THE BRAHMA SABHA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - SABHA PARVA - LOKAPALA SABHAKHAYANA (UPA) PARVA - CHAPTER 11 - THE BRAHMA SABHA

“Naarada said ‘Listen to me, O child (Yudhishthira), as I tell you of the Sabha of the Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma), that house which none can describe, saying it is such. In the ancient Deva Yuga of old, O king (Yudhishthira), the exalted deity Aditya (Surya) came down from heaven into the world of men. Having seen before the Sabha of (Lord) Brahma the Self-created (Swayambhu in Sanskrit), Aditya was cheerfully wandering over the Earth in human form, desirous of seeing what could be seen here. It was on that occasion, O Paandava (Yudhishthira), that the God of day (Surya) spoke unto me, O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), of that Sabha of Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma), immeasurable and immaterial and indescribable, as regards form and shape, and capable of delighting the heart of every creature by its splendour.

“O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), hearing of the merits of that Sabha, I became, O king, desirous of seeing it. I then asked Aditya, saying, ‘O noble one, I desire to see the sacred Sabha of Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma). O lord of light, tell me, O noble one, by what Tapas, or by what acts, or by what activity of pleasing or by what rites, I may be enabled to see that excellent sin-cleaning Sabha.’

“O chief of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), hearing these words of mine (Naarada), Aditya – the God of day, the deity of a thousand rays, answered me, thus: ‘You observe with mind absorbed in meditation, the Brahma vow (Vrata in Sanskrit) extending for a thousand years.’ Then travelling to the breast of the Himavat, I commenced that great vow (Vrata in Sanskrit), and after I had completed it the noble and sinless deity Surya filled with great energy, and knowing no fatigue, took me with him to the Sabha of Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma).

“O king (Yudhishthira), it is impossible to describe that (Brahma) Sabha, saying it is such, for within a moment it assumes a different form that language fails to describe. O Bharata (Yudhishthira), it is impossible to indicate its dimensions or shape. I never saw anything like it before. Ever contributing to the happiness of those within it, its atmosphere is neither cold nor warm. Hunger and thirst or any kind of uneasiness disappear as soon as one goes there. It seems to be made up of brilliant gems of many kinds. It does not seem to be supported on columns, it knows no deterioration, being eternal. That self-radiant Sabha, by its numerous blazing, divine indications of unrivalled splendour, seems to surpass Chandra, Surya and the fire in brightness. Stationed in heaven, it blazes forth, censuring as it were Bhaaskara (meaning Maker of the day, i.e., the Sun).

“O king (Yudhishthira), in that Sabha, the Supreme Deity, the Pitaamaha of all created things (Lord Brahma), having Himself created everything by virtue of His Deva Maayaa, stays ever. Daksha, Prachetaa, Pulahaa, Mareechi, Kashyapa; Bhrigu, Atri, Vasishtha, Gautama, and also Angirasa; Pulastya, Krauta, Prahlaada, Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of Atharvana Veda, Vaalakhilyaas, Marichipaa; Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, (Physical) Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world – all stay in that Sabha beside Lord Brahma.

“Agastya of great energy, Markandeya of great Tapas power, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, Samvarta, Chyavana, noble Durvaasa, the Dharmic Rishyasringa, the illustrious Sanatkumara of great Tapas merit and the Guru in all matters affecting Yoga; Asita and Devala, Jaigishavya acquainted with Satya; Rishaba, Ajitashatru, Mani of great energy; and the Science of healing with its eight branches – all in their personified forms, O Bharata (Yudhishthira); Chandra with all the stars and the stellar conjunctions; Aditya with all his rays; the winds; the yagnas, the Declarations of purpose (Sankalpa in Sanskrit), the Vital principles (Praana in Sanskrit) – these illustrious and vow-observing beings in their personified forms, and many others too numerous to mention, attend all upon (Lord) Brahma in that Sabha. Arthaa, Dharma, Kaamaa, Joy, Aversion, Tapas and Tranquillity – all wait together upon the Supreme Deity (Lord Brahma) in that palace.

