तस्य द्रष्टुमथाभ्यागान्नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
Dark as a blue lotus petal, adorned with two earrings.
संशयं परिपृच्छामि भगवन्वक्तुमर्हसि
To see him, Nārada, the foremost sage, approached.
तस्या दर्शय मे रूपं मायायाः पुरुषोत्तम
O Supreme Person, show me the form of that illusion.
आब्रह्मस्तंबपर्यंतं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
From Brahma down to a blade of grass, with all the gods, demons, and humans—
एवमुक्तस्तु मुनिना देवदेवो जनार्दनः
Thus addressed by the sage, the god of gods, Janardana,
भूयोऽपि मोहयामास सोमग्राहेण नारदम्
Again deluded Narada by means of the lunar eclipse.
मायां दर्शय मे देव नान्यदस्ति प्रयोजनम् 4.3.
O god, show me the illusion; there is no other purpose.
अडुल्यग्रेण संगृह्य नारदं मुनि पुङ्गवम्
Seizing Narada, the foremost of sages, by the tip of his garment,
ऋग्वेदसदृशः साक्षाद्विष्णुर्ब्रह्मवदास्थितः
Vishnu, standing there like Brahma, appeared exactly as described in the Rigveda,
शिखी कमंडलुधृतो मृगचर्मोपवीतकः
With a topknot, holding a water-pot, wearing a deerskin as his sacred thread,
कृत्वापि कुशतंत्वग्रपवित्रकृत लक्षणम्
Having made the marks of purity with kusa grass and the bark of trees,
वैदिशं नाम नगरं वेत्रवत्यास्तटे शुभम्
He went to the auspicious city called Vaidiśa, on the bank of the river Vetravati,
गोमहिष्यजसंपूर्णं पाशुपाल्येन संस्थितः
Filled with cows and buffaloes, he remained there as a herdsman,
गृहकर्मणि तन्निष्ठः सीरभद्र इति स्मृतः
Engaged in household duties, he was known as Sīrabhadra.
तेनाप्यासनसन्मानैः समर्थेन कृतादरौ
By him, with proper seats and honors, they were respectfully received.
न वास्मदीयं युष्माकं रोचतेन्नं ततो हरिः
What belongs to us does not please you, nor does yours please us; thus spoke Hari.
उन्नाम्य वक्त्रं चोवाच देवसंस्तुतया गिरा 4.3.
Lifting his face, he spoke with words praised by the gods.
पशुपाशगृहासक्ताः शतार्द्धबलवाहनाः
Attached to the houses of herdsmen, possessing vehicles of half a hundred in strength,
त्वञ्च वृत्तिशतैर्न्नित्यं वर्द्धस्व स्वजनावृतः
And you, always surrounded by your own people, increase by hundreds of means of livelihood.
क्षेत्रे गोस्वामिनामानं द्विजं ददृशतुश्च तौ
In the field, the two saw a twice-born man named Gosvamin.
भागीरथ्यास्तटे रम्ये वेणिकाग्रामसन्निधौ
On the beautiful bank of the Bhagirathi, near the village of Venika,
ताभ्यां संप्रार्थितो विप्रो भोज्यं प्रादाच्च किंचन
Requested by them, the brahmin gave them some food.
इत्युक्तोऽसौ द्विजश्रेष्ठो हलकर्म विधाय तत्
Thus addressed, that best of brahmins performed the ploughing work there.
चक्रे चैवादरं भक्त्या स्वयमासनसत्क्रियाम्
He himself, with devotion, respectfully arranged seats and proper hospitality.
सह पत्न्या सतनयो भोज्यं भुक्तिं चकार सः
Together with his wife and son, he partook of the food.
प्रयातौ ददतुः श्रेष्ठं वरं तस्मै द्विजातये
As they departed, they granted an excellent boon to that brahmin.
मा धान्यं मखसंतान मत्प्रसादाद्विजोत्तम 4.3.
O best of brahmins, may your grain and sacrificial lineage never diminish by my grace.
किमिदं वद देवेश शापरूपो वरस्त्वया
What is this, O Lord of the gods? Tell me, is this boon of yours in the form of a curse?
इत्युक्तः प्राह देवेशः शृणु नारद मद्वचः
Thus addressed, the Lord of the gods said: Listen, O Narada, to my words.
संवत्सरेण यत्पापं मत्स्यघाती समाचरेत्
Whatever sin a killer of fish commits in a year,