स्मृतानि यानि पद्मस्य केसराणि समन्ततः असंख्येयाः पृथिव्यास्ते विश्वे वै धातुपर्वताः
The countless filaments remembered as the stamens of the lotus are, in truth, all the mineral mountains of the earth.
यानि पद्मस्य पर्णानि भूरीणि तु नराधिप ते दुर्गमाः शैलचिता म्लेच्छदेशा विकल्पिताः
The many leaves of the lotus, O king, are those difficult regions, heaped with mountains, which are designated as the lands of foreigners.
यान्यधोभागपर्णानि ते निवासास्तु भागशः दैत्यानामुरगाणां च पतङ्गानां च पार्थिव
Those leaves beneath, O ruler, are the dwellings, in their respective parts, of the demons, serpents, and insects.
तेषां महार्णवो यत्र तद्रसेत्यभिसंज्ञितम् महापातककर्माणो मज्जन्ते यत्र मानवाः
There, among them, is the great ocean, known as 'that essence,' where humans who commit grave sins are submerged.
पद्मस्यान्तरतो यत्तद् एकार्णवगता मही प्रोक्ताथ दिक्षु सर्वासु चत्वारः सलिलाकराः
Within the lotus, the earth that entered the single ocean is spoken of; and in all directions, there are four reservoirs of water.
एवं नारायणस्यार्थे मही पुष्करसंभवा प्रादुर्भावो ऽप्ययं तस्मान् नाम्ना पुष्करसंज्ञितः
Thus, for the sake of Nārāyaṇa, the earth arising from the lotus appeared; therefore, it is called by the name 'Puṣkara.'
एतस्मात्कारणात्तज्ज्ञैः पुराणैः परमर्षिभिः याज्ञिकैर्वेददृष्टान्तैर् यज्ञे पद्मविधिः स्मृतः
For this reason, the learned, the ancient sages, and the ritualists, by the evidence of the Vedas, have remembered the lotus method in sacrifice.
एवं भगवता तेन विश्वेषां धारणाविधिः पर्वतानां नदीनां च ह्रदानां चैव निर्मितः
Thus, by the Blessed One, the method of sustaining all things was established—the mountains, rivers, and lakes.
विभुस्तथैवाप्रतिमप्रभावः प्रभाकराभो वरुणः सितद्युतिः शनैः स्वयंभूः शयनं सृजत्तदा जगन्मयं पद्मविधिं महार्णवे
Then the mighty, peerless, radiant Varuṇa, resembling the sun, shining with pale light, slowly, the self-born, created his bed—the lotus method—in the great ocean, encompassing the world.
विघ्नस्तपसि सम्भूतो मधुर्नाम महासुरः तेनैव च सहोद्भूतो ह्य् असुरो नाम कैटभः
An obstacle arose in the austerity: the great demon named Madhu was born, and with him, his brother, the demon named Kaitabha.
तौ रजस्तमसौ विष्णोः सम्भूतौ तामसौ गणौ एकार्णवे जगत्सर्वं क्षोभयन्तौ महाबलौ
These two, born from the passion and darkness of Viṣṇu, were powerful, tamasic beings, who disturbed the entire world in the single ocean.
दिव्यरक्ताम्बरधरौ श्वेतदीप्तोग्रदंष्ट्रिणौ किरीटकुण्डलोदग्रौ केयूरवलयोज्ज्वलौ
Clad in divine red garments, with shining white, fierce fangs, adorned with towering crowns and earrings, their armlets and bracelets gleamed.
महाविवृतताम्राक्षौ पीनोरस्कौ महाभुजौ महागिरेः संहननौ जङ्गमाविव पर्वतौ
With wide, coppery eyes, broad chests, mighty arms, built like great mountains, they moved like living peaks.
नवमेघप्रतीकाशाव् आदित्यसदृशाननौ विद्युदाभौ गदाग्राभ्यां कराभ्यामतिभीषणौ
Resembling new clouds, with faces like the sun, shining like lightning, they were terrifying, holding maces in their hands.
तौ पादयोस्तु विन्यासाद् उत्क्षिपन्ताविवार्णवम् कम्पयन्ताविव हरिं शयानं मधुसूदनम्
Placing their feet, as if lifting up the ocean, they seemed to shake Hari, the sleeping slayer of Madhu.
