यज्ञियैर्वेददृष्टांतैर्यज्ञैर्यूपचितिः कृता। एवं भगवता तेन विश्वव्याप्यधराचिता॥१.४०.
With sacrificial rites and examples seen in the Vedas, the altar was constructed; thus, by that Blessed One, the all-pervading foundation of the universe was established.
पर्वतानां नदीनां च रचना चैव निर्मिता। विश्वस्य यश्चाप्रतिमप्रभावः प्रभाकरा भो वरुणोमितद्युतिः॥१.४०.
The arrangement of mountains and rivers was also made; and his power in the universe is without equal, O radiant one, whose brilliance rivals the sun and Varuṇa.
शनैः स्वयंभूर्व्यसृजत्सुषुप्तं जगन्मयः पद्मनिधिं महार्णवे। विघ्नस्तपसि संभूतो मधुर्नाम महासुरः॥१.४०.
Gradually, the self-born one created, while all was still asleep, the lotus-treasure in the great ocean; then, from his austerity, arose the great demon named Madhu.
तेनैव च सहोद्भूतो ह्यसुरो नाम कैटभः। तौ रजस्तमसोर्भूतौ संभूतौ तामसौ गणौ ॥१.४०.
Along with him, there arose another demon called Kaiṭabha; both were born from rajas and tamas, forming a pair of demonic beings.
एकार्णवं जगत्सर्वं क्षोभयेतां महाबलौ। दिव्यरक्तांबरधरौ श्वेतदीप्तोग्रदंष्ट्रिणौ॥१.४०.
Those two, mighty in strength, agitated the entire world-ocean; they wore divine red garments and had white, shining, fearsome fangs.
किरीटमकुटोदग्रौ केयूरवलयोज्ज्वलौ। महाविवृतताम्राक्षौ पीनोरस्कौ महाभुजौ॥१.४०.
Towering with crowns and crested helmets, adorned with brilliant armlets and bracelets, with wide-open coppery eyes, broad-chested and mighty-armed.
महागिरेः संहननौ जंगमाविव पर्वतौ। नवमेघप्रतीकाशावादित्यप्रतिमाननौ॥१.४०.
Compact as great mountains, moving like living peaks, resembling new clouds, with faces like the sun.
विपुलाभोगकेयूर कराभ्यामतिभीषणौ। पादसंचारविन्यासैर्विक्षिपंताविवार्णवम्॥१.४०.
With massive, coiled armlets on their arms, exceedingly terrifying, their steps and movements seemed to churn the ocean.
कंपयंतौ हरिमिव शयानं मधुसूदनम्। तौ तत्र विचरंतौ तु पुष्करे विश्वतोमुखौ॥१.४०.
Shaking even Hari, the slayer of Madhu, as he lay resting, those two wandered there in Puṣkara, facing in all directions.
योगिनां श्रेष्ठमत्यंतं दीप्तं ददृशतुस्तदा। नारायणसमाज्ञातं सृजंतमखिलाः प्रजाः॥१.४०.
Then, they saw the supreme and radiant best among yogis, commanded by Nārāyaṇa, creating all beings.
दैवतानि च विश्वानि मानसांश्च सुतानृषीन्। ततस्तावूचतुस्तत्र ब्रह्माणमसुरोत्तमौ॥१.४०.
And the gods, all the worlds, and the mind-born sons and sages; then those two foremost asuras spoke to Brahmā there.
दुष्टौ युयुत्सू संक्रुद्धौ क्रोधव्याकुलितेक्षणौ। कस्त्वं पुष्करमध्यस्थः सितोष्णीषश्चतुर्भुजः॥१.४०.
Wicked, eager for battle, enraged, their eyes wild with anger, they said: 'Who are you, seated in the middle of the lotus, white-turbaned and four-armed?'
आवामगणयन्मोहादास्से त्वं विगतस्पृहः। एह्यागच्छावयोर्युद्धं देहि त्वं कमलोद्भव॥१.४०.
'You disregard us out of delusion, sitting there without desire; come, let us fight—grant us battle, O you born from the lotus!'
आवाभ्यां परमेशाभ्यामशक्तः स्थातुमर्णवे। तत्र कश्च भवेत्तुभ्यं येन चात्र नियोजितः॥१.४०.
'By us, the supreme lords, you are unable to remain in the ocean; who is there for you here, by whom you have been appointed?'
कः स्रष्टा कश्च ते गोप्ता केन नाम्नाभिधीयते। ब्रह्मोवाच। ईश्वरः प्रोच्यते लोके विष्णुश्चानंतशक्तिधृत्॥१.४०.
'Who is the creator, who is your protector, and by what name is he known?' Brahmā spoke: 'He is called the Lord in the world, Viṣṇu, bearer of infinite power.'
