गात्रं प्राप्य तु सुश्रोणि क्षप्रं तत्प्रतिहन्यते
When it touches the body, O beautiful-hipped one, it immediately wards off harm.
स्त्रीषु वल्लभतां याति सभायां पार्थिवस्य च
He attains favor among women and in the assembly of the king.
गच्छति क्षेममध्वानं गृहेभ्यो नित्यसंपदा
He travels safely on the road and enjoys constant prosperity at home.
हरिश्मश्रुर्नीलकण्ठः शशाङ्काङ्कितमूर्द्धजः
With tawny beard, blue throat, and hair marked by the moon.
नन्दितुल्यबलः श्रीमान्नन्दितुल्यपराक्रमः
He is as strong as Nandi, radiant, and possesses valor equal to Nandi.
न हन्यते गति स्तस्य अनिलस्य यथांबरे
His progress cannot be hindered, just as the wind moves freely in the sky.
मम भक्तया वरारोहे ये च शृम्वन्ति मानवाः
By my devotion, O lovely one, and for those men who listen,
ब्राह्मणो वेदमाप्नोति क्षत्रियो विन्दते महीम्
The Brahmin attains the Veda, the Kṣatriya obtains the earth.
व्याधितो मुच्यते रोगाद्बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात्
The afflicted are freed from disease, the bound are released from captivity.
नष्टं च लभते द्रव्यमिह लोके परत्र च
Lost wealth is recovered, both in this world and in the next.
तत्फलं लभते मर्त्यः श्रुत्वा दिव्या मिमां कथाम्
A mortal attains that fruit by hearing this divine and wondrous tale.
यस्तु धारयते नित्यं रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति
But whoever always upholds it goes to the world of Rudra.
यः पठेन्मानवो नित्यं मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना
Whoever recites it daily, with a mind absorbed in me,
पठेच्च देवि भक्त्या च पाठयेच्च नरः सदा
And, O Goddess, recites it with devotion and always causes others to recite it,
कुर्युर्विघ्नं गृहे तस्य यत्रायं तिष्ठति स्तवः
Obstacles arise in the house where this hymn is present.
निवेदितं पुण्यफलादियुक्तं स्वयं च कीतं चतुराननेन
It has been offered, endowed with the fruits of merit, and composed by the Four-Faced One himself.
वृषस्य पृष्ठेन सहोमया प्रभुजगाम कैलासगुहां गुहप्रियः
With me, the beloved of the cave, he went to the cave of Kailāsa, riding on the bull.
अधीत्य सर्वं त्वखिलं सलक्षणं प्रयाति चादित्यपदं द्विजोत्तमः
Having studied all of it, complete with its characteristics, the best of twice-born attains the solar realm.
श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सम्यगैश्वर्यगुणविस्तरम्
We wish to hear in full the detailed account of your majesty and virtues.
बलिं बद्ध्वा महावीर्यं त्रैलोक्याधिपतिं पुरा
Having bound Bali, the mighty one, who was once the lord of the three worlds,
अथाजग्मुः प्रभुं द्रष्टुं सर्वे देवाः सनातनम्
Then all the gods came to see the eternal Lord.
सिद्धा ब्रह्मर्षयो यक्षा गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः
The Siddhas, Brahmarshis, Yakshas, and hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases,
अभिगम्य महात्मानं स्तुवन्ति पुरुषं हरिम्
Approaching the great-souled one, they praise the Supreme Person, Hari.
त्वत्प्रसादाच्च कल्याणं प्राप्तं त्रैलोक्यमव्ययम्
By your grace, the three worlds have attained imperishable welfare.
एवमुक्तः सुरैर्विष्णः सिद्धैश्च परमर्षिभिः
Thus addressed by the gods and by the Siddhas and supreme seers, Viṣṇu spoke.
श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि कारणं सुरसत्तमाः
Listen, O best of gods, I will declare the cause.
येनाहं ब्रह्मणा सार्द्धं सृष्टा लोकाश्च मायया
By which, together with Brahmā, I created the worlds through māyā.
पुरा तमसि चाव्यक्ते त्रैलोक्ये ग्रसिते मया
Long ago, when the three worlds were enveloped by darkness and unmanifest by me—
सहस्रशीर्षा भूत्वा च सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्
Assuming a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet,
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दूरात्पश्यामि ह्यमितप्रभम्
Meanwhile, from afar, I behold one of boundless radiance.