धुं चैव विपाशां च नदीं गोदावरीमपि। वस्वोकसारां नलिनीं नर्मदां चैव भारत ॥ नदीं ताम्रां च वेणां च पुण्यतोयां शुभावहाम्। सुवेणां कृष्णवेणां च इरामां च महानदीम् ॥  वितस्तां च महाराज कावेरीं च महानदीम्। `तुङ्गभद्रां कृष्णवेणीं कमलां च महानदीम्'। शोणं च पुरुषव्याघ्र विशल्यां किंपुनामपि ॥ एताश्चान्याश्च नद्योऽहं पृथिव्यां या नरोत्तम। परिक्रामन्प्रपश्यामि तस्य कुक्षौ महात्मनः ॥ ततः समुद्रं पश्मामि यादोगणनिषेवितम्। रत्नाकरममित्रघ्न पयसोनिधिमुत्तमम् ॥  ततः पश्यामि गगनं चन्द्रसूर्यविराजितम्। जाज्वल्यमानं तेजोभिः पावकार्कसमप्रभम् ॥  पश्यामि च महीं राजन्काननैरुपशोभिताम्। `सपर्वतवनद्वीपां निम्नगाशतसंकुलाम् ॥ 3.191.102-110

"I enter the boy's belly and see the Earth there, all her cities and kingdoms. And while wandering through the belly of that exalted One, I see the rivers Gangā, Satudrū, Sitā, Yamuna and Kausikū; Charmanwatu, Vetravatū, Chandrabhāgā, Saraswatī, Sindhū and Vipasā; the Godavarī, Vaswokasarā, Nalinī, Narmadā and Tamrā, the beautiful and sacred Venā, Suvenā, Kṛṣṇavenā, Iramā, the Mahānadī; the Vitastī, the great Kāverī, the Visalyā and the Kimpunā I see. I see all these and many other rivers that flow across the Earth. And I also see the Ocean, home of all waters, with its crocodiles and sharks and its precious gems. I see the Sky, too, adorned with Sun and Moon, and it blazes with the brilliance of fiery Surya. And I see Bhūmī as well, graced with woods, forests and Rivers. 

यजन्ते हि ततो राजन्ब्राह्मणा बहुभिर्मखैः। क्षत्रियाश् प्रवर्तन्ते सर्ववर्णानुरञ्जनैः ॥  वैश्याः कृषिं यथान्यायं कारयन्ति नराधिप। शुश्रूषायां च निरता द्विजानां वृषलास्तथा ॥  ततः परिपतन्राजंस्तस्य कुक्षौ महात्मनः। हिमवन्तं च पश्यामि हेमकूटं च पर्वतम् ॥  निषधं चापि पश्यामि श्वेतं च रजतान्वितम्। पश्यामि च महीपाल पर्वतं गन्धमादनम् ॥  मन्दरं मनुजव्याघ्र नीलं चापि महागिरिम्। पश्यामि च महाराज मेरु कनकपर्वतम् ॥  महेन्द्रं चैव पश्यामि विन्ध्यं च गिरिमुत्तमम्। मलयं चापि पश्यामि पारियात्रं च पर्वतम् ॥ एते चान्ये च बहवो यावन्तः पृथिवीधराः। तस्योदरे मया दृष्टाः सर्वे रत्नविभूषिताः ॥ सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्वराहांश्च पश्यामि मनुजाधिप। पृथिव्यां यानि चान्यानि सत्त्वानि जगतीपते। तानि सर्वाण्यहं तत्र पश्यन्पर्यचरं तदा ॥  कुक्षौ तस् नरव्याघ्र प्रविष्टः संचरन्दिशः। शक्रादींश्चापि पश्यामि कृत्स्नान्देवगणानहम् ॥  साध्यान्रुद्रांस्तथाऽऽदित्यान्गुह्यकान्पितरस्तथा। सर्पान्नागान्सुपर्णांश्च वसूनप्यश्विनावपि ॥  गन्धर्वाप्सरसो यक्षानृषींश्चैव महीपते। दैत्यदानवसङ्घांश्च नागांश्च मनुजाधिप ॥ 3.191.111-121