तत्सकाशात्तु जातं मां स्रष्टारमवगच्छतम्। मधुकैटभा ऊचतुः। नावयोः परमं लोके किंचिदस्ति महामुने॥१.४०.
'From him I was born; know me as the creator.' Madhu and Kaiṭabha said: 'There is nothing higher than us in the world, O great sage.'
आवाभ्यां च्छाद्यते विश्वं तमसा रजसा च वै। रजस्तमोमयावावामृषीणामतिलंघिनौ॥१.४०.
By us, the entire universe is covered with darkness and with passion; we two, composed of rajas and tamas, surpass even the sages.
धर्म शीलं च्छादयन्तौ नाशकौ सर्वदेहिनाम्। आवाभ्यां युज्यते लोको दुस्तराभ्यां युगे युगे॥१.४०.
We obscure virtue and good conduct, and are invincible for all embodied beings; the world is bound by us, who are difficult to overcome, in every age.
आवामर्थश्च कामश्च यज्ञस्सर्वपरिग्रहः। सुखं यत्र मदो यत्र यत्र श्रीः कीर्तिरेव च॥१.४०.
We are desire for wealth and pleasure, sacrifice, all possessions; wherever there is happiness, intoxication, fortune, or fame, there we are.
येषां यत्कांक्षितं किंचित्तत्तदावां विचिंतय। ब्रह्मोवाच। आवाभ्यां संहतौ दृष्ट्वा युवां पूर्वं पराजितौ॥१.४०.
Whatever anyone desires, that we consider; Brahma said: Previously, seeing you both united, you were defeated.
तं समाधाय गुणिनं सत्वं चास्मि समाश्रितः। यः परो योगयुक्तात्मा योक्षरः सत्वमेव च॥१.४०.
Having established that virtuous quality, I have taken refuge in sattva; he whose mind is joined to yoga, who is supreme and imperishable, is indeed sattva.
रजसस्तमसश्चैव यः स्रष्टा विश्वसंभवः। ततो भूतानि जायंते सात्विकानीतराणि च॥१.४०.
He who is the creator of rajas and tamas, the origin of the universe, from him are born beings, both sattvic and others.
स एव युवयोर्नाशं वासुदेवः करिष्यति। स्वपन्नेव ततो देवो बहुयोजनविस्तृतौ॥१.४०.
That very Vāsudeva will bring about your destruction; then, as the god sleeps, in the vast expanse of many yojanas—
बाहू नारायणो ब्रह्म कृतवानात्ममायया। कृष्यमाणौ ततस्तस्य बाहुभ्यां बाहुशालिनौ॥१.४०.
Nārāyaṇa, by his own maya, made Brahma from his arm; then, being drawn forth by his arms, you two, strong-armed, were pulled.
चेरतुस्तौ विगलितौ शकुनाविव पीवरौ। ततस्तावाहतुर्गत्वा वासुदेवं सनातनम्॥१.४०.
You both wandered, loosened, like two fat birds; then, going to the eternal Vāsudeva, you spoke.
पद्मनाभं हृषीकेशं प्रणिपत्य नतावुभौ। जानीवस्त्वां विश्वयोनिं त्वामेकं पुरुषोत्तमम्॥१.४०.
Both of you, bowing down, paid homage to Padmanābha, Hṛṣīkeśa, saying: 'We know you as the source of the universe, you alone, the supreme person.'
आवयोश्चैव हेतुं त्वां जानन्तौ बुद्धिकारणम्। अमोघदर्शनं सत्यं यतस्त्वां विद्व(?)शाश्वतम्॥१.४०.
Knowing you as the cause of us both, the origin of intelligence, whose vision is unfailing, who is truth, therefore we understand you as the eternal one.
ततस्त्वामभितो देव कांक्षावः प्रसमीक्षितुम्। अमोघदर्शनोसि त्वं नमस्ते समितिंजय॥१.४०.
Therefore, O god, we have come to you, desiring to behold you; you are of unfailing vision—salutations to you, conqueror in battle.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। किमर्थं मामनुब्रूथ युवामसुरसत्तमौ। गतायुष्कौ युवां भूयस्त्वहो जीवितुमिच्छथः॥१.४०.
The Blessed Lord said: For what reason do you address me, O best of asuras? You whose life is ended—do you again wish to live?
मधुकैटभा ऊचतुः। यस्मिन्न कश्चिन्मृतवान्देव तस्मिन्वधं प्रभो। इच्छावः पुत्रतां चैव भवतः सुमहातपः॥१.४०.
Madhukaiṭabha said: O Lord, in that place where no one has died, grant us death; and also, O greatly austere one, we wish to become your sons.