त्वां हि ब्रह्मर्षयो लोके देवाश्चामितविक्रम । तैस्तैर्हि नामभिर्युक्ता गायन्ति परमात्मकम्
You, whom the Brahmarṣis and gods of immeasurable might praise in the world, each with their own names, as the supreme self.
स्थिताश्च सर्वे त्वयि भूतसङ्घाः कृत्वाश्रयं त्वां वरदं सुबाहो। अनादिमध्यान्तमपारयोगं लोकस्य सेतुं प्रवदन्ति विप्राः
All the hosts of beings stand in you, having taken refuge in you, the bestower of boons, O long-armed one; the wise declare you to be the bridge of the world, without beginning, middle, or end, and of unfathomable yoga.
ततः स भगवान्देवो लोकानामीश्वरेश्वरः। ब्रह्माणं प्रत्युवाचेदं स्रिग्धगम्भीरया गिरा
Then that blessed God, the lord of the worlds and lord of lords, addressed Brahmā with a gentle and deep voice.
विदितं तात योगान्मे सर्वमेतत्तवेप्सितम् । तथा तद्भवितेत्युक्त्वा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
All your wishes and all these yogas of mine are known to me, dear one; having said, 'So it shall be,' he vanished right there.
ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वा विस्मयं परमं गताः । कौतूहलपराः सर्वे पितामहमथाब्रुवन्
Then the divine seers and gandharvas were filled with utmost wonder; all, full of curiosity, spoke to the grandsire.
कोन्वयं यो भगवता प्रणम्य विनयाद्विभो । वाग्भिः स्तुतो वरिष्ठाभिः श्रोतुमिच्छाम तं वयम्
Who is this, whom the Blessed One, having bowed with reverence, praised with the highest words? We wish to hear of him.
एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान्प्रत्युवाच पितामहः । देवब्रह्मर्षिगन्धर्वान्सर्वान्मधुरया गिरा
Thus addressed, the venerable grandsire replied to all the gods, sages, and Gandharvas with sweet words.
यत्तत्परं भविष्यं च भवितव्यं च यत्परम् । भूतात्मा च प्रभुश्चैव ब्रह्म यच्च परं पदम्
That which is supreme, that which is to come, and that which must be, the soul of all beings, the Lord, and that which is the supreme goal, the Brahman—
तेनास्मि कृतसंवादः प्रसन्नेन सुरर्षभाः । जगतोऽनुग्रहार्थाय याचितो मे जगत्पतिः
With Him, the Lord of the universe, I have conversed, O best of gods, being pleased; for the sake of the world's welfare, I have been requested by Him.
मानुषं लोकमातिष्ठ वासुदेव इति श्रुतः । अस्रुराणां वधार्थाय संभवस्व महीतले
He is known as Vāsudeva, who is to dwell in the world of men; for the destruction of the Asuras, He is to be born upon the earth.
संग्रामे निहता ये ते दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः । त इमे नृषु संभूता घोररूपा महाबलाः
Those Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas who were slain in battle have now been born among men, fierce in form and great in strength.
तेषां वधार्थं भगवान्नरेण सहितो वशी । मानुषीं योनिमास्थाय चरिष्यति महीतले
For their destruction, the Lord, united with Nara, having assumed a human birth, will move upon the earth.
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ । सहितो मानुषे लोके संभूतावमितद्युती
Those two ancient, best of sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, have together appeared in the world of men, radiant in glory.
अजेयौ समरे यत्तौ सहितैरमरैरपि । मूढास्त्वेतौ न जानन्ति नरनारायणावृषी
Unconquerable in battle even by the assembled immortals, these two sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, are not recognized by the deluded.
तस्याहमग्रजः पुत्रः सर्वस्य जगतः प्रभुः । वासुदेवोऽर्चनीयो वः सर्वलोकमहेश्वरः
Of Him, I am the elder brother, the son, the Lord of all the worlds; Vāsudeva, worthy of worship by you, is the great Lord of all the worlds.
तथा मनुष्योऽयमिति कदाचित्सुरसत्तमाः । नावज्ञेयो महावीर्यः शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः
Therefore, O best of gods, though He appears as a man, this mighty one, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, is never to be disregarded.
