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.
शनैस् तद्देशम् अभ्यागाद् वामनः सामगायनः यज्ञवाटम् अनुप्राप्तो वामनश् चित्रकुण्डलः
Gradually, Vāmana, singing the Sāma hymns, arrived at that place; Vāmana, adorned with brilliant earrings, entered the sacrificial enclosure.
प्रशंसमानस् तं यज्ञं वामनं प्रेक्ष्य भार्गवः ब्रह्मरूपधरं देवं वामनं दैत्यसूदनम्
Bhārgava, seeing Vāmana and praising that sacrifice, recognized Vāmana as the god in the form of Brahma, the slayer of demons.
दातारं यज्ञतपसां फलं हन्तारं रक्षसाम् ज्ञात्वा त्वरन्न् अथोवाच राजानं भूरितेजसम्
Knowing him as the giver, the fruit of sacrificial austerities, and the destroyer of demons, Bhārgava quickly spoke to the king, radiant with great energy.
जेतारं क्षत्रधर्मेण दातारं भक्तितो धनम् बलिं बलवतां श्रेष्ठं सभार्यं दीक्षितं मखे
He is the conqueror by the duty of kṣatriyas, the giver of wealth through devotion; Bali, the foremost among the powerful, consecrated with his wife in the sacrifice.
ध्यायन्तं यज्ञपुरुषम् उत्सृजन्तं हविः पृथक् तम् आह भृगुशार्दूलः शुक्रः परमबुद्धिमान्
Śukra, the tiger among Bhṛgus and supremely wise, spoke to him who was meditating on the sacrificial person and offering oblations separately.
यो ऽसौ तव मखं प्राप्तो ब्राह्मणो वामनाकृतिः नासौ विप्रो बले सत्यं यज्ञेशो यज्ञवाहनः
That Brahmin who has arrived at your sacrifice in the form of Vāmana is not a true Brahmin, O Bali; he is the lord of sacrifice, the bearer of sacrifice.
शिशुस् त्वां याचितुं प्राप्तो नूनं देवहिताय हि मया च सह संमन्त्र्य पश्चाद् देयं त्वया प्रभो
A child has come to ask you, surely for the benefit of the gods; after consulting with me, O master, you should give afterwards.
बलिस् तु भार्गवं प्राह पुरोधसम् अरिंदमः
Bali, the subduer of enemies, spoke to Bhārgava, the priest.
धन्यो ऽहं मम यज्ञेशो गृहम् आयाति मूर्तिमान् आगत्य याचते किंचित् किं मन्त्र्यम् अवशिष्यते
Blessed am I, for the lord of sacrifice comes to my house in person; having arrived, he asks for something—what remains to be discussed?
एवम् उक्त्वा सभार्यो ऽसौ शुक्रेण च पुरोधसा जगाम यत्र विप्रेन्द्रो वामनो ऽदितिनन्दनः
Having spoken thus, he, together with his wife and Śukra, the priest, went to where the foremost Brahmin, Vāmana, son of Aditi, was.