अयं देवनिवासो वै गन्तव्यो वो भविष्यति। ऋषीणां चैव दिव्यानां निवासः पुण्यकर्मणां
This will be your destination, the abode of the gods, and also the dwelling of the divine sages who perform holy deeds.
एषा शिवजला पुण्या याति सौम्य महानदी। बदरीप्रभवा राजन्देवर्षिगणसेविता
This great and auspicious river, O gentle one, with pure waters, originates at Badarī and is frequented by hosts of divine sages.
एषा वैहायसैर्नित्यं वालखिल्यैर्महात्मभिः। अर्चिता चोपयाता च गन्धर्वैश्च महात्मभिः
This river is always worshipped and approached by the great-souled Vālakhilyas moving through the sky, and also by the noble Gandharvas.
अत्रसाम स्म गायन्ति सामगाः पुण्यनिःस्वनाः। मरीचिः पुलहश्चैव भृगुश्चैवाङ्गिरास्तथा
Here, the singers of Sāma chant Sāman hymns with auspicious sounds; Marīci, Pulaha, Bhṛgu, and also Aṅgirā are present here.
अत्राह्निकं सुरश्रेष्ठो जपते समरुद्गणः। साध्याश्चैवाश्विनौ चैव परिधावन्ति तं तदा
Here, the best of gods, together with the Maruts, recite their daily prayers; the Sādhyas and the Aśvins also move about there at that time.
चन्द्रमाः सह सूर्येण ज्योतीषि च ग्रहैः सह। अहोरात्रविभागेन नदीमेनामनुव्रजन्
The moon along with the sun, and the stars with the planets, follow this river according to the division of day and night.
एतस्याः सलिलं मूर्ध्नि वृषाङ्कः पर्यधारयत्। गङ्गाद्वारे महाभाग येन लोकस्थितिर्भवेत्
At the gateway of the Gaṅgā, the blessed bull-bannered one poured this river's water on his head, by which the world's stability was secured.
एतां भगवतीं देवीं भवन्तः सर्व एव हि। प्रयतेनात्मना तात प्रतिगम्याभिवादत
O dear ones, you all should approach and salute this blessed goddess with purified minds.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा लोमशस्य महात्मनः। आकाशगङ्गां प्रयताः पाण्डवास्तेऽभ्यवादयन्
Hearing these words of the great-souled Lomaśa, the Pāṇḍavas, purified, saluted the celestial Gaṅgā.
अभिवाद्य च ते सर्वे पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। पुनः प्रयाताः संहृष्टाः सर्वैर्ऋषिगणैः सह
Having saluted her, all the Pāṇḍavas, followers of dharma, set out again, delighted, together with all the groups of sages.
ततो दूरात्प्रकाशन्तं पाण्डुरं मेरुसंनिभम्। ददृशुस्ते नरश्रेष्ठा विकीर्णं सर्वतोदिशम्
Then those best of men saw from afar something shining, pale as Mount Meru, spread out in all directions.
तान्प्रष्टुकामान्विज्ञाय पाण्डवान्स तु लोमशः। उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः शृणुध्वं पाण्डुनन्दनाः
Perceiving that the Pāṇḍavas wished to ask, Lomaśa, skilled in speech, addressed them, saying, 'Listen, O sons of Pāṇḍu.'
एतद्विकीर्णं सुश्रीमत्कैलासशिखरोपमम्। यत्पश्यसि नरश्रेष्ठ पर्वतप्रतिमं स्थितम्
This, scattered here and splendid, resembling the peak of Mount Kailāsa, which you see, O best of men, stands like a mountain.
एतान्यस्थीनि दैत्यस्य नरकस्य महात्मनः। पर्वतप्रतिमं भाति पर्वतप्रस्तराश्रितम्
These are the bones of the mighty demon Naraka; they shine like a mountain, resting upon a mass of rocky cliffs.
