शरण्यं शरणं देवं नारायणमजं विभुम्। तेऽभिगम्य नमस्कृत्य वैकुण्ठमपराजितम्। ततो देवाः समस्तास्ते तदोचुर्मधुसूदनम्
Seeking refuge, they approached the god Nārāyaṇa, the unborn, the all-pervading; having bowed to the unconquered Vaikuṇṭha, all the gods then addressed Madhusūdana.
त्वंनः स्रष्टा च भर्ता च हर्ता च जगतः प्रभो। त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं यच्चेङ्गं यच्च नेङ्गति। `त्वय्येव पुण्डरीकाक्ष पुनस्तत्प्रविलीयते
You are our creator, sustainer, and destroyer, O Lord of the world; by you this universe is created, what moves and what does not; in you alone, O lotus-eyed one, it is again dissolved.
त्वया भूमिः पुरा नष्टा समुद्रात्पुष्करेक्षण। वाराहं वपुराश्रित्यजगदर्थे समुद्धृता
Once, O lotus-eyed one, when the earth was lost in the ocean, you assumed the form of a boar and raised her up for the sake of the world.
आदिदैत्यो महावीर्यो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा। नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा सूदितः पुरुषोत्तम
Long ago, the first and mighty Daitya, Hiraṇyakaśipu, was slain by you, O best of men, when you took the form of Narasiṃha.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां बलिश्चापि महासुरः। वामनं वपुराश्रित्य त्रैलोक्याद्धंशितस्त्वया
Bali, the great Asura, invincible to all beings, was cast down by you from the three worlds, assuming the form of Vāmana.
असुरश्च महेष्वासो जम्भ इत्यभिविश्रुतः। यज्ञक्षोभकरः क्रूरस्त्वयैव विनिपातितः
The renowned Asura Jambha, a great archer and cruel disturber of sacrifices, was also destroyed by you alone.
एवमादीनि कर्माणि येषां संख्या न विद्यते। अस्माकं भयभीतानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन
Deeds such as these, whose number cannot be known, have been performed by you; for us, who are fearful and anxious, you are the refuge, O Madhusūdana.
तस्मात्त्वां देवदेवेश लोकार्थं ज्ञापयामहे। रक्ष लोकांश्च देवांश्च शक्रं च महतो भयात्। `शरणागतसंत्राणे त्वमेकोऽसि दृढव्रतः
Therefore, O Lord of the gods and ruler of the universe, we appeal to you for the sake of the worlds: protect the worlds, the gods, and Indra from great fear; you alone, firm in your vow, are the savior of those who seek refuge.
तव प्रसादाद्वर्धन्ते प्रजाः सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः। ता भाविता भावयनति हव्यकव्यैर्दिवौकसः
By your grace, all four kinds of beings increase; and those beings, honoring the gods with offerings of oblations and ancestral rites, are themselves honored.
लोका ह्येवं विवर्धन्ते ह्यन्योन्यं समुपाश्रिताः। त्वत्प्रसादान्निरुद्विग्नास्त्वयैव परिरक्षिताः
Indeed, the worlds flourish in this way, each depending on the other; by your favor, they are free from distress and protected by you.
इदं च समनुप्राप्तं लोकानां भयमुत्तमम्। न च जानीम केनेति रात्रौ वध्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः
Now, this supreme fear has come upon the worlds, and we do not know by whom it is caused; at night, Brāhmaṇas are being slain.
क्षीणेषु च ब्राह्मणेषु पृथिवी क्षयमेष्यति। तत पृथिव्यां क्षीणायां त्रिदिवं क्षयमेष्यति
When the Brāhmaṇas are destroyed, the earth will come to ruin; and when the earth is ruined, heaven too will perish.
त्वत्प्रसादान्महाबाहो लोकाः सर्वे जगत्पते। विनाशं नाधिगच्छेयुस्त्वया वै परिरक्षिताः
By your grace, O mighty-armed Lord of the world, all the worlds would not face destruction, for they are protected by you.
विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं प्रजानां क्षयकारणम्। भवतां चापि वक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं विगतज्वराः
I know, O gods, the cause of the destruction of beings; and I will tell you—listen without anxiety.
