एवंभूतं च सुदिनं कदाऽस्माकं फविष्यति । तज्जन्म सफलं धन्यं यत्र वैष्णवसंगमः
When will such an auspicious day come for us? Blessed and fruitful is the birth where there is association with Vaiṣṇavas.
गर्भवासोच्छेदनं च कर्ममूलनिकृन्तनम् । हरिदास्यप्रदं शुद्धं भक्तानां भक्तिवर्धनम्
It severs the residence in the womb, cuts the roots of karma, grants service to Hari, is pure, and increases the devotion of devotees.
असाधुसङ्गदुर्बुद्धिपापोन्मूलनकारणम् । गणेशजन्मोपख्यानं पुराणेषु सुदुर्लभम्
Association with the wicked, corrupt intellect, and the cause of uprooting sin— the story of Ganesha's birth is exceedingly rare in the Puranas.
तुलसीराधिकाख्यानं किमपूर्व श्रुतं परम् । अन्यद्यद्यद्गोपनीयं व्यक्तमव्यक्तमीप्सितम्
The account of Tulasi and Radha—what unprecedented, supreme thing have you heard? Whatever else is to be concealed, manifest or unmanifest, desired—
सर्वं श्रुतं महाभाग परिबूर्णं मनोहरम् । अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि वह्नेरुत्पत्तिमीप्सिताम् स्वर्णस्य च महाभाग तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
All has been heard, O greatly fortunate one, complete and delightful. Now I wish to hear the desired origin of fire, and of gold, O greatly fortunate one; you ought to explain this to me.
सूत उवाच सामग्रीकरणं सृष्टेर्जलमेव हुताशनः । तथैव प्रकृतिर्नित्या महानेव तथैव च
Suta said: The assembling of the elements for creation—water alone is the fuel for fire; likewise, primordial nature is eternal, and so is the great one.
यथा दिशो महाकाशो ययैव सृष्टिगोलकम् । प्रकृतेर्महतश्च स्याद्य थाऽहंकार एव च
Just as the directions and the vast ether, and the sphere of creation arise from primordial nature and the great principle, so too from ego.
यथैव शब्दस्तन्मात्रं तथैव च हुताशनः । तथाऽपि तत्समुत्पत्तिं कथयामि निशामय
Just as sound is the subtle element, so too is fire; yet, I will narrate its origin—listen attentively.
एकदा सृष्टिकाले च ब्रह्मानन्तमहेश्वराः । श्वेतद्वीपं ययुः सर्वे द्रष्टुं विष्णुं जगत्पतिम्
Once, at the time of creation, Brahma, Ananta, and Maheshvara—all went to Shvetadvipa to behold Vishnu, the Lord of the universe.
परस्परं च संभाषां कृत्वा सिंहासनेषु च । ऊचुः सर्वे सभामध्ये सुरम्ये पुरतो विभोः
Having conversed with one another, seated upon thrones, all spoke in the midst of the assembly, in that delightful place before the Lord.
विष्णुगात्रोद्भवास्तत्र कामिन्यः कमलाकलाः । तत्र नृत्यन्ति गायन्ति विष्णुगाथाश्च
There, those desirous women, born from Vishnu's body, lotus-like in form, danced and sang songs of Vishnu.
तासां च कठिनां श्रोणिं कठिनं स्तनमण्डलम् । सस्मितं मुखपद्मं च दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा सुकामुकः
Seeing their firm hips, firm breasts, and smiling lotus-like faces, Brahma became overwhelmed with desire.
मनोनिवारणं कर्तुं न शशाक पितामहः । वीर्यं पपात चच्छाद लज्जया वाससा विभुः
The grandsire was unable to restrain his mind; his seed fell, and he covered it with his garment out of shame, O mighty one.
तद्वीर्यं वस्त्रसहितं प्रतप्तं कामतापतः । क्षीरोदे प्रेरयामास संगीते विरते द्विज
That seed, together with the garment, heated by the fire of passion, was sent into the ocean when the music ceased, O twice-born.
जलादुत्थाय पुरुषः प्रज्वलन्ब्रह्मतेजसा । उवास ब्रह्मणः क्रोडे लज्जितस्य च संसदि
Rising from the water, a man, blazing with Brahma's radiance, dwelled in Brahma's lap, in the assembly, ashamed.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे रुष्टो जलादुत्थाय सत्वरः । प्रणम्य वरुणो देवान्बालं नेतुं समुद्यतः
Meanwhile, angered, Varuna quickly rose from the water, bowed to the gods, and prepared to take the child.