I see many Brāhmaņas busy with their yagnas, Kṣatriyas fulfilling their responsibilities to the other Varņas, Vaiśyas farming, and Śudras devoted to the service of the higher varnas. Rājan, while wandering through the belly. of the boy, that Mahātman, I also see the mountains Himāvat, Hemakunta, Nishāda and silver-rich Śveta. I see the mountains Gandhamadana, Mandara and the massive Nīla; golden Meru and Mahendra and the excellent Vindhyās; Malaya and Pariyatra. These and many other mountains, all bejewelled, do I see within the boy's stomach. see lions, tigers, boars and, indeed, all the Earth's other animals. As I roam I see the whole pantheon of Devas, with their king Śakradeva. I see the Sadhyas, the Rudras, the Ādityas, the Guhyakas, the Pitrs, the Uragas and the Pannagās, all the Garutmats of the air, the Vasus, the Aśvins, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yaksas, the Rishis, the hordes of Daityas and Dānavas, and the Nāgas.

सिंहिकातनयांश्चापि ये चान्ये सुरशत्रवः। यच्च किंचिन्मया लोके दृष्टं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥  सर्वं पश्याम्यहं राजंस्तस्य कुक्षौ महात्मनः। त्वरमाणः फलाहारः कृत्स्नं जगदिदं विभो ॥  अन्तःशरीरे तस्याहं वर्षाणामधिकं शतम्।  न च पश्यामि यस्याहं देहस्यान्तं कदाचन ॥  सततं धावमानश्च चिन्तयानो विशांपते। `भ्रमंस्तत्र महीपाल यदा वर्षगणान्बहून्'। आसादयामि नैवान्तं तस्य राजन्महात्मनः ॥  ततस्तमेव शरणं गतोस्मि विधिवत्तदा। वरेण्यं वरदं देवं मनसा कर्मणैव च ॥  ततोऽहं सहसा राजन्वायुवेगेन निःसृतः। महात्मनो मुखात्तस्य विवृतात्पुरुषोत्तम ॥ 3.191.122-127

I see the sons of Simhika and all the other enemies of the Devas; I see everything that exists on Bhūmī, mobile and immobile. I eat fruits and live inside the boy's body for many centuries, but despite wandering over the entire universe inside it, I cannot see how far it extends. When I fail to measure the limits of that sacred body, I prayerfully surrendered and surrendered onto his preeminence. No sooner have I done this than I am shot out of his mouth by a gust of wind.

The Moment of Realization

ततस्तस्यैव शाखायां न्यग्रोधस्य विशांपते। आस्ते मनुजशार्दूल कृत्स्नमादाय वै जगत् ॥  ते नैव बालवेषेण श्रीवत्सकृतलक्षणम्। आसीनं तं नरव्याघ्र पश्याम्यमिततेजसम् ॥  ततो मामब्रवीद्बालः स प्रीतः प्रहसन्निव। श्रीवत्सधारी द्युतिमान्पीतवासा महाद्युतिः ॥  अपीदानीं शरीरेऽस्मिन्मामके मुनिसत्तम। उषितस्त्वं परिश्रान्तो मार्कण्डेय ब्रवीहि मे ॥  मुहूर्तादथ मे दृष्टिः प्रादुर्भूता पुनर्नवा। मायानिर्मुक्तमात्मनमपश्यं लब्धचेतसम् ॥  तस्य ताम्रतलौ तात चरणौ सुप्रतिष्ठितौ। सुजातौ मृदुरक्ताभिरङ्गुलीभिर्विराजितौ ॥  प्रयत्नेन मया मूर्ध्ना गृहीत्वा ह्यभिवनदितौ। दृष्ट्वाऽपरिमितं तस् प्रभावममितौजसः ॥  विनयेनाञ्जलिं कृत्वाप्रयत्नेनोपगम्य ह। दृष्टो मया स भूतात्मा देवः कमललोचनः ॥ 3-191.128-135

