प्रणम्य वरदं विष्णुं पप्रच्छुः संशयान्विता
Having bowed to Vishnu, the granter of boons, they questioned him, filled with doubt.
इदानीं संशयं चेममस्माकं छेत्तुमर्हसि
Now you ought to resolve this doubt of ours.
पुत्रत्वमगच्छंभुर्ब्रह्मणो ऽव्यक्तजन्मनः
How did the earth become the son of Brahma, whose birth is unmanifest?
अण्डजो जगतामीशस्तन्नो वक्तुमिहार्हसि
The lord of beings, born from the egg—please explain that to us here.
पुत्रत्वं ब्रह्मणस्तस्य पद्मयोनित्वमेव च
The sonship of Brahma and his origin from the lotus—these too.
आसीदेकार्णवं सर्वं न देवाद्या न चर्षयः
All was a single ocean; neither gods nor sages existed.
आश्रित्य शेषशयनं सुष्वाप पुरुषोत्तमः
Relying on Shesha as his couch, the Supreme Person slept.
सहस्त्रबाहुः सर्वज्ञश्चिन्त्यमानो मनीषिभिः
With a thousand arms and omniscience, he was contemplated by the wise.
महाविभूतिर्योगात्मा योगिनां हृदयालयः
Of great splendor, embodying yoga, dwelling in the hearts of yogis.
त्रैलोक्यसारं विमलं नाभ्यां पङ्कजमुद्वभौ
From his navel arose a lotus, pure and the essence of the three worlds.
दिव्यगन्धमयं पुण्यं कर्णिकाकेसरान्वितम्
Divine, fragrant, auspicious, adorned with stamens and filaments.
हिरण्यगर्भो भगवांस्तं देशमुपचक्रमे
The blessed Hiranyagarbha approached that place.
प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं मायया तस्य मोहितः
Deluded by his maya, he spoke sweet words.
एकाकी को भवाञ्छेते ब्रूहि मे पुरुषर्षभ
Who are you, alone here? Tell me, O best among men.
उवाच देवं ब्रह्माणं मेघगम्भीरनिः स्वनः
Brahma, with a voice deep as thunderclouds, spoke to the god.
महायोगेश्वरं मां त्वं जानीहि पुरुषोत्तमम्
Know me as the Supreme Person, the great lord of yoga.
सपर्वतमहाद्वीपं समुद्रैः सप्तभिर्वृतम्
The earth, together with its great mountains and continents, is surrounded by seven oceans.
जानन्नपि महायोगी को भवानिति वेधसम्
Even knowing this, O great yogi, who are you—thus did the Creator inquire.
प्रत्युवाचाम्बुजाभाक्षं सस्मितं श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
He replied to the lotus-eyed one, smiling gently and with soft words.
मय्येव संस्थितं विश्वं ब्रह्माहं विश्वतोमुखः
The universe abides in me alone; I am Brahma, the all-faced.
अनुज्ञाप्याथ योगेन प्रविष्टो ब्रह्मणस्तनुम्
Then, having received permission through yoga, he entered the body of Brahma.
उदरे तस्य देवस्य दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागतः
Having seen the interior of that divine being, he was filled with wonder.
अजातशत्रुर्भगवान् पितामहमथाब्रवीत्
The blessed Ajātashatru then spoke to the Grandfather, Brahma.
प्रविश्य लोकान् पश्यैतान् विचित्रान् पुरुषर्षभ
Enter and behold these various worlds, O best of men.
श्रीपतेरुदरं भूयः प्रविवेश कुशध्वजः
Kushadhvaja again entered the belly of the Lord of Fortune.
पर्यटित्वा तु देवस्य ददृशे ऽन्तं न वै हरेः
Having wandered within the god, he did not find the end of Hari.
जनार्दनेन ब्रह्मासौ नाभ्यां द्वारमविन्दत
Brahma, by Janardana, did not find a door at the navel.
उज्जहारात्मनो रूपं पुष्कराच्चतुराननः
The four-faced one, Brahma, emerged from the lotus, abandoning his own form.
ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूर्भगवान् जगद्योनिः पितामहः
Brahma, the self-born, the blessed, the source of the world, the Grandfather.
प्रोवाच पुरुषं विष्णुं मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
He addressed Vishnu, the Supreme Person, with a voice deep as a cloud.