कन्यायां सुमहावीर्या वैराजस्य प्रजापतेः
In the daughter of the exceedingly mighty Vairāja, the Prajāpati,
अग्निष्टुदतिरात्रश्च सुद्युम्नश्चाभिमन्युकः
Agniṣṭut, Atirātra, Sudyumna, and Abhimanyu,
अङ्गं सुमनसं स्वातिं क्रतुमङ्गिरसं शिवम्
Aṅga, Sumanasa, Svāti, Kratu, Aṅgirasa, and Śiva,
यो ऽसौ पृथुरिति ख्यातः प्रजापालो महाबलः
He who is renowned as Pṛthu, the mighty protector of beings,
नियोगाद् ब्रह्मणः सार्धं देवेन्द्रेण महौजसा
By the command of Brahmā, together with the mighty Indra,
सूतः पौराणिको जज्ञे मायारूपः स्वयं हरिः
The Sūta, the reciter of the Purāṇas, was born—Hari himself in a form of illusion.
तं मां नित्त मुनिश्रेष्ठाः पूर्वोद्भूतं सनातनम्
That ancient me, O best of sages, who arose before,
श्रावयामास मां प्रीत्या पुराणं पुरुषो हरिः
Hari, the Supreme Person, graciously caused me to hear the Purāṇa.
तेषां पुराणवक्तृत्वं वृत्तिरासीदजाज्ञया
For them, the telling of the Purāṇa became a livelihood by command.
सार्वभौमो महातेजाः स्वधर्मपरिपालकः
He, the universal sovereign, of great splendor, upholder of his own duty,
गोवर्धनगिरिं प्राप्य तपस्तेपे जितेन्द्रियः
Having reached Mount Govardhana, he performed austerity, having mastered his senses.
आगत्य देवो राजानं प्राह दामोदरः स्वयम्
The god Dāmodara himself came and spoke to the king.
एकमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशः स्वकीयां प्रकृतिं गतः
Having spoken a single word, Hṛṣīkeśa returned to his own nature.
अपालयत् स्वकं राज्यं न्यायेन मधुसूदने
He ruled his own kingdom with justice, O Madhusūdana.
खिखण्डनं हविर्धानमन्तर्धाना व्यजायत
Khikhaṇḍana, Havirdhāna, and Antardhāna were born.
धार्मिको रूपसंपन्नो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
Righteous, endowed with beauty, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
मतिं चक्रे भाग्ययोगात् संन्यां प्रति धर्मवित्
By the force of fortune, the knower of dharma resolved upon renunciation.
जगाम हिमवत्पृष्ठं कदाचित् सिद्धसेवितम्
At some time, he went to the slopes of the Himalayas, frequented by perfected beings.
अपश्यद् योगिनां गम्यमगम्यं ब्रह्मविद्विषाम्
He beheld the attainable and unattainable abodes of yogins, inaccessible to those hostile to Brahman.
पद्मोत्पलवनोपेता सिद्धाश्रमविभूषिता
Adorned with hermitages of siddhas, and filled with lotus and water-lily groves.
सुपुण्यमाश्रमं रम्यमपश्यत् प्रीतिसंयुतः
He saw a most auspicious and delightful hermitage, filled with joy.
अर्चयित्वा महादेवं पुष्पैः पद्मोत्पलादिभिः
Having worshipped Mahadeva with flowers such as lotuses and water-lilies,
संप्रेक्षमाणो भास्वन्तं तुष्टाव परमेश्वरम्
Gazing upon the radiant Lord, he praised the Supreme Lord.
अन्यैश्च विविधैः स्तोत्रैः शांभवैर्वेदसंभवैः
With various other hymns to Shambhu, originating from the Vedas.
श्वेताश्वतरनामानं महापाशुपतोत्तमम्
He saw the illustrious Śvetāśvatara, the foremost among great Pāśupatas.
तपसा कर्षितात्मानं शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतिनम्
His self subdued by austerity, wearing a white sacred thread.
ववन्दे शिरसा पादौ प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
He bowed with his head at his feet, palms joined, and spoke these words:
योगीश्वरो ऽद्य भगवान् दृष्टो योगविदां वरः
Today I have seen the Lord of Yogis, the best among knowers of yoga.
किं करिष्यामि शिष्यो ऽहं तव मां पालयानघ
What shall I do? I am your disciple. Protect me, O sinless one.
शिष्यत्वे परिजग्राह तपसा क्षीणकल्पषम्
He accepted him as a disciple, whose faults had been worn away by austerity.