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."
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवानक्षरः प्रभुः। प्रोवाच वचनं हृष्टः श्राव्यारसमीरितम्
Hearing her words, the imperishable Lord, delighted, spoke words that were pleasing to the ear.
न ते महि भयं कार्यं भारार्ते वसुधारिणि। अयमेवं तथा कुर्मि यथा लध्वी भविष्यसि
"O Earth, bearer of burdens, you need not fear; I will act so that you become light again."
स तां विसर्जयित्वा तु वसुधां शैलकुण्डलाम्। ततो वराहः संवृत्त एकशृङ्गो महाद्युतिः
Then, having dismissed the earth adorned with mountains, he became a great, radiant boar with a single tusk.
रक्ताभ्यां नयनाभ्यां तु भयमुत्पादयन्निव। धूमं च ज्वलयँल्लक्ष्म्या तत्र देशे व्यवर्धत
With eyes red as blood, as if inspiring fear, and emitting smoke and flames, Lakshmi grew in that place.
स गृहीत्वा वसुमतीं शृङ्गेणैकेन भास्वता। योजनानां शतं वीर समुद्धरति सोऽक्षरः
Seizing the earth with his shining single tusk, the imperishable one lifted her up a hundred yojanas, O hero.
तस्यां चोद्धार्यमाणायां संक्षोभः समजायत। देवाः संक्षुभिताः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
As she was being raised, a great disturbance arose; all the gods and ascetics rich in austerity were agitated.
हाहाभूतमभूत्सर्वं त्रिदिवं व्योम भूस्तथा। न पर्यवस्थितः कश्चिद्देवो वा मानुषोपि वा
All the heavens, the sky, and the earth were filled with cries of 'Alas!'; no god or human remained steady.
ततो ब्रह्माणमासीनं ज्वलमानमिव श्रिया। देवाः सर्षिगणाश्चैव उपतस्थुरनेकशः
Then the gods, along with hosts of sages, approached Brahma, who was seated and blazing with splendor, in many groups.
उपसर्प्य च देवेशं ब्रह्माणं लोकसाक्षिकम्। भूत्वा प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे वाक्यमुच्चारयंस्तदा
Then, approaching the lord of the gods, Brahma, the witness of the worlds, all of them stood with joined palms and spoke these words.
लोकाः संक्षुभिताः सर्वे व्याकुलं च चराचरम्। समुद्राणां च संक्षोभस्त्रिदशेश प्रकाशते
All the worlds are agitated, and both the moving and unmoving beings are in turmoil; O lord of the immortals, even the oceans are disturbed and this is manifest.
सैषा वसुमती कृत्स्ना योजनानां शतं गता। किमेतत्किंप्रभावेण येनेदं रव्याकुलं जगत्। आख्यातु नो भवाञ्शीघ्रं विसंज्ञाः स्मेह सर्वशः
This entire earth has sunk a hundred yojanas; what is this, what is its cause, by which the world is so troubled? Please tell us quickly, for we are all bewildered here.
असुरेभ्यो भयं नास्ति युष्माकं कुत्रचित्क्वचित्। श्रूयतां यत्कृते त्वेष संक्षोभो जायतेऽमराः
There is no danger to you from the asuras anywhere at all; listen, O immortals, to the reason for this disturbance that has arisen.
योसौ सर्वत्रगः श्रीमानक्षरात्मा व्यवस्थितः। तस्य प्रभावात्संक्षोभस्त्रिदिवस्य प्रकाशते
That illustrious, all-pervading, imperishable Self is present everywhere; by His power, this agitation in the three worlds is manifest.
यैषा वसुमती कृत्स्ना योजनानां शतं गता। समुद्धृता पुनस्तेन विष्णुना परमात्मना
This entire earth, which had sunk a hundred yojanas, has again been lifted up by that Supreme Soul, Vishnu.
तस्यामुद्धार्यमाणायां संक्षोभः समजायत। एवं भवन्तो जानन्तु च्छिद्यतां संशयश्च वः
As the earth was being lifted up by Him, a disturbance arose; thus, let all of you know this, and let your doubt be dispelled.
क्व तद्भूतं वसुमतीं समुद्धरति हृष्टवत्। तं देशं भगवन्ब्रूहि तत्र यास्यामहे वयम्
Where is that place where the earth is being joyfully lifted? O blessed one, tell us that region, so that we may go there.
हन्त गच्छत भद्रं वो नन्दने पशय्त स्थितम्। एषोत्र भगवाञ्श्रीमान्मुपर्णः संप्रकाशते
Come, go in peace, and see in Nandana the glorious Lord manifest; here, the illustrious Upabarṇa is revealed.
वारादेणैव रूपेण भगवाँल्लोकभावनः। कालानल इवाभाति पृथिवीतलमुद्धरन्
The blessed Lord, the creator of the worlds, appears in the form of a boar, shining like the fire of destruction, as He raises up the earth.
एतस्योरसि सुव्यक्तं श्रीवत्समभिराजते। पश्यध्वं विबुधाः सर्वे भूतमेतदनामयम्
On His chest, the Srivatsa mark shines clearly; behold, all you gods, this being, free from affliction.
ततो दृष्ट्वा महात्मानं श्रुत्वा चामन्त्र्य चामराः। पितामहं पुरस्कृत्य जग्मुर्देवा यथागतम्
Then, having seen that great-souled one and heard His words, the gods, after saluting Brahma, departed as they had come.