विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतौ दानवौ मधुकैटभौ । महाबलौ च तौ दैत्यौ विवृद्धौ सागरे जले
From the earwax of Viṣṇu arose the two Dānavas, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, great in might, who grew in the waters of the ocean.
क्रीडमानौ स्थितौ तत्र विचरन्तावितस्ततः । तावेकदा महाकायौ क्रीडासक्तौ महार्णवे
There, those two, of great bodies, remained playing and wandering in the vast ocean, absorbed in their sport.
चिन्तामवापतुश्चित्ते भ्रातराविव संस्थितौ । नाकारणं भवेत्कार्यं सर्वत्रैषा परम्परा
Then, like brothers, they came to ponder in their minds: 'Nothing happens without cause; this is the universal rule.'
आधेयं तु विनाधारं न तिष्ठति कथञ्चन । आधाराधेयभावस्तु भाति नो चित्तगोचरः
Without a support, the supported cannot exist in any way; the relationship of support and supported does not appear to the mind.
क्व तिष्ठति जलं चेदं सुखरूपं सुविस्तरम् । केन सृष्टं कथं जातं मग्नावावाञ्जले स्थितौ
Where does this pleasant, expansive water exist? By whom was it created, and how did it come to be? Immersed in it, how do we remain afloat?
आवां वा कथमुत्पन्नौ केन वोत्पादितावुभौ । पितरौ क्वेति विज्ञानं नास्ति कामं तथावयोः
And how were we two born, and by whom were both of us produced? Where are our parents? We truly have no knowledge of this.
सूत उवाच एवं कामयमानौ तौ जग्मतुर्न विनिश्चयम् । उवाच कैटभस्तत्र मधुं पार्श्वे स्थितं जले
Sūta said: Thus, as the two desired to know, they could not reach a conclusion. Then, there, Kaiṭabha spoke to Madhu, who was standing nearby in the water.
कैटभ उवाच मधो वामत्र सलिले स्थातुं शक्तिर्महाबला । वर्तते भ्रातरचला कारणं सा हि मे मता
Kaiṭabha said: Madhu, in this water, the power to remain is due to a great and unshakable force. Brother, that is what I consider to be the cause.
तया ततमिदं तोयं तदाधारं च तिष्ठति । सा एव परमा देवी कारणञ्च तथावयोः
By her this water is pervaded, and she is its support. She alone is the supreme Goddess and likewise the cause of us both.
एवं विबुध्यमानौ तौ चिन्ताविष्टौ यदासुरौ । तदाकाशे श्रुतं ताभ्यां वाग्बीजं सुमनोहरम्
As those two demons thus became aware, filled with thought, at that moment they heard in the sky a seed-syllable, most delightful to the mind.
गृहीतं च ततस्ताभ्यां तस्याभ्यासो दृढः कृतः । तदा सौदामनी दृष्टा ताभ्यां खे चोत्थिता शुभा
Then, having taken hold of it, the two practiced it with firm repetition. At that time, they saw a radiant flash, auspicious, rising in the sky.
ताभ्यां विचारितं तत्र मन्त्रोऽयं नात्र संशयः । तथा ध्यानमिदं दृष्टं गगने सगुणं किल
There, the two considered: 'This is indeed a mantra, there is no doubt.' In the same way, they saw this meditation in the sky, endowed with qualities.
निराहारौ जितात्मानौ तन्मनस्कौ समाहितौ । बभूवतुर्विचिन्त्यैवं जपध्यानपरायणौ
Fasting, self-controlled, their minds absorbed and concentrated, the two became devoted solely to recitation and meditation, reflecting in this way.
एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु ताभ्यां तप्तं महत्तपः । प्रसन्ना परमा शक्तिर्जाता सा परमा तयोः
Thus, for a thousand years, the two performed great austerity. The supreme power became pleased and appeared before them in her highest form.
खिन्नौ तौ दानवौ दृष्ट्वा तपसे कृतनिश्चयौ । तयोरनुग्रहार्थाय वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
Seeing those two demons exhausted but resolute in their penance, for their blessing, a bodiless voice spoke.
वरं वां वाञ्छितं दैत्यौ ब्रूतं परमसम्मतम् । ददामि परितुष्टास्मि युवयोस्तपसा किल
O Daityas, ask for the boon you desire, whatever is most agreeable to you. I am satisfied with your austerity and will grant it.
