गौतमस्य तथेन्द्रेण जानता धर्मनिश्चयम् । गुरुणानुजभार्या च भुक्ता गर्भवती बलात्
—so too Gautama's wife by Indra, who knew well the determination of dharma; and the wife of the guru's younger brother was forcibly enjoyed and became pregnant—
शप्तो गर्भगतो बालः कृतश्चान्धस्तथा पुनः । विष्णुना च शिरश्छिन्नं राहोश्चक्रेण वै बलात्
—the child in the womb was cursed and became blind as well; and Vishnu, by force, cut off Rahu's head with his discus—
अपराधं विना कामं तदा सत्त्ववताम्बिके । पौत्रो धर्मवतां शूरः सत्यव्रतपरायणः
—without any fault, O Ambika, even the virtuous have acted thus; the grandson of the righteous, a hero devoted to truth—
यज्वा दानपतिः शान्तः सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजकः । कृत्वाथ वामनं रूपं हरिणा छलवेदिना
—a sacrificer, lord of gifts, peaceful, all-knowing, worshipper of all—assuming the form of Vamana, Hari, by deceit—
वञ्चितोऽसौ बलिः सर्वं हृतं राज्यं पुरा किल । तथापि देवान्धर्मस्थान्प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
—cheated Bali, and took away all his kingdom in ancient times; yet, the wise still call the gods the upholders of dharma.
वदन्ति चाटुवादांश्च धर्मवादाज्जयं गताः । एवं ज्ञात्वा जगन्मातर्यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
And those who have gained victory by clever words are also called speakers of dharma; thus, O Mother of the world, knowing this, act as you wish.
शरणा दानवाः सर्वे जहि वा रक्ष वा पुनः । श्रीदेव्युवाच सर्वे गच्छत पातालं तत्र वासं यथेप्सितम्
All the demons have taken refuge—slay them or protect them as you will. (Śrī Devī said:) All of you go to Pātāla and dwell there as you desire.
कुरुध्वं दानवाः सर्वे निर्भया गतमन्यवः । कालः प्रतीक्ष्यो युष्माभिः कारणं स शुभेऽशुभे
All you demons, live there without fear or anger; you must wait for the appointed time, for that is the cause of good or evil.
सुनिर्वेदपराणां हि सुखं सर्वत्र सर्वदा । त्रैलोक्यस्य च राज्येऽपि न सुखं लोभचेतसाम्
For those who are wholly detached, happiness is everywhere and always; but not even in the sovereignty of the three worlds is there happiness for the greedy.
कृतेऽपि न सुखं पूर्णं सस्पृहाणां फलैरपि । तस्मात्त्यक्त्वा महीमेतां प्रयान्त्वद्य महीतलम्
Even when obtained, there is no complete happiness for those with desires, even with the fruits; therefore, leaving this earth, go now to the lower world.
ममाज्ञां पुरतः कृत्वा सर्वे विगतकल्मषाः । व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं देव्यास्तथेत्युक्त्वा रसातलम्
Having placed my command before you, all of you, purified of sin— (Vyāsa said:) Hearing the words of the Goddess, saying 'So be it,' they went to Rasātala—
प्रणम्य दानवाः सर्वे गताः शक्त्याभिरक्षिताः । अन्तर्दधे ततो देवी देवाः स्वभुवनं गताः
—having bowed, all the demons went, protected by the Goddess's power; then the Goddess disappeared, and the gods returned to their own realms.
त्यक्त्वा वैरं स्थिताः सर्वे ते तदा देवदानवाः । एतदाख्यानमखिलं यः शृणोति वदत्यथ
At that time, all the gods and demons stood together, having abandoned enmity; whoever hears or recites this entire narration—
सर्वदुःखविनिर्मुक्तः प्रयाति पदमुत्तमम्
—becomes free from all suffering and attains the highest state.
हरेर्नानावतारवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच भृगुशापान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः । अवताराः कथं जाताः कस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे विभो
Description of the various incarnations of Hari. Janamejaya said: O best of sages, due to the curse of Bhrigu, how did the wondrously active Hari take incarnations, and in which Manvantara, O Lord?