And, Rājan, I find myself outside once more, looking at the branch of the same banyan tree, at the same being, the boy of blinding tejas and with the sacred mark of the Śrīvatsa, who has swallowed the universe. And that boy of blinding radiance, clad in fulvid robes, enthralls me with what he smilingly says. "O Mārkandeya, best of Munis, wandering inside my body has exhausted you, but still, I will speak to you."

At the very moment that he says this to me, I acquire a new sight, which enables me to realise that I have gained true knowledge and been freed from illusion. And, having witnessed the inexhaustible power of that Being of energy beyond measure,

I worship his hallowed, beautiful feet-their soles bright as burnished copper, their reddish toes-by placing them carefully on my head and joining my palms together in humility. Then I look up at him with utmost reverence, that Divine Being who is the soul of all things and whose eyes are like lotus petals.

तमहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा नमस्कृत्येदमब्रवम्। ज्ञातुमिच्छामि देव त्वां मायां चैतां तवोत्तमाम् ॥  आस्येनानुप्रविष्टोऽहं शरीरे भगवंस्तव। दृष्टवानखिलाँल्लोकान्समस्तान्जठरे हि ते ॥  तव देव शरीरस्था देवदानवराक्षसाः। यक्षगन्धर्वनागाश्च जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥  त्वत्प्रसादाच्च मे देव स्मृतिर्न परिहीयते। द्रुतमन्तःशरीरे ते सततं परिवर्तिनः ॥  निर्गतोऽहमकामस्तु इच्छया ते महाप्रभो। यतिष्ये पुण्डरीकाक्ष ज्ञातुं त्वाऽहमनिन्दितं ॥  इह भूत्वा शिशुः साक्षात्किं भवानवतिष्ठते। पीत्वा जगदिदं सर्वमेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥  किमर्थं च जगत्सर्वं शरीरस्थं तवानघ। कियन्तं च त्वया कालमिह स्थेयमरिंदम ॥ एतदिच्छामि देवेश श्रोतुं ब्राह्मणकाम्यया। त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्षं विस्तरेण यथातथम्। महद्ध्येतदचिन्त्यं च यदहं दृष्टवान्प्रभो ॥  इत्युक्तः स मया श्रीमान्देवदेवो महाद्युतिः। सान्त्वयन्मामिदं वाक्यमुवाच वदतांवरः ॥ 3.191.136-144

With hands still folded, I address him, "O Divine One, I wish to know you and this wondrous illusion. I saw the entire universe in your belly. The Devas, the Danavas, the Raksasas, the Yakshas, the Gandharvas and the Nagas, indeed the whole universe of mobile and immobile creation, are all within your body! Although I travelled all through your body at great speed, by your grace, I have not forgotten anything I saw. And, Great Lord, I have come out of your body because you willed it, not because I wanted to.

O Pundarīkākṣa, I want to know about you, who are perfect! Why do you sit here in the form of a boy after having swallowed the universe? You must explain it to me. Why, O Anagha, is all the universe inside you? How long will you stay here? O Lord of the Devas, my curiosity is not improper for a Brāhmaņa, and I would so like to hear all this from you, in detail and exactly as it happens. What I have seen is wonderful and incomprehensible!' The Devadeva, of the refulgent splendour and ineffable beauty, that most eloquent among of all speakers, pacified me with these words."

अरण्यपर्वणि मर्कण्डेयसमास्यापर्वणि इति श्रीमन्महाभारते एकनवत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः ॥ 191 ॥

Who is Śrīman Nārāyaņa?

