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?
तवैश्वर्येण पुष्टाङ्गा जित्वा त्रैलोक्यम् ओजसा स्थिराः स्यामः सुरेशान कथं दैत्यं नमेमहि
Strengthened by your power, having conquered the three worlds by your might, may we remain steadfast, O Lord of gods; how can we bow to a demon?
इत्य् एतद् एव वचनं श्रुत्वा दैतेयसूदनः उवाच सर्वान् अमरान् देवानां कार्यसिद्धये
Hearing these very words, the slayer of the Daityas spoke to all the immortals, for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose.
मद्भक्तो ऽसौ बलिर् दैत्यो ह्य् अवध्यो ऽसौ सुरासुरैः यथा भवन्तो मत्पोष्यास् तथा पोष्यो बलिर् मम
That Daitya Bali is my devotee; he cannot be slain by gods or demons. Just as you are nourished by me, so Bali is nourished by me as well.
विना तु संगरं देवा हत्वा राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे बलिं निबध्य मन्त्रोक्त्या राज्यं वः प्रददाम्य् अहम्
Without battle, O gods, I will bind Bali by means of a mantra, and having slain him, I will grant you the kingdom of heaven.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा सुरगणाः संजग्मुर् दिवम् एव हि भगवान् अपि देवेशो ह्य् अदित्या गर्भम् आविशत्
Saying 'so be it,' the hosts of gods returned to heaven; and the blessed Lord of gods entered Aditi's womb.
तस्मिन्न् उत्पद्यमाने तु उत्सवाश् च बभूविरे जातो ऽसौ वामनो ब्रह्मन् यज्ञेशो यज्ञपूरुषः
As he was being born, there were celebrations; he was born as Vāmana, O Brahman, the Lord of sacrifice, the person of the sacrifice.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे ब्रह्मन् हयमेधाय दीक्षितः बलिर् बलवतां श्रेष्ठ ऋषिमुख्यैः समाहितः
Meanwhile, O Brahman, Bali, best of the strong, consecrated for a horse-sacrifice, was attended by foremost sages.
पुरोधसा च शुक्रेण वेदवेदाङ्गवेदिना मखे तस्मिन् वर्तमाने यजमाने बलौ तथा
And his priest Śukra, knower of the Vedas and their branches, was present at the sacrifice, as Bali performed the rite.
आर्त्विज्य ऋषिमुख्ये तु शुक्रे तत्र पुरोधसि हविर्भागार्थम् आसन्नदेवगन्धर्वपन्नगे
For the sake of the sacrificial offerings, the chief among the officiating sages, Śukra, was present as the priest, surrounded by gods, Gandharvas, and Nāgas.
दीयतां भुज्यतां पूजा क्रियतां च पृथक् पृथक् परिपूर्णं पुनः पूर्णम् एवं वाक्ये प्रवर्तति
Let it be given, let it be enjoyed, let worship be performed separately and fully; thus, the statement proceeds, again and again, in completeness.