अश्वमेधं क्रतुश्रेष्ठमाहर्तुमुपचक्रमे। वर्तमाने तदा यज्ञे दैत्येन्द्रस्य युधिष्ठिर
He began to perform the aśvamedha, the greatest of sacrifices; and while that sacrifice of the Daitya king was underway, O Yudhiṣṭhira—
स विष्णुर्मानवो भूत्वा प्रच्छन्नो ब्रह्मसंवृतः। मुण्डो यत्रोपवीती च कृष्णाजिनधरः शिखी
Viṣṇu, taking the form of a man, concealed his true nature with Brahmanic austerity, appearing shaven-headed, wearing the sacred thread, clad in black antelope skin, and with a topknot.
पालाशदण्डं सङ्गृह्य वामनोऽद्भुतदर्शनः। विश्य स बलेर्यज्ञे वर्तमानो च दक्षिणाम्
Holding a staff of palāśa wood, the wondrous Vāmana entered Bali's sacrifice and stood by the gifts.
देहीत्युवाच दैत्येन्द्रं विक्रमांस्त्रीनिहैव ह। दीयतां त्रिपदीमात्रमित्ययाचन्महासुरम्
He said to the Daitya king, 'Grant me three strides of land here,' and thus requested the great Asura for just the measure of three steps.
स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य प्रददौ विष्णवे तदा। तेन लब्ध्वा हिरर्भूमिं जृम्भयामास वै भृशम्
Bali agreed, saying 'So be it,' and gave it to Viṣṇu; with that, Viṣṇu, having obtained the earth, expanded himself greatly.
स शिशुः सदिवं खं च पृथिवीं वच विशाम्पते। त्रिभिर्विक्रमणैश्चैव सर्वमाक्रमताभिभूः
That boy, O lord of men, with three strides, covered the heavens, the sky, and the earth, surpassing all.
बलेर्बलवतो यज्ञे बलिना विष्णुना पुरा। विक्रमैस्त्रिभिरक्षोभ्याः क्षोभितास्ते महासुराः
Long ago, during the sacrifice of the mighty Bali, those great Asuras, though unshakable, were overpowered by the powerful Viṣṇu through his three strides.
विप्रचित्तिमुखाः क्रुद्धाः सर्वसङ्घा महासुराः। नानावक्रा महाकाया नानावेषधरा नृप
The great Asuras, led by Vipracitti and others, enraged, gathered in full force, O King, of various forms, immense in size, and adorned in diverse attire.
नानाप्रहरणा रौद्रा नानामाल्यानुलेपनाः। स्वान्यायुधानि सङ्गृह्य प्रदीप्ता इव तेजसा
Fierce, bearing many weapons, decked with various garlands and ointments, they seized their own arms, blazing as if with radiance.
क्रममाणं हरि तत्र उपावर्तन्त भारत। प्रमथ्य सर्वान्दैतेयान्पादहस्ततलैस्तु तान्
There, as Hari advanced, O Bhārata, he subdued all those Daityas, striking them down with the soles of his feet and the palms of his hands.
रूपं कृत्वा महाभीमं जहाराशु स मेदिनीम्। सम्प्राप्य दिवमाकाशमादित्यसदने स्थितः
Assuming a most terrifying form, he swiftly seized the earth; reaching the sky, he stood in the abode of the Sun.
अत्यरोचत भूतात्मा आदित्यस्यैव तेजसा। प्रकाशयन्दिशः सर्वाः प्रदिशश्च महायशाः
The Self of all beings shone forth exceedingly with the radiance of the Sun, illuminating all directions and quarters, the illustrious one.
शुशुभे स महाबाहुः सर्वलोकान्प्रकाशयन्। तस्य विक्रमतो भूमिं चन्द्रादित्यौ स्तनान्तरे
That mighty-armed one shone, lighting up all the worlds; as he strode upon the earth, the Moon and Sun were between his breasts.
नभस्तु क्रममाणस्य नाभ्यां किल तदा स्थितौ। परमाक्रममाणस्य नानुभ्यां तौ व्यवस्थितौ
As he strode through the sky, they say the heavens were at his navel; as he took his supreme stride, those two were stationed at his sides.
विष्णोरमितवीर्यस्य वदन्त्येवं द्विजातयः। अथास्य पादाक्रमणात्पफालाण्डो युधिष्ठिरः
Thus do the twice-born speak of Viṣṇu's immeasurable power; and, O Yudhiṣṭhira, from the step of his foot, the cosmic egg burst open.