Śrī Bhagavān then answers to Markandeya as follows:

देव उवाच : कामं देवाऽपि मां विप्र न हि जानन्ति तत्त्वतः। त्वत्प्रीत्या तु प्रवक्ष्यामि यथेदं विमृजाम्यहम् ॥ पितृभक्तोसि विप्रर्षे मां चैव शरणं गतः। ततो दृष्टोस्मि ते साक्षाद्ब्रह्मचर्यं च ते महत् ॥ 3.192.1-2

O Brahmana, even the Devas do not really know me! However, since I am pleased with you, I will tell you how I created the universe. Regenerate Rishi, not only are you devoted to your ancestors, you have also sought my protection. You have, besides, seen me with your eyes, and your Brahmacharya is great.

आपो नारा इति प्रोक्तास्तासां नाम कृतं मया । तेन नारायणप्युक्तो मम तत्त्वयनं सदा ॥ अहंनारायणो नाम प्रभवः शाश्वतोऽव्ययः। विधाता सर्वभूतानां संहर्ता च द्विजोत्तम् ॥ 3.192.3-4

In time before memory, I gave the waters the name Nārā; and because the waters have ever been my ayaņa, or home, I am called Nārāyaņa. Brāhmaņottama, I am Nārāyaņa, the source of all things, the eternal, unchangeable One. I am the creator of all things, as well as the destroyer of all.

अहं विष्णुरहं ब्रह्मा शक्रश्चाहं सुराधिपः । अहं वैश्रवणो राजा यमः प्रेताधिपस्तथा ॥ अहं शिवश्च सोमश्च कश्यपोऽथ प्रजापतिः । अहं धाता विधाता च यज्ञश्चाहं द्विजोत्तम ॥ अग्निरास्यं क्षिति पादौ चन्द्रादित्यौ च लोचने । द्यौर्मूर्धा मे दिशः श्रोत्रे तथाऽऽपः स्वेदसंभवाः। सकलं च नभः कायो वायुर्मनसि मे स्थितः ।। 3.192.5-7

I am Vişņu, I am Brahmā and I am Śakra, the king of the Devas. I am Vaiśravaņa, and I am Yama the lord of the dead. I am Śiva, I am Soma, and I am Kaśyapa the lord of the created. I am Dhātr, and also Vidhātr, and I am Yagña embodied. Fire is my mouth, the Earth my feet, and the Sun and the Moon are my eyes; Svarga is the crown of my head, the Sky and the Cardinal Points are my ears; the Waters are born of my sweat. Space is my body, and Air is my mind.

चतुः समुद्रपर्यन्तां मेरुमन्दरभूषणाम् । शेषो भूत्वाऽहमेवैतां धारयामि वसुंधराम् ॥ वाराहं रूपमास्थाय मयेयं जगती पुरा। मज्जमाना जले विप्र वीर्येणासीत्समुद्धृता ॥ 3.192.10-11

Assuming the form of Śeșa, I hold upon my head this Earth bounded by the four seas and adorned by Merū and Mandara. O Dvija, long ago I took the form of a Boar (Varaha Avatāram) and raised this Bhūmī that had sunk in the water.

The Parama Puruşa of the Upaniṣads

ब्रह्म वक्रं भुजौ क्षत्रमूरू मे संस्थिता विशः । पादौ शूद्रा भवन्तीमे विक्रमेण क्रमेण च ॥ ऋग्वेदः सामवेदश्च यजुर्वेदोऽप्यथर्वणः । मत्तः प्रादुर्भवन्त्येते मामेव प्रविशन्ति च ॥ 3.192.13-14

It is from my vitality that Brāhmaņas, Kshatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras sprang from my mouth, my arms, my thighs and my feet. It is from me that the Rg, the Sama, the Yajur, and the Atharva Vedas arose, and it is into me that they all merge when the time comes.

