गोपबालकवेषं च राधावक्षः स्थलस्थितम् । ध्यानासाध्यं दुराराध्यं ब्रह्मेशशेषवन्दितम्
In the attire of a cowherd boy, situated at the chest of Rādhā, attainable by meditation, difficult to worship, honored by Brahmā, Śiva, and Śeṣa.
सिन्द्धेन्द्रैश्च मुनीन्द्रैश्च योगीन्द्रैः प्रणतं स्तुतम् । वेदानिर्वचनीयं च परं स्वेच्छामयं विभुम्
Praised and bowed to by Indra among Siddhas, by great sages and yogis; indescribable by the Vedas, supreme, the lord formed by his own will.
स्थूलस्थूलतमं रूपं सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतमं परम् । सत्यं नित्यं प्रशस्तं च प्रकृतेः परमीश्वरम्
His form is the grossest of the gross, and the subtlest of the subtle, supreme; true, eternal, excellent, the supreme lord beyond nature.
निर्लिप्तं च निरीहं च भगवन्तं सनातनम् । एवं ध्यात्वा च ते पूताः स्निग्धदूर्वाक्षता जलम्
Detached and without desire, the eternal blessed one; thus meditating, they are purified, with tender dūrvā grass, rice grains, and water.
पद्मापद्मार्चिते पादपद्मे च दातुमुत्सुकाः । वेदाःस्तोतुमशक्तास्त्वामशक्ता सा सरस्वती
Eager to offer at the lotus feet worshipped by Padmā and Padmā, the Vedas are unable to praise you, and even Sarasvatī is unable.
शेषः स्तोतुमशक्तश्च स्वयंभूः शंभुरीश्वरः । गणेशश्च दिनेशश्च महेन्द्रश्चन्द्र एव च
Śeṣa is unable to praise you, nor Svayambhū, nor Śaṃbhu, nor Īśvara; nor Gaṇeśa, nor the sun, nor Mahendra, nor the moon.
स्तोतुं नालं धनेशश्च किमन्ये जड्बुद्धयः । गुणातीतमनीहं च किं स्तौमि निर्गुणं परम्
Kubera is unable to praise you, so what of others with dull intellect? Transcending qualities and desireless, how can I praise the supreme, without qualities?
अपण्डितोऽयमसुरो न सुरः क्षन्तुमर्हसि । बलेस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तमुवाच जगत्पतिः
This demon is unlearned, not a god; you should forgive him. Hearing these words of Bali, the lord of the world spoke to him.
श्रीभगवानुवाच मा भैर्वत्स गृहं गच्छ सुतलं रक्षितं मया । मद्वरेण प्रसादेन त्वत्पुत्रोऽप्यजरामरः
The Blessed Lord said: Do not fear, child; go home to Sutala, which I have protected. By my boon and grace, your son will also be ageless and immortal.
दर्पहानिं करिष्यामि तस्य मूर्खस्य दर्पिणः । प्रह्लादाय वरो दत्तो भक्ताय च तपस्विने
I will remove the pride of that foolish, arrogant one; a boon has been granted to Prahlāda, the devoted ascetic.
ममावध्यश्च त्वद्वंशश्चेति प्रीतेन चेतसा । तव पुत्राय दास्यामि ज्ञानं मृत्युंजयं परम्
With a heart full of affection, I declare: your lineage shall be inviolable, and to your son I will grant the supreme knowledge that conquers death.
त्वया कृतिमिदं स्तोत्रं सामवेदोक्तमीप्सितम् । पुरा सनत्कुमाराराय प्रदत्तं ब्रह्मणा तथा
This hymn, composed by you and praised in the Sama Veda, was formerly given by Brahma to Sanatkumara.
सिद्धाश्रमे पुण्यतमे प्रशस्ते सूर्यपर्वणि । गौतमाय प्रदत्तं च गौर्या मन्दाकिनीतटे
In the most sacred Siddha Ashrama, on the auspicious festival of the Sun, Gauri gave it to Gautama on the banks of the Mandakini.
शंकरेण च शिष्याय भक्ताय च दयालुना । ब्रह्मणे च मया दत्तं शिवाय विरजातटे
Compassionate Shankara gave it to his devoted disciple, and I gave it to Brahma and to Shiva on the banks of the Viraja.
