BPHS Chapter 1

Ch. 1 - The Creation

I prostrate before the lotus-feet of Lord  Vighneswara, offspring of Uma, the cause of destruction of sorrow,  who is served by Mahābhutas (the five great elements of the universe) etc., who has the face of a tusker  and who consumes the essence  of Kapittha and Jambu fruits.

1-4. Offering his obeisance to all-knowing Mahārishi Parāśar and with folded hands, Maitreya said: “O venerable Mahārishi, Jyotish, the supreme limb of the Vedas, has three divisions, viz. Horā, Ganita and Samhita. Among the said three divisions Horā, or the general part of Jyotish is still more excellent. I desire  to know of its glorious aspects  from  you. Be pleased to tell me, how this Universe is created?  How does it end?  What is the relationship of the animals, born on this earth, with the heavenly bodies?  Please speak elaborately”

5-8. Mahārishi  Parāśar answered. O Brahmin, your query has an auspicious purpose in it for the welfare of the Universe. Praying Lord Brahma and  Śrī  Sarasvatī, his power (and consort) and Sūrya, the leader of the Grahas and the cause  of Creation, I shall proceed to narrate to you the science of Jyotish, as heard through Lord  Brahma. Only good will follow the teaching of this Vedic Science to the students, who are  peacefully disposed, who honour the preceptors (and elders), who speak only truth and are godfearing. Woeful  forever, doubtlessly, will it be to impart knowledge of this science to an unwilling student, to a heterodox and to a crafty person.

9-12.  Śrī  Vishnu, who is the Lord (of  all matters),  who has undefiled spirit, who is endowed with the three Gunas, although he transcends the  grip of Gunas (Gunatita), who is the Author of this Universe, who is glorious, who is the Cause and who is endowed with valour, has no beginning. He authored the Universe and administers it with a quarter of his power. The other three quarters of Him, filled with nectar, are  knowable only to the philosophers (of maturity). The Principal Evolver, who is both perceptible and imperceptible in Vasudeva. The Imperceptible part of the Lord is endowed with  dual powers, while the Perceptible with triple powers.

13-15. The three powers are  Śrī  Shakti (Mother Lakshmi) with Sattva-Gun, Bhū  Shakti (Mother-Earth) with Rajo-Gun and Nīl Shakti with Tamo-Gun. Apart from  the three, the fourth kind of Vishnu, influenced by  Śrī  Shakti and Bhoo Shakti, assumes the form  of Shankarshan with Tamo-Gun, of Pradyumna with Rajo-Gun and of Anirudh with Sattva-Gun.

16-17. Mahatatwa, Ahamkar and Ahamkar Murti and Brahma, are born from Shankarshan, Pradyumna and Anirudh, respectively. All these three forms are  endowed with all the three Gunas, with predominance of  the Gun due to their origin.

18-19. Ahamkar is of three classes, i.e. with Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic dispositions. Divine class, sensory organs and the five primordial compounds (space, air, fire, water and earth) are, respectively, from  the said three Ahamkaras.

20. Lord Vishnu, coupled with  Śrī  Shakti, rules over the three worlds. Coupled with Bhoo Shakti, He is Brahma  causing the Universe. Coupled with Neel  Shakti, He is Shiva, destroying the Universe.

21-24. The Lord is in all beings and the entire  Universe is in Him.  All beings contain both Jivatma and Paramatmāńśas. Some  have predominance of the former, while yet some  have the latter in predominance. Paramatmāńś  is predominant in the Grahas, viz. Sūrya etc. and Brahma, Shiva and others. Their powers, or  consorts too have predominance of Paramatmāńś. Others have more of Jivatmāńś.