यतयः शान्तिपरमा यतात्मानो मुमुक्षवः । कामक्रोधद्वेषमुक्ता निःसंज्ञा वीतकल्मषाः ॥ सत्वस्था निरहंकारा नित्यमध्यात्मकोविदाः। मामेव सततं विप्राश्चिन्तयन्त उपासते ॥ 3.192.15.16

Brāhmaņas devoted to sannyāsa, who value peace as the highest attribute, who have their souls under complete control, who yearn for knowledge, who have shed lust, anger and envy, who are detached from the material things of the earth, whose sins have been washed away, who are gentle and virtuous, who have no pride and who truly know the Self, they worship me with profound dhyana.

तारारूपाणि दृश्यन्ते यान्येतानि नभस्तले । मम रूपाण्यथैतानि विद्धि त्वं द्विजसत्तम ॥ रत्नाकराः समुद्राश्च सर्व एव चतुर्दिशः । वसनं शयनं चैव विलयं चैव विद्धि मे ॥ मयैव सुविभक्तास्ते देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये । कामं क्रोधं च हर्षं च भयं मोहं तथैव च । ममैव विद्धि रोमाणि सर्वाण्येतानि सत्तम ॥ प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा विप्र यत्कृत्वा कर्म शोभनम् । सत्यं दानं तपश्चोग्रमहिंसा चैव जन्तुषु ॥ मद्विधानेन विहिता मम देहविहारिणः । मयाऽभिभूतविज्ञाना विचेष्टन्ते न कामतः ॥ सम्यग्वेदमधीयाना यजन्ते विविधैर्मखैः । शान्तात्मानो जितक्रोधाः प्राप्नुवन्ति द्विजातयः ॥ 3.192.18-23

What you see and know as stars in the sky are the pores of my skin. The gem-rich Ocean and the four Cardinal Points are my robes, my bed, and my home. I have distributed them over the Earth in order to serve the purposes of the gods. Lust, anger, joy, fear and confusion, which cloud the intellect, are all different forms of me. I reward men for practising Satya, Dāna, Tapasya, Śānti and Ahimsā towards all creatures, and for other benign deeds.

Men wander within my body, under my control, their senses overwhelmed by me. They move not by their will but by mine. Brāhmaņas who have thoroughly studied the Vedas, who have tranquil minds, and who have subdued their anger earn great rewards through their numerous sacrifices.

Avatāra Rahasya

प्राप्तुं न शक्यो यो विद्वन्नरैर्दुष्कृतकर्मभिः । लोभाभिभूतैः कृपणैरनार्यैरकृतात्मभिः ॥ तस्मान्महाफलंविद्धि पदं सुकृतकर्मणः । सुदुष्प्रापं विमूढानां मार्गं योगैर्निषेवितम् ॥ यदा यदा च धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति सत्तम । अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥ दैत्या हिंसानुरक्ताश्च अवध्याः सुरसत्तमैः । राक्षसाश्चापि लोकेऽस्मिन्यदोत्पत्स्यन्ति दारुणाः ॥ तदाऽहंसंप्रसूयामि गृहेषु शुभकर्मणाम् । प्रविष्टो मानुषं देहं सर्वं प्रशमयाम्यहम् ॥ सृष्ट्वा देवमनुष्यांस्तु गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसान् । स्थावराणि च भूतानि संहराम्यात्ममायया ॥ 3.192.24-29

These rewards, however, are unattainable by evil men who are overtaken by covetousness, men with dark souls, unblessed and impure. Know, therefore, Brāhmaņa, that the benefits obtained by men who have disciplined their souls bear great merit, and they are out of the reach of the ignorant and the foolish. At the times in human history, when dharma and truth wane and sin and adharma rise, I incarnate myself in new forms.

When fierce and malicious Daityas and Rākṣasas, who cannot be slain by even the Devas, are born on Earth, I am born in the human form into the families of virtuous men and restore dharma by exterminating evil. Powered by my own māyā, I create Devas and Manavas (humans), Gandharvas and Rākṣasas, and all unmoving things, and then destroy them all at the appropriate time. 

