Garuda Purana

अद्यैव पश्याम हरेस्तवास्यं कदा वयं कृत कृत्या भवामः । भोः केशवाद्यैव पदारविन्दं संदर्शयित्वा सुदयां कुरुष्व ॥ ३,२४.

Let us see the face of Hari today itself—when will we become fulfilled? O Keshava, show us Your lotus feet today and bestow Your great compassion.

ब्रह्माणमाहुश्च पुराणमाहुः कशब्दवाच्यं सर्वलोकेशमाहुः । ईशं चार्हं रुद्रमित्येव चाहुस्तत्प्रेरकं सृष्टिसंहारकार्ये ॥ ३,२४.

They call Him Brahma, they call Him the Ancient One, they call Him the Lord of all worlds, indicated by the syllable 'ka'; they also call Him Ishvara and Rudra, the one who directs creation and destruction.

अतो हरिः केशवनामधेयो भोः केशवेति च नर्तयन्तः । आनन्दवापीं संस्त्रवन्तोभि जग्मुर्नारायणेति प्रवदन्तो हि जग्मुः ॥ ३,२४.

Therefore, Hari is known by the name Keshava; as they danced, saying 'O Keshava,' they went to the Pool of Bliss, and, uttering 'Narayana,' they proceeded onward.

अतो दोषास्तद्विरुद्धा गुणाश्च नाराश्च तेषामाश्रयत्वान्मुरारिः । नारायणेति प्रवदन्तीह लोके नारानुबन्धात्सर्वमुक्ताः खगेन्द्र ॥ ३,२४.

Therefore, O king of birds, the faults opposed to Him and the virtues, as well as the souls who take refuge in Him, are all connected to Murari; in this world, people say 'Narayana' because of this connection with the souls, and all are liberated thereby.

नाराः प्रोक्ता आश्रयत्वाच्च तेषामतोपि नारायण एव वीन्द्र । मुक्ताश्च ये तु प्रपदंनु जग्मुरण्डोदकं यस्य कटाक्षमात्रात् ॥ ३,२४.

Because He is always the refuge of those souls, He is called Narayana, O king of birds; those who have attained liberation have reached His supreme abode, the cosmic waters, by merely a glance from Him.

यदुत्पन्नं तेन नाराः खगेन्द्र तेषां सदाप्याश्रयत्वाच्च वीन्द्र । नारायणेति प्रवदन्तीह लोके ह्यनन्तब्रह्माण्डविसर्जकत्वात् ॥ ३,२४.

O king of birds, those souls who were produced by Him are always sheltered by Him; thus, in this world, He is called Narayana, because He creates countless universes.

एवं ननृतुः परिशंसयन्तो गोविन्द नान्यो हि न चैव दर्शनम् । गोशब्दवाच्यास्तु समस्तवाचो गोभिश्च सर्वैः प्रतिपाद्यते यतः ॥ ३,२४.

Thus, praising Him, they danced, saying, 'There is no one else like Govinda, nor is there any other vision'; all words are denoted by the syllable 'go,' and everything is established by all the cows.

अतो हि गोविन्द इति स्मृतः सदा भो वेदवेद्येति तथा न ननृतुः । आनन्दबाष्पैश्च समन्विता हि हरे मुरारे तव दर्शनं हि ॥ ३,२४.

Therefore, He is always remembered as Govinda, O Lord, and as the one known through the Vedas; they danced thus, filled with tears of joy, O slayer of Mura, at the sight of You.

देहि प्रभो वै तवदासदासाश्चतुर्दशे भुवने सर्वदापि । यतस्त्वमेवं वसतीति वासुश्चात्रैव नित्यं क्रीडते सर्वदैव ॥ ३,२४.

Grant, O Lord, that in all the fourteen worlds, Your servants may always exist; for You, being thus, dwell here as Vasu and eternally play here at all times.

यतो देवेत्येवमाहुर्महान्तस्त्वतो हरिं वासुदेवेति चाहुः । भो वासुदेवेति ननृतुः सर्वदैव भो माधवेति ननृतुश्चैव सर्वे ॥ ३,२४.

Therefore, the great ones say, 'He is the god,' and thus they call Hari 'Vāsudeva.' O, 'Vāsudeva!'—so they always danced, and likewise, all danced saying, 'O Mādhava!'

