स पञ्चधा शरीरस्थो विद्यते वर्द्धयेत्पुनः
He, situated in the body in fivefold ways, continues to grow again.
प्राणो ऽस्य परमात्मानं वर्द्धयन्परिवर्त्तते
His prana, nourishing the supreme self, moves about.
व्यानो व्यानीयते येन समानः सर्वसंधिषु
By which vyana spreads, and samana is present in all the joints.
पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिश्च पञ्चमम्
Earth, air, space, water, and light are the five elements.
पार्थिवं देहमाहुस्तु प्राणात्मानं च मारुतम्
They say the body is of the nature of earth, and the vital self is of air.
ज्योतिश्चक्षुषि कोष्ठो ऽस्मात्तेषां यन्नामतः स्मृतम्
Light is in the eyes, the cavity is in the body; these are remembered by their respective names.
इत्येतान्पुरुषः सर्वान्सृजत्येकः सनातनः
Thus, the one eternal person creates all these.
एष नः संशयो धीमन्नेष वै विस्मयो महान्
This is our doubt, O wise one; this indeed is a great wonder.
श्रोतुमिच्छामहे विष्णोः कर्माणि च यथाक्रमम्
We wish to hear, in due order, the deeds of Vishnu.
विष्णोरुत्पत्तिमाश्चय कथयस्व महामते
O greatly wise one, tell us about the origin of Vishnu.
कर्मणाश्चर्यभूतस्य विष्णोः सत्त्वमिहोच्यते
Here, the essence of Viṣṇu is said to be wondrous because of his deeds.
अहं वः कीर्त्तयिष्यामि प्रादुर्भावं महात्मनः
I shall recount to you the manifestation of that great soul.
भृगुस्त्रीवधदोषेण भृगुशापेन मानुषे
Because of the sin of killing a woman, and by the curse of Bhṛgu, in the world of men—
तस्य दिव्यां तनुं विष्णोर्गदतो मे निबोधत
Listen from me as I describe the divine form of Viṣṇu in that context.
भृगोः शापनिमित्तेन देवासुरकृतेन च
Due to the curse of Bhṛgu and the actions of the gods and asuras,
एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामो वृत्तं देवासुरं कथम्
We wish to know how the conflict between gods and asuras occurred.
देवासुरं यथावृत्तं ब्रुवतस्तन्निबोधत
Hear from me, as I narrate, the true account of the gods and asuras.
बलिनाधिष्ठितं राज्यं पुनर्लोकत्रये क्रमात्
The kingdom, governed by Bali, gradually extended over the three worlds.
युगाख्या दश संपूर्णा ह्यासीदव्याहतं जगत्
Ten ages, known as yugas, were completed, and the world was undisturbed.
बद्धे बलौ विवादो ऽथ संप्रवृत्तः सुदारुणः
Then, when Bali was restrained, a fierce conflict arose.
तेषां द्वीपनिमित्तं वै संग्रामा बहवो ऽभवेन्
Many battles occurred among them, all for the sake of the islands.
नामतस्तु समासेन शृणुध्वं तान्विवक्षतः
Now, listen briefly to their names as I intend to tell them.
तृतीयः स तु वाराहश्चतुर्थो ऽमृतमन्थनः
The third was the Boar (Vārāha), and the fourth was the Churning of the Nectar.
षष्ठो ह्याडीबकस्तेषां सप्तमस्त्रैपुरः स्मृतः
The sixth was the Āḍībaka battle among them, and the seventh is remembered as the Tripura war.
वार्त्रश्च दशमो घोरस्ततो हालाहलः स्मृतः
The tenth, called Vārtra, was terrible; after that, the Hālāhala is remembered.
हिरण्यकशिपुर्दैत्यो नरसिंहेन सूदितः
The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain by Narasiṃha.
हिरण्याक्षो हतो द्वन्द्वे प्रतिवादे च दैवते
Hiraṇyākṣa was killed in single combat, in a contest with the deity.
दंष्ट्रया तु वराहेण स दैत्यस्तु द्विधाकृतः
That demon was split in two by the tusk of the Boar incarnation.
विरोचनस्तु प्राह्लादिर्नित्यमिन्द्रवधोद्यतः
Virocana, son of Prahlada, was ever intent on slaying Indra.
भवादवध्यतां प्राप्य विशेषास्त्रादिभिस्तु यः
Having attained invulnerability from you, through special weapons and the like,