Linga Purana

भगवानादिरङ्कश् च मध्यं कालो दिशो नभः नाहमन्तं प्रपश्यामि उदरस्य तवानघ

'O venerable one, you are the origin, the seat, the middle, time, directions, and space. I do not see the end of your belly, O sinless one.'

एवमुक्त्वाब्रवीद्भूयः पितामहमिदं हरिः भगवानेवमेवाहं शाश्वतं हि ममोदरम्

Having spoken thus, Hari again addressed the Grandfather: 'O blessed one, just so is my belly—eternal.'

प्रविश्य लोकान् पश्यैतान् अनौपम्यान्सुरोत्तम ततः प्राह्लादिनीं वाणीं श्रुत्वा तस्याभिनन्द्य च

'Enter, O best of gods, and see these incomparable worlds.' Then, having heard his delightful words, he rejoiced.

श्रीपतेरुदरं भूयः प्रविवेश पितामहः तानेव लोकान् गर्भस्थान् अपश्यत् सत्यविक्रमः

Then the Lord of Creation, of unwavering resolve, once again entered the belly of the glorious Lord, and saw those very worlds existing within the womb.

पर्यटित्वा तु देवस्य ददृशे ऽन्तं न वै हरेः ज्ञात्वा गतिं तस्य पितामहस्य द्वाराणि सर्वाणि पिधाय विष्णुः विभुर्मनः कर्तुमियेष चाशु सुखं प्रसुप्तो ऽहमिति प्रचिन्त्य

Having wandered throughout the Lord’s body, he did not perceive the end of Hari; realizing the course of the Lord of Creation, Viṣṇu closed all the doors, and, wishing to act, quickly thought, 'I will rest comfortably.'

ततो द्वाराणि सर्वाणि पिहितानि समीक्ष्य वै सूक्ष्मं कृत्वात्मनो रूपं नाभ्यां द्वारमविन्दत

Then, seeing that all the doors were indeed shut, he made his form subtle and found a door through the navel.

पद्मसूत्रानुसारेण चान्वपश्यत्पितामहः उज्जहारात्मनो रूपं पुष्कराच्चतुराननः

Following the thread of the lotus, the Lord of Creation observed, and from the lotus, the four-faced one emerged, manifesting his own form.

विरराजारविन्दस्थः पद्मगर्भसमद्युतिः ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूर्भगवाञ् जगद्योनिः पितामहः

Seated upon the lotus, shining with the radiance of the lotus-womb, Brahmā, the self-born, the blessed, the source of the universe, the Lord of Creation, appeared resplendent.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ताभ्याम् एकैकस्य तु कृत्स्नशः वर्तमाने तु संघर्षे मध्ये तस्यार्णवस्य तु

Meanwhile, as each of the two contended entirely with one another, a great conflict arose in the midst of that ocean.

कुतो ऽप्यपरिमेयात्मा भूतानां प्रभुरीश्वरः शूलपाणिर्महादेवो हेमवीरांबरच्छदः

From somewhere, the immeasurable Lord, the master of beings, the wielder of the trident, the great god, adorned in golden heroic garments, appeared.

अगच्छद्यत्र सो ऽनन्तो नागभोगपतिर् हरिः शीघ्रं विक्रमतस्तस्य पद्भ्याम् आक्रान्तपीडिताः

There went Ananta, the lord of the serpent-hoods, Hari, and as he swiftly advanced, the ground was pressed and afflicted by his feet.

उद्भूतास्तूर्णमाकाशे पृथुलास्तोयबिन्दवः अत्युष्णश्चातिशीतश् च वायुस्तत्र ववौ पुनः

Suddenly, thick drops of water arose swiftly in the sky; there, the wind blew both exceedingly hot and extremely cold.

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं ब्रह्मा विष्णुमभाषत अब्बिन्दवश् च शीतोष्णाः कम्पयन्त्यंबुजं भृशम्

Seeing that great wonder, Brahmā spoke to Viṣṇu: 'These drops, both cold and hot, are greatly shaking the lotus.'

एतन्मे संशयं ब्रूहि किं वा त्वन्यच्चिकीर्षसि एतदेवंविधं वाक्यं पितामहमुखोद्गतम्

'Tell me this doubt of mine, or what else do you intend to do?'—such words, of this kind, came forth from the mouth of the Lord of Creation.