लक्ष्मीपते चेति वदन्ति सर्वे धनीति शब्दः स्वाभिवाची यतो हि । अतोप्यार्या माधवेति ब्रुवन्ति लक्ष्मीपते पाहि तथैव भक्तान् ॥ ३,२४.

All call him 'Lord of Lakṣmī,' for the word 'wealth' truly refers to him. Therefore, noble ones address him as 'Mādhava.' O Lord of Lakṣmī, likewise protect your devotees.

ते वै ब्रुवन्तो ननृतुश्च जग्मुर्विष्णो सदास्मान्परिपाहि नित्यम् । सर्वत्र यस्माद्विततोसि तस्मादित्यादिनामानि गृणन्त एव । जग्मुश्च सर्वे ददृशुश्च तीर्थं भक्त्योपेताः श्रीनिवासं स्मरन्तः ॥ ३,२४.

While uttering these names and dancing, they went forth, always praying, 'O Viṣṇu, protect us always.' Because you are present everywhere, they continued reciting such names. All of them went, beheld the sacred place, and, filled with devotion, remembered Śrīnivāsa.

कन्योवाच । किं नामकं तीर्थमिदं मुनीन्द्र किं कार्यमत्र प्रवदास्मान्कृतीश । कस्मै प्रसन्नो भगवाञ्छ्रीनिवासस्त्वस्मिन्सुतीर्थं वद विस्तरेण ॥ ३,२४.

The maiden said: O revered sage, what is the name of this sacred place, and what should be done here? Tell us, O lord of the wise. For whom did the blessed Śrīnivāsa become pleased at this holy site? Please explain in detail.

जैगीषव्य उवाच । कन्ये शृणु त्वं ह्यभवत्सुबुद्धिमान्प्रह्रादसंज्ञो हरिभक्तवर्यः । निष्कामबुद्ध्या तु यदा जगाम शेषाचलस्थं श्रीनिवासं च द्रष्टुम् ॥ ३,२४.

Jaigīṣavya said: O maiden, listen. There was a most wise devotee of Hari named Prahlāda. With selfless intent, he went to see Śrīnivāsa, who dwells on Śeṣācala.

अस्मिंस्थले दैत्यकुमारकान्प्रति हरेश्च तत्त्वं परिपृष्टवान्प्रभुः । नृसिंहरूपं श्रीनिवासं भजस्व सुदुर्लभं मानुषं जन्म कन्ये ॥ ३,२४.

At this place, the lord questioned the sons of the Daityas about the true nature of Hari. O maiden, worship Śrīnivāsa in the form of Narasiṃha; human birth is exceedingly rare.

तत्रापि विष्णोर्नृहरे सुतत्त्वं सुदुर्लभं सुष्ठु यात्रा तथैव । यस्यां यात्रायां यत्र कुत्रापि देशे हरेः कथा वर्तते दैत्यवर्याः ॥ ३,२४.

Even there, the true essence of Viṣṇu as Narasiṃha is most difficult to attain, as is the pilgrimage itself. In whatever land that pilgrimage takes place, O best of Daityas, there the stories of Hari are recited.

तत्र स्थले हरिरास्ते सदैव यतो व्याप्तः सर्वतो वै नृसिंहः । एतच्छ्रुत्वा दैत्यकुमारकास्ते प्रह्लादमूचुर्भक्तवर्यं हरेश्च ॥ ३,२४.

At that place, Hari always abides, for Narasiṃha pervades all. Hearing this, the sons of the Daityas spoke to Prahlāda, the foremost devotee of Hari.

व्याप्तो हरिश्चेत्कथमत्र वै सखे न दृश्यते जलरूपी नृसिंहः । स एवमुक्तो दानवानां सुतैश्च तुष्टाव विष्णुं परमादरेण ॥ ३,२४.

If Hari is all-pervading, O friend, why is Narasiṃha, the form in water, not seen here? Thus addressed by the sons of the Dānavas, he praised Viṣṇu with utmost reverence.

तव स्वरूपं मम दर्शयस्व स्वयोग्यरूपं दानवानां सुतानाम् । इति स्तुतः श्रीनिवासो हरिस्तु तस्मिन्नन्तर्जलरूपं समायात् ॥ ३,२४.

Show your true form to me, the form appropriate for the sons of the Dānavas. Thus praised, Śrīnivāsa, Hari, appeared there in the form within the water.

