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.
त्रिशूलपाणिर्भगवांस्तेजसां परमो निधिः
The blessed Lord, holding a trident, the supreme repository of splendor,
मालामत्यद्भुताकारां धारयन् पादलम्बिनीम्
Wearing a garland of most wondrous form, hanging down to his feet,
मोहितो माययात्यर्थं पीतवाससमब्वीत्
Deluded to a great extent by Māyā, he became clothed in yellow garments.
तेजोराशिरमेयात्मा समायाति जनार्दन
The immeasurable Self, the mass of radiance, Janārdana, approaches.
अपश्यदीश्वरं देवं ज्वलन्तं विमले ऽम्भसि
He beheld the Lord, the shining God, blazing in the pure waters.
प्रोवाचोत्थाय भगवान् देवदेवं पितामहम्
Rising up, the Blessed Lord addressed the god of gods, the Grandsire.
अनादिनिधनो ऽचिन्त्यो लोकानामीश्वरो महान्
He is without beginning or end, inconceivable, the great Lord of all worlds.
भूतानामधिपो योगी महेशो विमलः शिवः
He is the lord of beings, the yogi, the great lord, pure and auspicious.
यं प्रपश्यन्ति यतयो ब्रह्मभावेन भाविताः
He whom ascetics, absorbed in the state of Brahman, perceive.
कालो भूत्वा महादेवः केवलो निष्कलः शिवः
Becoming Time, the great god, the solitary, partless, auspicious one.
वेदांश्च प्रददौ तुभ्यं सो ऽयमायाति शङ्करः
He gave you the Vedas; this Śaṅkara now approaches.
वासुदेवाभिधानां मामवेहि प्रपितामह
Know me, O Grandsire, as the one called Vāsudeva.
दिव्यं भवतु ते चक्षुर्येन द्रक्ष्यसि तत्परम्
May you have divine sight, by which you will see that supreme reality.
बुबुधे परमेशानं पुरतः समवस्थितम्
He perceived the Supreme Lord standing before him.
प्रपेदे शरणं देवं तमेव पितरं शिवम्
He sought refuge in that very god, Śiva, the father.
अथर्वशिरसा देवं तुष्टाव च कृताञ्जलिः
With joined palms, he praised the god with the Atharvaśiras hymn.
अवाप परमां प्रीतिं व्याजहार स्मयन्निव
He attained supreme delight and spoke, as if smiling.
मयैवोत्पादितः पूर्वं लोकसृष्ट्यर्थमव्ययम्
I myself previously brought forth the imperishable for the creation of the worlds.
वरं वरय विश्वात्मन् वरदो ऽहं तवानघ
Choose a boon, O Soul of the Universe; I am the granter of boons to you, O sinless one.
निरीक्ष्य विष्णुं पुरुषं प्रणम्याह वृषध्वजम्
Beholding Viṣṇu, the Person, he bowed and spoke to the Bull-bannered One.