कर्माणि च नरव्याघ्र धर्मोपेतानि मानवाः। धर्ममेवानुपश्यन्तश्चक्रुर्धर्मपरायणाः
O tiger among men, people performed actions imbued with righteousness; devoted to duty, they regarded only righteousness.
स्वकर्मनिरताश्चासन्सर्वे वर्णा नराधिप। एवं तदा नरव्याघ्र धर्मो न ह्रसते क्वचित्
All orders, O ruler of men, were engaged in their own duties; thus, O tiger among men, righteousness never diminished anywhere at that time.
काले गावः प्रसूयन्ते नार्यश्च भरतर्षभ। भवन्त्यृतुषु वृक्षाणां पुष्पाणि च फलानि च
At the proper time, O best of the Bharatas, cows give birth, women conceive, and trees bear flowers and fruits in their seasons.
एवं कृतयुगे सम्यग्वर्तमाने तदा नृप। आपूर्यत मही कृत्स्ना प्राणिभिर्बहुभिर्भृशम्
Thus, when the Krita Yuga was proceeding rightly, O king, the entire earth became abundantly filled with many living beings.
एवं समुदिते लोके मानुषे भरतर्षभ। असुरा जज्ञिरे क्षेत्रे राज्ञां तु मनुजेश्वर
In this way, O bull among the Bharatas, when the world of humans was flourishing, the Asuras were born in the lineages of kings, O lord of men.
आदित्यैर्हि तदा दैत्या बहुशो निर्जिता युधि। ऐश्वर्याद्धंशिताः स्वर्गात्संबभूवुः क्षिताविह
For the Daityas had been repeatedly defeated in battle by the Adityas, and, deprived of their sovereignty and cast down from heaven, they were born here on earth.
इह देवत्वमिच्छन्तो मानुषेषु तपस्विनः। जज्ञिरे भुवि भूतेषु तेषु तेष्वसुरा विभो
Desiring divinity among the gods, those ascetic Asuras were born on earth among living beings, O mighty one, taking birth among them.
गोष्वश्वेषु च राजेन्द्र खरोष्ट्रमहिषेषु च। क्रव्यात्सु चैव भूतेषु गजेषु च मृगेषु च
Among cows and horses, O king, among camels, buffaloes, carnivorous creatures, elephants, and wild animals as well,
जातैरिह महीपाल जायमानैश्च तैर्मही। न शशाकात्मनात्मानमियं धारयितुं धरा
With those born here and those being born, O protector of the earth, the earth herself was unable to bear the weight of these beings.
अथ जाता महीपालाः केचिद्बहुमदान्विताः। दितेः पुत्रा दनोश्चैव तदा लोकादिह च्युताः
Then, some kings were born who were full of great pride—sons of Diti and Danu—who had fallen from their worlds and were born here.
वीर्यवन्तोऽवलिप्तास्ते नानारूपधरा महीम्। इमां सागरपर्यन्तां परीयुररिमर्दनाः
Mighty and arrogant, taking on various forms, these slayers of enemies roamed this earth, bounded by the ocean.
ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियान्वैश्याञ्शूद्रांश्चैवाप्यपीडयन्। अन्यानि चैव सत्वानि पीडयामासुरोजसा
With their strength, they oppressed Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, and tormented other beings as well.
त्रासयन्तोऽभिनिघ्नन्तः सर्वभूतगणांश्च ते। विचेरुः सर्वशो राजन्महीं शतसहस्रशः
Terrifying and striking all groups of creatures, they wandered everywhere upon the earth in their hundreds of thousands, O king.
आश्रमस्थान्महर्षींश्च धर्षयन्तस्ततस्ततः। अब्रह्मण्या वीर्यमदा मत्ता मदबलेन च
Assaulting great sages dwelling in hermitages here and there, intoxicated by the pride and power of their might, they acted unrighteously.
एवं वीर्यबलोत्सिक्तैर्भूरियं तैर्महासुरैः। पीड्यमाना मही राजन्ब्रह्माणमुपचक्रमे
Thus, O king, as the earth was oppressed by those mighty Asuras, swollen with strength and power, she approached Brahma.
