Verse 1
द्वितीयः प्रश्नः ।अथ हैनं भार्गवो वैदर्भिः पप्रच्छ । भगवन् कत्येवदेवाः प्रजां विधारयन्ते कतर एतत् प्रकाशयन्ते कःपुनरेषां वरिष्ठ इति ॥ २.१॥
atha hainaṃ bhārgavo vaidarbhiḥ papraccha . bhagavan katyevadevāḥ prajāṃ vidhārayante katara etat prakāśayante kaḥpunareṣāṃ variṣṭha iti .. 2.1..
Translation by Swami Sivananda1 Then Vaidarbhi, belonging to the family of Bhrigu, asked him: Sir, how many gods support the body of the created being? How many of these manifest their power through it? And which one, furthermore, is paramount?Translation by Max Mueller1. Then Bhârgava Vaidarbhi asked him: Sir, How many gods keep what has thus been created, how many manifest this, and who is the best of them?
Verse 2
तस्मै स होवाचाकाशो ह वा एष देवो वायुरग्निरापःपृथिवी वाङ्मनश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रं च । ते प्रकाश्याभिवदन्तिवयमेतद्बाणमवष्टभ्य विधारयामः ॥ २.२॥
tasmai sa hovācākāśo ha vā eṣa devo vāyuragnirāpaḥpṛthivī vāṅmanaścakṣuḥ śrotraṃ ca . te prakāśyābhivadantivayametadbāṇamavaṣṭabhya vidhārayāmaḥ .. 2.2..
Translation by Swami Sivananda2 To the disciple he said: Space, akasa, verily is that god the wind, fire, water, earth, speech, mind, eye and ear, as well. These, having manifested their glory, said boastfully: “We support this body and uphold it.”Translation by Max Mueller2. He replied: The ether is that god, the wind, fire, water, earth, speech, mind, eye, and ear. These, when they have manifested (their power), contend and say: We (each of us) support this body and keep it.
Verse 3
तान् वरिष्ठः प्राण उवाच । मा मोहमापद्यथ अहमेवैतत्पञ्चधाऽऽत्मानं प्रविभज्यैतद्बाणमवष्टभ्य विधारयामीतितेऽश्रद्दधाना बभूवुः ॥ २.३॥
tān variṣṭhaḥ prāṇa uvāca . mā mohamāpadyatha ahamevaitatpañcadhā”tmānaṃ pravibhajyaitadbāṇamavaṣṭabhya vidhārayāmītite’śraddadhānā babhūvuḥ .. 2.3..
Translation by Swami Sivananda3 To them prana, the chiefmost said: “Do not fall into delusion. I alone, dividing myself into five parts, support this body and uphold it.” But they were incredulous.Translation by Max Mueller3. Then Prâna (breath, spirit, life), as the best, said to them: Be not deceived, I alone, dividing myself fivefold, support this body and keep it.
Verse 4
सोऽभिमानादूर्ध्वमुत्क्रामत इव तस्मिन्नुत्क्रामत्यथेतरे सर्वएवोत्क्रामन्ते तस्मिंश्च प्रतिष्ठमाने सर्व एव प्रतिष्ठन्ते । तद्यथामक्षिका मधुकरराजानमुत्क्रामन्तं सर्व एवोत्क्रमन्ते तस्मिंष्चप्रतिष्ठमाने सर्व एव प्रातिष्टन्त एवं वाङ्मनष्चक्षुः श्रोत्रंच ते प्रीताः प्राणं स्तुन्वन्ति ॥ २.४॥
so’bhimānādūrdhvamutkrāmata iva tasminnutkrāmatyathetare sarvaevotkrāmante tasmiṃśca pratiṣṭhamāne sarva eva pratiṣṭhante . tadyathāmakṣikā madhukararājānamutkrāmantaṃ sarva evotkramante tasmiṃṣcapratiṣṭhamāne sarva eva prātiṣṭanta evaṃ vāṅmanaṣcakṣuḥ śrotraṃca te prītāḥ prāṇaṃ stunvanti .. 2.4..
