एवम् उक्त्वा स भगवान् उमया सहितः शिवः ममानुकम्पया चैव लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Having spoken thus, the blessed Śiva, together with Umā, out of compassion for me and for the welfare of the worlds,
एतच् चकार लोकेशः शृणु नारद यत्नतः पापिनां पापमोक्षाय भूमिर् आपो भविष्यति
The Lord of the worlds did this, O Nārada, with great care: for the liberation of sinners from sin, the earth will become water.
तयोश् च सारसर्वस्वम् आहरिष्यामि पावनम् एवं निश्चित्य भगवांस् तयोः सारं समाहरत्
Having resolved thus, the Blessed Lord gathered the purest essence from both of them.
भूमिं कमण्डलुं कृत्वा तत्रापः संनिवेश्य च पावमान्यादिभिः सूक्तैर् अभिमन्त्र्य च यत्नतः
He made the earth into a water-pot, placed water there, and carefully sanctified it with hymns such as the Pavamāna.
त्रिजगत्पावनीं शक्तिं तत्र सस्मार पापहा माम् उवाच स लोकेशो गृहाणेमं कमण्डलुम्
There he remembered the power that purifies the three worlds and destroys sin; that Lord of the world said to me, 'Take this water-pot.'
आपो वै मातरो देव्यो भूमिर् माता तथापरा स्थित्युत्पत्तिविनाशानां हेतुत्वम् उभयोः स्थितम्
Waters are indeed divine mothers, and earth is another mother; both are the causes of creation, sustenance, and dissolution.
अत्र प्रतिष्ठितो धर्मो ह्य् अत्र यज्ञः सनातनः अत्र भुक्तिश् च मुक्तिश् च स्थावरं जङ्गमं तथा
Here abides righteousness, here is the eternal sacrifice; here are enjoyment and liberation, as well as all that is immovable and moving.
स्मरणान् मानसं पापं वचनाद् वाचिकं तथा स्नानपानाभिषेकाच् च प्रणश्यत्य् अपि कायिकम्
By remembering, mental sin is destroyed; by speech, verbal sin; and by bathing, drinking, or anointing, even bodily sin is removed.
एतद् एवामृतं लोके नैतस्मात् पावनं परम् मयाभिमन्त्रितं ब्रह्मन् गृहाणेमं कमण्डलुम्
This alone is nectar in the world; there is nothing purer than this. I have sanctified it, O Brahman—take this water-pot.
अत्रत्यं वारि यः कश्चित् स्मरेद् अपि पठेद् अपि स सर्वकामान् आप्नोति गृहाणेमं कमण्डलुम्
Whoever remembers or even recites the water here attains all desires—take this water-pot.
भूतेभ्यश् चापि पञ्चभ्य आपो भूतं महोदितम् तासाम् उत्कृष्टम् एतस्माद् गृहाणेमं कमण्डलुम्
From the five elements, water is proclaimed the greatest; among them, this is the most excellent—take this water-pot.
अत्र यद् वारि शोभिष्ठं पुण्यं पावनम् एव च स्पृष्ट्वा स्मृत्वा च दृष्ट्वा च ब्रह्मन् पापाद् विमोक्ष्यसे
Whatever water here is beautiful, holy, and purifying—by touching, remembering, or seeing it, O Brahman, you will be freed from sin.
एवम् उक्त्वा महादेवः प्रादान् मम कमण्डलुम् ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे भक्त्या प्रोचुः सुरेश्वरम् आह्लादश् च महांस् तत्र जयशब्दो व्यवर्तत
Having spoken thus, Mahādeva gave me the water-pot; then all the hosts of gods, with devotion, addressed the Lord of gods, and there arose great joy and a cry of victory.
देवोत्सवे मातुर् अजः पदाग्रं समीक्ष्य पापात् पतितत्वम् आप प्रादात् कृपालुः स्मरणात् पवित्रां गङ्गां पिता पुण्यकमण्डलुस्थाम्
At the festival of the gods, the unborn one, seeing his mother's feet, fell into sin; out of compassion, his father gave him the purifying Gaṅgā, dwelling in the sacred water-pot, simply by remembrance.
कमण्डलुस्थिता देवी तव पुण्यविवर्धिनी यथा मर्त्यं गता नाथ तन् मे विस्तरतो वद
O Lord, the goddess who dwells in the water-pot increases your merit; tell me in detail how she came to the world of mortals.
