Chapter 138 - In praise of the (Brahmā-) Purāṇa

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

1-3. Thus, O brahmins, sage Vyāsa recounted the Purāṇa to the sages formerly in smooth voice. His words were pregnant with meaning. His statements were free from eighteen defects. They were free from impurities. They were pure. The Purāṇa is full of the gist of different scriptures. It is fully endowed with pure words of good quality embellished with the principles of the systems of Sāṃkhya and Yoga. It contains the prima facie views of the opponent and the finally established doctrines. The highly intelligent sage Vyāsa stopped after recounting this duly.

4-5. After hearing the first Purāṇa named Brāhma which is on a par with the Vedas and which bestows the desired fruits, they became delighted and pleased as well as surprised again and again. Then they praised sage Vyāsa, Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana Vyāsa.

The sages said:

6-12. O excellent sage, the Purāṇa that is on a par with the Vedas, which bestows all wished-for fruits, which dispels all sins and which contains wonderful words and letters has been recounted by you and heard by us. O holy lord, there is nothing unknown to you in the three worlds. O extremely fortunate one, you are omniscient like Bṛhaspati among Devas. We shall bow down to you, the great sage of excessive intelligence, closely adhering to Brahman. O great sage, who can recount good qualities since the meanings of the Vedic passages have been explained in the Mahābhārata. After learning the four Vedas with ancillary subjects including Grammar you have composed the sacred book Bhārata. Obeisance to you who have the characteristics of perfect knowledge. Obeisance to you, O Vyāsa, of vast knowledge, of eyes resembling the wide petals of a fullblown lotus. It is by you that the light of knowledge has been made to burn filling it with the oil of Bhārata. By the collyrium-rod of perfect knowledge the eyes of persons blinded by the darkness of ignorance, going astray due to evil visions, have opened up.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

13. After saying this they honoured and worshipped Vyāsa and went back in the manner they had come to their respective hermitages. They were contented.

14. In the same manner, O excellent sages, the eternal Purāṇa that is highly meritorious and which destroys all sins has been recounted by me.

15. O excellent brahmins, whatever has been asked by you all, has been expounded by me by the grace of Vyāsa.

16. This should be listened to by householders, ascetics and religious students. It bestows wealth and happiness to men. It destroys all sins.

17. Moreover this must be attentively listened to by brahmins devoted to Brahman as well as brahmins and others who are well-disciplined and who desire welfare.

18. (By doing so) a brahmin acquires learning; a Kṣatriya victory in battle; a Vaiśya everlasting wealth; and a Śūdra happiness.

19. If a person of great purity listens to it meditating upon a particular desire he acquires the same whatever be the desire.

20. This is a Purāṇa belonging to Viṣṇu. It destroys sins. It is more excellent than all other scriptural texts. It is conducive to the fulfilment of all aims of life.

21. This Purāṇa that is on a par with the Vedas has been explained by me to you. When this is listened to the heap of sins arising from all defects, is destroyed.

22. What a man obtains after fasting at Prayāga, Puṣkara, Kurukṣetra and Arbuda, he obtains the same by listening to this.

23. The great merit that a man obtains by performing Agnihoṭra extremely well for a whole year, O brahmins, is obtained by listening to this once.

24-25. The benefit that a man derives by taking bath in the waters of Yamuna on the Dvādaśī day in the month of Proṣṭhapada, or by visiting Hari at Mathurā is obtained if the devotee dedicates his mind to Keśava and recites this Purāṇa with great concentration, O brahmins.

26. He who reads or listens to this Purāṇa obtains that benefit which a person derives by visiting ŚRĪ.

27. The man who reads and listens faithfully to this Purāṇa which is on a par with the Vedas goes to the abode of Hari.

28. A brahmin with mental control who recounts this on holy Parvan days and on eleventh and twelfth days of the lunar fortnight goes to the world of Viṣṇu.

29. This is conducive to fame and long life. It bestows happiness. It increases fame. O brahmins, it bestows strength and nourishment. It is conducive to wealth. It destroys bad dreams.

30. A scholar who reads this excellent narrative during the three joints (i.e. dawn, noon and sunset) with faith and great concentration shall obtain all desired things.

31. He who is distressed due to sickness is liberated from sickness. He who is in bondage is liberated from bondage. He who is frightened is released from fear and he who is caught in adversity is liberated from adversity.

32. He obtains ability to remember births, learning, sons, intelligence, animals, courage, virtue, wealth, love and salvation.

33. If a man reads this with pure mind he obtains all those desired things which he must have kept in his mind.

34. He who listens to this Purāṇa which bestows heavenly pleasures and salvation after bowing to Viṣṇu the preceptor of the worlds, with great devotion in the mind and purity in mind and body, becomes free from sins. After enjoying happiness here and divine happiness in heaven he goes to Hari’s region without impurity afterwards. He is freed from the Guṇas of Prakṛti.

35. This excellent Purāṇa that yields much benefit and bestows virtue, wealth and salvation should be listened to everyday by excellent brahmins who are devoutly engaged in their own pious activity and who are desirous of attaining the sole path of salvation, by leading Kṣatriyas of self-control and discipline who always seek welfare, by Vaiśyas born of pure family, and by virtuous Śūdras.

36. You are all excellent men. Let your mind be diverted to virtue, that alone is favourable to one who has gone to the other world, like a relative. Riches and women though resorted to by clever persons do not attain power and stability.

37. A man acquires a kingdom through virtue. A man acquires longevity, renown, austerity, piety and salvation through virtue.

38. Dharma is both mother and father. Dharma is friend and companion to a man both in this world and in the other. Dharma is a saviour here. It is the bestower of salvation. There is nothing (of consequence) except Dharma.

39. This secret and excellent Purāṇa that is on a par with the Vedas should not be imparted to an evil mind, and particularly to an atheist.

40. This excellent Purāṇa has been narrated by me and listened to by you. It dispels sins and increasses virtue. It is extremely secret. O sages, permit me I shall go.

Other Purana Concepts:

[back to top]

Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘In praise of the (Brahma-) Purana’. Further sources in the context of Purana might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Brahman, Vaishnavism, Agnihotra, Dharma, Brahmapurana, Great sage, Darkness of ignorance, Purity of mind, Holy Lord, Bad dream, Light of knowledge, Good qualities, Perfect knowledge, Great purity, Most excellent, Religious Student, Fruits of action, Devoutly engaged, Pious activity, Mental control, Power of devotion, Spiritual liberation, Desired benefit, Sage Vyasa, Abode of Hari, Virtuous action, Desires fulfilled, Liberation from bondage, Desired thing, Spiritual benefit, Listened to, Desired fruit, Divine happiness, Pure words, Excellent narrative, Samkhya and Yoga, Excellent brahmin, Evil mind, Well disciplined, Wealth and happiness, Knowledge of Veda, Charitable activities, Eighteen defects, Long life and fame, Wisdom of Brahman, Three-world, Dispels sins.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Attentively listened.