70 - Rudragitä I

Bhadräshva said:

1. O sage, what Vrata, Tapas or Dharma was done by you to get at that world again?

Agastya said:

2. No one can think of getting at those worlds without worshipping Vishnu with devotion. When once he is worshipped, all of them are easily attainable.

3. Thinking, thus, O king, the eternal Vishnu was worshipped by me with sacrifices in dakshina which was liberally given.

4. As I was worshipping him in his form as sacrifice for a long time, Devas who were invoked in the sacrifice came there together with Indra.

5-6. When Indra and the other gods were remaining in their positions in the sky, the great god Rudra arrived there. He too stood in his position.

7-9. Seeing all the gods, sages and great serpents arrive there, the sage Sanatkumära, son of Brahma, came there in a very minute aerial car resembling the sun and he, a great yogi who could know the past, present and future, prostrated before Rudra.

10-11. At the sight of these Devas, sages like Nárada, and Sanatkumära and Rudra, I asked who among them was the greatest to whom sacrifices could be offered. Then in the presence of gods, Rudra told me:

Rudra said:

12. Listen to me all of you Devas, Devarshis, Brahmarshis and you intelligent Agastya in particular.

13-14. He for whom sacrifices are to be performed is the great and omnipresent lord Närayana from whom the entire universe has arisen and in whom it is dissolved along with Devas.

15-16. That great lord put himself to a three-fold transformation. With Sattva predominating in him, he associated himself with Rajas and Tamas, and created out of his navel Brahma seated in the lotus. Brahma associated himself with Rajas and Tamas and created me.

17-18. Lord Hari is Sattva and he is the ultimate. Brahmä, the four-faced god, who arose from the lotus is Sattva and Rajas. That which is with Rajas and Tamas is no doubt, myself.

19. There is the trio constituted of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is of the nature of Näräyana and all living beings are liberated by it.

20. By Rajas associated with Sattva arises this creation which has got Rajas predominating. This is well known as the creation of Brahma.

21. The actions not laid down in the Vedas but are, however, based on Shästras, are called Raudra (pertaining to Rudra) and that is not commended for people.

22. Actions not out of Rajas, but purely out of Tamas, lead people to ruin both in the present world and in the world beyond.

23. Sattva pertains to Näräyana and living beings have Sattva as the means of liberation, and Näräyana is considered as of the nature of sacrifice.

24. In the Krutayuga, is worshipped in his pure and minute form. In the Tretäyuga he is worshipped in the form of sacrifice and in the Dväpara yuga according to Päñcharätra.

25. In the Kaliyuga he is worshipped in the manner laid down by me in various Tämasic forms and with the motive of animosity.

26. There is no god above him in the past, present or future.

He who is Vishnu is Brahma and he who is Brahma is Mahešhvara too.

27. Men who are learned in the three Vedas and adepts in sacrifices have declared that he who draws a distinction among us three, is sinful and wicked and faces downfall.

28. O Agastya, listen. I shall tell you about the early times when people were not having devotion to Hari.

29-30. In olden times, the people of the Bhüloka (Earth) performed sacrifice to Janärdana, and went to the Bhuvarloka, and from there worshipped Him and attained heaven being liberated in the gradual manner.

31. (Even) after being thus liberated, everyone began to meditate on Hari, and He being present everywhere, appeared before them.

32. He asked them all as to what he might do for them. They then bowed to him and said:

33. “O great god, all people have been now liberated. How then will creation proceed and who will go to hell?”

34. Thus asked by Devas, lord Janärdana told them: “During the (first) three Yugas, most people reach me.

 35. But in the last yuga (Kali) those who attain me will be few. I then create the force of stupefaction which deludes people.

36. O you Rudra, you produce the Mohašhästra (the science of stupefaction). With a little effort you produce delusion”.

37. So saying, the great lord concealed himself and I was made very manifest.

38. From then onwards people became more interested in the šhästras which I promulgated.

39. Following the Vedic path, (worshipping) lord Nàräyana and finding unity (in all the three gods), people get liberation.

40. Those who consider me as different from Vishnu or Brahma, are driven to do sinful deeds and reach hell.

41. It is for the delusion of those who are outside the Vedic fold that I introduced the šhästra called Naya, Siddhänta etc.

42. This is the rope (Päšha) that binds men (Pašhu) and that should be snapped. Therefore, it is the Päšhupata šhästra which is Vaidik.

43. O sage, my body is of the Vedas. This truth is not known by those who propound other šhästras.

44. I am to be known through the Vedas and particularly by the Brahmins. I am the three yugas and also Brahma and Vishnu.

45. I am the three gunas Sativa, (Rajas and Tamas), the three Vedas and the three fires, and three worlds, the three Sandhyàs1 and the three Varnas.2

1. Morn, noon and evening.

2. Brähmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya

46. I am the three savanas3, the three bonds in the world.

3. Vedic rites to be performed in the morning, noon and evening.

47. He who knows this and also knows me as Narayana the lotus-born Brahmä and myself as one made different by the qualities (has right knowledge). I am essentially one, it is ignorance that produces the sense of difference.