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.
इयं प्रतिज्ञा भवतो विनाशाय भविष्यति
This declaration of yours will lead to destruction.
प्रधानपुरुषेशानं वेदाहं परमेश्वरम्
I know the Lord who is master of Pradhāna and Puruṣa, the Supreme Lord.
अनादिनिधनं ब्रह्म तमेव शरणं व्रज
Seek refuge in that Brahman, beginningless and endless.
भवान् न नूनमात्मानं वेत्ति तत् परमक्षरम्
You surely do not know your own self, that supreme imperishable.
नावाभ्यां विद्यते ह्यन्यो लोकानां परमेश्वरः
There is no other Supreme Lord of the worlds besides us two.
तस्य तत् क्रोधजं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा विष्णुरभाषत
Hearing those words born of anger, Viṣṇu spoke.
न मे ऽस्त्यविदितं ब्रह्मन् नान्यथाहं वदामिते
O Brahman, nothing is unknown to me; I do not speak otherwise to you.
मायाशेषविशेषाणां हेतुरात्मसमुद्भावा
The cause of all the distinct forms of Māyā arises from the self.
ज्ञात्वा तत् परमं तत्त्वं स्वमात्मानं महेश्वरम्
Knowing that supreme truth, one's own self as the great Lord,
प्रसादं ब्रह्मणे कर्तुं प्रादुरासीत् ततो हरः
Then Hara appeared, to grant favor to Brahmā.