वटपत्रशयानाय विष्णवे बालरूपिणे । केनास्मि बालभावेन निर्मितोऽहं चिदात्मना
To Viṣṇu, who lies on the banyan leaf in the form of a child, by whom was I created in this state of childhood, though I am the conscious self?
किमर्थं केन द्रव्येण कथं जानामि चाखिलम् । इत्येवं चिन्त्यमानाय मुकुन्दाय महात्मने
For what purpose, by whom, and with what means do I know all this? Thus pondering, to Mukunda, the great soul—
श्लोकार्धेन तया प्रोक्तं भगवत्याखिलार्थदम् । सर्वं खल्विदमेवाहं नान्यदस्ति सनातनम्
The Goddess spoke in half a verse, conveying the meaning of all: 'Indeed, all this is only Myself; there is nothing else eternal.'
तद्वचो विष्णुना पूर्वं संविज्ञातं मनस्यपि । केनोक्ता वागियं सत्या चिन्तयामास चेतसा
That statement was previously realized by Viṣṇu in his mind; he wondered, 'By whom was this true speech uttered?' and reflected deeply.
कथं वेद्मि प्रवक्तारं स्त्रीपुंसौ वा नपुंसकम् । इति चिन्ताप्रपन्नेन धृतं भागवतं हृदि
How can I know the one who will speak—the speaker—whether woman, man, or neither? With such thoughts arising, the Bhāgavata was held in the heart.
पुनः पुनः कृतोच्चारस्तस्मिनेवास्तचेतसा । वटपत्रे शयानः सन्नभूच्चिन्तासमन्वितः
Again and again, with mind fixed on that, he uttered the words; lying on the banyan leaf, he was filled with anxious thoughts.
तदा शान्ता भगवती प्रादुरास चतुर्भुजा । शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मवरायुधधरा शिवा
Then the serene Goddess appeared, four-armed, holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus, auspicious and bearing divine weapons.
दिव्याम्बरधरा देवी दिव्यभूषणभूषिता । संयुता सदृशीभिश्च सखीभिः स्वविभूतिभिः
The Goddess was adorned with celestial garments and divine ornaments, accompanied by companions resembling herself, radiant with her own powers.
प्रादुर्बभूव तस्याग्रे विष्णोरमिततेजसः । मन्दहास्यं प्रयुञ्जाना महालक्ष्मीः शुभानना
She manifested before him—before Viṣṇu of immeasurable brilliance—smiling gently, Mahālakṣmī, auspicious-faced.
सूत उवाच तां तथा संस्थितां दृष्ट्वा हृदये कमलेक्षणः । विस्मितः सलिले तस्मिन्निराधारा मनोरमाम्
Sūta said: Seeing her standing thus, the lotus-eyed one, his heart captivated, was astonished in that water, unsupported, wondrous to behold.
रतिर्भूतिस्तथा बुद्धिर्मतिः कीर्तिः स्मृतिर्धृतिः । श्रद्धा मेधा स्वधा स्वाहा क्षुधा निद्रा दया गतिः
Love, prosperity, intellect, discernment, fame, memory, fortitude, faith, wisdom, Svadhā, Svāhā, hunger, sleep, compassion, and movement—
तुष्टिः पुष्टिः क्षमा लज्जा जृम्भा तन्द्रा च शक्तयः । संस्थिताः सर्वतः पार्श्वे महादेव्याः पृथक्पृथक्
Contentment, nourishment, forgiveness, modesty, yawning, drowsiness—these powers stood all around the Great Goddess, each separately.
वरायुधधराः सर्वा नानाभूषणभूषिताः । मन्दारमालाकुलिता मुक्ताहारविराजिताः
All bore excellent weapons, adorned with various ornaments, wreathed with garlands of coral-tree flowers, shining with pearl necklaces.
तां दृष्ट्वा ताश्च संवीक्ष्य तस्मिन्नेकार्णवे जले । विस्मयाविष्टहृदयः सम्बभूव जनार्दनः
Seeing her and observing them in that single ocean of water, Janārdana’s heart was seized with wonder.
चिन्तयामास सर्वात्मा दृष्टमायोऽतिविस्मितः । कुतो भूताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः कुतोऽहं वटतल्पगः
The All-Self, having seen this marvel, was greatly astonished and thought: From where have all these women arisen? And how am I lying on this banyan leaf?
