सततं धावमानश्च चिन्तयानो विशांपते। `भ्रमंस्तत्र महीपाल यदा वर्षगणान्बहून्'। आसादयामि नैवान्तं तस्य राजन्महात्मनः
Constantly running and reflecting, O lord of men, I wandered there for many years, yet, O king, I never reached the end of that great soul.
ततस्तमेव शरणं गतोस्मि विधिवत्तदा। वरेण्यं वरदं देवं मनसा कर्मणैव च
Then, in accordance with the proper way, I took refuge in him alone— that worthy, boon-giving god— with my mind and with my actions.
ततोऽहं सहसा राजन्वायुवेगेन निःसृतः। महात्मनो मुखात्तस्य विवृतात्पुरुषोत्तम
Then, O king, I was suddenly cast out by a gust of wind from the open mouth of that great soul, the supreme person.
ततस्तस्यैव शाखायां न्यग्रोधस्य विशांपते। आस्ते मनुजशार्दूल कृत्स्नमादाय वै जगत्
Then, O lord of men, on a branch of that very banyan tree, O tiger among men, he sits, having taken in the entire world.
ते नैव बालवेषेण श्रीवत्सकृतलक्षणम्। आसीनं तं नरव्याघ्र पश्याम्यमिततेजसम्
O tiger among men, I saw him sitting there, not in the form of a child, marked with the Śrīvatsa and other signs, possessed of immeasurable brilliance.
ततो मामब्रवीद्बालः स प्रीतः प्रहसन्निव। श्रीवत्सधारी द्युतिमान्पीतवासा महाद्युतिः
Then that radiant child, bearing the Śrīvatsa, clad in yellow garments, of great splendor, spoke to me, delighted and smiling.
अपीदानीं शरीरेऽस्मिन्मामके मुनिसत्तम। उषितस्त्वं परिश्रान्तो मार्कण्डेय ब्रवीहि मे
"O best of sages, have you now dwelt, weary, within this my body? Tell me, Mārkaṇḍeya."
मुहूर्तादथ मे दृष्टिः प्रादुर्भूता पुनर्नवा। मायानिर्मुक्तमात्मनमपश्यं लब्धचेतसम्
Then, after a moment, my vision became clear and new again; I saw him, freed from illusion, with mind restored.
तस्य ताम्रतलौ तात चरणौ सुप्रतिष्ठितौ। सुजातौ मृदुरक्ताभिरङ्गुलीभिर्विराजितौ
O dear one, his feet were coppery and well-formed, firmly set, beautiful, adorned with soft, reddish toes.
प्रयत्नेन मया मूर्ध्ना गृहीत्वा ह्यभिवनदितौ। दृष्ट्वाऽपरिमितं तस् प्रभावममितौजसः
With effort I took those feet with my head and embraced them, beholding the immeasurable power of that one of boundless energy.
विनयेनाञ्जलिं कृत्वाप्रयत्नेनोपगम्य ह। दृष्टो मया स भूतात्मा देवः कमललोचनः
With reverence, joining my palms, I approached him with care; I beheld that lord, the soul of all beings, with lotus-like eyes.
तमहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा नमस्कृत्येदमब्रवम्। ज्ञातुमिच्छामि देव त्वां मायां चैतां तवोत्तमाम्
Becoming reverent, joining my hands, I bowed and said: "O god, I wish to know you and this supreme illusion of yours."
आस्येनानुप्रविष्टोऽहं शरीरे भगवंस्तव। दृष्टवानखिलाँल्लोकान्समस्तान्जठरे हि ते
O venerable one, having entered your body through your mouth, I beheld all the worlds entirely within your belly.
तव देव शरीरस्था देवदानवराक्षसाः। यक्षगन्धर्वनागाश्च जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्
Within your body, O god, are the gods, asuras, and rākṣasas, as well as yakṣas, gandharvas, nāgas, and all that is stationary and moving in the universe.
त्वत्प्रसादाच्च मे देव स्मृतिर्न परिहीयते। द्रुतमन्तःशरीरे ते सततं परिवर्तिनः
And by your grace, O god, my memory does not fail; swiftly, within your ever-revolving body, I have seen all.
निर्गतोऽहमकामस्तु इच्छया ते महाप्रभो। यतिष्ये पुण्डरीकाक्ष ज्ञातुं त्वाऽहमनिन्दितं
Unwillingly, yet by your will, O great lord, I have come out; O lotus-eyed one, I will strive to know you, the blameless one.
