सुरासुरेंद्रनमित पादपद्माय ते नमः । नमोनमः परेशाय अजितायामृतात्मने
To you, whose lotus feet are honored by the lords of gods and demons, I bow. Again and again I bow to the supreme Lord, unconquered, immortal soul.
क्षीरसागरवासाय नमः पद्माप्रियाय ते । ॐकाराय च शुद्धाय अचलाय नमोनमः
To you, who dwell in the ocean of milk, I bow, to you, beloved of Padmā. To Oṃkāra, pure and immovable, I bow again and again.
व्यापिने व्यापकायैव सर्वव्यसनहारिणे । नमोनमो वराहाय महाकूर्माय ते नमः
Salutations again and again to You, the all-pervading, who pervades all, the remover of all misfortune; homage to You as the Boar, and to You as the Great Tortoise.
नमो वामनरूपाय नृसिंहाय महात्मने । नमो रामाय दिव्याय सर्वक्षत्रवधाय च
Salutations to You in the form of Vāmana, to Nṛsiṃha, the great-souled; salutations to Rāma, the divine one, and to the destroyer of all Kṣatriyas.
सर्वज्ञानाय मत्स्याय नमो रामाय ते नमः । नमः कृष्णाय बुद्धाय नमो म्लेच्छप्रणाशिने
Salutations to the all-knowing, to Matsya; salutations to You as Rāma; homage to Kṛṣṇa, to Buddha, and to the destroyer of the barbarians.
नमः कपिलविप्राय हयग्रीवाय ते नमः । नमो व्यासस्वरूपाय नमः सर्वमयाय ते
Salutations to Kapila, the sage; to Hayagrīva, homage to You; salutations to You in the form of Vyāsa, and to You who are all-pervading.
एवं स्तुत्वा हृषीकेशं तमुवाच जनार्दनम् । गुणानां तु परं पारं ब्रह्मा वेत्ति न पावन
Having thus praised Hṛṣīkeśa, he spoke to Janārdana: 'O Pure One, even Brahmā does not know the farthest limit of Your qualities.'
न चैव स्तोतुं सर्वज्ञस्तथा रुद्र सःहस्रदृक् । वक्तुं को हि समर्थस्तु कीदृशी मे मतिर्विभो
Nor can the all-knowing Rudra with a thousand eyes praise You fully; who indeed is capable of speaking thus? What is the measure of my understanding, O Lord?
निर्गुणं सगुणं स्तोत्रं मयैव तव केशव । क्षमशब्दापशब्दं मे तव दासोस्मि सुव्रत
Whether my praise is with or without qualities, O Keśava, whether my words are proper or improper, I am Your servant, O steadfast one.
जन्मजन्मनि लोकेश दयां मे कुरु पावन
O Lord of the world, grant me compassion in every birth, O Pure One.
हरिरुवाच- तपसानेन पुण्येन सत्येनानेन ते द्विज । स्तोत्रेण पावनेनापि तुष्टोस्मि व्रियतां वरः
Hari said: By this austerity, by this merit, by this truth of yours, O twice-born, and by this pure hymn, I am pleased; ask for a boon.
वरं दद्मि महाभाग यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । यंयमिच्छसि कामं त्वं तंतं ते पूरयाम्यहम्
I grant you, O highly fortunate one, whatever boon you desire in your heart; whatever wish you have, that I shall fulfill for you.
सोमशर्मोवाच- प्रथमं देहि मे कृष्ण वरमेकं सुवाञ्छितम् । सुप्रसन्नेन मनसा यद्यस्ति सुदया मम
Somaśarman said: First, O Kṛṣṇa, grant me one cherished boon; if there is true compassion in me, with a mind well-pleased.
जन्मजन्मांतरं प्राप्य तव भक्तिं करोम्यहम् । दर्शयस्व परं स्थानमचलं मोक्षदायकम्
Having obtained birth after birth, may I have devotion to You; show me the supreme, unshakable place that grants liberation.
स्ववंशतारकं पुत्रं दिव्यलक्षणसंयुतम् । विष्णुभक्तिपरं नित्यं मम वंशप्रधारकम्
Grant me a son who will save my lineage, endowed with divine marks, always devoted to Viṣṇu, and the chief of my family.
