त्रेतायुगे रघोर्वंशे रामो दशरथात्मजः । नरनारायणांशौ द्वौ जातौ भुवि महाबलौ
In the Tretā age, in the lineage of Raghu, Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, was born; both he and his brother were portions of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, mighty on earth.
अष्टाविंशे युगे शस्तौ द्वापरेऽर्जुनशौरिणौ । धराभारावतारार्थं जातौ कृष्णार्जुनौ भुवि
In the twenty-eighth cycle, in the Dvāpara age, Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, the best of men, were born on earth for the purpose of relieving the burden of the world.
कृतवन्तौ महायुद्धं कुरुक्षेत्रेऽतिदारुणम् । एवं युगे युगे राजन्नवतारा हरेः किल
They fought a great and exceedingly fierce battle at Kurukṣetra; thus, O King, in every age, there are said to be incarnations of Hari.
भवन्ति बहवः कामं प्रकृतेरनुरूपतः । प्रकृतेरखिलं सर्वं वशमेतज्जगत्त्रयम्
Indeed, there are many such incarnations, according to the nature of Prakṛti; all of this threefold world is under the sway of Prakṛti.
यथेच्छति तथैवेयं भ्रामयत्यनिशं जगत् । पुरुषस्य प्रियार्थं सा रचयत्यखिलं जगत्
As she wishes, so does she ceaselessly turn this world; for the sake of her beloved Puruṣa, she creates the entire universe.
सृष्ट्वा पुरा हि भगवाञ्जगदेतच्चराचरम् । सर्वादिः सर्वगश्चासौ दुर्ज्ञेयः परमोऽव्ययः
Having created this world, both moving and unmoving, the Lord, who is the origin of all, who is all-pervading, who is difficult to know, supreme and imperishable—
निरालम्बो निराकारो निःस्पृहश्च परात्परः । उपाधितस्त्रिधा भाति यस्याः सा प्रकृतिः परा
He is without support, without form, without desire, the highest of the high; yet, through limiting adjuncts, he appears in threefold form—she is the supreme Prakṛti.
उत्पत्तिकालयोगात्सा भिन्ना भाति शिवा तदा । सा विश्वं कुरुते कामं सा पालयति कामदा
At the time of creation, by the conjunction of causes, she appears as distinct and auspicious; she creates the universe as she wishes, she is the fulfiller of desires and sustains it.
कल्पान्ते संहरत्येव त्रिरूपा विश्वमोहिनी । तया युक्तोऽसृज द्ब्रह्मा विष्णुः पाति तयान्वितः
At the end of the cycle, she withdraws everything, being three-formed and the deluder of the universe; united with her, Brahmā creates, Viṣṇu protects, endowed with her.
रुद्रः संहरते कामं तया सम्मिलितः शिवः । सा चैवोत्पाद्य काकुत्स्थं पुरा वै नृपसत्तमम्
Rudra, united with her, destroys as he wishes; she also, having produced Kakutstha, the foremost king of old—
कुत्रचित्स्थापयामास दानवानां जयाय च । एवमस्मिंश्च संसारे सुखदुःखान्विताः किल
Established him somewhere for the victory over the Dānavas; thus, in this world, all beings are indeed joined with happiness and sorrow.
भवन्ति प्राणिनः सर्वे विधितन्त्रनियन्त्रिताः
All living beings come to be, governed by the ordinance of fate.
नारायणवरदानम् जनमेजय उवाच वाराङ्गनास्त्वयाख्याता नरनारायणाश्रमे । एकं नारायणं शान्तं कामयाना स्मरातुराः
Janamejaya said: O revered one, you have described the women of the forest at the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa; desiring Nārāyaṇa alone, calm, they were overcome by love and passion.
शप्तुकामस्तदा जातो मुनिर्नारायणश्च ताः । निवारितो नरेणाथ भ्रात्रा धर्मविदा नृप
At that time, the sage Nārāyaṇa became intent on cursing them; but he was restrained by Nara, his brother, who knew righteousness, O King.