अस्मिन्नेकार्णवे घोरे न्यग्रोधः कथमुत्थितः । केनाहं स्थापितोऽस्म्यत्र शिशुं कृत्वा शुभाकृतिम्
In this dreadful, single ocean, how has this banyan tree arisen? By whom have I been placed here, made into a child of auspicious form?
ममेयं जननी नो वा माया वा कापि दुर्घटा । दर्शनं केनचित्त्वद्य दत्तं वा केन हेतुना
Is this my mother, or not? Or is she some unfathomable Māyā? By whom has this vision been given today, and for what reason?
किं मया चात्र वक्तव्यं गन्तव्यं वा न वा क्वचित् । मौनमास्थाय तिष्ठेयं बालभावादतन्द्रितः
What should I say here? Should I go somewhere, or not? Or should I remain silent, steadfast in my childlike state, alert and watchful?
व्यासोपदेशवर्णनम् दृष्ट्वा तं विस्मितं देवं शयानं वटपत्रके । उवाच सस्मितं वाक्यं विष्णो किं विस्मितो ह्यसि
Description of Vyāsa’s instruction: Seeing that astonished god lying on the banyan leaf, she spoke with a smile: 'Viṣṇu, why are you astonished?'
महाशक्त्याः प्रभावेण त्वं मां विस्मृतवान्पुरा । प्रभवे प्रलये जाते भूत्वा भूत्वा पुनः पुनः
By the power of the Great Śakti, you once forgot me; at the time of creation and dissolution, you are born again and again.
निर्गुणा सा परा शक्तिः सगुणस्त्वं तथाप्यहम् । सात्त्विकी किल या शक्तिस्तां शक्तिं विद्धि मामिकाम्
She is the supreme power, beyond qualities; you are endowed with qualities, and so am I. Know that the Sattvic power is my own power.
त्वन्नाभिकमलाद्ब्रह्मा भविष्यति प्रजापतिः । स कर्ता सर्वलोकस्य रजोगुणसमन्वितः
From the lotus of your navel, Brahmā will arise as the lord of creatures; he will be the creator of all worlds, endowed with the quality of rajas.
स तदा तप आस्थाय प्राप्य शक्तिमनुत्तमाम् । रजसा रक्तवर्णञ्च करिष्यति जगत्त्रयम्
Then, engaging in austerity and obtaining the supreme power, he will, with rajas, take on a red form and create the three worlds.
सगुणान्पञ्चभूतांश्च समुत्पाद्य महामतिः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियेशांश्च मनःपूर्वान्समन्ततः
That great-minded one, producing the qualities and the five elements, as well as the senses, their presiding deities, and the mind in due order everywhere—
करिष्यति ततः सर्गं तेन कर्ता स उच्यते । विश्वस्यास्य महाभाग त्वं वै पालयिता तथा
—will then accomplish creation; therefore, he is called the creator. O highly fortunate one, you indeed are the protector of this universe.
तद्भुवोर्मध्यदेशाच्च क्रोधाद्रुद्रो भविष्यति । तपः कृत्वा महाघोरं प्राप्य शक्तिं तु तामसीम्
From the middle region of the earth, out of anger, Rudra will arise; performing terrible austerity and obtaining the tamasic power—
कल्पान्ते सोऽपि संहर्ता भविष्यति महामते । तेनाहं त्वामुपायाता सात्त्विकीं त्वमवेहि माम्
—at the end of the kalpa, he too, O wise one, will become the destroyer. Therefore, I have come to you; know me as the sattvic one.
स्थास्येऽहं त्वत्समीपस्था सदाहं मधुसूदन । हृदये ते कृतावासा भवामि सततं किल
I shall always remain near you, O Madhusudana; I will eternally dwell in your heart.
विष्णुरुवाच श्लोकस्यार्धं मया पूर्वं श्रुतं देवि स्फुटाक्षरम् । तत्केनोक्तं वरारोहे रहस्यं परमं शिवम्
Viṣṇu said: I have previously heard half of this verse, O Goddess, clearly and distinctly; by whom was this supreme and auspicious secret spoken, O beautiful one?
तन्मे ब्रूहि वरारोहे संशयोऽयं वरानने । निर्धनो हि यथा द्रव्यं तत्स्मरामि पुनः पुनः
Tell me this, O beautiful one; I am uncertain, O lovely-faced one. Just as a poor man remembers wealth, so do I recall it again and again.