कर्मकाले पुनर्देहमनुचिन्त्य सृजाम्यहम् । आविश्य मानषं देहं मर्यादाबन्धकारणात् ॥ श्वेतः कृतयुगे वर्णः पीतस्त्रेतायुगे मम । श्यामो द्वापरमासाद्य कृष्णः कलियुगे तथा ॥ त्रयो भागा ह्यधर्मस्य तस्मिन्काले भवन्ति च । 'यदा भवति मे वर्णः कृष्णो वै द्विजसत्तम' ॥ अन्तकाले च संप्राप्ते कालो भूत्वाऽतिदारुणः । त्रैलोक्यं नाशयाम्येकः कृत्स्नं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥ अहं त्रिवर्मा विश्वात्मा सर्वलोकसुखावहः । अजितः सर्वगोऽनन्तो हृषीकेश उरुक्रमः । कालचक्रं नयाम्येको ब्रह्मन्नहमरूपकम् ॥ 3.192.30-34

For the preservation of righteousness and honour I assume a human form, and keep that form until the time for deeds comes, when I assume my incomprehensible, inconceivable Viśvarūpa. In the Krita yuga I am white, in the Treta yuga I am golden-yellow, in the Dwapara I am red and in the Kali yuga I become dark in hue. In the Kali yuga, adharma is three times as powerful as goodness.

At the end of the yuga I assume the form of Death and destroy the three worlds, with all their moving and motionless things. With three steps I cover the entire universe. I am the essence of the Universe; I am the source of all happiness; I am the humbler of pride; I am omnipresent; I am infinite; I am lord of the senses; and great is my power. O Brāhmaņa, it is I that set the Kalachakra, the wheel of time, in motion. Foremost of Rishis, I am don't have a mortal form; I am the Destroyer; and I am the impetus of any effort in all my creatures.

The Outversal Being

शमनं सर्वभूतानां सर्वकालकृतोद्यमम् । एवं प्रणिहितः सम्यङ्गायया मुनिसत्तम । सर्वभूतेषु विप्रेन्द्र न च मां वेत्ति कश्चन ॥ सर्वलोके च मां भक्ताः पूजयन्ति च सर्वशः ॥ यच्च किंचित्त्वया प्राप्तं मयि क्लेशात्मकं द्विज । सुखोदयाय तत्सर्वं श्रेयसे च तवानघ ॥ यच्च किंचित्त्वया लोके दृष्टं स्थावरजङ्गमम् । विहित सर्वथैवासौ ममात्मा भूतभावनः ॥ अर्धं मम शरीरस्य सर्वलोकपितामहः । अहं नारायणो नाम शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ॥ यावद्युगानां विप्रर्षे सहस्रपरिवर्तनम् । तावत्स्वपिमि विश्वात्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः ॥ एवं सर्वमहं कालमिहासे मुनिसत्तम । अशिशुः शिशुरूपेण यावद्ब्रह्मा न बुध्यते ॥ 3.192.35-41

My spirit infuses all beings, but none know me. It is me that the pious and the devout worship in all the worlds. Sinless one, whatever pain you felt while inside my belly was for your future happiness and good fortune. Whatever mobile and immobile objects you have seen in the world, all that was ordained by my Soul, which is the well-spring of all existence. The progenitor of all creatures is half my body.

I am called Nārāyaņa, and I am bearer of the conch (Pāñcajanya), the discus (Sudarśana Chakra) and the mace (Kaumodākī). Great Rishi, for a period equal to a thousand yugas, I, the universal Soul, sleep, drawing all creatures into that same nidra. I remain here through all time in the form of a boy, though I am the most ancient One, until Brahmā awakes.     

