Linga Purana

संकर्षण महाभाग प्रद्युम्न पुरुषोत्तम अनिरुद्ध महाविष्णो सदा विष्णो नमो ऽस्तु ते

O Sankarshana, greatly fortunate, O Pradyumna, O Purushottama, O Aniruddha, O great Vishnu, always Vishnu, I bow to you.

विष्णो तवासनं दिव्यम् अव्यक्तं मध्यतो विभुः सहस्रफणसंयुक्तस् तमोमूर्तिर्धराधरः

O Viṣṇu, your divine seat is unmanifest, in the middle stands the all-pervading one, joined with a thousand hoods, the embodiment of darkness, the bearer of the earth.

अधश् च धर्मो देवेश ज्ञानं वैराग्यमेव च ऐश्वर्यमासनस्यास्य पादरूपेण सुव्रत

And below, O Lord of gods, are dharma, knowledge, and indeed dispassion; O virtuous one, the seat’s feet are your sovereignty.

सप्तपातालपादस्त्वं धराजघनमेव च वासांसि सागराः सप्त दिशश्चैव महाभुजाः

You have the seven netherworlds as your feet, the earth as your hips, the seven oceans as your garments, and the directions as your mighty arms.

द्यौर्मूर्धा ते विभो नाभिः खं वायुर्नासिकां गतः नेत्रे सोमश् च सूर्यश् च केशा वै पुष्करादयः

O all-pervading one, the sky is your head, your navel is space, the wind reaches your nostrils, the moon and sun are your eyes, and your hair is the blue lotus and other flowers.

नक्षत्रतारका द्यौश् च ग्रैवेयकविभूषणम् कथं स्तोष्यामि देवेशं पूज्यश् च पुरुषोत्तमः

The stars and planets, and the sky itself, are your neck ornaments; how can I praise the Lord of gods, the supreme person, who is worthy of worship?

श्रद्धया च कृतं दिव्यं यच् छ्रुतं यच्च कीर्तितम् यदिष्टं तत्क्षमस्वेश नारायण नमो ऽस्तु ते

Whatever divine act has been done with faith, whatever has been heard or recited, if anything is amiss, O Lord, forgive that, O Nārāyaṇa, salutations to you.

इदं तु वैष्णवं स्तोत्रं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि क्षुपेण परिकीर्तितम्

This hymn to Viṣṇu destroys all sins; whoever recites or hears it, even if briefly proclaimed,

श्रावयेद्वा द्विजान् भक्त्या विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

or causes the twice-born to hear it with devotion, he attains the world of Viṣṇu.

सम्पूज्य चैवं त्रिदशेश्वराद्यैः स्तुत्वा स्तुतं देवमजेयमीशम् विज्ञापयामास निरीक्ष्य भक्त्या जनार्दनाय प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना

Having thus worshipped and praised the unconquered Lord, the ruler of the gods and others, they humbly informed Janārdana, bowing with devotion and head lowered.

भगवन्ब्राह्मणः कश्चिद् दधीच इति विश्रुतः धर्मवेत्ता विनीतात्मा सखा मम पुराभवत्

O Lord, there was a certain brāhmaṇa named Dadhīca, renowned, knower of dharma, self-controlled, who was formerly my friend.

अवध्यः सर्वदा सर्वैः शङ्करार्चनतत्परः सावज्ञं वामपादेन स मां मूर्ध्नि सदस्यथ

He was always invulnerable to all, devoted to the worship of Śaṅkara; with disrespect, he struck me on the head with his left foot in the assembly.

ताडयामास देवेश विष्णो विश्वजगत्पते उवाच च मदाविष्टो न बिभेमीति सर्वतः

O Lord of gods, O Viṣṇu, Lord of the universe, he struck me, and, intoxicated with pride, declared everywhere, 'I do not fear.'

जेतुमिच्छामि तं विप्रं दधीचं जगदीश्वर यथा हितं तथा कर्तुं त्वमर्हसि जनार्दन

O Lord of the world, I wish to defeat that brāhmaṇa Dadhīca; you should act as is proper, O Janārdana.

ज्ञात्वा सो ऽपि दधीचस्य ह्य् अवध्यत्वं महात्मनः सस्मार च महेशस्य प्रभावमतुलं हरिः

Knowing the invulnerability of the great-souled Dadhīca, Hari remembered the unequalled power of Maheśa.