सर्वज्ञं सर्वदं दांतं तपस्तेजः समन्वितम् । देवब्राह्मणलोकानां पालकं पूजकं सदा
All-knowing, generous, self-controlled, endowed with austerity and brilliance, always the protector and worshipper of the worlds of gods and Brahmins.
देवमित्रं पुण्यभावं दातारं ज्ञानपंडितम् । देहि मे ईदृशं पुत्रं दारिद्रं हर केशव
A friend to the gods, of virtuous nature, a giver, wise in knowledge; grant me such a son, remove my poverty, O Keśava.
भवत्वेवं न संदेहो वरमेनं वृणोम्यहम् । हरिरुवाच- एवमस्तु द्विजश्रेष्ठ भविष्यति न संशयः
Let it be so, there is no doubt; I choose this boon. Hari said: So be it, best of the twice-born, it shall be, without doubt.
मत्प्रसादात्सुपुत्रस्तु तव वंश प्रतारकः । भोक्ष्यसि त्वं वरान्भोगान्दिव्यांश्च मानुषानिह
By my grace, you will have a good son, the extender of your lineage; you shall enjoy both divine and human pleasures here.
समालोक्य परं सौख्यं पुत्रसंभवजं शुभम् । यावज्जीवसि विप्र त्वं तावद्दुःखं न पश्यसि
Seeing the supreme happiness arising from your son, O Brahmin, as long as you live, you will not see suffering.
दाता भोक्ता गुणग्राही भविष्यसि न संशयः । सुतीर्थे मरणं चापि यास्यसि त्वं परां गतिम्
You will become a giver, an enjoyer, and one who appreciates virtues; there is no doubt. And you will attain the highest state by dying at the holy place.
एवं वरं हरिर्दत्त्वा सप्रियाय द्विजाय सः । अंतर्धानं गतो देवः स्वप्नवत्परिदृश्यते
Thus, Hari granted the boon to the twice-born along with his beloved, and the god vanished, appearing as if in a dream.
तदा सुमनया युक्तः सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । सुतीर्थे पावने तस्मिन्रेवातीरे सुपुण्यदे
Then Somaśarman, the best of Brahmins, filled with joy, at that sacred and pure riverbank, performed holy acts.
अमरकंटके विप्रो दानं पुण्यं करोति सः । गते बहुतरे काले तस्य वै सोमशर्मणः
In Amarakaṇṭaka, the Brahmin performed acts of charity and merit; after much time had passed for Somaśarman,
कपिलारेवयोः संगे स्नानं कृत्वा स निर्गतः । दृष्टवान्पुरतो विप्रः श्वेतमेकं हि कुंजरम्
Having bathed at the confluence of the Kapilā and Revā rivers, he departed; the Brahmin saw before him a single white elephant.
सुप्रभं सुंदरं दिव्यं सुमदं चारुलक्षणम् । नानाभरणशोभांगं बहुलक्ष्म्या समन्वितम्
Radiant, beautiful, divine, splendidly marked, adorned with various ornaments, endowed with abundant fortune.
सिंदूरैः कुंकुमैस्तस्य कुंभस्थले विराजिते । कर्णनीलोत्पलयुतं पताकादंडसंयुतम्
Its forehead shone with vermilion and saffron; it was adorned with blue lotus earrings and equipped with banner poles.
नागोपरिस्थितो दिव्यः पुरुषो दृढसुप्रभः । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वाभरणभूषितः
Upon the elephant sat a divine man, firm and radiant, possessing divine marks and adorned with all ornaments.
दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः । सुसौम्यं सोमवत्पूर्णच्छत्रचामरसंयुतम्
Wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, gentle and full like the moon, accompanied by parasol and fan.
नागारूढं प्रयांतं तं पुनः पश्यति सत्तमः । सिद्धचारणगंधर्वैः स्तूयमानं सुमंगलम्
The noble one again saw him proceeding mounted on the elephant, praised by Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Gandharvas, auspicious in every way.