बालो दधार ब्रह्माणं बाहुम्यां च भयाद्रुदन् । किं चिन्नोवाच जगतां विधाता लज्जया द्विज
The child clung to Brahma's arm, weeping in fear; the creator of the worlds said nothing, out of shame, O twice-born.
बालकस्य करे धृत्वा चकारऽऽकर्षणं रुषा । वरुणश्च सभामध्ये तं चिक्षेप प्रजापतिः
Grasping the boy's hand, Varuna, in anger, dragged him; and in the midst of the assembly, Prajapati hurled him.
पपात दूरतो देवो वरुणो दुर्बलस्ततः । मूर्छां संप्राप मृतवत्कोपदृष्ट्या विधेरहो
The god Varuna, weakened, fell far away; he became unconscious, as if dead, from the wrathful gaze of the creator—alas!
चेतनं कारयामासामृतदृष्ट्या च शंकरः । संप्राप्य चेतनं तत्र तमुवाच जलेश्वरः
Shankara restored his consciousness with a glance like nectar; regaining awareness, the lord of the waters spoke to him there.
वरुण उवाच बालो जले समुद्भूतो मम पुत्रोऽयमीप्सितः । अहं गृहीत्वा यास्यामि ब्रह्मा मां ताडयेत्कथम्
Varuṇa said: This child, my desired son, has arisen in the water; if I take him, how could Brahmā punish me?
ब्रह्मोवाच वालकः शरणापन्नो मयि विष्णो महेश्वर । कथं दास्यामि भीतं च रुदन्तं शरणागतम्
Brahmā said: The boy has sought refuge with me, O Viṣṇu, O Maheśvara; how can I give up one who is afraid, weeping, and has come for shelter?
शरणागतदीनार्तं यो न रक्षेदपण्डितः । पच्यते निरये तावद्यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ
He who does not protect one who is distressed, miserable, and seeking refuge is not wise; he is tormented in hell as long as the moon and sun endure.
उभयोर्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मधुसूधनः । उवाच तत्र सर्वज्ञः सर्वेशश्च यथोचितम्
Hearing the words of both, Madhusūdana, the all-knowing Lord of all, smiled and spoke there as appropriate.
श्रीभगवानुवाच दृष्ट्वा तु कामिनीश्रोणिं वीर्यं धातुः पपात तत् । लज्जया प्रेरयामास क्षीरोदे निर्मले जले
The Blessed Lord said: Upon seeing the hips of a desirous woman, the seed of the Creator fell; out of shame, he sent it into the pure water of the Milk Ocean.
ततौ बभूव बालश्च धर्मतो विधिपुत्रकः । क्षेत्रज्ञश्च सुतः शास्त्रे वरुणस्यापि गौणतः
There, by righteousness, a boy was born, a son of Brahmā according to law, and, as the scriptures say, also the son of Varuṇa in a secondary sense.
महादेव उवाच यो विद्यायोनिसंबन्धो वेदेषु च निरूपितः । शिष्ये पुत्रे च समता चेति वेदविदो विदुः
Mahādeva said: The connection of knowledge and birth is explained in the Vedas; equality is taught between a disciple and a son, so say the knowers of the Veda.
मन्त्रं ददातु वरुणो विद्यांच बारकाय च । पुत्रो विधातुर्वङ्निश्च शिष्यश्य वरुणस्य च
Let Varuṇa give a mantra and knowledge to the boy; the son is of Brahmā by birth, and of Varuṇa as a disciple.
विष्णुर्ददातु बालाय दाहिकां सक्तिमुज्ज्वलाम् । सर्वदग्धो हुताशश्च निर्वाणो वरुणेन च
Let Viṣṇu give the boy the blazing power of fire; Agni, having been entirely burned, was extinguished by Varuṇa.
विष्णुश्च दाहिकां शक्तिं ददौ तस्मै शिवाज्ञया । मन्त्रं विद्यां च वरुणो रत्नमालां मनोहराम्
Viṣṇu, by Śiva’s command, gave him the power of fire; Varuṇa gave him a mantra, knowledge, and a charming garland of jewels.