Chapter 1

Vishnu Smriti 1

When the night of Brahma had passed, and the Lotus-born had awakened, Vishnu, desiring to create beings, and knowing the Earth was submerged in water, || Vi_1.1 ||

Took on the auspicious form of the Boar, delighting in sport in the water, as in previous cosmic ages, And lifted up the Earth. || Vi_1.2 ||

He, the great ascetic, whose feet were the Vedas, whose tusks were the sacrificial post, whose teeth were the sacrifice, whose mouth was the fire-altar, Whose tongue was the sacrificial fire, whose bristles were the sacred darbha grass, and whose head was the highest Brahman; || Vi_1.3 ||

The divine one, whose eyes were day and night, whose ornaments were the ancillary Vedic texts in his ears, Whose nostrils were the clarified butter offering, whose snout was the sacrificial ladle, the great one whose grunt was the chant of the Sāma Veda; || Vi_1.4 ||

The glorious one, composed of dharma (sacred law) and truth, honored for his strides and valor, Whose great snout was penance, whose knees were the sacrificial animal, of mighty form; || Vi_1.5 ||

Whose entrails were the Udgātṛ priest, whose phallus was the oblation, whose testicles were the seeds and great herbs, Whose inner soul was the sacrificial ground, whose buttocks were the sacred verses, whose blood was the Soma juice; || Vi_1.6 ||

Whose shoulders were the altar, whose scent was the fragrance of the offering, whose speed was that of the offerings to gods and ancestors, Whose body was the sacrificial hall, the radiant one, endowed with various initiatory rites; || Vi_1.7 ||

Whose heart was the sacrificial fee, the great one of yoga and great mantras, Whose charming lips were the introductory rite, whose navel-whirl was the Pravargya ceremony; || Vi_1.8 ||

Whose path of movement was the various poetic meters, whose seat was the secret Upanishads, Who, accompanied by his wife, Shadow, rose up like a jewel-peaked mountain. || Vi_1.9 ||

The Earth, which extends to the ocean's edge, with its mountains, woods, and forests, Had sunk into the single cosmic ocean; the Lord, entering that single ocean, || Vi_1.10 ||

For the welfare of the worlds, lifted it up on the tip of his tusk. The primeval god, the great master of yoga, thus made the world anew. || Vi_1.11 ||

Thus, having become the sacrificial Boar for the benefit of all beings, The divine Earth goddess, who had sunk to the netherworld, was lifted up. || Vi_1.12 ||

Having lifted her up and placed her in a firm, fixed position, Madhusūdana (Vishnu) then distributed the waters to their proper places: || Vi_1.13 ||

The ocean waters into the oceans, the river waters into the rivers, The pond waters into the ponds, and the lake waters into the lakes. || Vi_1.14 ||

He made the seven netherworlds and likewise the seven upper worlds, And the various abodes for the continents and the oceans. || Vi_1.15 ||

He created the guardians of places, the guardians of the worlds, the rivers, mountains, and trees, The seven sages learned in dharma, the Vedas with their ancillary sciences, and the gods and anti-gods; || Vi_1.16 ||

The Piśācas, Urāgas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and humans, The four kinds of living beings, including cattle, birds, and wild animals, And clouds, rainbows, lightning, and the various sacrifices. || Vi_1.17 ||

Thus the blessed Boar, having created this world of moving and unmoving things, Went to a destination then unknown to the worlds. || Vi_1.18 ||

When Janārdana, the god of gods, had gone to his unknown destination, Vasudhā (the Earth) began to ponder, "What will be my support now?" || Vi_1.19 ||

"I will go and ask Kashyapa; he will tell me, without a doubt. That great sage constantly bears my concerns in his mind." || Vi_1.20 ||

Having made this resolve, the divine goddess, taking the form of a woman, Went to see Kashyapa, and Kashyapa saw her. || Vi_1.21 ||