एवं स्मृत्वा हरिः प्राह ब्रह्मणः क्षुतसंभवम् विप्राणां नास्ति राजेन्द्र भयमेत्य महेश्वरम्

Having remembered thus, Hari said: 'O king, there is no fear for brāhmaṇas, born of Brahmā’s hunger, from Maheśvara.'

विशेषाद्रुद्रभक्तानाम् अभयं सर्वदा नृप नीचानामपि सर्वत्र दधीचस्यास्य किं पुनः

O king, especially for devotees of Rudra, there is always fearlessness, even for the lowly everywhere; what then of Dadhīca?

तस्मात्तव महाभाग विजयो नास्ति भूपते दुःखं करोमि विप्रस्य शापार्थं ससुरस्य मे

Therefore, O highly fortunate one, you will not have victory, O king; I will cause the brāhmaṇa pain for the sake of a curse, along with the gods.

भविता तस्य शापेन दक्षयज्ञे सुरैः समम् विनाशो मम राजेन्द्र पुनरुत्थानमेव च

By his curse, O king, there will be destruction for me along with the gods at Dakṣa’s sacrifice, and then a rising again.

तस्मात्समेत्य विप्रेन्द्रं सर्वयत्नेन भूपते करोमि यत्नं राजेन्द्र दधीचविजयाय ते

Therefore, having approached you, O best of Brahmins, I shall make every effort, O king, for your victory over Dadhīca.

श्रुत्वा वाक्यं क्षुपः प्राह तथास्त्विति जनार्दनम् भगवानपि विप्रस्य दधीचस्याश्रमं ययौ

Hearing these words, Kṣupa said to Janārdana, 'So be it,' and the Lord also went to the hermitage of the Brahmin Dadhīca.

आस्थाय रूपं विप्रस्य भगवान् भक्तवत्सलः दधीचमाह ब्रह्मर्षिम् अभिवन्द्य जगद्गुरुः

Assuming the form of a Brahmin, the Lord, who is devoted to his devotees, approached Dadhīca, the sage, and, after offering obeisance, spoke to him as the teacher of the world.

भोभो दधीच ब्रह्मर्षे भवार्चनरताव्यय वरमेकं वृणे त्वत्तस् तं भवान्दातुमर्हति

O Dadhīca, great sage among Brahmins, ever intent on worship of the Lord, I ask you for one boon; you should grant it to me.

याचितो देवदेवेन दधीचः प्राह विष्णुना ज्ञातं तवेप्सितं सर्वं न बिभेमि तवाप्यहम्

Thus requested by the Lord of gods, Dadhīca spoke to Viṣṇu: 'I know all that you desire; I do not fear even you.'

भवान् विप्रस्य रूपेण आगतो ऽसि जनार्दन भूतं भविष्यं देवेश वर्तमानं जनार्दन

You have come in the form of a Brahmin, O Janārdana; O Lord of gods, you are the past, future, and present, O Janārdana.

ज्ञातं प्रसादाद्रुद्रस्य द्विजत्वं त्यज सुव्रत आराधितो ऽसि देवेश क्षुपेण मधुसूदन

By the grace of Rudra, I know; abandon this guise of a Brahmin, O steadfast one. You have been worshipped, O Lord of gods, by Kṣupa, O slayer of Madhu.

जाने तवैनां भगवन् भक्तवत्सलतां हरे स्थाने तवैषा भगवन् भक्तवात्सल्यता हरे

I know, O Lord, your affection for devotees, O Hari; this devotion to your devotees, O Lord, is fitting for you, O Hari.

अस्ति चेद्भगवन् भीतिर् भवार्चनरतस्य मे वक्तुमर्हसि यत्नेन वरदांबुजलोचन

If, O Lord, there is any fear in me, who am intent on worship of the Lord, you should tell me earnestly, O lotus-eyed giver of boons.

वदामि न मृषा तस्मान् न बिभेमि जनार्दन न बिभेमि जगत्यस्मिन् देवदैत्यद्विजादपि

Therefore, I speak truly; I do not fear, O Janārdana. I do not fear anyone in this world, whether god, demon, or Brahmin.