अस्मिन्स्नानं ये प्रकुर्वन्ति तीर्थे तेषां ज्ञानं परमं दृढं स्यात् । अत्र स्नाने मानुषाणां च तात बुद्धिर्न हि स्यात्कलिकाले विशेषात् ॥ ३,२४.

Those who bathe in this sacred place attain firm supreme knowledge. But, O dear one, in the Kali age, people do not gain such understanding from bathing here.

दत्त्वां वरं दैत्यवराय विष्णुरन्तर्दधे जलपूर्णे सुकुण्डे । अद्याप्यास्ते जलमध्ये नृसिंहः प्रह्लादोपि दैत्यकुमारकैः सह ॥ ३,२४.

Having granted a boon to the best of Daityas, Viṣṇu disappeared into the water-filled sacred pool. Even today, Narasiṃha remains in the water, along with Prahlāda and the sons of the Daityas.

तस्मिन् सुतीर्थे परितस्तत्रतत्र जयेति शब्दः श्रूयते चापराह्ने । इदं तीर्थं नारसिंहाभिधं च कन्येस्नानं ह्यत्र कार्यं मनुष्यैः ॥ ३,२४.

At that holy site, all around, the cry of 'Victory!' is heard in the afternoon. O maiden, this sacred place is called Nārasiṃha; here, humans should certainly bathe.

स्नानं कृत्वा तत्र तीर्थे च सम्यग्दीपं दत्त्वा द्विजवर्याय मुख्यम् । द्रष्टुं पुनः श्रीनिवासं प्रजग्मुर्गोविन्दगोविन्द इति ब्रुवन्तः ॥ ३,२४.

After bathing properly at that sacred place and offering a lamp to the foremost Brāhmaṇa, they again went to see Śrīnivāsa, chanting 'Govinda, Govinda!'

मुख्यप्राणाधिष्ठितं स्थानमाप्य अपाविशत्तत्र देवी ह्युवाच । जैगीषव्यः श्रीनिवासस्य विष्णोः कथं कार्यं दर्शनं तद्वदस्व ॥ ३,२४.

Having reached the place presided over by the chief life-force, the goddess entered there and spoke: 'O Jaigīṣavya, tell how one may have the vision of Śrīnivāsa, Viṣṇu.'

जैगीषव्यः प्राह संहृष्टचित्तो ब्रवीमि तन्त्रं शृणु कन्यके त्वम् । श्रुत्वा मत्तः कुरु सर्वं मयोक्तमाद्यं द्वारं श्रीनिवासस्य दृष्ट्वा ॥ ३,२४.

Jaigīṣavya, his heart delighted, said: 'I will tell you the method, O maiden, listen. Having heard from me, do everything as I say. First, behold the doorway of Śrīnivāsa.'

अपराधसहस्राणि क्रियन्तेऽहर्निशं मया । तानि सर्वाणि मे देव क्षमस्व पुरुषोत्तम ॥ ३,२४.

Thousands of offenses are committed by me day and night. O Supreme Person, forgive all of them, O Lord.

मानसान्वाचिकान्दोषान्कायि कानपि सर्वशः । वैष्णवद्वेषहेतून्मे भस्मसात्कुरु माधव ॥ ३,२४.

All the faults of mind, speech, and body, and all causes of enmity toward Vaiṣṇavas—reduce them to ashes, O Mādhava.

आद्यद्वारं श्रीनिवासस्य देवि सम्यक्स्मरेद्विजयं वै जयं च । दक्षाध्वरे श्रीनिवासस्य देवि चण्डं प्रचण्डं संस्मरेत्सम्यगेव ॥ ३,२४.

At the main entrance of Śrīnivāsa, O Goddess, one should properly remember Vijaya and Jaya; and at the Dakṣa sacrifice, one should also remember, with care, Caṇḍa and Pracaṇḍa of Śrīnivāsa.

पाश्चात्यभागे श्रीनिवासस्य देवि नन्दं सुनन्दं संस्मरेदेव भक्त्या । सव्यद्वारे श्रीनिवासस्य कन्ये स्मरेत्कुमुदाक्षं कुमुदन्तमेव ॥ ३,२४.

At the western side of Śrīnivāsa, O Goddess, one should devoutly remember Nanda and Sunanda; at the left entrance, O maiden, one should remember Kumudākṣa and Kumudanta.