विस्तराद्वद धर्मज्ञ अवतारकथा हरेः । पापनाशकरीं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रुतां सर्वसुखावहाम्
O knower of dharma, tell in detail the stories of Hari's incarnations, O Brahman, which destroy sin and bring all happiness when heard.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि अवतारान् हरेर्यथा । यस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे जाता युगे यस्मिन्नराधिप
Vyasa said: Hear, O King, I will declare to you the incarnations of Hari—when and in which Manvantara and age they appeared among men.
येन रूपेण यत्कार्यं कृतं नारायणेन वै । तत्सर्वं नृप वक्ष्यामि संक्षेपेण तवाधुना
In what form, for what purpose, and by Narayana, whatever was accomplished—I will now briefly tell you all of that, O King.
धर्मस्यैवावतारोऽभूच्चाक्षुषे मनुसम्भवे । नरनारायणौ धर्मपुत्रौ ख्यातौ महीतले
Indeed, the incarnation of dharma occurred in the Cakshusha Manvantara; Nara and Narayana, famed as sons of Dharma, appeared on earth.
अथ वैवस्वताख्येऽस्मिन्द्वितीये तु युगे पुनः । दत्तात्रेयावतारोऽत्रेः पुत्रत्वमगमद्धरिः
Then, in this second age called Vaivasvata, Hari took birth as Dattatreya, the son of Atri.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा रुद्रस्त्रयोऽमी देवसत्तमाः । पुत्रत्वमगमन्देवास्तस्यात्रेर्भार्यया वृताः
Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra—these three supreme gods—became sons of Atri, chosen by his wife.
अनसूयात्रिपत्नी च सतीनामुत्तमा सती । यया सम्प्रार्थिता देवाः पुत्रत्वमगमंस्त्रयः
Anasuya, wife of Atri, was foremost among chaste women; by her request, the three gods became her sons.
ब्रह्माभूत्सोमरूपस्तु दत्तात्रेयो हरिः स्वयम् । दुर्वासा रुद्ररूपोऽसौ पुत्रत्वं ते प्रपेदिरे
Brahma became Soma in form, Dattatreya was Hari himself, and Durvasa was Rudra in form; thus, they attained sonship.
नृसिंहस्यावतारस्तु देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये । चतुर्थे तु युगे जातो द्विधारूपो मनोहरः
The incarnation of Narasimha took place for the fulfillment of the gods' purpose; in the fourth age, he appeared, wondrous in his dual form.
हिरण्यकशिपोः सम्यग्वधाय भगवान् हरिः । चक्रे रूपं नारसिंहं देवानां विस्मयप्रदम्
To slay Hiranyakashipu properly, the blessed Hari assumed the form of Narasimha, astonishing the gods.
बलेर्नियमनार्थाय श्रेष्ठे त्रेतायुगे तथा । चकार रूपं भगवान् वामनं कश्यपान्मुनेः
For the subjugation of Bali, in the excellent Treta Yuga, the blessed Lord took the form of Vamana, born of the sage Kashyapa.
छलयित्वा मखे भूपं राज्यं तस्य जहार ह । पाताले स्थापयामास बलिं वामनरूपधृक्
Deceiving the king at the sacrifice, he took away his kingdom and placed Bali in the netherworld, assuming the form of Vamana.
युगे चैकोनविंशेऽथ त्रेताख्ये भगवान् हरिः । जमदग्निसुतो जातो रामो नाम महाबलः
Then, in the nineteenth age called Treta, the blessed Hari was born as Rama, son of Jamadagni, mighty in strength.
क्षत्रियान्तकरः श्रीमान्सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । दत्तवान्मेदिनीं कृत्स्नां कश्यपाय महात्मने
He, glorious, destroyer of Kshatriyas, truthful, and self-controlled, gave the entire earth to the great soul Kashyapa.
यो वै परशुरामाख्यो हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः । अवतारस्तु राजेन्द्र कथितः पापनाशनः
This incarnation of Hari, famed as Parashurama and wondrous in deeds, has been told to you, O king, as a destroyer of sin.