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.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। युवयोर्बाढमेतत्स्याद्भविष्ये कलिसंभवे। भविष्यथो न संदेहः सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वाम्॥१.४०.
The Blessed Lord said: So be it for you both; this will happen at the coming of Kali. You shall become so, without doubt; I speak this truth to you.
वरं प्रदायाथ महासुराभ्यां सनातनो विश्वधरः सुरोत्तमः। रजस्तमोजौ तु तदांजनोपमौ ममर्द तावूरुतलेऽमरप्रभुः॥१.४०.
Then, having granted a boon to the two great asuras, the eternal upholder of the universe, the best of gods, crushed those two, resembling collyrium in color, manifestations of rajas and tamas, on his thighs—the lord of immortals.
स्थित्वा तस्मिंस्तु कमले ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदांवरः। ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्महातेजास्तपोघोरं समाश्रितः॥१.४०.
Then Brahma, best among knowers of Brahman, stood upon that lotus, with arms raised, of great brilliance, engaged in fierce austerity.
प्रज्वलन्निव तेजोभिर्भाभिः स्वाभिस्तमोनुदः। बभाषे स तु धर्मात्मा सहस्रांशुरिवांशुभिः॥१.४०.
Blazing as if with his own rays, dispelling darkness, that righteous-souled one spoke, shining like the thousand-rayed sun with his beams.
अथान्यद्रूपमास्थाय प्रभुर्नरायणोव्ययः। आजगाम महातेजा योगाचार्यो महायशाः॥१.४०.
Then, assuming another form, the imperishable Lord Nārāyaṇa, radiant with great splendor, arrived there as the illustrious master of yoga.
सांख्याचार्यश्च मतिमान्कपिलो ब्रह्मणां वरः। उभावपि महात्मानौ पूजितौ तत्र तत्परौ॥१.४०.
And Kapila, the wise teacher of Sāṃkhya and foremost among the sons of Brahmā, both great souls, honored and intent, were also present there.
तौ प्राप्तावूचतुस्तत्र ब्रह्माणममितौजसम्। परावरविशेषज्ञौ पूजितौ च महर्षिभिः॥१.४०.
Those two, possessing vast energy, knowing the distinctions of the higher and lower, and honored by the great sages, approached and addressed Brahmā there.
ब्रह्म संपरिवेद्यं ते विशाल जगदास्थितौ। ग्रामणीस्सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मा त्रैलोक्यपूजितः॥१.४०.
Brahmā, the lord revered throughout the three worlds, vast and established in the universe, the chief of all beings, was thus addressed by them.
तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विबोध्यगतयोः परम्। त्रीनिमान्कृतवान्लोकान्यथेयं ब्रह्मणः श्रुतिः॥१.४०.
Hearing their words and understanding their supreme intentions, he created these three worlds, as is declared in the Veda of Brahmā.
पुत्रं स्वसंभवं चैकं समुत्पादितवान्भुवम्। तदाग्रे चागतस्तस्य ब्रह्ममानससंभवः॥१.४०.
He produced one son, born from himself, and the earth; and before that, another was born from his mind.