बालानां व्याधिजुष्टानां राजद्वारं च सेवताम् इदं तत्परमं दिव्यं सर्वदा सर्वकामदम् तनुक्षये च सायुज्यं षण्मुखस्य व्रजेन्नरः
For children afflicted by disease, and for those who serve at the royal gate, this supreme, divine account always grants all desires; and at the end of life, one attains union with Ṣaṇmukha.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामो हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधम् नरसिंहस्य माहात्म्यं तथा पापविनाशनम्
Now we wish to hear of the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the greatness of Narasiṃha, and the destruction of sin.
पुरा कृतयुगे विप्रा हिरण्यकशिपुः प्रभुः दैत्यानामादिपुरुषश् चकार स महत्तपः
Long ago, in the Kṛta age, O brāhmaṇas, Hiraṇyakaśipu, lord of the daityas and their primeval being, performed great austerity.
दश वर्षसहस्राणि दश वर्षशतानि च जलवासी समभवत् स्नानमौनधृतव्रतः
For ten thousand years and ten hundred years, he dwelt in water, observing vows of bathing, silence, and restraint.
ततः शमदमाभ्यां च ब्रह्मचर्येण चैव हि ब्रह्मा प्रीतो ऽभवत्तस्य तपसा नियमेन च
Then, through his tranquility and self-control, and indeed by his celibacy, Brahmā was pleased with his austerity and discipline.
ततः स्वयंभूर्भगवान् स्वयमागम्य तत्र ह विमानेनार्कवर्णेन हंसयुक्तेन भास्वता
Thereupon, the self-born, blessed Lord himself came there, in a radiant chariot the color of the sun, yoked with swans.
आदित्यैर्वसुभिः साध्यैर् मरुद्भिर्दैवतैस्तथा रुद्रैर्विश्वसहायैश्च यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः
With him came the Ādityas, Vasus, Sādhyas, Maruts, and other deities, as well as the Rudras, Viśvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents.
दिग्भिश् चैव विदिग्भिश् च नदीभिः सागरैस्तथा नक्षत्रैश्च मुहूर्तैश्च खेचरैश्च महाग्रहैः
Also with the directions and intermediate directions, rivers and oceans, stars and moments, beings of the sky, and the great planets.
देवैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सार्धं सिद्धैः सप्तर्षिभिस्तथा राजर्षिभिः पुण्यकृद्भिर् गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः
Together with the gods, Brahmarṣis, Siddhas, the seven seers, royal sages who performed meritorious deeds, and hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases.
चराचरगुरुः श्रीमान् वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो दैत्यं वचनमब्रवीत्
The illustrious preceptor of all beings, surrounded by all the denizens of heaven, Brahmā, foremost knower of Brahman, spoke to the demon.
प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव भक्तस्य तपसानेन सुव्रत वरं वरय भद्रं ते यथेष्टं काममाप्नुहि
I am pleased with your devotion and this austerity, O virtuous one. Choose a boon, good fortune to you; obtain whatever desire you wish.
न देवासुरगन्धर्वा न यक्षोरगराक्षसाः न मानुषाः पिशाचा वा हन्युर्मां देवसत्तम
Let neither gods, demons, nor Gandharvas, nor Yakṣas, serpents, or Rākṣasas, nor humans or Piśācas, O best of gods, slay me.
ऋषयो वा न मां शापैः शपेयुः प्रपितामह यदि मे भगवान्प्रीतो वर एष वृतो मया
Nor may the seers curse me with their imprecations, O great grandsire, if you, blessed Lord, are pleased; this is the boon I have chosen.
न चास्त्रेण न शस्त्रेण गिरिणा पादपेन च न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण न दिवा न निशाथ वा
Not by weapon nor missile, not by mountain or tree, not by anything dry or wet, not by day nor by night.
भवेयमहमेवार्कः सोमो वायुर्हुताशनः सलिलं चान्तरिक्षं च नक्षत्राणि दिशो दश
May I become the sun, the moon, the wind, the fire, water, the atmosphere, the stars, and the ten directions.
