अग्राय चैव चोग्राय विप्रायानेकचक्षुषे
To the foremost, the fierce, the wise, and the one with many eyes,
नित्याय चैवानित्याय नित्यानित्याय वै नमः
To the eternal, the non-eternal, and the one who is both eternal and non-eternal, salutations.
चिन्त्याय चैवाचिन्त्याय चिन्त्याचिन्त्याय वै नमः
To the conceivable, the inconceivable, and the one who is both conceivable and inconceivable, salutations.
उमाप्रियाय शर्वाय नन्दिवक्त्राङ्किताय च
To the beloved of Umā, to Śarva, and to the one marked with the face of Nandi,
बहुरूपाय मुण्डाय दण्डिने च वरूथिने
To the one of many forms, the shaven-headed, the staff-bearer, and the armored one,
धन्विने रथिने चैव यमिने ब्रह्मचारिणे
To the archer, the charioteer, the controller, and the celibate,
एवं स्तुत्वा ततो ब्रह्मा प्रणिपत्य वरानने
Having thus praised, then Brahma, bowing to the one with the beautiful face,
सूक्ष्मो ऽसि योगातिशयादचिन्त्यो न हि प्रभो व्यक्तिमुफैषि रुद्रः
You are subtle, inconceivable due to supreme yoga; truly, O Lord, Rudra, you do not assume a manifest form.
स्तुतो ऽहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्वेदवेदाङ्गसंभवैः
I have been praised with various hymns arising from the Vedas and their branches.
भूतभव्यभवन्नाथ लोकनाथ जगत्पते
O Lord of past, future, and present, Lord of the worlds, Master of the universe,
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततो ब्रह्मा प्रत्युवाचांबुजेक्षणः
Hearing these words, then Brahma, lotus-eyed, replied:
सुरासुरैर्मथ्यमाने पयोधौ पङ्कजेक्षण
When the ocean was being churned by gods and demons, O lotus-eyed one,
प्रादुर्भूतं विषं घोरं संवर्त्ताग्निसमप्रभम्
A terrible poison arose, blazing like the fire of dissolution.
तत्पिबस्व महादेव लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Drink that, O Mahadeva, for the welfare of the worlds.
त्वदृते ऽन्यो महादेव वेगं सोढुं न विद्यते
Except for you, O Mahadeva, there is no one able to withstand its force.
बाढ मित्येव तद्वाक्यं प्रतिगृह्य वरानने
‘So be it,’ having accepted those words, O beautiful-faced one,
पिबतो मे महाघोरं विषं सुरभयप्रदम्
As I drank the most terrible poison, causing fear to the gods,
तं दृष्ट्वोत्पलपत्राभं कण्ठसक्तमिवोरगम्
Seeing it, resembling a lotus petal, as if a serpent clung to my throat,
अथोवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Then the mighty Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, spoke,
ततस्तस्य वचःश्रुत्वा मया गिरिवरात्मजे
Then, having heard his words, by me, O daughter of the mountain,
यक्षगन्धर्वभूतानां पिशाचोरगरक्षसाम्
Of Yakshas, Gandharvas, Bhutas, Pisachas, Nagas, and Rakshasas,
निवेश्यमानं सुरदैत्यसंघो दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमाजगाम
When the assembly of gods and demons saw it being established, they were filled with great wonder.
ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा मत्तमातङ्गगामिनि
They spoke, with hands joined in reverence, O you who walk like a proud, intoxicated elephant.
अहोबलं वीर्यपराक्रमस्ते त्वहो वपुर्योगबलं तवेश
Ah, your strength, your valor and prowess are astonishing; indeed, your form and the power of your yoga, O Lord.
त्वमेव विष्णुश्चतुराननस्त्वं त्वमेव मृत्युर्वरदस्त्वमेव
You alone are Viṣṇu, you are the four-faced Brahmā, you are Death, you are the bestower of boons.
त्वमेव वह्निः पवनस्त्वमेव त्वमेव भूमिः सलिलं त्वमेव
You alone are fire, you are wind, you alone are earth, you are water.
गता विमानैरनिलोपवेगैर्महानगं मेरुमुपेत्य सर्वे
Having arrived in celestial chariots, propelled by the speed of the wind, all reached the great mountain Meru.
इत्येतत्परमं गुह्यं पुण्यात्पुण्यतमं महत्
This is the supreme secret, most holy among the holy, and great.
स्वयंभुवा स्वयं प्रोक्ता कथा पापप्रणाशिनी
This tale, spoken by Svayambhū himself, destroys sin.
तस्याहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि फलं सुविपुलं महत्
I shall now declare its fruit, vast and great.