अनृतं साहसं माया मूर्खत्वमतिलोभता । अशौचं निर्दयत्वं च स्त्रीणां दोषाः स्वभावजाः
Falsehood, recklessness, deceit, foolishness, excessive greed, impurity, and cruelty—these are faults naturally found in women.
सशीर्षं वासुदेवं तं करोम्यद्य यथा पुरा । शिरोऽस्य शापयोगेन निमग्नं लवणाम्बुधौ
Today I will restore Vāsudeva with his head, just as before; by the effect of a curse, his head was submerged in the salt ocean.
अन्यच्च कारणं किञ्चिद्वर्तते सुरसत्तमाः । भवतां च महत्कार्यं भविष्यति न संशयः
Moreover, O best of the gods, there is another reason; a great task awaits you all, without doubt.
पुरा दैत्यो महाबाहुर्हयग्रीवोऽतिविश्रुतः । तपश्चक्रे सरस्वत्यास्तीरे परमदारुणम्
Long ago, there was a renowned demon named Hayagrīva, mighty-armed, who performed severe austerities on the bank of the Sarasvatī.
जपन्नेकाक्षरं मन्त्रं मायाबीजात्मकं मम । निराहारो जितात्मा च सर्वभोगविवर्जितः
Reciting my one-syllabled mantra, the seed of all magic, he remained without food, self-controlled, and free from all enjoyments.
ध्यायन्मां तामसीं शक्तिं सर्वभूषणभूषिताम् । एवं वर्षसहस्रं च तपश्चक्रेऽतिदारुणम्
Meditating on me as the dark power, adorned with all ornaments, he performed extremely severe austerities for a thousand years.
तदाहं तामसं रूपं कृत्वा तत्र समागता । दर्शने पुरतस्तस्य ध्यातं तत्तेन यादृशम्
Then I assumed a dark form and appeared there, manifesting before him just as he had envisioned in his meditation.
सिंहोपरि स्थिता तत्र तमवोचं दयान्विता । वरं ब्रूहि महाभाग ददामि तव सुव्रत
Standing there upon a lion, I spoke to him with compassion: 'Ask for a boon, O highly fortunate one; I will grant you, O steadfast one.'
इति श्रुत्वा वचो देव्या दानवः प्रेमपूरितः । प्रदक्षिणां प्रणामं च चकार त्वरितस्तदा
Hearing the goddess's words, the demon, filled with love, quickly performed circumambulation and prostration.
दृष्ट्वा रूपं मदीयं स प्रेमोस्फुल्लविलोचनः । हर्षाश्रुपूर्णनयनस्तुष्टाव स च मां तदा
Seeing my form, his eyes blossoming with devotion, his eyes brimming with tears of joy, he praised me at that moment.
हयग्रीव उवाच नमो देव्यै महामाये सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणि । भक्तानुग्रहचतुरे कामदे मोक्षदे शिवे
Hayagrīva said: 'Salutations to the Goddess, the great enchantress, who creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe; skillful in blessing devotees, granter of desires and liberation, auspicious one.'
धराम्बुतेजःपवनखपञ्चानां च कारणम् । त्वं गन्धरसरूपाणां कारणं स्पर्शशब्दयोः
You are the cause of earth, water, fire, air, and ether; you are the cause of the forms of the Gandharvas, and of touch and sound.
घ्राणं च रसना चक्षुस्त्वक्श्रोत्रमिन्द्रियाणि च । कर्मेन्द्रियाणि चान्यानि त्वत्तः सर्वं महेश्वरि
The nose, tongue, eyes, skin, ears—the senses—and the organs of action, O great goddess, all arise from you.
देव्युवाच किं तेऽभीष्टं वरं ब्रूहि वाञ्छितं यद्ददामि तत् । परितुष्टास्मि भक्त्या ते तपसा चाद्भुतेन च
The Goddess said: 'Tell me what boon you desire; whatever you wish, I will grant it. I am pleased with your devotion and your wondrous austerity.'
हयग्रीव उवाच यथा मे मरणं मातर्न भवेत्तत्तथा कुरु । भवेयममरो योगी तथाजेयः सुरासुरैः
Hayagrīva said: 'Mother, let death not come to me; let it be so. May I be immortal, a yogi, and unconquerable by gods and demons.'
