नमोऽस्तु वासुदेवाय ह्येवमुच्चारिते च तैः
Salutations to Vāsudeva—when this was uttered by them,
समभज्यंत वस्त्राणि समुत्पेतुरयोमुखाः
their garments were torn apart, and iron-mouthed beings arose.
प्रकाशस्तमसो जज्ञे नरकाद्भानुभिः सह
Light was born from darkness, together with the rays from hell.
निरुत्साहा जडधियो बभूवुर्यमकिंकराः
The servants of Yama became dispirited and dull-minded.
दिव्यः सुगंधि पवनो मनःप्रीतिकरस्तथा
A divine, fragrant breeze arose, delightful to the mind.
तं तादृशमथालक्ष्य तदा वैवस्वतो यमः
Then, seeing this, Vaivasvata Yama at that time—
पूजयित्वा च तानाह कृष्णाय स कृतांजलिः
having worshipped them, addressed Kṛṣṇa with joined palms.
विष्णो देव जगद्धातर्जनार्दन जगत्पते
O Viṣṇu, god, sustainer of the world, Janārdana, lord of the universe,
अच्युतायाप्रमेयाय मायावामनरूपिणे
to Acyuta, the immeasurable, the one who assumes the form of the dwarf through māyā,
नमस्ते वासुदेवाय धीमते पुण्यकीर्तये 4.153.
Salutations to Vāsudeva, the wise, of holy fame.
तस्य यज्ञवराहस्य विष्णोरमिततेजसः
To that Yajña-Varāha, to Viṣṇu of immeasurable brilliance,
एवं स्तुत्वा हृषीकेशं धर्मराजस्य पश्यतः
Having thus praised Hṛṣīkeśa in the presence of the Lord of Dharma,
मुद्गलोऽपि महाबुद्धिर्दृष्ट्वैतदखिलं नृप
Mudgala too, of great wisdom, seeing all this, O king,
संस्मृत्य यमवाक्यानि विष्णोर्माहात्म्यमेव च
remembering the words of Yama and also the greatness of Viṣṇu,
अहो सुदुस्तरा विष्णोर्मायेयमतिगह्वरी
Ah! This māyā of Viṣṇu is extremely difficult to cross, exceedingly deep.
जीवो गच्छति कीटत्वं यूकामत्कुणयोनिताम्
The soul goes to the state of an insect, or is born as a louse or a bug.
ततश्च पशुतां प्राप्य नरत्वमभिवांछति तां प्राप्य च श्रियं परां नरो मायाविमोहितः
Then, attaining the state of an animal, he longs for human birth; and having attained that, deluded by māyā, a man desires supreme prosperity.
दुस्तरापि सुसाध्या सा माया कृष्णस्य मोहिनी
Even though it is difficult to cross, that māyā of Kṛṣṇa, the enchantress, is easily overcome.
अवाप्यैवं च गार्हस्थ्यमवाप्यैवं च तत्परम्
Thus attaining household life, and thus attaining that supreme state,
अविरोधेन विषयान्भुञ्जन्विष्णुं समाश्रयेत् । 4.153.
enjoying sense objects without conflict, one should take refuge in Viṣṇu.
ईदृग्बहुफला भक्तिः सर्वधातरि केशवे
Such devotion to Keśava, the support of all, yields many fruits.
मुधैवोक्तं सुधापानं मुधा तद्धि विचेष्टितम्
Drinking nectar in vain is spoken of, and that action too is in vain.
आराधितो हि यः पुंसामैहिकामुष्मिकं फलम्
For the one who is worshipped by people, both worldly and otherworldly rewards arise.
संवत्सरास्तथा मासा विफला दिवसाश्च ते
For you, years, months, and days are fruitless.
यो न वित्तर्द्धिविभवैर्न वासोभिर्न भूषणैः
He who is not satisfied by wealth, prosperity, possessions, clothing, or ornaments—
जलधेनोस्तु माहात्म्यं निशम्येदृग्विधं नराः
Hearing of the greatness of the cow yielding water, men become like this.
कर्मभूमौ हि मानुष्यं जन्मनामयुतैरपि
Even after tens of thousands of births, human birth in the land of action—
संप्राप्य च न यैर्विष्णुस्तोषितो जलधेनुना
Having attained it, those who have not pleased Viṣṇu with the water-yielding cow—
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विरौम्येष दृष्टलोकद्वयोऽस्मि भोः
With arms raised I cry out: I have seen both worlds, O people!
दुःसहो नारको वह्निरविषह्या च यातना 4.153.
The hellish fire is unbearable, and the torments are insufferable.