Characterization of Various Texts and Doctrines as Sattvika, Rdjasa and Tamasa

Pdrvati said:

1. O sinless one, tell me about the vicious texts which were composed by the brahmanas bereft of devotion to the lord. O lord of gods, tell me their names in a sequence. Rudra said:

2-4. O goddess, listen. I shall tell you about the vicious texts in a sequence. By merely remembering them even the wise ones would be deluded, First I myself proclaimed the Saiva, Pasupata (texts) etc. Hear about the ones which were proclaimed by the brahmanas into whom my power had entered, after that: Kanada proclaimed the great Vaisesika text.

5-7. Similarly Gautama (proclaimed the doctrine of) Nyaya, and Kapila (proclaimed) Sarhkhya. Dhisana (Brihaspati) in the same way (proclaimed) the much censured Carvaka (doctrine); Vishnu of the form of Buddha proclaimed the false Buddhist doctrine and those of the naked and wearing dark blue garmentsfor the destruction of the demons. The doctrine of Maya (illusion) is a wicked doctrine and said to be pseudo-Buddhist. I myself, of the form of a brahmana, proclaimed it in Kali (age).

8-12. It shows the meaninglessness of the words of the holy texts and is condemned in the world. In this (doctrine) only the giving up of one's own duties is expounded. And that is said to be religiousness by those who have fallen from all duties. I have propounded the identity of the Highest Lord and the (individual) soul. I stated this Brahman's nature to be qualityless. O goddess, I myself have conceived, for the destruction of the worlds, and for deluding the world in this Kali age, the great doctrine resembling the purport of the Vedas, (but) non-Vedic due to the principle of Maya (illusion) (present in it). By my order formerly Jaimini propounded the great doctrine of Purva MImamsa, stating godlessness and making the Veda meaningless.

13-17. O Girija, know from me the vicious doctrines. I shall also narrate the names of the vicious Puranas* in succession: Brahma, Padma, Vaisnava,! shaiva, so also Bhagavata. So also Naradiya and Markandeya as the seventh. Agneya is said to be the eighth, and Bhavisya to be the ninth. Brahmavaivarta is said to be the tenth, and Linga to be eleventh. Varaha is said to be the twelfth and Vamana the thirteenth. Kaurma is said to be the fourteenth and Matsya the fifteenth. Garuda is said to be the sixteenth, and Skanda to be the seventeenth. The eighteenth is Brahmanda. (These are) the Puranas in succession.

18-22a. Know from me that Matsya, Kaurma, Lainga, Saiva, so also Skanda and Agneya are tamasa (vicious). O you of *The immediately following list is not actually that of the vicious Puranas but of the Puranas in general. The vicious six Puranas follow this list of eighteen Puranas. The word 'tamasa' in this verse is not appropriately used. (Ed.) an auspicious appearance, the Puranas, viz. Vaisnava, Naradlya, so also the auspicious Bhagavata, similarly Garuda, Padma, Varaha should be known to be sattvika (or virtuous). Know from me that Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavisya, Vamana and Brahma are rajasa (endowed with the quality of passion). The sattvika ones are said to give salvation and are always auspicious. Similarly, O goddess, the tamasa are said to be the cause of (i.e. lead one to) hell.

22b-27. Similarly Smrtis endowed with the three qualities are proclaimed by the sages. O you of an auspicious appearance, they are sattvika, rajasa and tamasa. Vasishtha, Harlta, Vyasa, Parasara, Bharadvaja and Kasyapa are said to sattvika, giving (i.e. leading to) salvation and auspicious. Yajfiavalkya Atreya, so also Taittira, Daksha and Katyayana and Vaisnava are rajasa, giving (i.e. leading to) heaven, and auspicious. Gautama, Barhaspatya, Sarhvarta, Yama, Sarhkhya and Ausanasa are said to be tamasa, and giving (i.e. leading to) hell. What is the use of talking much in the case of the Puranas and the Smrtis also? The tamasa do lead to hell. A wise one should avoid them. As the occasion has come, I have told you all the auspicious doctrines. Listen. I shall tell you about the nature of the remaining birth (i.e. of the other incarnations) of Vishnu.

 

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