तौ तत्र विचरन्तौ स्म पुष्करे विश्वतोमुखम् योगिनां श्रेष्ठमासाद्य दीप्तं ददृशतुस्तदा
There, wandering in the lotus with faces turned everywhere, they encountered the foremost of yogis, blazing in splendor, and saw him.
नारायणसमाज्ञातं सृजन्तमखिलाः प्रजाः दैवतानि च विश्वानि मानसानसुरानृषीन्
They saw him, commanded by Nārāyaṇa, creating all beings—the gods, the entire world, the mind-born, the demons, and the sages.
ततस्तावूचतुस्तत्र ब्रह्माणमसुरोत्तमौ दीप्तौ मुमूर्षू संक्रुद्धौ रोषव्याकुलितेक्षणौ
Then those two, the foremost demons, blazing, intent on killing, enraged, with eyes wild with wrath, spoke to Brahmā there.
कस्त्वं पुष्करमध्यस्थः सितोष्णीषश्चतुर्भुजः आधाय नियमं मोहाद् आस्ते त्वं विगतज्वरः
Who are you, seated in the midst of the lotus, white-turbaned, four-armed, calmly observing restraint, free from all affliction, and yet deluded?
एह्यागच्छावयोर् युद्धं देहि त्वं कमलोद्भव आवाभ्यां परमीशाभ्याम् अशक्तस्त्वमिहार्णवे
Come, let us fight, O you born from the lotus! You are powerless here in the ocean before us, the two supreme lords.
तत्र कश्चोद्भवस्तुभ्यं केन वासि न योजितः कः स्रष्टा कश्च ते गोप्ता केन नाम्ना विधीयसे
Who is your origin, and by whom have you been appointed? Who is your creator, who is your protector, and by what name are you known?
एक इत्युच्यते लोकैर् अविचिन्त्यः सहस्रदृक् तत्संयोगेन भवतोः कर्म नामावगच्छताम्
He is called the One by the worlds, unfathomable, thousand-eyed; by his union, let the two of you understand your actions and names.
नावयोः परमं लोके किंचिदस्ति महामते आवाभ्यां छाद्यते विश्वं तमसा रजसाथ वै
O wise one, there is nothing supreme in this world beyond us; by us, the universe is veiled in darkness and passion.
रजस्तमोमयावावाम् ऋषीणाम् अवलङ्घितौ छाद्यमानौ धर्मशीलौ दुस्तरौ सर्वदेहिनाम्
We are composed of passion and darkness, surpassing the sages, righteous yet difficult to overcome for all embodied beings, even as we are concealed.
आवाभ्यामुह्यते लोको दुष्कराभ्यां युगे युगे आवामर्थश्च कामश्च यज्ञः स्वर्गपरिग्रहः
By us, the world is bewildered, for we are difficult to overcome in every age; we are the cause, desire, sacrifice, and the attainment of heaven.
सुखं यत्र मुदा युक्तं यत्र श्रीः कीर्तिरेव च येषां यत्काङ्क्षितं चैव तत्तदावां विचिन्तय
Where there is happiness joined with joy, where there is fortune and fame, whatever is desired by any, that we two contemplate.
यत्नाद् योगवतो दृष्ट्या योगः पूर्वं मयार्जितः तं समाधाय गुणवत् सत्त्वं चास्मि समाश्रितः
Through effort and yogic vision, I first attained union; establishing that, endowed with qualities, I have taken refuge in sattva.
यः परो योगमतिमान् योगाख्यः सत्त्वमेव च रजसस्तमसश्चैव यः स्रष्टा विश्वसंभवः
He who is supreme, endowed with yoga and wisdom, known as Yoga and Sattva, is the creator of passion and darkness, and the origin of the universe.
ततो भूतानि जायन्ते सात्त्विकानीतराणि च स एव हि युवां नांशे वशी देवो हनिष्यति
From him are born all beings, both sattvic and others; indeed, he, the lord, will subdue you both by a portion of himself.
स्वपन्नेव ततः श्रीमान् बहुयोजनविस्तृतम् बाहुं नारायणो ब्रह्मा कृतवानात्ममायया
Then, as he slept, the glorious Nārāyaṇa, by his own power, made Brahmā from his arm, vast as many leagues.