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.
वाराहं रूपमास्थाय मयेयं जगती पुरा। मज्जमाना जले विप्र वीर्येणासीत्समुद्धृता
Assuming the form of a boar, I once lifted up this earth, O Brahmin, which was sinking in the waters, by my power.
अग्निश्च बडबावक्रे भूत्वाऽहं द्विजसत्तम। पिबाम्यापः सदा विद्वंस्ताश्चैव विसृजाम्यहम्
Becoming fire in the mouth of the submarine mare, O best of twice-born, I constantly drink up the waters, O wise one, and I also release them.
ब्रह्म वक्रं भुजौ क्षत्रमूरू मे संस्थिता विशः। पादौ शूद्रा भवन्तीमे विक्रमेण क्रमेण च
Brahmins are my mouth, Kshatriyas are established in my arms, Vaishyas in my thighs, and Shudras become my feet, by my might and in due order.
ऋग्वेदः सामवेदश्च यजुर्वेदोऽप्यथर्वणः। मत्तः प्रादुर्भवन्त्येते मामेव प्रविशन्ति च
The Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda—all these arise from me and enter into me as well.
यतयः शान्तिपरमा यतात्मानो मुमुक्षवः। कामक्रोधद्वेषमुक्ता निःसंज्ञा वीतकल्मषाः
Ascetics who are devoted to peace, who have mastered themselves, who seek liberation, who are free from desire, anger, and hatred, who are devoid of ego and purified from all stain—
सत्वस्था निरहंकारा नित्यमध्यात्मकोविदाः। मामेव सततं विप्राश्चिन्तयन्त उपासते
Established in goodness, free from pride, always skilled in the knowledge of the self, O Brahmins, they constantly contemplate and worship me.
अहं संवर्तको वह्निरहं संवर्तको यमः। अहं संवर्तकः सूर्यस्त्वहं संवर्तकोऽनिलः
I am the fire of dissolution, I am the Yama of dissolution, I am the sun of dissolution, and I am the wind of dissolution.
तारारूपाणि दृश्यन्ते यान्येतानि नभस्तले। मम रूपाण्यथैतानि विद्धि त्वं द्विजसत्तम
Whatever forms of stars are seen in the sky, know, O best of twice-born, that these also are my forms.
रत्नाकराः समुद्राश्च सर्व एव चतुर्दिशः। वसनं शयनं चैव विलयं चैव विद्धि मे
The oceans, the treasure-houses of gems, and all the quarters—know that my being is their clothing, their resting place, and their dissolution.
मयैव सुविभक्तास्ते देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये। कामं क्रोधं च हर्षं च भयं मोहं तथैव च। ममैव विद्धि रोमाणि सर्वाण्येतानि सत्तम
By me alone are they well divided for the accomplishment of the gods' purposes; know, O best one, that desire, anger, joy, fear, and delusion are all my hairs.