सूत उवाच इति श्रुत्वा तु तां वाणीं दानवावूचतुस्तदा । स्वेच्छया मरणं देवि वरं नौ देहि सुव्रते
Sūta said: Hearing that voice, the two demons then spoke: 'O Devi, grant us this boon, O virtuous one: let us die only by our own will.'
वागुवाच वाञ्छितं मरणं दैत्यौ भवेद्वा मत्प्रसादतः । अजेयौ देवदैत्यैश्च भ्रातरौ नात्र संशयः
The voice said: By my grace, O Daityas, your desired death shall come only by your own wish. Among gods and demons, you two brothers will be invincible—of this there is no doubt.
सूत उवाच इति दत्तवरौ देव्या दानवौ मददर्पितौ । चक्रतुः सागरे क्रीडां यादोगणसमन्वितौ
Sūta said: Thus, having received the boon from the Goddess, the two demons, filled with pride, played in the ocean, accompanied by hosts of aquatic beings.
कालेन कियता विप्रा दानवाभ्यां यदृच्छया । दृष्टः प्रजापतिर्ब्रह्मा पद्मासनगतः प्रभुः
O Brahmins, after some time, by chance, the two demons saw Prajāpati Brahmā, the Lord, seated upon a lotus.
दृष्ट्वा तु मुदितावास्तां युद्धकामौ महाबलौ । तमूचतुस्तदा तत्र युद्धं नौ देहि सुव्रत
Seeing him, the two mighty and battle-eager demons became joyful. Then, there, they said to him: 'O virtuous one, grant us a fight.'
नोचेत्पद्मं परित्यज्य यथेष्टं गच्छ माचिरम् । यदि त्वं निर्बलश्चासि क्व योग्यं शुभमासनम्
Otherwise, abandoning the lotus, depart wherever you wish without delay. If you are powerless, what right have you to this auspicious seat?
वीरभोग्यमिदं स्थानं कातरोऽसि त्यजाशु वै । तयोरिति वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तामाप प्रजापतिः
This place is meant for heroes; why are you afraid? Leave at once! Hearing these words from them, the Lord of creatures became anxious.
दृष्ट्वा च बलिनौ वीरौ किं करोमीति तापसः । चिन्ताविष्टस्तदा तस्थौ चिन्तयन्मनसा तदा
Seeing those two powerful heroes, the ascetic thought, 'What should I do?' Immersed in worry, he stood there, pondering in his mind.
विष्णुप्रबोधः सूत उवाच तौ वीक्ष्य बलिनौ ब्रह्मा तदोपायानचिन्तयत् । सामदानभिदादींश्च युद्धान्तान्सर्वतन्त्रवित्
Sūta said: Seeing those two mighty ones, Brahmā then considered various means—conciliation, gifts, division, and force—as all-knowing in every method of ending conflict.
न जानेऽहं बलं नूनमेतयोर्वा यथातथम् । अज्ञाते तु बले कामं नैव युद्धं प्रशस्यते
I truly do not know the exact strength of these two; when the power is unknown, it is not wise to engage in battle.
स्तुतिं करोमि चेदद्य दुष्टयोर्मदमत्तयोः । प्रकाशितं भवेन्नूनं निर्बलत्वं मया स्वयम्
If I offer praise today to these two wicked, intoxicated beings, my own weakness will surely be revealed.
वधिष्यति तदैकोऽपि निर्बलत्वे प्रकाशिते । दानं नैवाद्य योग्यं वा भेदः कार्यो मया कथम्
If my weakness is exposed, then one of them will kill me; neither gifts nor alliances are suitable now—how can I create division between them?
विष्णुं प्रबोधयाम्यद्य शेषे सुप्तं जनार्दनम् । चतुर्भुजं महावीर्यं दुःखहा स भविष्यति
Today I will awaken Viṣṇu, Janārdana, who sleeps on Śeṣa, the four-armed one of great might; he will be the remover of this distress.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा पद्मनालगतोऽब्जजः । जगाम शरणं विष्णुं मनसा दुःखनाशकम्
Thinking thus in his mind, the lotus-born Brahmā, seated on the lotus, sought refuge in Viṣṇu, the destroyer of sorrow, with his thoughts.