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.
प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा विप्र यत्कृत्वा कर्म शोभनम्। सत्यं दानं तपश्चोग्रमहिंसा चैव जन्तुषु
Whatever good action men perform, O Brahmin, such as truth, charity, severe austerity, and nonviolence towards creatures—
मद्विधानेन विहिता मम देहविहारिणः। मयाऽभिभूतविज्ञाना विचेष्टन्ते न कामतः
Ordained by me, those who dwell in my body, whose knowledge has been subdued by me, act not according to their own will.
सम्यग्वेदमधीयाना यजन्ते विविधैर्मखैः। शान्तात्मानो जितक्रोधाः प्राप्नुवन्ति द्विजातयः
Those twice-born who study the Veda properly and worship with various sacrifices, whose minds are peaceful and who have conquered anger, attain (the goal).
---न शक्यो यो विद्वन्नरैर्दुष्कृतकर्मभिः। ---भाभिभूतैः कृपणैरनार्यैरकृतात्मभिः
He cannot be known, O wise one, by the wicked, by those overwhelmed by evil deeds, by the wretched, the ignoble, or the undisciplined.
तस्मान्महाफलंविद्धि पदं सुकृतकर्मणः। सुदुष्प्रापं विमूढानां मार्गं योगैर्निषेवितम्
Therefore, know that the great-fruited state is for those of virtuous deeds; it is very hard to attain for the deluded, and is a path practiced by yogis.
यदा यदा च धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति सत्तम। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्
Whenever there is a decline of righteousness, O best one, and the rise of unrighteousness, then I create myself.
दैत्या हिंसानुरक्ताश्च अवध्याः सुरसत्तमैः। राक्षसाश्चापि लोकेऽस्मिन्यदोत्पत्स्यन्ति दारुणाः
The Daityas, attached to violence, cannot be slain by the best of gods; and in this world, terrible Rakshasas will also arise.
तदाऽहंसंप्रसूयामि गृहेषु शुभकर्मणाम्। प्रविष्टो मानुषं देहं सर्वं प्रशमयाम्यहम्
Then I am born in the houses of those who perform good deeds; entering a human body, I bring all to peace.
सृष्ट्वा देवमनुष्यांस्तु गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसान्। स्थावराणि च भूतानि संहराम्यात्ममायया
Having created the gods, humans, Gandharvas, serpents, and Rakshasas, and also the immovable beings, I withdraw them all by my own power of illusion.
कर्मकाले पुनर्देहमनुचिन्त्य सृजाम्यहम्। आविश्य मानषं देहं मर्यादाबन्धकारणात्
At the time for action, reflecting again, I create the body; entering a human form, for the sake of upholding the boundaries.