Translation by Swami Sivananda4 Prana, out of pride, rose upward, as it were, from the body. Now, when it rose upward all the others rose upward also and when it settled down they all settled down with it. As bees go out when their queen goes out and return when she returns, even so did speech, mind, eye and ear. They, being satisfied, praised prana.Translation by Max Mueller4. They were incredulous; so he, from pride, did as if he were going out from above. Thereupon, as he went out, all the others went out, and as he returned, all the others returned. As bees go out when their queen goes out, and return when she returns, thus (did) speech, mind, eye, and ear; and, being satisfied, they praise Prâna, saying:
Verse 5
एषोऽग्निस्तपत्येष सूर्यएष पर्जन्यो मघवानेष वायुःएष पृथिवी रयिर्देवःसदसच्चामृतं च यत् ॥ २.५॥
eṣo’gnistapatyeṣa sūryaeṣa parjanyo maghavāneṣa vāyuḥeṣa pṛthivī rayirdevaḥsadasaccāmṛtaṃ ca yat .. 2.5..
Translation by Swami Sivananda5 It burns as fire, it is the sun, it is the rain; it is Indra, it is the wind, it is the earth, it is food. It is the luminous god. It is being and non being; it is immortality.Translation by Max Mueller5. He is Agni (fire), he shines as Sûrya (sun), he is Parganya (rain), the powerful (Indra), he is Vâyu, (wind), he is the earth, he is matter, he is God–he is what is and what is not, and what is immortal.
Verse 6
अरा इव रथनाभौ प्राणे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ।ऋचो यजूꣳषि सामानि यज्ञः क्षत्रं ब्रह्म च ॥ २.६॥
arā iva rathanābhau prāṇe sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam .ṛco yajūgͫṣi sāmāni yajñaḥ kṣatraṃ brahma ca .. 2.6..
Translation by Swami Sivananda6 As spokes in the hub of a wheel, all are fixed in prana, including the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, the kshattriyas and the brahmins.Translation by Max Mueller6. As spokes in the nave of a wheel, everything is fixed in Prâna, the verses of the Rig-veda, Yagur-veda, Sâma-veda, the sacrifice, the Kshatriyas, and the Brâhmans.
Verse 7
प्रजापतिश्चरसि गर्भे त्वमेव प्रतिजायसे ।तुभ्यं प्राण प्रजास्त्विमा बलिं हरन्तियः प्राणैः प्रतितिष्ठसि ॥ २.७॥
prajāpatiścarasi garbhe tvameva pratijāyase .tubhyaṃ prāṇa prajāstvimā baliṃ harantiyaḥ prāṇaiḥ pratitiṣṭhasi .. 2.7..
Translation by Swami Sivananda7 As Prajapati thou movest about in the womb; it is thou, indeed, who art born again. To thee, O Prana, creatures bring offerings, to thee who dwellest in the body with the organs.Translation by Max Mueller7. As Prajapati (lord of creatures) Prajapati movest about in the womb, thou indeed art born again. To thee, the Prâna, these creatures bring offerings, to thee who dwellest with the other prânas (the organs of sense).
Verse 8
देवानामसि वह्नितमः पितॄणां प्रथमा स्वधा ।ऋषीणां चरितं सत्यमथर्वाङ्गिरसामसि ॥ २.८॥
devānāmasi vahnitamaḥ pitṝṇāṃ prathamā svadhā .ṛṣīṇāṃ caritaṃ satyamatharvāṅgirasāmasi .. 2.8..
Translation by Swami Sivananda8 Thou art the chief bearer of oblations to the gods and the first offering to the departed fathers; thou art the true activities of the rishis, of the Atharvangiras.Translation by Max Mueller8. Thou art the best carrier for the Gods, thou art the first offering to the Fathers. Thou art the true work of the Rishis, of the Atharvâṅgiras.
