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.
त्वामेव पुत्रमिच्छामि त्वया वा सदृशं सतम्
I desire you alone as a son, or one who is truly like you.
न जाने परमं भावं याथातथ्येन ते शिव
I do not know your highest nature in its true reality, O auspicious one.
प्रसीद तव पादाब्जं नमामि शरणं गतः
Be gracious; I bow to your lotus feet, having sought refuge.
व्याजहार तदा पुत्रं समालोक्य जनार्दनम्
Then, seeing Janardana, he addressed his son.
विज्ञानमैश्वरं दिव्यमुत्पत्स्यति तवानघ
Divine knowledge, lordly and pure, will arise in you, O sinless one.
तथा कुरुष्व देवेश मया लोकपितामह
So do this, O lord of gods, by me, O ancestor of the worlds.
भविष्यति तवेशानो योगक्षेमवहो हरिः
Hari, the lord, will be the bearer of your yoga and welfare.
संस्पृश्य देवं ब्रह्माणं हरिं वचनमब्रवीत्
Touching the god Brahma, Hari spoke these words.
वरं वृणीष्वं नह्यावां विभिन्नौ परमार्थतः
Choose a boon, for we two are not truly different in essence.
प्राह प्रसन्नया वाचा समालोक्य चतुर्मुखम्
He spoke with a pleased voice, gazing at the four-faced one.