इह भूत्वा शिशुः साक्षात्किं भवानवतिष्ठते। पीत्वा जगदिदं सर्वमेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि
Why do you, having become a child here in person, remain thus, after having swallowed this entire world? You ought to explain this.
किमर्थं च जगत्सर्वं शरीरस्थं तवानघ। कियन्तं च त्वया कालमिह स्थेयमरिंदम
For what purpose, O sinless one, is the whole world situated in your body? And for how long, O subduer of foes, will you remain here?
एतदिच्छामि देवेश श्रोतुं ब्राह्मणकाम्यया। त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्षं विस्तरेण यथातथम्। महद्ध्येतदचिन्त्यं च यदहं दृष्टवान्प्रभो
This I wish to hear, O lord of gods, out of desire for knowledge as a brāhmaṇa, from you, O lotus-eyed one, in detail and truthfully; for what I have seen, O lord, is truly great and inconceivable.
इत्युक्तः स मया श्रीमान्देवदेवो महाद्युतिः। सान्त्वयन्मामिदं वाक्यमुवाच वदतांवरः
Thus addressed by me, the illustrious god of gods, radiant and supreme among speakers, comforted me and spoke these words.
कामं देवाऽपि मां विप्र न हि जानन्ति तत्त्वतः। त्वत्प्रीत्या तु प्रवक्ष्यामि यथेदं विमृजाम्यहम्
Even the gods, O brāhmaṇa, do not truly know me; but out of affection for you, I shall declare to you as I cleanse this matter.
पितृभक्तोसि विप्रर्षे मां चैव शरणं गतः। ततो दृष्टोस्मि ते साक्षाद्ब्रह्यचर्यं च ते महत्
You are devoted to your ancestors, O sage among brāhmaṇas, and you have taken refuge in me; therefore I have appeared before you directly, and your austerity is great.
आपो नारा इति प्रोक्तास्तासां नाम कृतं मया। तेन नारायणप्युक्तो मम तत्त्वयनं सदा
The waters are called 'nārāḥ'; that name was given by me. Therefore, I am called Nārāyaṇa, and that is always my true nature.
अहंनारायणो नाम प्रभवः शाश्वतोऽव्ययः। विधाता सर्वभूतानां संहर्ता च द्विजोत्तम्
I am Nārāyaṇa by name, the eternal, imperishable source; I am the creator and destroyer of all beings, O best of twice-born.
अहं विष्णुरहं ब्रह्मा शक्रश्चाहं सुराधिपः। अहं वैश्रवणो राजा यमः प्रेताधिपस्तथा
I am Viṣṇu, I am Brahmā, I am Śakra, lord of the gods; I am Vaiśravaṇa, the king, and Yama, the lord of the departed as well.
अहं शिवश्च सोमश्च कश्यपोऽथ प्रजापतिः। अहं धाता विधाता च यज्ञश्चाहं द्विजोत्तम
I am Śiva and Soma, and Kaśyapa, the progenitor; I am Dhātā and Vidhātā, and I am the sacrifice, O best of brāhmaṇas.
अग्निरास्यं क्षिति पादौ चन्द्रादित्यौ च लोचने। द्यौर्मूर्धा मे दिशः श्रोत्रे तथाऽऽपः स्वेदसंभवाः। सकलं च नभः कायो वायुर्मनसि मे स्थितः
Agni is my mouth, the earth my feet, the moon and sun my eyes; the sky is my head, the directions my ears, and the waters, born of sweat, are mine; all space is my body, and the wind is established in my mind.
मया क्रतुशतैरिष्टं बहुभिस्त्वाप्तदक्षिणैः। यजन्ते वेदविदुषो मां देवसदने स्थितम्
By me, with hundreds of sacrifices, performed with many rich gifts, those who know the Vedas worship me, dwelling in the abode of the gods.
पृथिव्यां क्षत्रियेन्द्राश् पार्तिवाः स्वर्गकाङ्क्षिणः। यजन्ते मां तथा वैश्याः स्वर्गलोकजिगीषया
On earth, the kings among kṣatriyas, desiring heaven, worship me; likewise, the vaiśyas, wishing to conquer the heavenly world, worship me.
चतुःसमुद्रपर्यन्तां मेरुमन्दरभूषणाम्। शेषो भूत्वाऽहमेवैतां धारयामि वसुंधराम्
Becoming Śeṣa, I alone uphold this earth, which is bounded by the four oceans and adorned with Meru and Mandara.