भीष्म-वध पर्व — केशव का जन्म और महिमा

Duryodhana said In all the worlds, Vasudeva is spoken of as the Highest Being; O grandsire, I desire to know all about his nativity and his glory.

Bhishma said Vasudeva is the Supreme Being, the God of all gods. There is to be seen none, O foremost of the Bharata, superior to Him of eyes resembling lotus petals.

Markandeya speaks of Govinda as the great mystery, as all beings, as the Soul of all, as the Highest Soul and as the Foremost of all male beings.

He created these three things viz., Water, Air, and Fire. Having created this Earth, that Divine Master, the Lord of all the worlds.

That Highest Soul, that Foremost of all Beings, laid himself down on the waters. Therein, that Divine One composed of all energies, was lulled in sleep through his Yoga.

He created Fire from his mouth, and wind from His vital breath. That undeteriorating One created Words and the Vedas from his mind.

At first, He created these worlds as also the celestials along with all the sages, He also created decrepitude and death of all creatures and also their growth and birth.

He is righteousness itself and is versed in all duties. He is the giver of boons and the gratifier of all our desires. He is the Actor himself as well as the Act itself, and he is the Divine and the Sole Master.

That undeteriorating Lord of illustrious soul, as first created the Past, the Present and the Future and also the creator of the worlds viz., (Brahma).

That perfect supreme soul Sri Krishna very first originated Samkarsana, the elder to all living beings. Narayana, the everlasting god of gods was then emerged from him. A lotus was appeared from the navel zone of Narayana. Brahma, grandfather to all and sole cause for creation of this entire world, appeared from that lotus flower. All species of the living organisms have originated then from god Brahina. He created the divine Shesha who is otherwise known as Ananta.

And who supports all creatures and upholds the Earth with all her mountains. Through devout mediation, the Vipras come to know him of supreme energy.

That Foremost of all make beings slew the mighty Asura named Madhu who was born out of the secretion of His ears, who was furious and of fierce actions and fierce intentions, when he was on the point of destroying Brahma. In consequence of His slaying that Asura, the celestials, the Danavas, and the mortals.

And the sages call Janardana by the name of the Slayer of Madhu. The great Boar, the Lion and the three treaded Lord.

Hari is the Father, and the Mother of all living creatures. Neither there was nor there will be, any one superior to Him of eyes like lotus petals.

From His mouth, O monarch, He created, the Regenerate, from His arms the Kshatriya, from His thighs the Vaishyas and from His legs the Shudras.

With ascetic austerities devoutly serving in the days of the full moon and the new moon Keshava the Divine, the creator of all corporal creatures, the Essence of Brahma and of Yoga, one surely attains to Him. Keshava has been called the Supreme energy and the Grandsire of the worlds.

The sages, O ruler of men, call Him Hrishikesha or the Lord of the senses, Know Him also to be the supreme Teacher, the Father, and the Preceptor.

Regions of undeteriorating blessedness is secured by him on whom Krishna becomes gracious. He that seeks protection from Keshava in seasons of danger, and

He that always reads of His themes, becomes happy and attended will all blessings. Those who attain to Krishna are never again befouled.

That Janardana ever saves those who are overwhelmed with great terror. O descendant of the Bharata race, perfectly aware of this fact, Yudhishthira,

With his whole soul, has sought shelter in Keshava, the Supreme God, the Lord of the worlds, the Master of all Yoga and the Lord of this Earth.