मही चापि महीयस्त्वाद्धृता सा शेषमस्तके । गिरयश्च कृताः सर्वे धारणार्थ प्रविस्तराः
That earth, being the greatest, is borne on the head of Shesha; and all the mountains were made, broad and vast, for the purpose of support.
लोहकीलं यथा काष्ठे तथा ते गिरयः कृताः । महीधरो महाराज प्रोच्यते विबुधैर्जनैः
Just as iron pegs are fixed in wood, so were those mountains made; the great mountain is called Mahīdhara by the wise and by people.
जातरूपमयो मेरुर्बहुयोजनविस्तरः । कृतो मणिमयैः शृङ्गैः शोभितः परमाद्भुतः
Mount Meru, made of gold and stretching many yojanas, was created, adorned with peaks of precious gems, wondrous to behold.
मरीचिर्नारदोऽत्रिश्च पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः । दक्षो वसिष्ठ इत्येते ब्रह्मणः प्रथिताः सुताः
Marichi, Narada, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Daksha, and Vasishta—these are the renowned sons of Brahma.
मरीचेः कश्यपो जातो दक्षकन्यास्त्रयोदश । ताभ्यो देवाश्च दैत्याश्च समुत्पन्ना ह्यनेकशः
From Marichi was born Kashyapa; and from the thirteen daughters of Daksha, many gods and demons were born.
ततस्तु काश्यपी सृष्टिः प्रवृत्ता चातिविस्तरा । मनुष्यपशुसर्पादिजातिभेदैरनेकधा
Then, from Kashyapa, an exceedingly vast creation arose, consisting of many kinds—humans, animals, serpents, and others of various species.
ब्रह्मणश्चार्धदेहात्तु मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽभवत् । शतरूपा तथा नारी सञ्जाता वामभागतः
From half the body of Brahma was born Manu, called Svayambhuva; and a woman, Shatarupa, was produced from his left side.
प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ सुतौ तस्या बभूवतुः । तिस्त्रः कन्या वरारोहा ह्यभवन्नतिसुन्दरीः
To them were born two sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada; and three daughters of excellent beauty, all exceedingly lovely.
एवं सृष्टिं समुत्पाद्य भगवान्कमलोद्भवः । चकार ब्रह्मलोकञ्च मेरुशृङ्गे मनोहरम्
Thus, having brought forth creation, the Blessed One, born from the lotus, made the delightful world of Brahma on the summit of Meru.
वैकुण्ठं भगवान्विष्णू रमारमणमुत्तमम् । क्रीडास्थानं सुरम्यञ्च सर्वलोकोपरिस्थितम्
The Blessed Vishnu created Vaikuntha, the supreme abode of delight for Lakshmi, a most beautiful place of play, situated above all the worlds.
शिवोऽपि परमं स्थानं कैलासाख्यं चकार ह । समासाद्य भूतगणं विजहार यथारुचि
Śiva also established his supreme abode, known as Kailāsa, and, surrounded by hosts of spirits, he dwelled there as he pleased.
स्वर्गस्त्रिविष्टपो मेरुशिखरोपरि कल्पितः । तच्च स्थानं सुरेन्द्रस्य नानारत्नविराजितम्
Heaven, called Triviṣṭapa, was created atop the summit of Mount Meru; that place, adorned with many jewels, became the domain of the king of the gods.
समुद्रमथनात्प्राप्तः पारिजातस्तरुत्तमः । चतुर्दन्तस्तथा नागः कामधेनुश्च कामदा
From the churning of the ocean arose the supreme Pārijāta tree, the four-tusked elephant, the serpent, and Kāmadhenu, the wish-granting cow.
उच्चैःश्रवास्तथाश्वो वै रम्भाद्यप्सरसस्तथा । इन्द्रेणोपात्तमखिलं जातं वै स्वर्गभूषणम्
Uccaiḥśravā, the celestial horse, and Rambhā and other apsarases also appeared; all these were taken by Indra and became the ornaments of heaven.
धन्वन्तरिश्चन्द्रमाश्च सागराच्च समुद्बभौ । स्वर्गस्थितौ विराजेते देवौ बहुगणैर्वृतौ
Dhanvantari and the Moon also emerged from the ocean; these two gods, surrounded by many attendants, shine resplendently in heaven.
