Chapter 54

“Utanka said, ‘Do thou, O Kesava, tell me that faultless Adhyatma. Havingheard thy discourse I shall ordain what is for thy good or denounce acurse to thee, O Janarddana.’

“Vasudeva said, ‘Know that the three qualities of Darkness and Passionand Goodness exist, depending on me as their refuge. So also, Oregenerate one, know that the Rudras and the Vasus have sprung from me.In me are all creatures, and in all creatures do I exist; know this. Letno doubt arise in thy mind respecting this. So also, O regenerate one,know that all the tribes of the Daityas, all the Yakshas, Gandharvas,Rakshasas, Nagas. Apsaras, have sprung from me. Whatever has been calledexistent and non-existent, whatever is manifest and not-manifest,whatever is destructible and indestructible, all have me for their soul.Those fourfold courses of duty which, O ascetic, are known to attach tothe (four) modes of life, and all the Vedic duties, have me for theirsoul. Whatever is non-existent, whatever is existent and non-existent,and whatever transcends that which is existent and non-existent,–allthese which constitute the universe–are from me. There is nothing higher(or beyond) me who am the eternal god of gods.[170] O perpetuator ofBhrigu’s race, know that all the Vedas beginning with (the originalsyllable) Om are identical with me. Know, O son of Bhrigu’s race, that Iam the sacrificial stake; I am the Soma (drunk in sacrifices); I am theCharu (cooked in sacrifices for being offered to the deities); I am theHoma (that is performed); I am those acts which sacrificers perform forgratifying the deities; I am even the pourer of the sacrificial libation:and I am the Havi or libation that is poured. I am the Adharyu. I am theKalpaka; and I am the highly sanctified sacrificial Havi. It is me whomthe Udgatri, in the great sacrifice, hymns by the sound of his songs. Inall rites of expiation, O Brahmana, the utterers of auspicious Mantrasand benedictions fraught with peace hymn my praises who am the artificer,O foremost of regenerate ones, of the universe. Know, O best ofregenerate person, that Dharma is my eldest-born offspring, sprung frommy mind, O learned Brahmana, whose essence is compassion for allcreatures. Constantly transforming myself, I take birth in diverse wombs,O best of men, for upholding that son of mine, with the aid of men nowexisting in or departed from the world. Indeed, I do this for protectingRighteousness and for establishing it. In those forms that I assume forthe purpose, I am known, O son of Bhrigu’s race, in the three worlds asVishnu and Brahman and Sakra. I am the origin and I am the destruction ofall things. I am the creator of all existent objects and I am theirdestroyer. Knowing no change myself, I am the destroyer of all thosecreatures that live in sinfulness. In every Yuga I have to repair thecauseway of Righteousness, entering into diverse kinds of wombs fromdesire of doing good to my creatures. When, O son of Bhrigu’s race, Ilive in the order of the deities, I then verily act in every respect as adeity. When I live in the order of the Gandharvas, I then, O son ofBhrigu’s race, act in every respect as a Gandharva. When I live in theorder of the Nagas, I then act as a Naga, and when I live in the order ofYakshas or that of Rakshasas, I act after the manner of that order. Bornnow in the order of humanity, I must act as a human being. I appealed tothem (the Kauravas) most piteously. But stupefied as they were anddeprived of their senses, they refused to accept my words. I frightenedthem, filled with wrath, referring to some great fear (as the consequenceof their slighting my message). But once more I showed themselves myusual (human) form. Possessed as they were of unrighteousness, andassailed by the virtue of Time, all of them have been righteously slainin battle, and have, without doubt, gone to Heaven. The Pandavas also, Obest of Brahmanas, have acquired great fame. I have thus told thee allthat thou hadst asked me.'”