Linga Purana

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.

स होवाच वरं ब्रूहि पद्मादवतर प्रभो पुत्रो भव ममारिघ्न मुदं प्राप्स्यसि शोभनाम्

He said: 'Ask for a boon, O Lord, descend from the lotus; become my son, O destroyer of enemies, and you will obtain great joy.'

सद्भाववचनं ब्रूहि पद्मादवतर प्रभो स त्वं च नो महायोगी त्वमीड्यः प्रणवात्मकः

'Speak words of goodwill, O Lord, descend from the lotus; you are indeed our great yogi, worthy of praise, the very essence of the Pranava (Om).'

अद्यप्रभृति सर्वेशः श्वेतोष्णीषविभूषितः पद्मयोनिरिति ह्येवं ख्यातो नाम्ना भविष्यसि

From this day forward, O Lord of all, adorned with a white turban, you will be renowned by the name 'Padmayoni' (Lotus-born).

पुत्रो मे त्वं भव ब्रह्मन् सप्तलोकाधिपः प्रभो ततः स भगवान्देवो वरं दत्त्वा किरीटिने

'Become my son, O Brahman, Lord of the seven worlds.' Then, having granted the boon to the crowned one, the blessed Lord—

एवं भवतु चेत्युक्त्वा प्रीतात्मा गतमत्सरः प्रत्यासन्नम् अथायान्तं बालार्काभं महाननम्

Saying, 'So be it,' with a pleased and envy-free heart, he saw approaching nearby one with a face like the rising sun, of great countenance.

भवमत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा नारायणमथाब्रवीत् अप्रमेयो महावक्त्रो दंष्ट्री ध्वस्तशिरोरुहः

Beholding that most wondrous form, Nārāyaṇa spoke: 'Immeasurable, with a great mouth, fanged, with hair destroyed from the head—'

दशबाहुस्त्रिशूलाङ्को नयनैर्विश्वतः स्थितः लोकप्रभुः स्वयं साक्षाद् विकृतो मुञ्जमेखली

Ten-armed, marked with a trident, standing with eyes on all sides, the Lord of the worlds himself, manifest, deformed, girded with a munja grass belt—

मेण्ढ्रेणोर्ध्वेन महता नर्दमानो ऽतिभैरवम् कः खल्वेष पुमान् विष्णो तेजोराशिर् महाद्युतिः

Roaring most terribly, with a great erect phallus, who indeed is this man, O Viṣṇu, a mass of brilliance, of great splendor?

व्याप्य सर्वा दिशो द्यां च इत एवाभिवर्तते तेनैवमुक्तो भगवान् विष्णुर्ब्रह्माणमब्रवीत्

Having pervaded all directions and the sky, he now advances from there; thus addressed, the blessed Viṣṇu spoke to Brahmā:

पद्भ्यां तलनिपातेन यस्य विक्रमतो ऽर्णवे वेगेन महताकाशे ऽप्युत्थिताश् च जलशयाः

By whose stride, as he steps upon the ocean with his feet, the waters are lifted up even into the vast sky with great force—