भृगवे च पुरा दत्तं कुमारेण च धीमता । त्वं च दास्यसि बाणाय बाणः स्तोष्यत्यनेन माम्
It was given long ago to Bhrigu and to the wise Kumara; you too will give it to Bana, and Bana will praise me with it.
इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यमुबदिश्य गुरोर्मुखात् । वृतस्य पूजितस्यापि वस्त्रभूषणचन्दनैः
This most sacred hymn, when received from the mouth of the guru, even by one who is chosen and honored with garments, ornaments, and sandalwood,
सुस्नातो यः पठेन्नित्यं पूजाकाले च भक्तितः । कोटिजन्मार्जितात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Whoever, having bathed well, recites it daily with devotion at the time of worship, is freed from sins accumulated over millions of births—of this there is no doubt.
विपदां खण्डनं स्तोत्रं कारणं सर्वसंपदाम् । वारणं दुःखशोकानां भवाब्धिधोरतारणम्
This hymn is the destroyer of calamities, the cause of all prosperity, the remover of sorrow and grief, and the means to cross the ocean of worldly existence.
खण्डनं गर्भवासानां जरामृत्युहरं परम् ।बन्धनानां च रोगाणां खण्डनं भक्तमण्डनम्
It destroys the bonds of the womb, removes old age and death, breaks the chains of bondage and disease, and is the ornament of devotees.
स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः । व्रती व्रतेषु सर्वेषु तपस्वी च तपःसु च
He is as if bathed in all sacred waters, initiated in all sacrifices, observant of all vows, and ascetic in all austerities.
स स्तयं सर्वदानानां फलं च लभते ध्रुवम् । लक्षधा स्तोत्रपाठेन स्तोत्रसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्
He certainly attains the fruit of all gifts and all vows; by reciting the hymn a hundred thousand times, perfection in the hymn is achieved for people.
सर्वसिद्धिं च लभते सिद्धिस्तोत्रो भवेद्यदि । इहलोके देवतुल्योऽप्यन्ते याति हरेः पदम्
He attains all accomplishments; if the hymn is perfected, he becomes like a god in this world and at the end reaches the abode of Hari.
इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo बाणयुद्धे बलिकृतश्रीकृष्णम्तोत्रं नामैकोनविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred nineteenth chapter, named 'The Hymn to Krishna Composed by Bali during the Battle with Bana,' in the Great Brahmavaivarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda, as narrated by Narada.
विंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः नारायण उवाच अथ कृष्णश्च भगवानुद्धवेत बलेन च । दूतं प्रश्थापयामास विधाय मन्त्रणं शुभम्
Chapter one hundred and twentieth. Narayana said: Then Bhagavan Krishna, along with Uddhava and Balarama, after holding auspicious counsel, sent a messenger.
शिवो गणपतिर्यत्र दुर्गां दुर्गतिनाशिनी । कार्तिकेयो भद्रकाली चोग्रचण्डा च कोटरी
There were Shiva, Ganesha, Durga the remover of misfortune, Kartikeya, Bhadrakali, Ugracanda, and Kotari.
आगत्य नत्वा दूतश्च गणेशं च शिवं शिवाम् । मानवांश्चापि पूच्यांश्च समुवाच यथोचितम्
The messenger, having arrived and bowed to Ganesha, Shiva, and Parvati, and having properly greeted the assembled people, spoke as was appropriate.
दूत उवाच बाणमाह्वयते कृष्णः संग्रामार्थ महेश्वर । किं वाऽनिरुद्धमूषां च गृहीत्वा शरणं व्रज
The messenger said: Krishna summons Bana for battle, O Maheshvara. Or, taking Aniruddha and Usha, go and seek refuge.
रणे निमन्त्रितो यो हि न याति भयकातरः । परत्र नरकं याति सप्तभिः पितृभिः सह
He who, having been challenged to battle, does not go out of fear, goes to hell along with his seven ancestors.
दूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सभामध्ये यथोचितम् । उवाच पार्वती देवी स्वयं शंकरसंनिधौ
Hearing the messenger’s words in the midst of the assembly, Goddess Parvati herself spoke appropriately in the presence of Shankara.
पार्वत्युवाच गच्छ बाण महाभाग गृहीत्वा तव कन्यकाम् । सर्वस्वं यौतकं दत्त्वा श्रीकृष्णं शरणं व्रज
Parvati said: Go, O Bana, most fortunate one, take your daughter, give all your wealth as a bridal gift, and seek refuge in Shri Krishna.