ब्रह्मोवाच दुष्कीर्तिजलपूर्णे च दुष्पारे बहुसंकटे
Brahma said: In this world, filled with the waters of infamy, difficult to cross, and full of many dangers,
भक्तिविस्मृतिबीजे च विपत्सोपानदुस्तरे
Where the seed of forgetting devotion grows, and the steps to calamity are hard to ascend,
जन्मोर्मिसंघसहिते योषिन्नक्रौघसंकुले
Where the waves of birth surge together, and women are like crocodiles in the deep,
प्रथमामृतरूपे च परिणामविषालये
Where the beginning is like nectar, but the end is a dwelling of poison,
बुद्ध्या तरण्या विज्ञानैरुद्धरास्मानतः स्वयम्
With the boat of intellect and the oars of knowledge, lift us up from here yourself.
मद्विधाः कतिचिन्नाथ नियोज्या भवकर्मणि
O Lord, only a few like me should be engaged in worldly actions.
न कर्मक्षेत्रमेवेदं ब्रह्मलोकोऽयमीप्सितः
This is not truly the field of action; the world of Brahma is what is desired.
हे नाथ करुणासिन्धो दीनबन्धो कृपां कुरु 4.32.
O Lord, ocean of compassion, friend of the distressed, show your mercy.
इत्युक्त्वा जगतां धाता विरराम सनातनः
Having spoken thus, the eternal creator of the worlds became silent.
ब्रह्मणा च कृतं स्तोत्रं भक्तियुक्तश्च यः पठेत्
Whoever recites this hymn composed by Brahma with devotion,
मम मायां विनिर्जित्य संज्ञानं लभते ध्रुवम्
Certainly overcomes my illusion and attains true knowledge.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच मनोमत्तगजेन्द्रं च कामासक्तं निवारयन्
Sri Krishna said: Restraining the mind, which is like a mad elephant, attached to desire,
दिव्यज्ञानांकुशे नैव मया दत्तेन राधिके
Not even with the goad of divine knowledge given by me, O Radhika,
मोहिन्युवाच करोत्याकृष्य संभोगं यः स एवोत्तमो विभो
Mohini said: He who, having drawn near, enjoys union—he alone is the best, O Lord.
ज्ञात्वा स्फुटमभिप्रायं नार्या संप्रेषितो हि यः
He who, knowing clearly the intention, is sent by a woman,
पुनःपुनः प्रेषितश्च स्त्रिया कामार्तया च यः
And he who is sent again and again by a woman overcome with desire,
गृही तपस्वी कामी वा त्यजेत्स्त्रियमुपस्थिताम्
Whether a householder, an ascetic, or one driven by desire, if he rejects a woman who approaches him—
नष्टश्रीर्भ्रष्टरूपश्च भ्रष्टबुद्धिर्भवेद् ध्रुवम्
He will surely lose his fortune, his beauty will fade, and his intellect will be ruined.
उत्तिष्ठ जगतीनाथ पारं कुरु स्मरार्णवे
Arise, O Lord of the worlds, carry me across the ocean of desire.
अतीव निर्जनस्थाने सर्वजन्तुविवर्जिते
In a place exceedingly desolate, devoid of all living beings—
सततं त्वन्मनस्कां मां दासीं जन्मनि जन्मनि 4.33.
May I, devoted in mind to you alone, be your servant, birth after birth.
इत्युक्त्वा मोहिनी सद्यो जगत्स्रष्टुश्च ब्रह्मणः
Having spoken thus, Mohinī immediately, before Brahmā, the creator of the worlds—
विज्ञाय समयं धाता तामुवाच भयातुरः
Recognizing the situation, the creator, trembling with fear, addressed her.
ब्रह्मोवाच न कुरु त्वं च त्रैलोक्ये स्त्रीजातीनामपत्रपाम्
Brahmā said: Do not, throughout the three worlds, become a cause of disgrace for women.
त्यज मामम्बिके पुत्रं वृद्धं निष्काममेव च
Abandon me, O Mother, as one would a son, an old man, or one without desire.
निषेकाल्लभते पत्नी गुरुं भर्तुः शुभाशुभम्
From conception, a wife obtains from her husband, whether good or bad, the fruit of his actions.
त्वया सह मम रते निबन्धो नास्ति सुव्रते
O virtuous one, there can be no union of pleasure between you and me.
इत्युक्तवन्तं ब्रह्माणं स्मरन्तं मत्पदाम्बुजम्
As Brahmā spoke thus, remembering my lotus feet—
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शीघ्रं स्थानं तत्सुमनोहरम्
At that very moment, that beautiful place quickly—
अत्रिः पुलस्त्यः पुलहो वसिष्ठः क्रतुरंगिराः
Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Vasiṣṭha, Kratu, and Aṅgirā—