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The Yoga of Brahman's Power

(Chapter 3)

Chapter Quiz

Verse 1

brahma ha devebhyo vijigye tasya ha brahmaṇovijaye devā amahīyanta .. 1..

AI Translation

1 Brahman, according to the story, obtained a victory for the gods; and by that victory of Brahman the gods became elated. They said to themselves: “Verily, this victory is ours; verily, this glory is ours only.”

Verse 2

ta aikṣantāsmākamevāyaṃ vijayo’smākamevāyaṃ mahimeti .taddhaiṣāṃ vijajñau tebhyo ha prādurbabhūva tanna vyajānatakimidaṃ yakṣamiti .. 2..

AI Translation

2 Brahman, to be sure, understood it all and appeared before them. But they did not know who that adorable Spirit was.

Verse 3

te’gnimabruvañjātaveda etadvijānīhikimidaṃ yakṣamiti tatheti .. 3..

AI Translation

3 They addressed Agni; “O Jātaveda, please find out who this yaksha is”; “Yes” said Agni.

Verse 4

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko’sītyagnirvāahamasmītyabravījjātavedā vā ahamasmīti .. 4..

AI Translation

4 He (Agni) hastened (to the yaksha). (The yaksha) asked him who he was; (Agni) replied: “I am verily, Agni; I am also known as Jātaveda (near omniscient)”.

Verse 5

tasmigͫstvayi kiṃ vīryamityapīdagͫ sarvaṃdaheyaṃ yadidaṃ pṛthivyāmiti .. 5..

AI Translation

5 What energy do you possess—you of such fame?” (asked the yaksha). I can burn everything, whatever there on this earth,” (replied Agni).

Verse 6

tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāvetaddaheti .tadupapreyāya sarvajavena tanna śaśāka dagdhuṃ sa tata evanivavṛte naitadaśakaṃ vijñātuṃ yadetadyakṣamiti .. 6..

AI Translation

6 The yaksha placed a straw before him (and said): “Burn this!” (Agni) approached it with all speed; he was however, unable to burn it. So he withdrew from there (and returned to the gods), saying, “I could not ascertain who the yaksha was.”

Verse 7

atha vāyumabruvanvāyavetadvijānīhikimetadyakṣamiti tatheti .. 7..

AI Translation

7 Then they addressed Vāyu: “O Vāyu, please ascertain this, who this yaksha is.” “Yes”, said Vāyu.

Verse 8

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko’sīti vāyurvāahamasmītyabravīnmātariśvā vā ahamasmīti .. 8..

AI Translation

8 (Vāyu) hastened (to the yaksha). (The yaksha) asked him who he was; Vāyu replied: “I am verily, Vāyu; I am also known as Mātarishvā (courser of the atmosphere)”.

Verse 9

tasmim̐stvayi kiṃ vīryamityapīdam̐sarvamādadīya yadidaṃ pṛthivyāmiti .. 9..

AI Translation

9 “What energy do you possess—you of such fame?” (asked the yaksha). I can verily blow away everything, whatever there on this earth,” replied Vāyu.

Verse 10

tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāvetadādatsvetitadupapreyāya sarvajavena tanna śaśākādātuṃ sa tata evanivavṛte naitadaśakaṃ vijñātuṃ yadetadyakṣamiti .. 10..

AI Translation

10 The yaksha placed a straw before him and said; “blow this away!” Vāyu approached it with all speed; he was however, unable to blow it away. So he withdrew from there (and returned to the gods) saying, “I could not ascertain who the yaksha was.”

Verse 11

athendramabruvanmaghavannetadvijānīhi kimetadyakṣamiti tathetitadabhyadravattasmāttirodadhe .. 11..

AI Translation

11 Then the gods addressed Indra: “O Maghavan, please ascertain who this yaksha is.” “Yes,” said Indra, and hastened to the yaksha. But the yaksha disappeared from his view.

Verse 12

sa tasminnevākāśe striyamājagāma bahuśobhamānāmumām̐haimavatīṃ tām̐hovāca kimetadyakṣamiti .. 12.... iti kenopaniṣadi tṛtīyaḥ khaṇḍaḥ ..

AI Translation

12 And in that very spot he (Indra) beheld a woman, the wondrously effulgent Umā, the daughter of the snow clad mountain, Himavat. And of her he asked, “Who could this yaksha be?”