The Brahmdnia Purana: Contents

1. О dear one, listen, I shall recount to you the ancient (Purana) named Brahmantfa.1 It comprises twelve thousand verses. It deals with the events of the Adikalpa.

2. It has four Padas (quarters), the first one is called Prakriyapada, then is the Anusangapada, the third one is Upodghata Pada (quarter of Introductory matter) and the fourth one is Upasamhara (conclusion).

3. The first two quarters constitute the first or earlier section, the third quarter forms the middle section and the fourth quarter, the final section.

4. At the beginning, there is the stipulation of duties, then the story of the Naimisha forest, the origin of Hiranyagar- bha, the conception of the different worlds.

5- This is the (summary of the) first quarter. О bestower of honour, listen to the second. The narration of the Kalpas and the Manvantaras, the knowledge of the worlds, thereafter.

1. According to the NP., Bh. P. (xii. 13. 8), AP. (272. 23), the Brah- manda P. consists of 12,000 verses and 12,200 according to Mt. P. 53. 54. But the Venkatesvara edt. gives 14,286 verses. Its contents are divided into three parts (the preliminary (PUrva) part containing 2 sections: Prakriyd (Introduction in 5 Chs.) and Anufanga (various kalpas, manu-ages, etc. in 33 Chs.) Part II (Upodghata) deals with the genealogies of kings or dynastic history. Part III (Upa-samhdra) is a recapitulation of the creation of the Universe, Manu-epochs, dissolution of the Universe). It is however, called a Purana with four parts (catushpada) v. 29.

Kirfel in his Purana Padcalakshapa has noted the close similarity in hundreds of verses in the Vdyu and Brahmdpda Puranas and proposed a theory that they formed one Purana originally.

The PuraQa traces the tradition of authorship as follows: God Bramma — Vasistha — >Parasara — JatQkarnya — >Vayu or Prabhafljana — Vyasa (vv. 33- 34).

This table of contents in the NP tallies in general with those of the- printed editions of the Brahmanda Purana except the 40 chapters of the Lalitd episode.

(vide table of contents of the Purana Edt. Jagadish Sastri MLBD, Delhi,, pp ix-xi,)

6. The narration of the mental creation, the description of Rudra’s offsprings, the elegance and prowess of Mahadeva and thereafter, the creation by the sages.

7. The conquest of fires, the description of the existence of Kala (Time), the specification of the family of Priya- vrata, the length and extent of the Earth.

8. The description of the (sub-continent) Bharata and then the review of other sub-continents, the description of Jam- budvipa and other continents, then the description of the nether-worlds.

9. The enumeration of the upper worlds, and thereafter, the movements of the planets, the narration of the Solar Array (Planetary system), the enumeration of the Divine planets.

10. The explanation of the name Nilakantha, prowess of Mahadeva, description of the New moon day, the review of the principles of the different Yugas.

11. The institution of the Yajftas, the last two Yugas and their activity, the characteristic features of the human beings etc. in different Yugas, the description of the spiritual lineage of the sages.

12. The narration of the classification of the Vedas, the description of Svayambhuva Manu and the enumeration of the remaining Manvantaras and then the milking of the Earth.

13. The first part, the second quarter ends with the current creation in the Caksusa Manvantara. Then in the Upod- ghata quarter, the glorification of the seven sages.

14. The family of Prajapati; the birth of the Devas and others therefrom; the desire for victory, the narration of the origin of the Maruts,

15. The narration of the descendants of Kasyapa, the review of the families of the sages, the narration of the Pitr Kalpa, and thereafter, the araddha Kalpa (the rituals regarding the Sraddha).

16. The origin of Vaivasvata Manu and thereafter, the creation by him, and the family of Manu’s sons, ultimately the review of the Gandharvas.

17. The narration of the family of Iksvaku, the family of the noble-souled Atri, the family of Amavasu and the wonderful story of Raji.

18. The story of Yayati, the review of the family of Yadu; the story of Karttavirya, thereafter, the story of Jamada- agni and his son.

19. The description of the family ofVrsni, the birth of Sagara, the story ofBhargava (ParaSu-Rama) subsequent to the killing of his father.

20. The story of Sagara, the story of Bhargava once again, the story of the battle between the Devas and Asuras, the description of the manifestation ofKrishna.

21. The meritorious hymn in praise of Indra glorified by Sukra, the narration of the greatness of Vishnu and the review of the family of Bali.

22. The story of the future kings after the advent of the Kali age. This is the quarter of Upodghata in the middle section, the third quarter (in the Purana).

23. I shall recount the fourth quarter viz. Upasamhara (Conclusion) in the final section, the narration of Vaivasvata Manvantara precisely and in detail.

24. What has been mentioned before is mentioned here succinctly; thereafter; the story of the future Manus.

25. The specification of the Kalpas and the dissolution (then), thereafter the measurement of Time, then the fourteen worlds are mentioned along with their respective characteristics.

26. The description of hells (attained) by impious activities, the narration of Manomayapura (City of Mind) and thereafter, the Prakrtika Laya (Dissolution within Prakrti).

27. Thereafter, the description of Shiva’s city. The threefold goal of creatures, thanks to the contact with the Gunas, is described.

28. Thereafter, the description by means of positive and negative assertions (i. e. invariable concomitance and logical discontinuance) of the Brahman, the great Atman, that is beyond specifications and argumentation.

29. Thus the quarter section on Upasamhara has been summarised. Thus the Brahmanda Purana comprising four quarters has been described to you.

30-33a. О Brahmana, this Purana called Brahmanda is the eighteenth Purana, the most essential of all chief (Puranas). What is originally composed of four hundred thousand verses has been narrated separately in eighteen books, О bestower of honour, by the sage Vyasa the son of Parasara who is the real instructor of all the sages of purified souls. Those sages who by nature practise religious virtues and bless the wretched ones, heard these Puranas from me and revealed them to the world.

33b-36a. Formerly, this Purana has been narrated by me to Vasistha; it was passed on by him to his son Sakti, by him it was recounted to Jatukarnya. Then Vyasa obtained it from the mouth of the Wind-God, making it authoritative in the world; he propagated this excellent Purana in the Public (the world). О dear one, whoever glorifies this and listens to it with great concentration, dispels all sins and attains the world devoid of ailments.

36b-37. He who writes out this Purana and gives it to a Brahmana after covering it with a cloth and placing it on a gold throne, attains the world of Brahman. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.

38. О Marici, these eighteen Puranas narrated briefly by me to you should be heard in full.

39. The excellent man who listens to the eighteen Puranas or narrates them in accordance with the injunctions, is not born here again.

40. The Sutra (summarised form) of the Puranas which has been mentioned by me to you now, should be practised everyday by one who desires the benefit out of the Puranas.

41. This should not be narrated to any one who is arrogant, hypocrite, sinful, malicious to the Devas and preceptors, knavish or one who hates good men.

42. It must be imparted to one who is quiescent, of tranquil mind, interested in service, devoid of indecent rivalry, is pure and is a good devotee of Vishnu,

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