श्रुत्वाप्रतिमकर्मा हि भगवानसुरान्तकृत् किं नु खल्वत्र मे नाभ्यां भूतमन्यत्कृतालयम्

Hearing this, the Lord, destroyer of the asuras, of incomparable deeds, thought, 'Is there perhaps some other being dwelling in my navel?'

वदति प्रियमत्यर्थं मन्युश्चास्य मया कृतः इत्येवं मनसा ध्यात्वा प्रत्युवाचेदमुत्तरम्

As he spoke most affectionately, I became angry with him; thus, having reflected in my mind, I gave this reply.

किमत्र भगवानद्य पुष्करे जातसंभ्रमः किं मया च कृतं देव यन्मां प्रियमनुत्तमम्

'Why, O Lord, is there such confusion today in the lotus? What have I done, O god, that you speak to me with such supreme affection?'

भाषसे पुरुषश्रेष्ठ किमर्थं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः एवं ब्रुवाणं देवेशं लोकयात्रानुगं ततः

'O best of men, for what reason do you speak thus? Tell me truly.' Thus, as the Lord of the gods, who upholds the course of the worlds, spoke—

प्रत्युवाचाम्बुजाभाक्षं ब्रह्मा वेदनिधिः प्रभुः यो ऽसौ तवोदरं पूर्वं प्रविष्टो ऽहं त्वदिच्छया

Brahmā, the lord, repository of the Vedas, replied to lotus-eyed Viṣṇu: 'It was by your will that I, who had previously entered your belly, did so.'

यथा ममोदरे लोकाः सर्वे दृष्टास्त्वया प्रभो तथैव दृष्टाः कार्त्स्न्येन मया लोकास्तवोदरे

'Just as you, Lord, saw all the worlds within my belly, so too did I see all the worlds within your belly, entirely.'

ततो वर्षसहस्रात्तु उपावृत्तस्य मे ऽनघ त्वया मत्सरभावेन मां वशीकर्तुमिच्छता

Then, after a thousand years had passed, O sinless one, you, desiring to subdue me out of rivalry, withdrew me.

आशु द्वाराणि सर्वाणि पिहितानि समन्ततः ततो मया महाभाग संचिन्त्य स्वेन तेजसा

Swiftly, all the doors were closed on every side; then, O greatly fortunate one, I considered with my own power.

लब्धो नाभिप्रदेशेन पद्मसूत्राद्विनिर्गमः मा भूत्ते मनसो ऽल्पो ऽपि व्याघातो ऽयं कथंचन

A passage was found through the navel region, emerging from the lotus stalk; let there not be even the slightest hindrance to your purpose in any way.

इत्येषानुगतिर्विष्णो कार्याणाम् औपसर्पिणी यन्मयानन्तरं कार्यं ब्रूहि किं करवाण्यहम्

Thus, O Viṣṇu, this is the course of action to be followed for the tasks at hand; now tell me, what should I do next?

ततः परममेयात्मा हिरण्यकशिपो रिपुः अनवद्यां प्रियामिष्टां शिवां वाणीं पितामहात्

Then, the immeasurable-souled enemy Hiraṇyakaśipu, received from the Grandfather (Brahmā) a flawless, beloved, and auspicious boon.

श्रुत्वा विगतमात्सर्यं वाक्यमस्मै ददौ हरिः न ह्येवमीदृशं कार्यं मयाध्यवसितं तव

Having heard these words, free from envy, Hari granted him the boon; for I had not resolved upon such a deed for you.

त्वां बोधयितुकामेन क्रीडापूर्वं यदृच्छया आशु द्वाराणि सर्वाणि घाटितानि मयात्मनः

Desiring to instruct you, and by chance, as a playful act, I quickly closed all the doors of my own being.

न ते ऽन्यथावगन्तव्यं मान्यः पूज्यश् च मे भवान् सर्वं मर्षय कल्याण यन्मयापकृतं तव

You must not understand otherwise; you are honored and worthy of worship to me. Forgive everything, O auspicious one, whatever I have done against you.

अस्मान् मयोह्यमानस्त्वं पद्मादवतर प्रभो नाहं भवन्तं शक्नोमि सोढुं तेजोमयं गुरुम्

As I am being honored by you, O Lord, descend from the lotus; I am unable to bear you, my radiant and venerable one.