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.
तुष्टाव बोधनार्थं तं शुभैः सम्बोधनैर्हरिम् । नारायणं जगन्नाथं निस्पन्दं योगनिद्रया
To awaken him, he praised Hari with auspicious words—Nārāyaṇa, Lord of the universe, unmoving in yogic sleep.
ब्रह्मोवाच दीननाथ हरे विष्णो वामनोत्तिष्ठ माधव । भक्तार्तिहृद्धृषीकेश सर्वावास जगत्पते
Brahmā said: O Hari, Lord of the distressed, Viṣṇu, Vāmana, rise up, Mādhava! Remover of devotees' suffering, Hṛṣīkeśa, abode of all, Lord of the world!
अन्तर्यामिन्नमेयात्मन्वासुदेव जगत्पते । दुष्टारिनाशनैकाग्रचित्त चक्रगदाधर
Inner ruler, immeasurable self, Vāsudeva, Lord of the world, destroyer of the wicked, single-minded, wielder of the discus and mace!
सर्वज्ञ सर्वलोकेश सर्वशक्तिसमन्वित । उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ देवेश दुःखनाशन पाहि माम्
All-knowing, Lord of all worlds, endowed with all powers, arise, arise, O Lord of gods, destroyer of sorrow, protect me!
विश्वम्भर विशालाक्ष पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन । जगद्योने निराकार सर्गस्थित्यन्तकारक
Supporter of the universe, wide-eyed one, whose fame and praise are holy to hear, source of the world, formless one, cause of creation, preservation, and destruction!
इमौ दैत्यौ महाराज हन्तुकामौ मदोद्धतौ । न जानास्यखिलाधार कथं मां सङ्कटे गतम्
These two great demons, O King, eager to kill and maddened by pride, do you not know, O support of all, how I have come into distress?
उपेक्षसेऽतिदुःखार्तं यदि मां शरणं गतम् । पालकत्वं महाविष्णो निराधारं भवेत्ततः
If you neglect me, who am overwhelmed by great sorrow and have sought your refuge, O great Viṣṇu, then your role as protector will be without foundation.
एवं स्तुतोऽपि भगवान् न बुबोध यदा हरिः । योगनिद्रासमाक्रान्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा ह्यचिन्तयत्
Though thus praised, the Blessed Hari did not awaken, being overcome by yogic sleep; then Brahmā reflected.
नूनं शक्तिसमाक्रान्तो विष्णुर्निद्रावशं गतः । जजागार न धर्मात्मा किं करोम्यद्य दुःखितः
Surely Viṣṇu, seized by some power, has fallen under the sway of sleep and does not awaken, though righteous; what shall I do now, afflicted as I am?
हन्तुकामावुभौ प्राप्तौ दानवौ मदगर्वितौ । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि नास्ति मे शरणं क्वचित्
Both these demons, intoxicated with pride and eager to kill, have come; what shall I do, where shall I go? I have no refuge anywhere.
इति संचिन्त्य मनसा निश्चयं प्रतिपद्य च । तुष्टाव योगनिद्रां तामेकाग्रहृदयस्थितः
Having thus reflected in his mind and come to a decision, he praised Yoga-Nidrā, his heart fixed in single-pointed concentration.
विचार्य मनसाप्येवं शक्तिर्मे रक्षणे क्षमा । यया ह्यचेतनो विष्णुः कृतोऽस्ति स्पन्दवर्जितः
Considering thus in his mind: 'This power alone is capable of protection, by whom even the insentient Viṣṇu has been rendered motionless.'
व्यसुर्यथा न जानाति गुणाच्छब्दादिकानिह । तथा हरिर्न जानाति निद्रामीलितलोचनः
Just as one without life does not perceive qualities such as sound and the like, so too does Hari, his eyes closed in sleep, perceive nothing.
न जहाति यतो निद्रां बहुधा संस्तुतोऽप्यसौ । मन्ये नास्य वशे निद्रा निद्रयायं वशीकृतः
Though praised in many ways, he does not abandon sleep; I think sleep is not under his control—rather, he is subdued by sleep.
यो यस्य वशमापन्तः स तस्य किङ्करः किल । तस्माच्च योगनिद्रेयं स्वामिनी मापतेर्हरेः
Whoever falls under the power of another surely becomes that other's servant; therefore, this Yoga-Nidrā is the mistress of the lord Hari.
सिन्धुजाया अपि वशे यया स्वामी वशीकृतः । नूनं जगदिदं सर्वं भगवत्या वशीकृतम्
By whom even the lord of Lakṣmī, born of the ocean, is subdued—surely this entire world is brought under control by the Divine Lady.
अहं विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुः सावित्री च रमाप्युमा । सर्वे वयं वशे यस्या नात्र किञ्चिद्विचारणा
I, Viṣṇu, Śambhu, Sāvitrī, also Lakṣmī and Umā—all of us are under her power; there is no doubt about this.
हरिरप्यवशः शेते यथान्यः प्राकृतो जनः । ययाभिभूतः का वार्ता किलान्येषां महात्मनाम्
Even Hari lies powerless, just like any ordinary person; when he is overcome by her, what need is there to speak of other great souls?
स्तौम्यद्य योगनिद्रां वै यया मुक्तो जनार्दनः । घटयिष्यति युद्धे च वासुदेवः सनातनः
Today I praise Yoga-Nidrā, by whom Janārdana is released and the eternal Vāsudeva will accomplish battle.
इति कृत्वा मतिं ब्रह्मा पद्मनालस्थितस्तदा । तुष्टाव योगनिद्रां तां विष्णोरङ्गेषु संस्थिताम्
Having thus resolved, Brahmā, seated on the lotus stalk, then praised Yoga-Nidrā, who was abiding on the limbs of Viṣṇu.