अहो गगनमार्गोऽपि रुध्यते चातिविस्मयः । प्रायः शूरो न किं कुर्यादुत्पथे वर्त्मनि स्थितः
'Ah, even the path of the sky is obstructed—how astonishing! Truly, what would a hero not do when he stands on a forbidden path?'
निरुद्धो नो वाजिमार्गो दैवं हि बलवत्तरम् । राहुबाहुग्रहव्यग्रो यः क्षणं नावतिष्ठते
'My path for the horses is blocked; fate is indeed stronger. Even Rahu, eager to seize, does not remain for a moment.'
स चिरं रुद्धमार्गोऽपि किं करोति विधिर्बली । एवं च मार्गे संरुद्धे लोकाः सर्वे च सेश्वराः
'Even if the path is blocked for a long time, what can a powerful destiny not do?' Thus, with the path obstructed, all the worlds along with their lords—'
नान्वविन्दन्त शरणं कर्तव्यं नान्वपद्यत । चित्रगुप्तादयः सर्वे कालं जानन्ति सूर्यतः
—'could not find any refuge or course of action. All, including Citragupta, know time by the Sun.'
संरुद्धो विन्ध्यगिरिणा अहो दैवविपर्ययः । यदा निरुद्धः सविता गिरिणा स्पर्धया तदा
'Obstructed by Vindhya mountain—what a reversal of fate! When the Sun was blocked by the mountain out of rivalry—'
नष्टः स्वाहास्वधाकारो नष्टप्रायमभूज्जगत् । एवं च पाश्चिमा लोका दाक्षिणात्यास्तथैव च
'The utterance of svāhā and svadhā was lost, and the world nearly perished. Thus, the western and southern regions—'
निद्रामीलितचक्षुष्का निशामेव प्रपेदिरे । प्राञ्चस्तथोत्तराहाश्च तीक्ष्णतापप्रतापिताः
—'with eyes closed in sleep, entered into night; while the eastern and northern regions were scorched by intense heat.'
मृता नष्टाश्च भग्नाश्च विनाशमभजन् प्रजाः । हाहाभूतं जगत्सर्वं स्वधाकव्यविवर्जितम् । देवाः सेन्द्राः समुद्विग्नाः किं कुर्म इतिवादिनः
'Creatures died, were lost, destroyed, and perished. The whole world became filled with lamentation, deprived of offerings to ancestors and gods. The gods, with Indra, were greatly disturbed, saying, "What shall we do?"'
रुद्रप्रार्थनम् सूत उवाच ततः सर्वे सुरगणा महेन्द्रप्रमुखास्तदा । पद्मयोनिं पुरस्कृत्य रुद्रं शरणमन्वयुः
Sūta said: Then all the hosts of gods, led by Mahendra, approached Rudra for refuge, with the Lotus-born one at their head.
उपतस्थुः प्रणतिभिः स्तोत्रैश्चारुविभूतिभिः । देवदेवं गिरिशयं शशिलोलितशेखरम्
They worshipped the Lord of gods, the Dweller on the Mountain, adorned with the crescent moon, with reverent bows, hymns, and splendid praises.
देववा ऊचुः जय देव गणाध्यक्ष उमालालितपङ्कज । अष्टसिद्धिविभूतीनां दात्रे भक्तजनाय ते
The gods said: Victory to you, O Lord, Chief of the Gaṇas, whose lotus is cherished by Umā, Giver of the eight supernatural powers and glories to your devotees.
महामायाविलसितस्थानाय परमात्मने । वृषाङ्कायामरेशाय कैलासस्थितिशालिने
To you who dwell in the play of the great Māyā, Supreme Self, Bull-bannered Lord of the immortals, who abides on Kailāsa.
अहिर्बुध्न्याय मान्याय मनवे मानदायिने । अजाय बहुरूपाय स्वात्मारामाय शम्भवे
To Ahibudhnya, the Venerable One, the Giver of honor to Manu, the Unborn, of many forms, who delights in his own Self, to Śambhu.
गणनाथाय देवाय गिरिशाय नमोऽस्तु ते । महाविभूतिदात्रे ते महाविष्णुस्तुताय च
Salutations to you, Lord of the Gaṇas, God, Lord of the Mountain; Giver of great powers, praised by Mahāviṣṇu.
विष्णुहृत्कञ्जवासाय महायोगरताय च । योगगम्याय योगाय योगिनां पतये नमः
Who dwells in the lotus of Viṣṇu’s heart, devoted to supreme yoga, attainable through yoga, the very essence of yoga, Lord of yogins—salutations.