पुरातनेन देवेन विष्णुना परमात्मना। रदैत्यो विनिहतस्तेन सुरराजहितैषिणा
In ancient times, that Daitya was slain by Viṣṇu, the Supreme Soul, who desired the welfare of the king of the gods.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्यन्महामनाः। ऐनद्रं प्रार्थयते स्थानं तपःस्वाध्यायविक्रमात्
With great resolve, he performed austerities for ten thousand years, seeking the position of Indra through the power of penance, study, and valor.
तपोबलेन महता बाहुवेगबलेन च। नित्यमेव दुराधर्षो धर्षयन्स दितेः सुतः
By the great power of his austerity and the strength of his arms, the son of Diti became always unassailable, continually challenging others.
स तु तस्य बलं ज्ञात्वा धर्मे च चरितव्रतम्। भयाभिभूतः संविग्नः शक्र आसीत्तदाऽनघ
But when Indra learned of his strength and his steadfast practice of virtue, he became fearful and deeply disturbed, O sinless one.
तेन संचिन्तितो देवो मनसा विष्णुरव्ययः। सर्वत्रगः प्रभुः श्रीमानागतश्च स्थितो बभौ
Then the imperishable god Viṣṇu, the glorious, all-pervading Lord, was contemplated in mind by him and appeared, shining forth.
ऋषयश्चापि तं सर्वे तुष्टुवुश्च दिवौकसः
And all the sages and the dwellers of heaven praised him.
तं दृष्ट्वा ज्वलमानश्रीर्भगवान्हव्यवाहनः। नष्टतेजाः समभवत्तस्य तेजोभिभर्त्सितः
Seeing the blessed Fire-god, radiant in splendor, his own brilliance was lost, subdued by that superior radiance.
तं दृष्ट्वा वरदं देवं विष्णुं देवगणेश्वरम्। प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्य च वज्रभृत्। प्राह वाक्यं ततस्तत्त्वं यतस्तस्य भयं भवेत्
Seeing Viṣṇu, the bestower of boons, the Lord of the gods, Indra, with joined palms and bowed head, offered homage and spoke words revealing the cause of his fear.
जानामि ते भयं शक्र दैत्येन्द्रान्नरकात्ततः। ऐन्द्रं रप्रार्थयते स्थानं तपःसिद्धेन कर्मणा
I know your fear, O Indra, of the lord of the Daityas, Naraka, who seeks the position of Indra through the merit of his austerities.
सोहमेनं तव प्रीत्या तपःसिद्धमपि ध्रुवम्। वियुनज्मि देहाद्देवेनद्र मुहूर्तं प्रतिपालय
Therefore, out of affection for you, I will separate him, though perfected by penance, from his body; O Indra, wait but a moment.
तस्य विष्णुर्महातेजाः पाणिना चेतनां हरत्। स पपात ततो भूमौ गिरिराज इवाहतः। तस्यैतदस्थिसंघातं मायाविनिहतस्य वै
Viṣṇu, of great splendor, took his life with his hand; he fell then to the ground like a mountain king struck down. This is the heap of his bones, slain by the wielder of illusion.
इदं द्वितीयमपरं विष्णो कर्म प्रकाशते
This is another, a second, deed of Viṣṇu that is revealed.
नष्टा वसुमती कृत्स्ना पाताले चैव मज्जिता। पुनरुद्धरिता तेन वाराहेणैकशृङ्गिणा
The entire earth was lost, sunk into the netherworld; then it was raised up again by him, the Boar with a single tusk.
मगवन्विस्तरेणेमां कथां कथय तत्त्वतः
O Maghavan, tell this story in detail and in truth.
कथं तेन सुरेशेन नष्टा वसुमती तदा। योजनानां शतं ब्रह्मन्पुनरुद्धरिता तदा
How did the Lord of the gods then recover the lost earth, O Brahman, lifting it up again from a hundred yojanas deep?
केन चैव प्रकारेण जगतो धरणी ध्रुवा। शिवा देवी महाभागा सर्वसस्यप्ररोहिणी। कस्य चैव प्रभावाद्धि योजनानां शतं गता
And by what means did the steadfast goddess Earth, auspicious, greatly fortunate, and the source of all crops, go a hundred yojanas away, and by whose power?