अहं क्रोधश्च कामश्च वरुणो वासवो यमः धनदश्च धनाध्यक्षो यक्षः किंपुरुषाधिपः
May I be wrath and desire, Varuṇa, Indra, Yama, the lord of wealth, the treasurer, a Yakṣa, and the lord of Kiṃpuruṣas.
एते दिव्या वरास्तात मया दत्तास्तवाद्भुताः सर्वान्कामान्सदा वत्स प्राप्स्यसि त्वं न संशयः
These divine and wondrous boons, dear one, have been granted to you by me. You shall always obtain all desires, my child, without doubt.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवाञ् जगामाकाश एव हि वैराजं ब्रह्मसदनं ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम्
Having spoken thus, the blessed Lord went into the sky, to the celestial abode of Brahmā, attended by hosts of Brahmarṣis.
ततो देवाश्च नागाश्च गन्धर्वा ऋषिभिः सह वरप्रदानं श्रुत्वैव पितामहमुपस्थिताः
Then the gods, serpents, and Gandharvas, along with the seers, having heard of the granting of the boon, approached the Grandsire.
वरप्रदानाद्भगवन् वधिष्यति स नो ऽसुरः तत्प्रसीदाशु भगवन् वधो ऽप्यस्य विचिन्त्यताम्
Because of the granting of the boon, O blessed one, that demon will slay us. Therefore, be gracious, O Lord, and quickly consider his destruction.
भगवन्सर्वभूतानाम् आदिकर्ता स्वयं प्रभुः स्रष्टा त्वं हव्यकव्यानाम् अव्यक्तप्रकृतिर् बुधः
O blessed Lord, you are yourself the primal creator of all beings, the master, the maker of offerings to gods and ancestors, the wise one of unmanifest nature.
सर्वलोकहितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा देवः प्रजापतिः आश्वासयामास सुरान् सुशीतैर्वचनाम्बुभिः
Hearing these words, spoken for the good of all worlds, the god Prajāpati comforted the gods with words as cool as water.
अवश्यं त्रिदशास्तेन प्राप्तव्यं तपसः फलम् तपसो ऽन्ते ऽस्य भगवान् वधं विष्णुः करिष्यति
Certainly, the gods must obtain the fruit of his austerity; at the end of his penance, the blessed Viṣṇu will slay him.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विबुधा वाक्यं सर्वे पङ्कजजन्मनः स्वानि स्थानानि दिव्यानि विप्रजग्मुर्मुदान्विताः
Hearing these words of the Lotus-born, all the gods, filled with joy, returned to their own divine abodes.
लब्धमात्रे वरे चाथ सर्वाः सो ऽबाधत प्रजाः हिरण्यकशिपुर्दैत्यो वरदानेन दर्पितः
Then, as soon as he obtained the boon, the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, made arrogant by the boon, began to oppress all beings.
आश्रमेषु महाभागान् स मुनीञ्छंसितव्रतान् सत्यधर्मपरान्दान्तान् धर्षयामास दानवः
In the hermitages, the demon violated the great sages, those of strict vows, devoted to truth and righteousness, and gentle in nature.
देवांस्त्रिभुवनस्थांश्च पराजित्य महासुरः त्रैलोक्यं वशमानीय स्वर्गे वसति दानवः
Having defeated the gods dwelling in the three worlds, the great demon, bringing the three worlds under his control, dwelt in heaven.
यदा वरमदोत्सिक्तश् चोदितः कालधर्मतः यज्ञियानकरोद्दैत्यान् अयज्ञियाश्च देवताः
Then, intoxicated by the boon and driven by the law of time, the demon made the demons fit for sacrifice and the gods unfit for sacrifice.
तदादित्याश्च साध्याश्च विश्वे च वसवस्तथा सेन्द्रा देवगणा यक्षाः सिद्धद्विजमहर्षयः
Then the Ādityas, Sādhyas, Viśvedevas, Vasus, the gods with Indra, Yakṣas, Siddhas, twice-born sages, and great seers—
शरण्यं शरणं विष्णुम् उपतस्थुर्महाबलम् देवदेवं यज्ञमयं वासुदेवं सनातनम्
They approached Viṣṇu, the mighty refuge of all, the god of gods, the embodiment of sacrifice, Vāsudeva, the eternal one, seeking shelter.