योगीशाय नमस्तुभ्यं योगानां फलदायिने । दीनदानपरायापि दयासागरमूर्तये
Salutations to you, Lord of yogins, Giver of the fruits of yoga; even to those devoted to giving to the distressed, you are the embodiment of the ocean of compassion.
आर्तिप्रशमनायोग्रवीर्याय गुणमूर्तये । वृषध्वजाय कालाय कालकालाय ते नमः
To you who dispel suffering, of fierce power, embodiment of virtues, Bull-bannered, Time itself, and the ender of Time—salutations.
सूत उवाच एवं स्तुतः स देवेशो यज्ञभुग्भिर्वृषध्वजः । प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा प्रहसन्विबुधर्षभान्
Sūta said: Thus praised by the sacrificers, the Lord of gods, Bull-bannered, spoke with deep voice, smiling at the best of the gods.
श्रीभगवानुवाच प्रसन्नोऽहं दिविषदः स्तोत्रेणोत्तमपूरुषाः । मनोरथं पूरयामि सर्वेषां देवतर्षभाः
The Blessed Lord said: I am pleased, O gods, O best among men, by this hymn; I will fulfill the desire of you all, O foremost of the gods.
देवा ऊचुः सर्वदेवेश गिरिश शशिमौलिविराजित । आर्तानां शङ्करस्त्वं च शं विधेहि महाबल
The gods said: Lord of all gods, Lord of the Mountain, radiant with the crescent moon, you are the remover of distress—grant us well-being, O mighty one.
पर्वतो विन्ध्यनामास्ति मेरुद्वेष्टा महोन्नतः । भानुमार्गनिरोद्धा हि सर्वेषां दुःखदोऽनघ
There is a mountain named Vindhya, encircler of Meru, towering high; he obstructs the path of the sun and brings suffering to all, O sinless one.
तदवृद्धिं स्तम्भयेशान सर्वकल्याणकृद्भव । भानुसञ्चाररोधेन कालज्ञानं कथं भवेत्
O Lord, do you restrain his growth, be the doer of all good; if the sun’s course is blocked, how will the reckoning of time remain?
नष्टे स्वाहास्वधाकारे लोके कः शरणं भवेत् । अस्माकं च भयार्तानां भवानेव हि दृश्यते
If the forms of svāhā and svadhā are lost, who will be the refuge in the world? And for us, distressed by fear, you alone are seen as protector.
दुःखनाशकरो देव प्रसीद गिरिजापते । श्रीशिव उवाच नास्माकं शक्तिरस्तीह तद्वृद्धिस्तम्भने सुराः
O God, destroyer of suffering, be gracious, Lord of Girijā. Śiva said: We do not have the power here, O gods, to restrain his growth.
इममेवं वदिष्यामो भगवन्तं रमाधवम् । सोऽस्माकं प्रभुरात्मा च पूज्यः कारणरूपधृक्
We shall speak thus to the Blessed Lord, Rāmādhava; he is our master, our very self, worthy of worship, the embodiment of the cause.
गोविन्दो भगवान्विष्णुः सर्वकारणकारणः । तं गत्वा कथयिष्यामः स दुःखान्तो भविष्यति
Govinda, the Blessed Viṣṇu, is the cause of all causes; going to him, we will tell him, and the end of our suffering will come.
इत्येवमाकर्ण्य गिरीशभाषितं देवाश्च सेन्द्राः सपयोजसम्भवाः । रुद्रं पुरस्कृत्य च वेपमाना वैकुण्ठलोकं प्रतिजग्मुरञ्जसा
Hearing thus the words of the Lord of the Mountain, the gods, along with Indra and the lotus-born Brahma, trembling and led by Rudra, swiftly went to the world of Vaikuntha.
श्रीविष्णुना देवेभ्यो वरप्रदानम् सूत उवाच ते गत्वा देवदेवेशं रमानाथं जगद्गुरुम् । विष्णुं कमलपत्राक्षं ददृशुः प्रभयान्वितम्
Sūta said: Having gone to the Lord of Lords, the husband of Lakshmi, the teacher of the world, the gods beheld Vishnu, lotus-eyed and radiant.
स्तोत्रेण तुष्टुवुर्भक्त्या गद्गदस्वरसत्कृताः । देवा ऊचुः जय विष्णो रमेशाद्य महापुरुष पूर्वज
With voices choked with devotion, they praised him with a hymn. The gods said: Victory to you, O Vishnu, Lord of Lakshmi, primeval Great Person!
दैत्यारे कामजनक सर्वकामफलप्रद । महावराह गोविन्द महायज्ञस्वरूपक
Enemy of the demons, source of desire, bestower of all desired fruits, Great Boar, Govinda, embodiment of the great sacrifice!