“The twenty tribes of the Gandharvas and Apsaras, as also their seven other tribes, and all the Lokapaalaas, Shukra, Brihaspati, Budhaa, Angaaraka, Shani, Raahu, and the other planets; the Mantraas, the special Mantraas; (the rites of) Harimaan and Vasumaan, Adityas with (Lord) Indra, the two Agnis mentioned by name (Agnisoma and Indraagni), Marutaa, Vishwakarma, Vasus, O Bharata (Yudhishthira); the Pitrus, and all kinds of yagna offering; Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda along with all Sciences and branches of learning; Histories (Itihaasa in Sanskrit) and all Upaveda; the several branches of the Vedas (Vedaanga in Sanskrit); the planets, the yagnaas, the Soma, all the deities; Saavitri (Gayatri), Durgatharani, Vaani, the seven kinds of rhyme; Understanding, Patience, Memory, Wisdom, Intelligence, Fame, Forgiveness; the Hymns of the Sama Veda; the Science of hymns in general, and various kinds of Verses and Songs; various Commentaries with arguments – all in their personified forms, O king (Yudhjshthira).

“Various Dramas, Poems, Stories and abridged Glosses – these also, and many others wait upon the Supreme Deity (Lord Brahma) in that Sabha; Kshanaa, Lavaa, Muhoortaa, Day, Night, Fortnights, Months, the six Seasons, O Bharata (Yudhishthira), Years, Yugas, the four kinds of Days and Nights (the kind of days and nights appearing to man, to Pitrus, to Devas, and to Lord Brahma) and that eternal, indestructible, undeteriorating, excellent Wheel of Time and also the Wheel of Dharma – these always wait there.

“O Yudhishthira, Aditi, Diti, Danu, Surasaa, Vinataa, Iraa, Kaalaka, Surabhi, Devi, Sarama, Gautami and the goddesses Pradha and Kadru – these mothers of Devas; Rudraani, Sree, Lakshmi, Bhadra, Shashthi, the Earth, Ganga, Hri, Swaaha, Kriti, the goddess Sura, Shachi Pushti, Arundhati, Samvritti, Asa, Niyati, Srishti, Rati – these and many other goddesses wait upon the Creator of all (Lord Brahma). Adityas, Vasus, Rudraas, Marutaa, Ashwinas, Vishwadevas, Saadhyas, and the Pitrus gifted with the speed of the mind – these all wait there upon Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma).

“O bull among men (Yudhishthira), you know that there are seven classes of Pitrus, of which four classes have embodied forms and the remaining three without embodied forms. It is well known that the illustrious Vairajas, Agniswattas and Garhapattyas (three classes of Pitrus) range in heaven. Those among the Pitrus that are called the Somapaa, Ekasringra, Chaturveda, and Kala, are ever worshipped among the four varna of men. Pleased with the Soma (juice), first, these satisfy Soma afterwards. All these tribes (Gana in Sanskrit) of Pitrus wait upon the Lord of the creation (Lord Brahma) and cheerfully worship the Supreme Deity of immeasurable energy.

“Raakshasaas, Pishaachaas, Daanavas Guhyakaas; Naagaas, Birds, and various animals; and all mobile and immobile great beings – all worship the Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma). Purandara, the chief of Devas, Varuna, Kubera, Yama, and Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) accompanied by Uma, always travel there. O king of kings (Yudhishthira), Mahasena (Kaarttikeya) also adores there the Pitaamaha (Lord Brahma). (Lord) Narayana Himself, and Devarishis, and those Rishis called Vaalakhilyaas, and all beings born of females and all those not born of females, and whatever else is seen in the three worlds – both mobile and immobile – were all seen by me there, know O king (Yudhishthira).

“Eighty thousand Rishis with vital (reproductive) seed drawn up, and O Paandava (Yudhishthira), fifty thousand Rishis having sons, were all seen by me there. All the dwellers in heaven travelling there see the Supreme Deity (Lord Brahma) when they please, and worshipping Him with a bow of their head return from where they came. O king of men (Yudhishthira), the Pitaamaha of all created beings, the Soul of the universe, the Self create Brahma of immeasurable intelligence and glory, equally kind to all creatures, honours as they deserve, and satisfies with sweet speech and gift of wealth and other enjoyable articles, the Devas, the Daityas, the Naagaas, the Munis, the Yakshas, the Birds, the Kaaleyaas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and all other noble beings that came to him as His guests. That delicious Sabha, O child (Yudhishthira), is always crowded with persons coming and going. Filled with every kind of energy, and worshipped by Brahmarishis, that divine Sabha blazes forth with the graceful possessions of (Lord) Brahma and looks extremely handsome. O tiger among kings (Yudhishthira) as this Sabha of yours is unrivalled in the world of men, so is that Sabha of (Lord) Brahma, seen by me unrivalled in all the worlds. I have seen these Sabhas, O Bharata (Yudhishthira), in regions of Devas. This your Sabha is unquestionably the foremost in the world of men!’”