मालावतीवचः श्रुत्वा विप्ररूपी जनार्दनः
Hearing the words of Mālāvatī, Janārdana, disguised as a brāhmaṇa, listened.
सौतिरुवाच परस्परं च सम्भाषा बभूव तत्र संसदि
Sauti said: There, in that assembly, a conversation arose among them.
मा तं बुबुधिरे देवाः श्रीहरिं विप्ररूपिणम्
The gods did not recognize Śrī Hari, who had taken the form of a brāhmaṇa.
सुरान्सम्बोध्य विप्रश्च वाचा मधुरया द्विज
Addressing the gods and the brāhmaṇa with sweet words, O twice-born one—
ब्राह्मण उवाच ययाचे जीवदानं च स्वामिनः शोककर्षिता
The brāhmaṇa said: She, worn down by grief, begged her master for the gift of life.
अधुना किमनुष्ठानमस्य कार्यस्य निश्चितम्
Now, what is the proper course of action, what should certainly be done in this matter?
शप्तुकामा सुरान्सर्वान्साध्वी तेजस्विनी वरा
That virtuous and radiant lady was about to curse all the gods.
स्तुतिः कृता च युष्माभिः श्वेतद्वीपे हरेरपि
You all have offered praise even to Hari on Śvetadvīpa.
बभूवाकाशवाणीति पश्चाद्यास्यति केशव
Then, a voice from the sky arose, saying: 'Keśava will come later.'
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स्वयं ब्रह्मा जगद्गुरुः
Hearing the words of the brāhmaṇa, Brahmā himself, the teacher of the world—
ब्रह्मोवाच योगेन प्राणांस्तत्याज पुनः शापान्ममैव हि ।। 1.17.
Brahmā said: By yoga, he gave up his life, but again, it was by my own curse.
कालं लक्षयुगं व्याप्य स्थितिरस्य महीतले
After spanning a period of a hundred thousand ages, his existence remained on earth.
अस्य कालावशेषस्य किञ्चिदस्ति द्विजोत्तम
Of this remaining time, O best of twice-born, only a little is left.
दास्यामि जीवदानं च स्वयं विष्णोः प्रसादतः
I myself shall grant him the gift of life, by the grace of Viṣṇu.
नागतो हरिरत्रेति त्वया यत्कथितं द्विज
O brāhmaṇa, as you have said, 'Hari has not come here'—
स्वेच्छामयः परं ब्रह्म भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहः
The Supreme Brahman is of the nature of free will, the embodiment of compassion for devotees.
विषिश्च व्याप्तिवचनो नुश्च सर्वत्रवाचकः
The term 'viṣi' denotes pervasiveness, and 'nu' signifies universality everywhere.
अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा
Whether impure or pure, or in any state whatsoever,
कर्मारम्भे च मध्ये वा शेषे विष्णुं च यः स्मरेत्
At the beginning of action, in the middle, or at the end, whoever remembers Viṣṇu,
अहं स्रष्टा च जगतां विधाता संहरो हरः
I am the creator of worlds, the arranger, and Hara is the destroyer.
कालः संहरते लोकान्यमः शास्ता च पापिनाम् 1.17.
Time dissolves the worlds; Yama is the ruler of the sinful.
सर्वेशा या च सर्वाद्या प्रकृतिः सर्वसूः पुरा
That Prakṛti, the origin of all, the essence of everything, existed before all.
महेश्वर उवाच वेदानधीत्य भवता ज्ञातः कः सार एव च
Maheśvara said: Having studied the Vedas, who has known their essence?
शिष्यः कस्य मुनीन्द्रस्य कस्त्वं नाम्ना च भो द्विज
Whose disciple are you, O best of sages? Who are you by name, O twice-born?
विडम्बयसि देवांश्च विष्णुमस्माकमीश्वरम्
You mock the gods and Viṣṇu, our Lord.
यस्मिन्गते पतेद्देहो देहिनां परमात्मनि
When the body falls, the soul enters the Supreme Self.
जीवस्तत्प्रतिबिम्बश्च मनो ज्ञानं च चेतना
The living being, its reflection, the mind, knowledge, and consciousness,
निद्रा दया च तन्द्रा च क्षुत्तृष्णा पुष्टिरेव च
Sleep, compassion, drowsiness, hunger, thirst, and nourishment,
प्रयाति यत्पुरः शक्तिरीश्वरे गमनोन्मुखे
The power that proceeds forward when the Lord is about to depart,
ईश्वरे च स्थिते देही क्षमश्च सर्वकर्मसु
When the Lord abides, the embodied one is capable in all actions.