GARUDA PURANA

Hear, O Vipras learned priests, what he related when I approached him with these questions.

VYASA said: — Hear, O Suta the narrator and bard of the Puranas, I will recount the Garuda Purana which Brahma the Creator described to me in the company of Narada, Daksha, and others.

THE SUTA said: — How did Brahma relate the sacred Garuda Purana—which describes the true essence of reality—unto you when you were united with Daksha, Narada, and the others?

VYASA said: — Having offered our respects to Brahma in Brahmaloka the highest heavenly realm, myself, Daksha, Narada, Bhrigu, and others said to him: "Describe to us the very heart of all sacred wisdom."

BRAHMA said: — O Vyasa, I will recount to you the Garuda Purana The original printed OCR contains a typo here: "Purada" for "Purana.", the very cream of sacred learning which Vishnu the Preserver described to me and Rudra an aspect of Shiva in the past, while in the company of other celestial beings.

VYASA said: — O Brahman the Creator, describe to me this Garuda Purana, which is full of great significance and is the essence of all things—the same which Hari a name for Vishnu formerly described to Rudra while in the company of other gods.

BRAHMA said: — Along with Indra the King of the Gods and other celestials, I traveled to Mount Kailasha the sacred mountain home of Shiva. There I saw Rudra engaged in the meditation of the "Great Station" A term referring to the supreme state of consciousness or the Ultimate Reality.. Having saluted him, I addressed him, saying: "O Shankara the Giver of Joy, a title of Shiva, upon what are you meditating? Aside from you, I know of no greater deity. Therefore, please describe to me the subject of your meditation—the very essence of sacred learning—for I, along with these gods, am anxious to listen to it."

RUDRA said: — I meditate on Vishnu, the Great Soul, the Demiurgus the divine architect or creator of the universe, who provides everything, who is present everywhere, and who resides in the hearts of all living creatures. O Grandfather A traditional honorific for Brahma as the progenitor of all beings., though my body is smeared with ashes and my hair is matted, all my religious vows are intended for the adoration of Vishnu. I will describe Him to you—the essence of all—upon whom I meditate. I meditate on the deity...