न ह्यमी भूतसत्वौघाः पन्नगाः सनगां महीम्। तदा धारयितुं शेकुराक्रान्तां दानवैर्बलात्
For neither the hosts of beings, nor the Nagas, nor the mountains could bear the earth, overrun by the Danavas through force.
ततो मही महीपाल भारार्ता भयपीडिता। जगाम शरणं देवं सर्वभूतपितामहम्
Then, O protector of the earth, the earth, weighed down and afflicted by fear, went for refuge to the god, the grandsire of all beings.
सा संवृतं महाभागैर्देवद्विजमहर्षिभिः। ददर्श देवं ब्रह्माणं लोककर्तारमव्ययम्
Surrounded by the blessed gods, sages, and great seers, she beheld the god Brahma, the imperishable creator of the worlds.
गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च बन्दिकर्मसु निष्ठितैः। वन्द्यमानं मुदोपतैर्ववन्दे चैनमेत्य सा
Honored by Gandharvas, Apsaras, and those engaged in songs of praise, and joyfully worshipped, she approached and bowed to him.
अथ विज्ञापयामास भूमिस्तं शरणार्थिनी। सन्निधौ लोकपालानां सर्वेषामेव भारत
Then, seeking refuge, the earth made her request to him in the presence of all the guardians of the worlds, O Bharata.
तत्प्रधानात्मनस्तस्य भूमेः कृत्यं स्वयंभुवः। पूर्वमेवाभवद्राजन्विदितं परमेष्ठिनः
O King, the task of the earth, which pertains to the primordial Self, was already known beforehand by the supreme Lord, the self-born.
स्रष्टा हि जगतः कस्मान्न संबुध्येत भारत। ससुरासुरलोकानामशेषेण मनोगतम्
For what reason would the Creator of the world, O descendant of Bharata, not be aware of everything that arises in the minds of all the worlds of gods and asuras?
तामुवाच महाराज भूमिं भूमिपतिः प्रभुः। प्रभवः सर्वभूतानामीशः शंभुः प्रजापतिः
Then the Lord of beings, the ruler, the origin of all creatures, the master, Shambhu, addressed the earth, O great king.
यदर्थमभिसंप्राप्ता मत्सकाशं वसुन्धरे। तदर्थं सन्नियोक्ष्यामि सर्वानेव दिवौकसः
O Earth, for the purpose for which you have come to me, I will accordingly engage all the dwellers of heaven.
इत्युक्त्वा स महीं देवो ब्रह्मा राजन्विसृज्य च। आदिदेश तदा सर्वान्विबुधान्भूतकृत्स्वयम्
Having thus spoken, the god Brahma released the earth, O King, and then instructed all the wise gods, the creator of beings himself.
अस्या भूमेर्निरसितुं भारं भागैः पृथक्पृथक्। अस्यामेव प्रसूयध्वं तिरोधायेति चाब्रवीत्
He said: 'To lighten the burden of this earth, descend in separate portions; be born here, concealing your true forms.'
तथैव च समानीय गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणान्। उवाच भगवान्सर्वानिदं वचनमर्थवत्
In the same way, having assembled the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases, the blessed Lord spoke these meaningful words to all of them.
अथ शक्रादयः सर्वे श्रुत्वा सुरगुरोर्वचः। तथ्यमर्थ्यं च पथ्यं च तस्य ते जगृहुस्तदा
Then all the gods headed by Indra, having heard the words of the preceptor of the gods, accepted them as true, beneficial, and wholesome.
अथ ते सर्वशोंशैः स्वैर्गन्तुं भूमिं कृतक्षणाः। नारायणममित्रघ्नं वैकुण्ठमुपचक्रमुः
Then, all of them, prepared to go to earth with their own portions, approached Narayana, the slayer of enemies, the one who dwells in Vaikuntha.
यः स चक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासाः शितिप्रभः। पद्मनाभः सुरारिघ्नः पृथुचार्वञ्चितेक्षणः
He who holds the discus and mace in his hands, who wears yellow garments, who shines with a bright radiance, who has a lotus navel, who destroys the enemies of the gods, whose eyes are wide and beautiful.