Her eyes were like blue lotus petals, her face like the autumn moon, Her dark hair was like a swarm of bees, her lips auspicious and red like the Bandhujīva flower. || Vi_1.22 ||

She had beautiful eyebrows, fine teeth, a lovely nose, and arched brows, A conch-like neck, well-formed thighs, and full hips and buttocks. || Vi_1.23 ||

Her breasts, even, full, and close-set, shone forth, Resembling the frontal lobes of Indra's elephant and gleaming like refined gold. || Vi_1.24 ||

Her arms were as delicate as lotus stalks, her hands like tender sprouts, Her thighs were like pillars of gold, her knees rounded and well-joined. || Vi_1.25 ||

Her shins were hairless and well-proportioned, her feet exceedingly lovely, Her hips were ample, and her waist was slender like that of a lion cub. || Vi_1.26 ||

Her nails were coppery and radiant, her form captivating to all, With her glances, she seemed to fill the directions with blue lotuses. || Vi_1.27 ||

With her radiance, the divine one dispelled the darkness in all directions, She was clad in fine white garments and adorned with the best of jewels. || Vi_1.28 ||

With her footsteps, she seemed to make the earth blossom with lotuses, Endowed with beauty and youth, she stood before him like a humble servant. || Vi_1.29 ||

Seeing her approach, Kashyapa honored her and then Spoke to her, "O lovely one, O large-eyed Dhara (Earth), I know what is in your heart. || Vi_1.30 ||

Go, O goddess, to Janārdana (Vishnu). He will tell you in full how your future support shall be. || Vi_1.31 ||

O fair-faced one, I have learned through the yoga of meditation that his abode is in the Ocean of Milk, O graceful one, for your sake and by his grace." || Vi_1.32 ||

Thus addressed, Vasudhā honored Kashyapa and then Proceeded to the Ocean of Milk to see Keśava (Vishnu). || Vi_1.33 ||

She saw the treasure-house of nectar, as lovely as the rays of the moon, Rippling with hundreds of waves born from the churning of the wind. || Vi_1.34 ||

It was like another terrestrial sphere, resembling a hundred Himālayas, As if beckoning the Earth with its moving hands of waves. || Vi_1.35 ||

With those same waves, it seemed to be perpetually bestowing whiteness upon the moon, And because Hari (Vishnu) resided within, it was free from all impurity. || Vi_1.36 ||

For that reason, it bore a brilliant white and powerful form, A pale expanse, accessible to birds, situated beneath the earthly world. || Vi_1.37 ||

Rich with tawny Indranīla gems, it was like the sky inverted, As if covered with a forest grove sprung from rows of fruit trees. || Vi_1.38 ||

Like the cast-off skin of the serpent Śeṣa, it was immensely vast and endless. Seeing it, she beheld in its midst the abode of Keśava. || Vi_1.39 ||

Its dimensions were indescribable, its opulence indescribable. Therein she saw Madhusūdana, resting upon the couch of Śeṣa. || Vi_1.40 ||

His lotus-face was hard to discern due to the radiance of the jewels on the hoods of the serpent Śeṣa, He was like a hundred moons, with the splendor of ten thousand suns. || Vi_1.41 ||

Clad in yellow garments, unassailable, adorned with all jewels, He shone with a sun-colored diadem and with earrings. || Vi_1.42 ||

His pair of feet were being massaged by the auspicious palms of Lakṣmī, And he was being served on all sides by his weapons in bodily form. || Vi_1.43 ||

Seeing him, the lotus-eyed Madhusūdana, she bowed, And falling to her knees on the ground, she then made her plea: || Vi_1.44 ||

"I was lifted up by you, O god, when I had sunk to the bottom of the netherworld, And established in my own place, O Vishnu, for the welfare of the worlds. || Vi_1.45 ||

Now, therefore, O Lord of gods, what will be my support?" Thus addressed by the goddess, the god spoke these words: || Vi_1.46 ||

