ज्ञानं तद् ब्रह्मविषयं मुनीनां वक्तुमर्हसि
You ought to speak to the sages that knowledge which concerns Brahman.
शुश्रूषा जायते चैषां वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वतः
Their desire to listen has arisen; you should speak the truth to them.
मुनीनां व्याहृतं पूर्वं विष्णुना कूर्मरूपिणा
What was previously spoken by Viṣṇu in the form of a tortoise to the sages.
प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं वचः प्राह सुखावहम्
Having bowed his head to Rudra, he spoke words that bring happiness.
सनत्कुमारप्रमुखैः स्वयं यत्समभाषत
That which he himself spoke to Sanatkumāra and the others.
अङ्गिरा रुद्रसहितो भृगुः परमधर्मवित्
Aṅgirā, together with Rudra, and Bhṛgu, knower of the highest dharma.
शुक्रो वसिष्ठो भगवान् सर्वे संयतमानसाः
Śukra, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, and all whose minds are restrained.
तप्तवन्तस्तपो घोरं पुण्ये बदरिकाश्रमे
They performed intense austerity in the holy hermitage of Badarikā.
नारायणमनाद्यन्तं नरेण सहितं तदा
At that time, with Nara, they meditated on Nārāyaṇa, who is without beginning or end.
प्रणेमुर्भक्तिसंयुक्ता योगिनो योगवित्तमम्
The yogis, filled with devotion, bowed to the supreme knower of yoga.
प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा किमर्थं तप्यते तपः
He spoke with a deep voice: 'For what purpose is this austerity being performed?'
साक्षान्नारायणं देवमागतं सिद्धिसूचकम्
Directly, Lord Nārāyaṇa himself appeared, a sign of success.
भवन्तमेकं शरणं प्रपन्नाः पुरुषोत्तमम्
We have sought refuge in you alone, the Supreme Person.
नारायणः स्वयं साक्षात् पुराणो ऽव्यक्तपूरुषः
Nārāyaṇa himself, the ancient, unmanifest Person, stood there.
शुश्रूषास्माकमखिलं संशयं छेत्तुमर्हसि
We wish to hear from you; you should dispel all our doubts.
कश्चिदात्मा च का मुक्तिः संसारः किंनिमित्तकः
What is the self? What is liberation? For what reason does transmigration occur?
किं तत् परतरं ब्रह्म सर्वं नो वक्तुमर्हसि
What is that supreme Brahman? You should tell us everything.
विहाय तापसं रूपं संस्थितं स्वेन तेजसा
Abandoning the form of an ascetic, he stood in his own radiance.
श्रीवत्सवक्षसं देवं तप्तजाम्बूनदप्रभम्
The Lord, with the Śrīvatsa mark on his chest, shone like molten gold.
न दृष्टस्तत्क्षणादेव नरस्तस्यैव तेजसा
No man could see him at that very moment, due to his own brilliance.
प्रसादाभिमुखो रुद्रः प्रादुरासीन्महेश्वरः
Rudra, favorably disposed, appeared—Maheshvara himself.
तुष्टुवुर्हृष्टमनसो भक्त्या तं परमेश्वरम्
With joyful hearts, they praised that Supreme Lord with devotion.
जयाशेषमुनीशान तपसाभिप्रपूजित
Victory to you, Lord of all sages, honored through austerity.
जयानन्त जगज्जन्मत्राणसंहारकारण
Victory to you, O endless one, cause of the creation, protection, and destruction of the world.
जयाम्बिकापते देव नमस्ते परमेश्वर
Victory to you, Lord of Ambikā, O God; obeisance to you, Supreme Lord.
समालिङ्ग्य हृषीकेशं प्राह गम्भीरया गिरा
Embracing Hṛṣīkeśa, he spoke with a deep voice.
इमं समागता देशं किं वा कार्यं मयाच्युत
Having come to this place, O Acyuta, what task is to be done by me?
प्राह देवो महादेवं प्रसादाभिमुखं स्थितम्
The Lord spoke to Mahādeva, who stood favorably disposed.
अभ्यागता मां शरणं सम्यग्दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः
Those who have come to me for refuge, desiring true vision,
सन्निधौ मम तज्ज्ञानं दिव्यं वक्तुमिहार्हसि
In my presence, you ought to speak that divine knowledge here.