किं कृतं मुनिना तेन व्यसने समुपस्थिते । ताभिः संकल्पितेनाथ कामार्थाभिर्भृशं मुने
What did the sage do when those women, driven by desire, approached him in their distress, having resolved upon him for the sake of love?
शक्रेणोत्पादिताभिश्च बहुप्रार्थनया पुनः । याचितेन विवाहार्थं किं कृतं तेन जिष्णुना
And what did he do when, at Indra’s request and after much entreaty, they were again produced for the purpose of marriage, and were sought by Arjuna?
इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं तस्य मोक्षदम् । नारायणस्य मे ब्रूहि विस्तरेण पितामह
I wish to hear all this—the story of him who grants liberation; tell me in detail, O Pitāmaha, about Nārāyaṇa.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा तस्य महात्मनः । धर्मपुत्रस्य धर्मज्ञ विस्तरेण वदामि ते
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, I will tell you in detail the story of that great-souled one, the righteous son of Dharma.
शप्तुकामस्तु संदृष्टो नरेणाथ यदा हरिः । वारितोऽसौ समाश्वास्य मुनिर्नारायणस्तदा
When Hari was about to pronounce a curse and was seen by the man, the sage Nārāyaṇa restrained him, comforting him at that moment.
शान्तकोपस्तदोवाच तास्तपस्वी महामुनिः । स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं मधुरं धर्मनन्दनः
Then that great ascetic, the illustrious sage, his anger calmed, spoke these sweet words with a smile, O delight of Dharma.
अस्मिञ्जन्मनि चार्वंग्यः कृतसंकल्पवानहम् । आवाभ्याञ्च न कर्तव्यः सर्वथा दारसंग्रहः
In this very birth, O beautiful ones, I have resolved firmly; neither of us should in any way engage in taking a spouse.
तस्माद् गच्छन्तु त्रिदिवं कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि । धर्मज्ञा न प्रकुर्वन्ति व्रतभङ्गं परस्य वै
Therefore, show me your compassion and return to heaven; those who know righteousness do not break another's vow.
शृङ्गारेऽस्मिन् रसे नूनं स्थायीभावो रतिः स्मृतः । कथं करोमि सम्बन्धं तदभावे सुलोचनाः
In this rasa of love, the abiding sentiment is said to be passion; how can I form a union, O fair-eyed ones, in its absence?
कारणेन विना कार्यं न भवेदिति निश्चयः । कविभिः कथितं शास्त्रे स्थायीभावो रसः किल
It is certain that an effect does not arise without a cause; poets have declared in the scriptures that the abiding sentiment is indeed the rasa.
धन्यः सुचारुसर्वाङ्गः सभाग्योऽहं धरातले । प्रीतिपात्रं यतो जातो भवतीनामकृत्रिमम्
Blessed, most handsome in every limb, and fortunate am I on earth, for I have become the true object of your affection.
भवतीभिः कृपां कृत्वा रक्षणीयं व्रतं मम । भविष्यामि महाभागाः पतिरप्यन्यजन्मनि
By your grace, my vow must be protected; in another birth, O highly fortunate ones, I shall become your husband.
अष्टाविंशे विशालाक्ष्यो द्वापरेऽस्मिन्धरातले । देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं प्रभविष्यामि सर्वथा
In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara, O wide-eyed ones, I shall surely be born on earth for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose.
तदा भवत्यो मद्दाराः प्राप्य जन्म पृथक्पृथक् । भूपतीनां सुता भूत्वा पलीभावं गमिष्यथ
Then, you will each be born as my wives, becoming the daughters of kings, and will attain the state of consorts.
इत्याश्वास्य हरिस्तास्तु प्रतिश्रुत्य परिग्रहम् । व्यसर्जयत्स भगवाञ्जग्मुश्च विगतज्वराः
Thus reassuring them, Hari promised to accept them, and the Blessed One dismissed them; they departed, free from distress.
एवं विसर्जितास्तेन गताः स्वर्गं तदाङ्गनाः । शक्राय कथयामासुः कारणं सकलं पुनः
Thus dismissed by him, those women then went to heaven and told Indra the whole reason once again.