 

ततोसि वक्राद्विप्रर्षे द्रुतं निःसारितो मया । आख्यातस्ते मया चात्मा दुर्गे योपि सुरासुरैः ॥ यावत्स भगवान्ब्रह्मा न बुध्येत महातपाः । तावत्त्वमिह विप्रर्षे विस्रब्धश्चर वै सुखम् ॥ ततो विबुद्धे तस्मिंस्तु सर्वलोकपितामहे । एकीभूतः प्रवेक्ष्यामि शरीराणि द्विजोत्तम ॥ आकाशं पृथिवीं ज्योतिर्वायुं सलिलमेव च । लोके यच्च भवेच्छेषमिह स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥3.192.45-48

I have now told you about the Soul which cannot be fathomed, even by the Devas and the Asuras. And as long as that glorious tapasvin, holy Brahmā, remains asleep, you can live here in peace and bliss. When that ancestor of all creatures awakens, I will then create all creatures with physical bodies, the Sky, Earth, Light, Air, Water and, indeed, everything else that you may see!"

मार्कण्डेय उवाच : इत्युत्क्त्वान्तर्हितस्तात स देवः परमाद्भुतः । प्रजाश्चेमाः प्रपश्यामि विचित्रा विविधाः कृताः ॥ एवं दृष्टं मया राजंस्तस्मिन्प्राप्ते युगक्षये । आश्चर्यं भरतश्रेष्ठ सर्वधर्मभृतांवरः ॥ 3.192.49-50

My son, with these words, that wonderful, hallowed Being vanished from my sight, and I then saw this varied and wondrous universe begin to take birth. O best of the Bhāratas, most virtuous among men, I witnessed this wonder at the end of the yuga.

Glory of Śrī Krsna

यः स देवो मया दृष्टः पुरा पद्मायतेक्षणः । स एष पुरुषव्याघ्र संबन्धी ते जनार्दनः ॥ अस्यैव वरदानाद्धि स्मृतिर्न प्रजहाति माम् । दीर्गमायुश्च कौन्तेय स्वच्छन्दमरणं मम ॥ स एष कृष्णो वार्ष्णेय पुराणपुरुषो विभुः । आस्ते हरिरचिन्त्यात्मा क्रीडन्निव महाभुजः ॥ एष धाता विधाता च संहर्ता चैव शाश्वतः । श्रीवत्सवक्षा गोविन्दः प्रजापतिपतिः प्रभुः ॥ दृष्ट्वेमं वृष्णिप्रवरं स्मृतिर्मामियमागता । आदिदेवमयं जिष्णुं पुरुषं पीतवाससम् ॥ सर्वेषामेव भूतानां पिता माता च माधवः । गच्छध्वमेनं शरणं शरण्यं कौरवर्षभाः ॥ 3.192.51-56

The Deity, of the eyes as large as lotus leaves, whom I saw so long ago, is this Jānardana here, who is the tiger among men, who has become your kinsman. It is because of the boon he granted me that I remember everything clearly, and also why my life is so long and death under my control. That ancient and supreme Lord Hari of mysterious soul has been born as Kṛṣṇa of the Vrsnīs. This Mahabaho seems to sport playfully in this world.

He is Dhātā and Vidhātā, the destroyer of the eternal, the bearer of the Śrīvatsa mark on his breast, the Lord of the lord of all creatures, the highest of the high, also called Govinda! Seeing him, this greatest of all gods, this ever-victorious one clad in yellow robes, this lord of the Vrsnīs, my memory returns to me. Madhava is the father and mother of all creatures. O bulls of the race of Kuru, seek refuge in him, the Protector!"

The sons of Prthā, the twins and Draupadi bow deeply to Kṛṣṇa; and that tiger among men speaks words of great sweetness to them.

इति अरण्यपर्वणि श्रीमन्महाभारते द्विनवत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः ॥ 192 ॥ मार्कण्डेयसमास्यापर्वणि

Conclusion

Throughout the Mahābhārata, Vişnu's position as the Supreme Brahman of the Upaniṣads is repeatedly sung. Let us all surrender to him to cross this ocean of Samsāra.