कालेया इति विख्याता गणाः परमदारुणाः। तैश्च वृत्रं समाश्रित्य जगत्सर्वं प्रमाथितम्
There are hosts known as Kāleyas, exceedingly fierce; with Vṛtra as their ally, they have devastated the entire world.
ते वृत्रं निहतं दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षेण धीमता। जीवितं परिरक्षन्तः प्रविष्टा वरुणालयम्
When they saw Vṛtra slain by the wise thousand-eyed one, they entered Varuṇa’s abode, seeking to preserve their lives.
ते प्रविश्योदधिं घोरं नक्रग्राहसमाकुलम्। उत्सादार्थं लोकानां रात्रौ घ्नन्ति ऋषीनिह
Entering the dreadful ocean, filled with crocodiles and sea-monsters, they kill sages here at night, intending the destruction of the worlds.
न तु शक्याः क्षयं नेतुं समुद्राश्रयिणो हि ते। समुद्रस्य क्षये बुद्धिर्भवद्भिः संप्रधार्यताम्
But they cannot be destroyed, for they dwell in the ocean; let a plan for the destruction of the ocean be considered by you.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो देवा विष्णुना समुदीरितम्। विष्णुमेव पुरस्कृत्यब्रह्माणं समुपस्थिताः
Hearing these words spoken by Viṣṇu, the gods, placing Viṣṇu at their head, approached Brahmā.
ततस्ते प्रणता भूत्वा तमेवार्धं न्यवेदयन्। सर्वलोकविनाशार्थं कालेया कृतनिश्चयाः
Then, having bowed down, they reported to him in full: the Kāleyas, resolved on the destruction of all the worlds.
एषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पद्मयोनिः सनातनः। उवाच परमप्रीतस्त्रिदशानर्थवद्वचः
Hearing those words, the eternal Lotus-born, greatly pleased, spoke to the gods words full of meaning.
विदितं मे सुराः सर्वे दानवानां विवेष्टितम्। मनुष्यादेश्च निधनं कालेयैः कालचोदितैः
I know well, O gods, all the actions of the Dānavas, and the destruction of men by the Kāleyas, impelled by time.
क्षयस्तेपामनुप्राप्तः कालेनोपहताश्च ये। उपायं संप्रवक्ष्यामि समुद्रस्य विशोषणे
Their ruin has come upon them, struck down by time; I will declare to you the means for drying up the ocean.
अगस्त्य इतिविग्व्यातो वारुणिः सुसमाहितः। तमुपागम्य सहिता इममर्थं प्रयाचत
Agastya, renowned and steadfast, born of Varuṇa, approach him together and request this matter.
स हि शक्तो महातेजाः क्षणात्पातुं महोदधिम्'। अगस्त्येन विना को हि शक्तोऽन्योऽर्णवशोपणे
For he, possessed of great energy, is able to drink up the great ocean in a moment; apart from Agastya, who else is capable of drying up the sea?
अन्यथा हि न शक्यास्ते विना सागरशोपणम्। समुद्रे च क्षयं नीते कालेयान्निहनिष्यथ
Otherwise, it is not possible to destroy them without drying up the ocean; when the sea is emptied, you will slay the Kāleyas.
एवं श्रुत्वा वचो देवा ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। परमेष्ठिनमाज्ञाप्यअगस्त्यस्याश्रमं ययुः
Thus, hearing the word of Brahmā, the supreme lord, the gods, having received his command, went to Agastya’s hermitage.
तत्रापश्यन्महात्मानं वारुणिं दीप्ततेजसम्। उपास्यमानमृपिभिर्देवैरिव पितामहम्
There they saw the great-souled son of Varuṇa, blazing in brilliance, being served by kings as the gods serve the Grandsire.
तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानं मैत्रावरुणिमच्युतम्। आश्रमश्थं तपोराशिं कर्मभिः स्वैस्तु तुष्टुवुः
Approaching the steadfast sage, the son of Mitra and Varuṇa, a treasury of austerity, dwelling in his hermitage, they praised him with their own deeds.
नहुपेणाभितप्तानां त्वं लोकानां गतिः पुरा। भ्रंशितश्च सुरैश्वर्याल्लोकार्थं लोककण्टकः
You were once the refuge of the worlds, tormented by Nahusha; for the sake of the worlds, you cast down the thorn of the gods from sovereignty.