ब्रह्मा च शंकरश्चैव शेषो धर्मश्च केशवः
Brahma, Shankara, Shesha, Dharma, and Keshava,
देवेभ्यश्च वरं दत्त्वा पुष्पमालां मनोहराम्
Having granted a boon to the gods, and a charming garland of flowers,
ययुर्देवाश्च सन्तुष्टाः स्वं स्वं स्थानं च नारद
The gods, satisfied, departed each to their own abode, O Narada.
ययतुस्तौ स्वस्वगृहं ब्रह्मेशानौ च नारद
Brahma and Ishana also returned to their own homes, O Narada.
इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
Whoever recites this highly meritorious hymn at the three junctions of the day,
सिद्धस्तोत्रं यदि पठेत्सोऽपि कल्पतरुर्नरः
If one recites the accomplished hymn, he too becomes like the wish-fulfilling tree.
सिद्धिःस्तोत्रं यदि पठेन्मासमेकं च संयतः 2.39.
If one recites the hymn for success, with restraint, for a month,
नारद उवाच तस्य सर्वा पुरःपूजेत्युक्तं पूर्वं त्वया प्रभो
Narada said: You previously declared, O Lord, that all worship is performed in his presence.
तदेव स्थापितं पुष्पं गजेन्द्रस्यैव मस्तके
That very flower was placed upon the head of Gajendra.
मूर्ध्नि च्छिन्ने गणपतेः शनेर्दृष्ट्या पुरा मुने
When the head of Ganapati was severed, by Shani's gaze, long ago, O sage,
अधुनोक्तं देवषट्कं संपूज्य च पुरन्दरः
Now, having worshipped the six gods as told, Purandara,
अहो पुराणवक्तॄणां दुर्बोधं वचनं नृणाम्
Ah! The words of the speakers of the Puranas are difficult for men to understand.
श्रीनारायण उवाच तदा नास्त्येव तज्जन्म पूजाकाले बभूव सः
Shri Narayana said: At that time, there was no such birth; it occurred at the time of worship.
सुचिरं दुःखिता देवा बभ्रमुर्ब्रह्मशापतः
For a long time, the gods wandered in sorrow, due to Brahma's curse.
नारद उवाच रूपेण च गुणैश्चैव यशसा तेजसा त्विषा
Narada said: By form, by qualities, by fame, by brilliance, and by radiance,
त्वमेव ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः सिद्धानां योगिनां तथा महालक्ष्म्या उपाख्यानं विज्ञातं महदद्भुतम्
You alone are the foremost among the wise, the accomplished, and the yogis; the tale of Mahalakshmi is known, wondrous and great.
अन्यत्किञ्चिदुपाख्यानं निगूढं वद साम्प्रतम् अप्रकाश्यं पुराणेषु वेदोक्तं धर्मसंयुतम्
Now tell some other hidden story, one not revealed in the Purāṇas, but spoken of in the Vedas and connected with dharma.
श्रीनारायण उवाच श्रुतौ कतिविधं गूढमास्ते ब्रह्मन्सुदुर्लभम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: O brāhmaṇa, there exists in the Vedas a secret that is very difficult to obtain.
तेषु यत्सारभूतं च श्रोतुं किंवा त्वमिच्छसि
Among these, do you wish to hear that which is the very essence?
नारद उवाच पितृदाने स्वधा शस्ता दक्षिणा सर्वतो वरा
Nārada said: In offerings to the ancestors, svadhā is praised, and the gift (dakṣiṇā) is superior to all.
एतासां चरितं जन्म फलं प्राधान्यमेव च
Their deeds, birth, fruits, and preeminence—
सौतिरुवाच कथां कथितुमारेभे पुराणोक्तां पुरातनीम्
The sūta said: He began to narrate an ancient tale as told in the Purāṇas.
श्रीनारायण उवाच ब्रह्मलोके ब्रह्मसभामगम्यां सुमनोहराम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: In Brahmaloka, in Brahmā’s assembly, which was exceedingly delightful—
गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुर्मुने त्वाहारहेतुकम् 2.40.
They went and made a request to you, O sage, for the sake of food.
यज्ञरूपो हि भगवान्कलया च बभूव सः
The Lord, in the form of sacrifice, appeared there by a portion of himself.
हविर्ददति विप्राश्च भक्त्या च क्षत्रियादयः
Brāhmaṇas offered oblations, and the kṣatriyas and others did so with devotion.
देवा विषण्णास्ते सर्वे तत्सभां च पुनर्ययुः
All the gods, being dejected, returned again to that assembly.
ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा तु मनसा श्रीकृष्णं शरणं ययौ
Hearing this, Brahmā mentally took refuge in Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
प्रकृतिः कलया चैव सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपिणी
Prakṛti, by her portion, is the embodiment of all powers.
ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्त्तण्ड प्रभान्यक्कारकारिणी
She causes the radiance of the midday summer sun to be subdued.