"Good people who delight in the practices of the varṇas and āśramas, devoted solely to the scriptures, They, O Dhara, will support you; the burden of you is placed upon them." || Vi_1.47 ||

Thus addressed, Vasumatī (the Earth) spoke to the god of gods: "Tell me the eternal laws (dharma) of the varṇas and the āśramas. || Vi_1.48 ||

From you I wish to hear them, for you are my ultimate refuge. Salutations to you, O Lord of lords of gods, O destroyer of the might of the gods' enemies. || Vi_1.49 ||

O Nārāyaṇa, O Jagannātha (Lord of the World), O wielder of the conch, discus, and mace, O Padmanābha (Lotus-naveled one), O Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the Senses), O you of great strength and valor. || Vi_1.50 ||

O you who are beyond the senses, O unconquerable one, O god, O wielder of the Śārṅga bow, O Varāha (Boar), O Bhīma (Terrible one), O Govinda, O ancient Puruṣottama (Supreme Person). || Vi_1.51 ||

O Hiraṇyakeśa (Golden-haired one), O Viśvākṣa (All-seeing one), O Yajñamūrte (Embodiment of Sacrifice), O Nirañjana (Spotless one), O Kṣetrakṣetrajñadeveśa (Lord of the Knower of the Field), O you who recline on the waters of the ocean. || Vi__1.52 ||

O Mantra, O vehicle of the mantra, O inconceivable one, O embodiment of the Vedas and their auxiliaries, O cause of the creation and destruction of this entire universe. || Vi_1.53 ||

O knower of dharma and adharma, O embodiment of dharma, O source of dharma, O giver of boons, O Viṣvaksena (Whose armies are everywhere), O Amṛta (Immortal one), O Vyoma (Ether), O slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha. || Vi_1.54 ||

O enlarger of the great, O unknowable one, O All, O giver of safety to all, O excellent one, O sinless one, O Jīmūta (Cloud), O creator of the universe. || Vi_1.55 ||

O nourisher, O abode of the waters, O foundation of consciousness, O inactive one, O seven-headed master of sacrifice, O ancient Puruṣottama (Supreme Person). || Vi_1.56 ||

O Dhruva (Pole-star), O Akṣara (Imperishable one), O Lord of the subtle, O you who are affectionate to your devotees, O purifier, You are the refuge of all the gods, you are the refuge of those who speak of Brahman. || Vi_1.57 ||

Likewise, for those who know what is to be known, you are the refuge, O Puruṣottama. I have taken refuge in you, O Lord of the World, the steadfast Lord of Speech, the Master. || Vi_1.58 ||

O Subrahmaṇya, O unconquerable one, O Vasuṣeṇa, O giver of wealth, O you endowed with the power of great yoga, O Pṛśnigarbha (Son of Pṛśni), O Dhṛtārciṣa (Sustainer of light). || Vi_1.59 ||

O Vāsudeva, O great-souled one, O Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Lotus-eyed one), O Acyuta (Infallible one), O preceptor of gods and anti-gods, O god, O all-pervading one, O great lord of beings. || Vi_1.60 ||

O single manifestation, O four-armed one, O cause of the cause of the universe, Tell me, O blessed one, the eternal laws (dharma) of the four varṇas, || Vi_1.61 ||

Along with the practices of the āśramas, with their secrets and their summaries." Thus addressed by the Earth, the Lord of gods spoke to the Earth: || Vi_1.62 ||

"Listen, O goddess Dhara, to the eternal laws of the four varṇas, Along with the practices of the āśramas, with their secrets and their summaries, || Vi_1.63 ||

By which the good people, devoted to them, will support you. Be seated, O you of beautiful thighs, on this excellent golden throne. || Vi_1.64 ||

Seated comfortably, hear now the laws as I declare them to you." Then Dhara, seated comfortably, listened to the laws of Vishnu. || Vi_1.65 ||