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.
चतुर्वक्त्रं महायोगं पुरुषं काञ्चनप्रभम्
A four-faced, supremely yogic Person, shining with a golden brilliance.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण प्राप्तो ऽसौ पुरुषोत्तमः
In the span of a moment, that Supreme Person arrived.
कस्त्वं कुतो वा कि चेह तिष्ठसे वद मे विभो
Who are you? From where have you come? And why do you stand here? Tell me, O Lord.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन ब्रह्मणाहमुवाच तम्
Thus addressed by him, Brahmā then spoke to him.
एवं संभाषमाणौ तु परस्परजयैषिणौ
Thus, as they conversed, each desiring victory over the other,
ज्वालां ततस्तामालोक्य विस्मितौ च तदानघाः
Then, seeing that flame, they were both astonished.
वर्द्धमानां तदा ज्वालामत्यन्तपरमाद्भुताम्
That flame, ever increasing, was supremely wondrous.
दिवं भूमिं च निर्भिद्य तिष्ठन्तं जवालमण्डलम्
Piercing both heaven and earth stood a circle of fire.
प्रादेशमात्रमव्यक्तं लिङ्गं परमदीप्तिमत्
Within it was an unmanifest liṅga, radiant, the size of a span.
अनिर्देश्यमचिन्त्यं च लक्ष्यालक्ष्यं पुनः पुनः
Indescribable, inconceivable, sometimes visible, sometimes not.