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.
एको ऽहं प्रबलो नान्यो मां वै को ऽबिभविष्यति
I alone am powerful; there is no other—who indeed could surpass me?
सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं बभाषे मधुरं हरिः
Hari spoke these gentle words, first with conciliation.
न मात्सर्याभियोगेन द्वाराणि पिहितानि मे
It is not out of envy that my doors are closed.
को हि बाधितुमन्विच्छेद् देवदेवं पितामहम्
For who would seek to trouble the god of gods, the Grandfather?
सर्वमन्वय कल्याणं यन्मयापहृतं तव
All auspiciousness and harmony that I have taken from you,
पद्मयोनिरिति ख्यातो मत्प्रियार्थं जगन्मय
The one known as Padmayoni, for my sake, O embodiment of the universe,
प्रहर्षमतुलं गत्वा पुनर्विष्णुमभाषत
Having attained incomparable joy, he again spoke to Viṣṇu.
सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा वै परं बह्म सनातनम्
The inner self of all beings is indeed the supreme, eternal Brahman.
मन्मयं सर्वमेवेदं ब्रह्माहं पुरुषः परः
All this is pervaded by me; I am Brahmā, the supreme person.
एका मूर्तिर्द्विधा भिन्ना नारायणपितामहौ
There is one form, divided in two: Nārāyaṇa and Pitāmaha.