Verse 9
इन्द्रस्त्वं प्राण तेजसा रुद्रोऽसि परिरक्षिता ।त्वमन्तरिक्षे चरसि सूर्यस्त्वं ज्योतिषां पतिः ॥ २.९॥
indrastvaṃ prāṇa tejasā rudro’si parirakṣitā .tvamantarikṣe carasi sūryastvaṃ jyotiṣāṃ patiḥ .. 2.9..
Translation by Swami Sivananda9 Indra thou art, O Prana and Rudra, too, in prowess. Thou art the Protector. Thou movest in the sky; thou art the sun, the lord of lights.Translation by Max Mueller9. O Prâna, thou art Indra by thy light, thou art Rudra, as a protector; thou movest in the sky, thou art the sun, the lord of lights.
Verse 10
यदा त्वमभिवर्षस्यथेमाः प्राण ते प्रजाः ।आनन्दरूपास्तिष्ठन्ति कामायान्नं भविष्यतीति ॥ २.१०॥
yadā tvamabhivarṣasyathemāḥ prāṇa te prajāḥ .ānandarūpāstiṣṭhanti kāmāyānnaṃ bhaviṣyatīti .. 2.10..
Translation by Swami Sivananda10 When, O Prana, thou showerest down rain, these creatures of thine are delighted, thinking there will be as much food as they desire.Translation by Max Mueller10. When thou showerest down rain, then, O Prâna, these creatures of thine are delighted, hoping that there will be food, as much as they desire.
Verse 11
व्रात्यस्त्वं प्राणैकर्षरत्ता विश्वस्य सत्पतिः ।वयमाद्यस्य दातारः पिता त्वं मातरिश्व नः ॥ २.११॥
vrātyastvaṃ prāṇaikarṣarattā viśvasya satpatiḥ .vayamādyasya dātāraḥ pitā tvaṃ mātariśva naḥ .. 2.11..
Translation by Swami Sivananda11 Thou art vratya, O Prana and the Ekarshi Fire that devours the butter. Thou art the Supreme Lord of all. We are the givers of the butter that thou consumest, O Matarisva! Thou art our father.Translation by Max Mueller11. Thou art a Vrâtya, O Prâna, the only Rishi, the consumer of everything, the good lord. We are the givers of what thou hast to consume, thou, O Mâtarisva, art our father.
Verse 12
या ते तनूर्वाचि प्रतिष्ठिता या श्रोत्रे या च चक्षुषि ।या च मनसि सन्तता शिवां तां कुरु मोत्क्रमीः ॥ २.१२॥
yā te tanūrvāci pratiṣṭhitā yā śrotre yā ca cakṣuṣi .yā ca manasi santatā śivāṃ tāṃ kuru motkramīḥ .. 2.12..
Translation by Swami Sivananda12 That form of thine which abides in speech, which abides in the ear, which abides in the eye and which pervades the mind, make propitious. Go not away!Translation by Max Mueller12. Make propitious that body of thine which dwells in speech, in the ear, in the eye, and which pervades the mind; do not go away!
Verse 13
प्राणस्येदं वशे सर्वं त्रिदिवे यत् प्रतिष्ठितम् ।मातेव पुत्रान् रक्षस्व श्रीश्च प्रज्ञां च विधेहि न इति ॥ २.१३॥इति प्रश्नोपनिषदि द्वितीयः प्रश्नः ॥
prāṇasyedaṃ vaśe sarvaṃ tridive yat pratiṣṭhitam .māteva putrān rakṣasva śrīśca prajñāṃ ca vidhehi na iti .. 2.13..iti praśnopaniṣadi dvitīyaḥ praśnaḥ ..
Translation by Swami Sivananda13 All that exists here is under the control of prana and also what exists in heaven. Protect us as a mother her sons; bestow upon us prosperity and wisdom.Translation by Max Mueller13. All this is in the power of Prâna, whatever exists in the three heavens. Protect us like a mother her sons, and give us happiness and wisdom.