अतोऽतिसूक्ष्मं किं ब्रूमोऽधुना परम संकटे
Therefore, in such a very difficult situation, what more subtle thing can we say now?
उपवासफलं रक्ष कृष्णस्य चरणोदकम् 4.25.
Preserve the merit of the fast with the water from Kṛṣṇa's feet.
इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो विरराम महामुने
Having spoken thus, the son of Brahmā, the great sage, fell silent.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ब्रह्मन्नाजगाम मुनीश्वरः
Meanwhile, O Brahman, the lord of sages arrived.
ततः समुत्थितः शीघ्रं पुरुषोऽग्निशिखोपमः
Then, a man arose swiftly, blazing like the tip of a flame.
हरेश्चक्रं च तं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम्
Seeing the discus of Hari, shining like ten million suns,
दृष्ट्वा सुदर्शनं विप्रो दुद्राव भयविह्वलः
Beholding the Sudarśana, the sage fled, overcome by fear.
ब्रह्माण्डक्रमणं कृत्वा निर्विण्णोऽति भयाकुलः
Having traversed the universe, he became despondent, utterly overwhelmed by terror.
त्राहित्राहीत्येवमुक्त्वा विवेश ब्रह्मणः सभाम्
Crying out, 'Save me! Save me!' he entered the assembly of Brahmā.
सर्वं स कथयामास वृत्तान्तं मूलतो विधिम्
He related everything, the entire account from the beginning, to the Creator.
ब्रह्मोवाच रक्षिता यस्य भगवांस्तं को हन्ता जगत्त्रये
Brahmā said: He whom the Blessed Lord protects—who in all the three worlds can harm him?
क्षुद्राणां महतां चैव भक्तानां रक्षणाय च 4.25.
For the protection of both the humble and the great, and of the devotees as well.
यो मूढो वैष्णवं द्वेष्टि विष्णुप्राणसमं द्विज
O twice-born, the fool who hates a Vaiṣṇava, who is as dear as life to Viṣṇu,
शीघ्रं स्थानान्तरं गच्छ वत्स त्राणं न वाऽधुना
Quickly go elsewhere, my child; now there is no protection for you.
किं ब्रह्मलोकं ब्रह्माण्डं दग्धुं शक्तं क्षणेन यत्
What of Brahmā's world, or the cosmic egg, which can be burned to ashes in a moment?
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा ततो दुद्राव ब्राह्मणः
Hearing Brahmā's words, the brāhmaṇa fled from there.
कृपानिधान मां रक्षेत्युवाच शंकरं भिया
Out of fear, he cried to Śaṅkara, 'O ocean of mercy, protect me!'
उवाच दीनदीनेशः संहर्ता जगतां क्षणात्
The Lord of the distressed, who can destroy the worlds in an instant, spoke.
शंकर उवाच वेदज्ञाताऽसि सर्वज्ञ मूर्खतुल्यं तु कर्म ते
Śaṅkara said: You know the Vedas, you are all-knowing, yet your action is like that of a fool.
वेदेषु च पुराणेषु सेतिहासेषु सर्वतः
In the Vedas, the Purāṇas, and the Itihāsas, everywhere,
अहं ब्रह्मा च इन्द्रश्च आदित्या वसवस्तथा
I, Brahmā, Indra, the Ādityas, and the Vasus,
आविर्भूतास्तिरोभूता यस्य भ्रूभङ्गलीलया 4.25.
All appear and disappear at the playful movement of his brow.
अहं ब्रह्मा च कमला दुर्गा वाणी च राधिका
I, Brahmā, Lakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, and Rādhikā,
क्षुद्रांश्च महतो भक्ताञ्छश्वद्रक्षति यत्नतः
He always carefully protects both the humble and the great devotees.
नियुज्य चक्रं दुर्वार्यं स्वात्मतुल्यं च तेजसा
He commands the invincible discus, equal to himself in brilliance.
स्वकीयगुण नाम्नां च श्रवणादतिसंभ्रमः
Hearing the names of his own virtues causes great agitation.
कान्ता प्राणाधिका शश्वन्न हि कोऽपि ततोऽधिकः
A beloved woman is always dearer than life itself; indeed, no one is dearer than her.
सर्वेषां च प्रिया विप्राः स्वशरीरादपि द्विज
O twice-born, for all people, their beloved is dearer even than their own body.
ईश्वरस्य प्रियः को वाऽप्रियः को वा जगत्त्रये
Who is dear or not dear to the Lord in the three worlds?
महति प्रलये ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मण्डौघे जलप्लुते
At the great dissolution, O Brahman, when the multitude of universes is flooded with water,