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?
श्रोतुं विस्तरशः सर्वं त्वं हि तस्य प्रतिश्रयः
You are indeed the refuge for hearing all this in detail.
यत्तेऽहं परिपृष्टोऽस्मि कथामेतां युधिष्ठिर। तत्सर्वमखिलेनेह श्रूयतां मम भाषतः
Since you, Yudhishthira, have questioned me about this story, listen now as I recount it fully and completely.
पुरा कृतयुगे तात वर्तमाने भयंकरे। यमत्वं कारयामास आदिदेवः पुरातनः
Long ago, O dear one, in the terrifying age of the Krita Yuga, the ancient primeval god established the rule of Yama.
यमत्वं कुर्वतस्तस्य देवदेवस्य धीमतः। न तत्र म्रियते कश्चिज्जायते वा तथाऽच्युत
While that wise Lord of gods was instituting the rule of Yama, O Achyuta, no one there died or was born.
वर्धन्ते पक्षिसङ्घाश्च तथा पशुगवेडकम्। गवाश्वं च मृगाश्चैव सर्वे ते पिशिताशनाः
Flocks of birds, herds of cattle and goats, cows, horses, and wild animals—all these flesh-eaters multiplied.
तथा पुरुषशार्दूल मानुपाश्च परंतप। सहस्रशो ह्ययुतशो वर्धन्ते सलिलं यथा
Likewise, O tiger among men, human beings also, O scorcher of foes, increased by thousands and tens of thousands, like water.
एतस्मिन्संकुले तात वर्तमाने भयंकरे। अतिभाराद्वसुमती योजनानां शतं गता
In that tumultuous and dreadful time, O dear one, the earth, overwhelmed by excess weight, sank a hundred yojanas down.
सा वै व्यथितसर्वाङ्गी भारेणाक्रान्तचेतना। नारायणं वरं देवं प्रपन्ना शरणं गता
Her whole body afflicted and her mind oppressed by the burden, she sought refuge in the blessed god Narayana.
भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादाद्धि तिष्ठेयं सुचिरं त्विह। भारेणास्मि समाक्रान्ता न शक्नोस्मि स्म वर्तितुम्
"O Lord, by your grace may I remain here for a long time; I am overwhelmed by the burden and cannot endure it."
ममेमं भगवन्भारं व्यपनेतुं त्वमर्हसि। शरणागताऽस्मि ते देव प्रसादं कुरु मे विभो
"O blessed one, you alone are able to remove this burden of mine; I have come to you for refuge—grant me your favor, O Lord."