देव्युवाच जातस्य हि ध्रुवं मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । मर्यादा चेदृशी लोके भवेच्च कथमन्यथा
The Goddess said: 'For one who is born, death is certain; for one who has died, birth is certain. Such is the order in the world—how can it be otherwise?'
एवं त्वं निश्चयं कृत्वा मरणे राक्षसोत्तम । वरं वरय चेष्टं ते विचार्य मनसा किल
Therefore, O best of demons, having resolved thus about death, choose another boon you desire, after considering in your mind.
हयग्रीव उवाच हयग्रीवाच्च मे मृत्युर्नान्यस्माज्जगदम्बिके । इति मे वाञ्छितं कामं पूरयस्व मनोगतम्
Hayagrīva said: 'O Mother of the world, let my death come only from one named Hayagrīva, and from no other. Fulfill this wish that is in my heart.'
देव्युवाच गृहं गच्छ महाभाग कुरु राज्यं यथासुखम् । हयग्रीवादृते मृत्युर्न ते नूनं भविष्यति
The Goddess spoke: Go home, O greatly fortunate one, and rule your kingdom as you please. Except for Hayagriva, surely death will not come to you.
इति दत्त्वा वरं तस्मा अन्तर्धानं गता तथा । मुदं परमिकां प्राप्य सोऽपि स्वभवनं गतः
Having granted him this boon, she vanished from sight. Filled with supreme joy, he too returned to his own house.
स पीडयति दुष्टात्मा मुनीन् वेदांश्च सर्वशः । न कोऽपि विद्यते तस्य हन्ताद्य भुवनत्रये
That wicked soul torments the sages and the Vedas in every way; today, in the three worlds, there is no one who can slay him.
तस्माच्छीर्षं हयस्यास्य समुद्धृत्य मनोहरम् । देहेऽत्र विशिरोविष्णोस्त्वष्टा संयोजयिष्यति
Therefore, the head of this horse, beautiful to behold, will be taken and joined to the body of Vishnu by Tvashta.
हयग्रीवोऽथ भगवान्हनिष्यति तमासुरम् । पापिष्ठं दानवं क्रूरं देवानां हितकाम्यया
Then the blessed Hayagriva will slay that demon, the most sinful and cruel Danava, desiring the welfare of the gods.
सूत उवाच एवं सुरांस्तदाभाष्य शर्वाणी विरराम ह । देवास्तदातिसन्तुष्टास्तमूचुर्देवशिल्पिनम्
Suta said: Having thus addressed the gods, Sharvani became silent. The gods, exceedingly pleased, then spoke to the divine artisan.
देवा ऊचुः कुरु कार्यं सुराणां वै विष्णोः शीर्षाभियोजनम् । दानवप्रवरं दैत्यं हयग्रीवो हनिष्यति
The gods said: Perform the task for the gods—join the horse's head to Vishnu. Hayagriva will slay the foremost Daitya, the Danava.
सूत उवाच इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां त्वष्टा चातित्वरान्वितः । वाजिशीर्षं चकर्ताशु खड्गेन सुरसन्निधौ
Suta said: Hearing their words, Tvashta, filled with great haste, swiftly cut off the horse's head with a sword in the presence of the gods.
विष्णोः शरीरे तेनाशु योजितं वाजिमस्तकम् । हयग्रीवो हरिर्जातो महामायाप्रसादतः
That horse's head was quickly joined to Vishnu's body; by the grace of the great Maya, Hari became Hayagriva.
कियता तेन कालेन दानवो मददर्पितः । निहतस्तरसा संख्ये देवानां रिपुरोजसा
Within a short time, that Danava, intoxicated with pride, was slain with force in battle by the power of the gods' enemy.
य इदं शुभमाख्यानं शृण्वन्ति भुवि मानवाः । सर्वदुःखविनिर्मुक्तास्ते भवन्ति न संशयः
Those people on earth who listen to this auspicious narrative become freed from all suffering—there is no doubt.
महामायाचरित्रञ्च पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । पठतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वसम्पत्तिकारकम्
The story of the great Maya is pure and destroys sin; for those who recite or listen to it, it brings all prosperity.