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.
कृष्यमाणौ ततस्तस्य बाहुना बाहुशालिनः चेरतुस्तौ विगलितौ शकुनाविव पीवरौ
Then, as they were being drawn by the arm of that mighty one, the two, loosened, moved about like two fat birds.
ततस्तावाहतुर्गत्वा तदा देवं सनातनम् पद्मनाभं हृषीकेशं प्रणिपत्य स्थितावुभौ
Then both went to the eternal god, Padmanābha, Hṛṣīkeśa, and, bowing down, stood before him.
जानीवस्त्वां विश्वयोनिं त्वामेकं पुरुषोत्तमम् त्वमावां पाहि हेत्वर्थम् इदं नौ बुद्धिकारणम्
We know you as the source of the universe, the one supreme person; protect us both, for the sake of purpose—this is our reason for coming.
अमोघदर्शनः स त्वं यतस्त्वां विद्वः शाश्वतम् ततस्त्वामागतावावाम् अभितः प्रसमीक्षितुम्
You, whose vision never fails, are known as eternal; therefore, we have come here to behold you directly.
तदिच्छामो वरं देव त्वत्तो ऽद्भुतम् अरिंदम अमोघदर्शनो ऽसि त्वं नमस्ते समितिंजय
We desire a boon from you, O wondrous god, subduer of foes; you, whose vision never fails, we bow to you, conqueror in battle.
किमर्थं हि द्रुतं ब्रूतं वरं ह्यसुरसत्तमौ दत्तायुष्कौ पुनर्भूयो रहो जीवितुम् इच्छथः
Tell us quickly, for what purpose, O best of Asuras, have you, granted renewed life, again sought to live in secret?
यस्मिन्न कश्चिन्मृतवान् देव तस्मिन्प्रभो वधम् तमिच्छावो वधश्चैव त्वत्तो नो ऽस्तु महाव्रत
O Lord, in whose presence no one has died, we desire death from you, O Great Vowed One; let death come to us from you.
बाढं युवां तु प्रवरौ भविष्यत्कालसंभवे भविष्यतो न संदेहः सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वाम्
So be it; you two shall indeed be foremost in the future, there is no doubt you will be; I speak this truth to you both.
वरं प्रदायाथ महासुराभ्यां सनातनो विश्ववरः सुरोत्तमः रजस्तमोवर्गभवायनौ यमौ ममन्थ तावूरुतलेन वै प्रभुः
Then, granting a boon to those two great asuras, the eternal, supreme god, the best of gods, churned them, Yama and Yamī, born of the qualities of passion and darkness, with his own thigh.
स्थित्वा च तस्मिन्कमले ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्महातेजास् तपो घोरं समाश्रितः
There, seated upon that lotus, Brahmā, the foremost knower of Brahman, with arms raised, of great brilliance, undertook severe austerity.