एवं सृष्टिः समुत्पन्ना त्रिविधा नृपसत्तम । देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्यादिभेदैर्विविधकल्पिता
Thus, O best of kings, the threefold creation arose, fashioned in various forms as gods, animals, humans, and others.
अण्डजाः स्वेदजाश्चैव चोद्भिज्जाश्च जरायुजाः । चतुर्भेदैः समुत्पन्ना जीवाः कर्मयुताः किल
Beings endowed with karma were born in four ways: from eggs, from sweat, from sprouts, and from wombs.
एवं सृष्टिं समासाद्य ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः । विहारं स्वेषु स्थानेषु चक्रुः सर्वे यथेप्सितम्
Having thus brought forth creation, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara each enjoyed themselves in their own abodes as they wished.
एवं प्रवर्तिते सर्गे भगवान्प्रभुरच्युतः । महालक्ष्म्या समं तत्र चिक्रीड भुवने स्वके
When creation was thus set in motion, the glorious, unchanging Lord sported there in his own world together with Mahālakṣmī.
एकस्मिन्समये विष्णुर्वैकुण्ठे संस्थितः पुरा । सुधासिन्धुस्थितं द्वीपं सस्मार मणिमण्डितम्
Once, long ago, Viṣṇu, residing in Vaikuṇṭha, remembered the jewel-adorned island situated in the ocean of nectar.
यत्र दृष्ट्वा महामायां मन्त्रश्चासादितः शुभः । स्मृत्वा तां परमां शक्तिं स्त्रीभावं गमितो यथा
There, having seen Mahāmāyā and obtained a sacred mantra, he recalled that supreme power and was transformed into a feminine form.
यज्ञं कर्तुं मनश्चक्रे अम्बिकाया रमापतिः । उत्तीर्य भुवनात्तस्मात्समाहूय महेश्वरम्
Desiring to perform a sacrifice to Ambikā, the Lord of Lakṣmī left that world and summoned Maheśvara.
ब्रह्माणं वरुणं शक्रं कुबेरं पावकं यमम् । वसिष्ठं कश्यपं दक्षं वामदेवं बृहस्पतिम्
He invited Brahmā, Varuṇa, Śakra, Kubera, Pāvaka, Yama, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Dakṣa, Vāmadeva, and Bṛhaspati.
सम्भारं कल्पयामास यज्ञार्थं चातिविस्तरम् । महाविभवसंयुक्तं सात्त्विकञ्च मनोहरम्
He arranged for extensive materials for the sacrifice, endowed with great opulence, sattvic in nature, and captivating to the mind.
मण्डपं विततं तत्र कारयामास शिल्पिभिः । ऋत्विजो वरयामास सप्तविंशतिसुव्रतान्
There, he had a spacious pavilion constructed by artisans, and selected twenty-seven priests of excellent vows.
चितिञ्च कारयामास वेदीश्चैव सुविस्तराः । प्रजेपुर्ब्राह्मणा मन्त्रान्देव्या बीजसमन्वितान्
He had the altar and broad sacrificial platforms built; the Brāhmaṇas recited mantras of the Goddess, imbued with her seed syllables.
जुहुवुस्ते हविः कामं विधिवत्परिकल्पिते । कृते तु वितते होमे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
They offered the oblations as prescribed, with desire, into the well-prepared fire; when the sacrifice was completed and the fire established, a bodiless voice spoke.
विष्णुं तदा समाभाष्य सुस्वरा मधुराक्षरा । विष्णो त्वं भव देवानां हरे श्रेष्ठतमः सदा
Then, addressing Viṣṇu in sweet and melodious tones, the voice said: 'O Viṣṇu, always be the foremost among the gods, O Hari.'
मान्यश्च पूजनीयश्च समर्थश्च सुरेष्वपि । सर्वे त्वामर्चयिष्यन्ति ब्रह्माद्याश्च सवासवाः
You will be honored, worshipped, and capable even among the gods; all, including Brahma and Indra, will revere you.
प्रभविष्यन्ति भो भक्त्या मानवा भुवि सर्वतः । वरदस्त्वं च सर्वेषां भविता मानवेषु वै
O dear one, through devotion, humans everywhere on earth will become powerful; you will be the grantor of boons to all among mankind.