बलिर् नाम महादैत्यो देवारिर् अपराजितः धर्मेण यशसा चैव प्रजासंरक्षणेन च
There was a great demon named Bali, unconquered foe of the gods, who ruled with righteousness, fame, and by protecting his subjects.
गुरुभक्त्या च सत्येन वीर्येण च बलेन च त्यागेन क्षमया चैव त्रैलोक्ये नोपमीयते
Through devotion to his teacher, truthfulness, strength, power, generosity, and forgiveness, he was unequalled in the three worlds.
तस्यर्द्धिम् उन्नतां दृष्ट्वा देवाश् चिन्तापरायणाः मिथः समूचुर् अमरा जेष्यामो वै कथं बलिम्
Seeing his rising prosperity, the gods became anxious and said among themselves, 'How shall we defeat Bali?'
तस्मिञ् शासति राज्यं तु त्रैलोक्यं हतकण्टकम् नारयो व्याधयो वापि नाधयो वा कथंचन
While he ruled the three worlds, free from all thorns, there were no enemies, no diseases, nor any misfortune whatsoever.
अनावृष्टिर् अधर्मो वा नास्तिशब्दो न दुर्जनः स्वप्ने ऽपि नैव दृश्येत बलौ राज्यं प्रशासति
There was no drought, no unrighteousness, no talk of atheism, nor any wicked person; not even in dreams was such seen while Bali ruled the kingdom.
तस्योन्नतिशरैर् भग्नाः कीर्तिखड्गद्विधाकृताः तस्याज्ञाशक्तिभिन्नाङ्गा देवाः शर्म न लेभिरे
His prideful arrows were shattered, his sword of fame was broken; the gods, their limbs struck by his command and power, found no peace.
ततः संमन्त्रयाम् आसुः कृत्वा मात्सर्यम् अग्रतः तद्यशोग्निप्रदीप्ताङ्गा विष्णुं जग्मुः सुविह्वलाः
Then, having set aside envy, they deliberated together; their bodies blazing with the fire of his glory, they went, deeply troubled, to Viṣṇu.
आर्ताः स्म गतसत्त्वाः स्म शङ्खचक्रगदाधर अस्मदर्थे भवान् नित्यम् आयुधानि बिभर्ति च
We are afflicted, our strength is gone, O bearer of conch, discus, and mace; for our sake, you always wield your weapons.
त्वयि नाथे जगन्नाथ अस्माकं दुःखम् ईदृशम् त्वां तु प्रणमती वाणी कथं दैत्यं नमस्यति
With you as Lord, O Lord of the universe, how can we suffer such distress? If our speech bows to you, how can it honor a demon?
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा त्वाम् एव शरणं गताः त्वदङ्घ्रिशरणाः सन्तः कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
In mind, deed, and word, we have taken refuge in you alone; seeking shelter at your feet, how can we bow to a demon?
यजामस् त्वां महायज्ञैर् वदामो वाग्भिर् अच्युत त्वदेकशरणाः सन्तः कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
We worship you with great sacrifices, we praise you with words, O Acyuta; being devoted to you alone, how can we bow to a demon?
त्वद्वीर्यम् आश्रिता नित्यं देवाः सेन्द्रपुरोगमाः त्वया दत्तं पदं प्राप्य कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
The gods, led by Indra, always rely on your power; having attained the position you granted, how can we bow to a demon?
स्रष्टा त्वं ब्रह्ममूर्त्या तु विष्णुर् भूत्वा तु रक्षसि संहर्ता रुद्रशक्त्या त्वं कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
You are the creator in the form of Brahmā, you protect as Viṣṇu, and you destroy with Rudra's power; how can we bow to a demon?
ऐश्वर्यं कारणं लोके विनैश्वर्यं तु किं फलम् हतैश्वर्याः सुरेशान कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
Sovereignty is the cause in the world; what is the use of powerlessness? Deprived of dominion, O Lord of gods, how can we bow to a demon?
अनादिस् त्वं जगद्धातर् अनन्तस् त्वं जगद्गुरुः अन्तवन्तम् अमुं शत्रुं कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
You are beginningless, the sustainer of the world; you are infinite, the teacher of the universe. How can we bow to a demon, our enemy who is finite?