तच्छिद्रात्स्यन्दिनी तस्य पादभ्रष्टा तु निम्नगा। ससार सागरं सा तु पावनी सागरंगमा
From that opening, the river Gaṅgā, fallen from his foot, flowed forth; she went to the ocean, purifying, destined for the sea.
जहार मेदिनीं सर्वां हत्वा दानवपुङ्गवान्। आसुरी श्रियमाहृत्य त्रील्लोकान्स जनार्दन
Having slain the foremost Dānavas, he seized the entire earth; taking the Asuric glory, Janārdana conquered the three worlds.
सपुत्रदारानसुरान्पाताले संन्यवेशयत्। नमुचिः शम्बरश्चैव प्रह्लादश्च महामनाः
He cast the Asuras, along with their sons and wives, into the netherworld; Namuci, Śambara, and the high-minded Prahlāda as well.
महाभूतानि भूतात्मा सविशेषानि वै हरिः। कालं च सकलं राजन्गात्रभूतान्यदर्शयत्
Hari, the soul of beings, revealed the great elements with their distinctions, and time in its entirety, O King, as forms within his own body.
तस्य गात्रे जगत्सर्वमानीतमधिपश्यति। न किञ्चिदस्ति लोकेषु यदनाप्तं महात्मना
Within his body, the whole universe was seen gathered; in all the worlds, there is nothing unattained by that great soul.
तद्धि रूपमुपेन्द्रस्य देवदानवमानवाः। दृष्ट्वा संमुमुहुः सर्वे विष्णुतेजोऽभिपीडिताः
Seeing that form of Upendra, all the gods, Asuras, and humans were bewildered, overwhelmed by Viṣṇu's radiance.
बलिर्बद्धोऽभिमानी च यज्ञवाटे महात्मना। विरोचनकुलं सर्वं पाताले विनिवेशितम्
Bali, proud, was bound at the sacrificial ground by the great soul; the entire lineage of Virocana was consigned to the netherworld.
एवंविधानि कर्माणि कृत्वा गरुडावाहनः। न विस्मयमुपागच्छत्पारमेष्ठ्येन तेजसा
Having performed such deeds, he who rides Garuḍa did not become amazed, endowed as he was with the supreme splendor of the Creator.
स सर्वमसुरैश्वर्यं सम्प्रदाय शचीपतेः। त्रैलोक्यं च ददौ शक्रे विष्णुर्दानवसूदनः
He handed over all the Asuric wealth to the lord of Śacī; Viṣṇu, slayer of the Dānavas, gave the three worlds to Śakra.
एष ते वामनो नाम प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः। वेदविद्भिर्द्विजैरेतच्छ्रूयते वैष्णवं यशः। मानुषेषु ततो विष्णोः प्रादुर्भावांस्तथा शृणु
This is the incarnation of Vāmana, the great-souled one; this fame of Viṣṇu is heard from the learned twice-born who know the Vedas. Now hear further about the incarnations of Viṣṇu among men.
विष्णोः पुनर्महाभागः प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः। दत्तात्रेय इति ख्यात ऋषिरासीन्महायशाः
Again, the most glorious incarnation of Viṣṇu, the great-souled one, was the sage renowned as Dattātreya.
तेन नष्टेषु वेदेषु क्रियासु च मखेषु च। चातुर्वर्ण्ये च सङ्कीर्णे धर्मे शिथिलतां गते
When the Vedas were lost, the rituals and sacrifices had ceased, and the fourfold order of society had become confused, and righteousness had weakened—
अभवर्धति चाधर्मे सत्ये नष्टे स्थितेऽनृते। प्रजासु क्षीयमाणासु धर्मे चामूलतां पते
Then unrighteousness increased, truth was lost and falsehood prevailed; as people diminished, righteousness was uprooted.
सयज्ञाः सक्रिया वेदाः प्रत्यानीता हि तेन वै। चातुर्वर्ण्यमसङ्कीर्णं कृतं तेन महात्मना
He restored the Vedas with their sacrifices and rituals; by him, the fourfold order was made pure again, O great one.
स एव वै यदा प्रादाद्धैहयाधिपतेर्वरम्। तं हैहयानामधिपस्त्वर्जुनोऽभिप्रसादयन्
It was he who granted a boon to the lord of the Haihayas, when Arjuna, the lord of the Haihayas, earnestly sought his favor.