जगत्येकार्णवीभूते नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे
When the world had become a single ocean, and all that is movable and immovable was destroyed,
असंख्याताब्जजन्माद्यैराभूषिततनूरूहः
Adorned with bodies and forms born from countless lotuses,
सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतरो देवो ब्रह्माण्डग्रासंबृंहितः
The god, subtler than the subtle, who expands and contracts the cosmic egg,
मार्कण्डेयः स्थिनस्तस्य लीलाः पश्यन्महे शितुः
Markandeya, remaining there, beheld the divine play of the Great Lord.
हरिरेकः स्थित इति मुने पूर्वं हि शुश्रुम
O sage, we have heard that previously only Hari remained.
सर्वग्रस्तेन हरिणा किमर्थं सो ऽवशेषितः
When everything was consumed by Hari, for what reason was he left remaining?
हरिकीर्तिसुधापाने कस्यालस्यं प्रजा यते
Who among people would be slothful in drinking the nectar of Hari’s glory?
शालग्रामे महातीर्थे सो ऽतप्यत महातपाः
In Shalagrama, the great holy place, that great ascetic performed austerities.
निराहारः क्षमायुक्तः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः
Fasting, endowed with forbearance, truthful, and with senses subdued,
सर्वभूतहितो दान्त स्तताप सुमहत्तपः
Self-restrained, devoted to the welfare of all beings, he performed supreme austerity.
परेशं शरणं जग्मुर्नारायणमनामयम्
They sought refuge in the Supreme Lord, Narayana, the flawless one.
तुष्टुवुर्देवदेवेशं पह्मनाभं जगद्गुरुम्
They praised the Lord of gods, the lotus-naveled, the teacher of the world.
मृकण्डुतपसा त्रस्तान्पाहि नः शरणागतान्
O Lord, protect us who have taken refuge, frightened by Mrikandu’s austerity.
जयो लोकस्वरुपाय जयो ब्रह्माण्डहेतवे
Victory to you, who are the form of the world! Victory to you, the cause of the cosmic egg!
नमस्ते लोकनाथाय नमस्ते लोकसाक्षिणे
Salutations to you, Lord of the worlds! Salutations to you, witness of the worlds!
नमस्ते ध्यानरुपाय नमस्ते ध्यानपाक्षिणे
Salutations to you, whose form is meditation! Salutations to you, who are the fruit of meditation!
नमो भूम्यादिरूपाय नमश्चैतन्यरुपिणे
Salutations to you, whose form is the origin of earth! Salutations to you, who are the form of consciousness!
अरुपाय स्वरुपाय बहुरुपाय ते नमः
Salutations to you, who are formless, whose true form is your own, and who have many forms!
जगद्धिताय कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय नमोनमः
Repeated salutations to Krishna, to Govinda, for the welfare of the world.
नमः सूर्य्यादिरुपाय हव्यकव्यभुजे नमः
Salutations to the one who appears as the Sun and other forms, who accepts offerings of oblations and ancestral rites.
नमः स्मृतार्तिनाशाय भूयो भूयो नमो नमः
Salutations again and again to the one who destroys the suffering of those who remember him.
प्रत्यक्षतामगात्तेषां शङ्कचत्रगदाधरः
He, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, became visible to them.
सर्वालङ्कारसंयुक्तं श्रीवत्साङ्कितवक्षसम्
He was adorned with all ornaments, his chest marked with the Śrīvatsa.
स्तृयमानं मुनिवरैः पार्षदप्रवरावृत्तम्
He was praised by the best of sages, surrounded by foremost attendants.
नमश्चक्रुर्मुदा युक्ता अष्टाङ्गौरवनिं गताः
Filled with joy and reverence, they offered salutations with eightfold prostration.
उवाच प्रीणयन्देवान्नतानिन्द्रपुरोगमान्
Pleased, he spoke to the gods, who were bowed down, with Indra at their head.
युष्मान्न बाधते देवाः स ऋषिः सज्जनाग्राणीः
That sage, foremost among the virtuous, does not trouble you, O gods.
सर्वथान्यं न बाधन्ते स्वप्ने ऽपि सुरसत्तमाः
In every way, the best of gods do not trouble another, not even in a dream.
अविधायात्मनो रक्षामन्यान्द्वेष्टि कथं सुधीः
How can a wise person, without first ensuring his own protection, bear enmity toward another?
अन्यं क्रीडयितुं शक्तः कथं भवति सत्तमः
How can one who is noble be able to play with or harm another?