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.
क्रोडे कृत्वा च तं बालं चुचुम्ब मायया सुरः । ब्रह्मणे च ददौ साक्षाद्विष्णुशंकरयोरपि
Taking the boy on his lap, the god kissed him with affection, and gave him directly to Brahmā, as well as to Viṣṇu and Śaṃkara.
प्रणम्य विष्णुं ब्रह्मा च ययौ शंभुः स्वमन्दिरम् । अग्न्युत्पत्तिश्च कथिता स्वर्णोत्पत्तिं निशामय
Having bowed to Viṣṇu, Brahmā departed, and Śaṃbhu went to his own abode; the origin of fire has been told—now listen to the origin of gold.
विलोक्य रम्भां सुश्रोणिं सकामो वह्निरेव च । पपात वीर्यं चच्छाद लज्जया वाससा तथा
Seeing Rambhā, whose hips were beautiful, Agni, filled with desire, released his seed, and, out of shame, covered it with cloth.
विलोक्य रम्भां सुश्रोणिं सकामो वह्निरेव च । पपात वीर्य चच्छाद लज्जया वाससा तथा
Seeing Rambhā, whose hips were beautiful, Agni, filled with desire, released his seed, and, out of shame, covered it with cloth.
उत्तस्थौ स्वर्णपुञ्जश्च वस्त्रं क्षिप्त्वा ज्वलत्प्रभः । क्षणेन वर्धयामास स सुमेरुर्बभूव ह
A mass of gold arose, shining brightly as he cast off the cloth; in a moment it grew and became the mountain Sumeru.
हिरण्यरेतसं वह्निं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । इति ते कथितं सर्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
The wise call Agni 'the golden-semened'; thus all has been told to you—what more do you wish to hear?
इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारादनाo वह्निसुवर्णोत्पत्तिर्नामैकत्रिंशदधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred thirty-first chapter, named 'The Origin of Fire and Gold,' in the great Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, in the section concerning the birth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as narrated by Nārada.
अथ द्वात्रिंशदधिकशततमोऽध्यायः शौनक उवाच श्रुतं सर्वं नावशेषं धर्मेश व्रह्मणं च माम् । कथयस्व महाभाग पुराणं पुनरेव हि
Now begins the one hundred thirty-second chapter. Śaunaka said: I have heard everything, O Lord of Dharma, O Brahman; tell me again, O greatly fortunate one, the Purāṇa in its entirety.
एवंविधं पुराणं च जन्मनैव न हि श्रुतम् । नधृष्टं न श्रुतं तात ता (त्वा) दृशं वाजकं तथा
Such a Purāṇa as this has never before been heard from birth; nor has it been recited, nor heard, dear one, nor have I seen a reciter like you.
सूत उवाच श्रूयतां भो महाभाग सावधानं च संयतम् । अध्यायश्रवणेनैव पुराणफलमालभेत्
Sūta said: Listen, O most fortunate one, with attention and restraint; simply by hearing the recitation of this chapter, one attains the fruit of the Purāṇa.
ब्रह्मखण्डं च कथितं परं ब्रह्मनिरूपणम् । तदनिर्वचनीयं च येषामपि यथागमम्
The Brahma section has been described, the supreme exposition of Brahman; and that which is indescribable, according to the tradition, for each as appropriate.
साकारं च निराकारं सगुणं निर्गुणं पृथक् । येषामपि यथा शक्तिस्तथैव ध्यानमेव च
Both with form and without form, with qualities and without qualities, separately; and for each according to their capacity, likewise is the meditation.
गोलोकादेर्वर्णनं च क्रमेण च पृथक्पृथक् । तत्रोपयुक्तोपाख्यानं यद्यत्प्रासङ्गिकं द्विज
The description of Goloka and other realms, in order and separately; and the relevant stories used there, whatever is incidental, O twice-born.
जातीनां नीर्णयश्चैव संकराणां तथैव च । यद्यद्विशिष्टोपाख्यानं तत्तत्प्रशनानुरोधतः
The determination of castes, and likewise of mixed castes; and whatever special stories, each according to the questions asked.
राधामाधवयोः क्रीडा महाविष्णोः समुद्भवः । निरूपणं च विश्वेषां समासेन द्विजोत्तम
The pastimes of Rādhā and Mādhava, the origin of Mahāviṣṇu; and the description of all, in summary, O best of the twice-born.
ब्रह्मनारदयोश्चैव संवादः परमार्थतः । विपेको नारदस्यैव मुनीन्द्रस्य तथैव च
The dialogue between Brahmā and Nārada, concerning the highest truth; and the discernment of Nārada himself, the chief of sages.
आज्ञया ब्रह्मणश्चैव नरनारायणाश्रमम् । गमनं नारदस्यैव तेन सार्थं च दर्शनम्
By the command of Brahmā, Nārada's journey to the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa; and his meeting there with them.
तयोः संभाषणं चैव नारदाद्य(य) निवेदनम् । तत्र देव ब्रह्मखण्डं क्रमेणोक्तं द्विजोत्तम
Their conversation, and Nārada's narration; there, O divine one, the Brahma section is told in sequence, O best of the twice-born.
श्रूयतां प्रकृतेः खण्डं सुधाखण्डसमं मुने । प्रकृतेर्लक्षणं प्रोक्तं प्रकृतीनां च वर्णनम्
Now hear the section on Prakṛti, equal to a portion of nectar, O sage; the characteristics of Prakṛti are explained, and the description of the Prakṛtis.
उपाश्यानं च तासां च वर्णनं बूजनादिकम् । लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती दुर्गा सावित्री राधिका तथा
The description of their attendants, their worship and related matters; Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Durgā, Sāvitrī, and also Rādhikā.