एतत्परमकं गुह्यमेतत्परमकं पदम् । एतत्परमकं ब्रह्म एतत्परमकं यशः
This is the highest secret, this is the supreme goal, this is the supreme Brahman, this is the highest glory.
एतदक्षरमव्यक्तमेतद्वै शाश्वतं महः । यत्तत्पुरुषसंज्ञं वै गीयते ज्ञायते न च
This is the imperishable, the unmanifest, this indeed is the eternal greatness; that which is called the Supreme Person is sung but not fully known.
एतत्परमकं तेज एतत्परमकं सुखम्। एतत्परमकं सत्यं कीर्तितं विश्वकर्मणा
This is the highest splendor, this is the highest happiness, this is the highest truth, so proclaimed by the Maker of the universe.
तस्मात्सेन्द्रैः सुरैः सर्वैर्लोकैश्चामितविक्रमःक । नावज्ञेयो वासुदेवो मानुषोऽयमिति प्रभुः
Therefore, by Indra, all the gods, and all the worlds, this Vāsudeva, though appearing as a man, is not to be disregarded, for He is the Lord of immeasurable might.
यश्च मानुषमात्रोऽयमिति ब्रूयात्स मन्दधीः । हृषीकेशमवज्ञानात्तमाहुः पुरुषाधमम्
And whoever, out of dullness, says that He is merely a man, out of disrespect for Hṛṣīkeśa, they call him the lowest of men.
योगिनं तं महात्मानं प्रविष्टं मानुषीं तनुम् । अवमन्येद्वासुदेवं तमाहुस्तमसं जनाः
Whoever disregards Vāsudeva, the great-souled yogin who has entered a human body, such people are said to be enveloped in darkness.
देवं चराचरात्मानं श्रीवत्साङ्कं सुवर्चसम्। पद्मनाभं न जानाति तमाहुस्तामसं बुधाः
He who does not know the god, the soul of all that moves and does not move, marked with Śrīvatsa, radiant, and lotus-naveled, is called ignorant by the wise.
किरीटकौस्तुभधरं मित्राणामभयंकरम्। अवजानन्महात्मानं घोरे तमसि मञ्जति
He who, disregarding the great-souled one, the wearer of the crown and Kaustubha gem, the giver of fearlessness to friends, falls into terrible darkness.
एवं विदित्वा तत्त्वार्थं लोकानामीश्वरेश्वरः । वासुदेवो नमस्कार्यः सर्वलोकैः सुरोत्तमाः । तस्यामहात्माजो ब्रह्मा सर्वस्य जगतः पतिः
Thus, knowing the true nature of reality, Vasudeva—the Lord of lords of all worlds—should be revered by all beings, including the best of the gods. His great-souled son is Brahma, the lord of all creation.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्देवान्सर्षिगकणान्पुरा। विसृज्य सर्वभूतानि जगाम भवनं स्वकम्
Having spoken thus, the Blessed One, in ancient times, dismissed the gods along with the hosts of sages, and departed to his own abode, releasing all beings.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा मुनयोऽप्सरसोऽपि च। कथां तां ब्रह्मणा गीतां श्रुत्वा प्रीता दिवं ययुः
Then the gods, together with the Gandharvas, sages, and also the Apsaras, having heard that discourse sung by Brahma, joyfully returned to heaven.
एतच्छ्रुतं मया तात ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्। वासुदेवं कथयतां समवाये पुरातनम्
This I have heard, dear one, from the assembly of ancient sages of purified minds, as they spoke about Vasudeva.
रामस्य जामदग्न्यस्य मार्कण्डेयस्य धीमतः । व्यासनारदयोश्चापि सकाशाद्भरतर्षभ
From Rama, son of Jamadagni, from the wise Markandeya, and from Vyasa and Narada as well, O best of the Bharatas.
एतमर्थं च विज्ञाय श्रुत्वा च प्रभुमव्ययम् । वासुदेवं महात्मानं लोकानामीश्वरेश्वरम्
Understanding this matter and having heard of the imperishable Lord, Vasudeva, the great soul, the Lord of lords of all worlds—