पुरा कस्य द्विजस्यापि जातस्त्वं नाप्यधीतवान् । नाम्ना तु वसुदेवो हि वेश्यायामति लंपटः
In a former birth, you were not born to any Brahmin, nor did you study; by name, you were Vasudeva, exceedingly lustful, born to a courtesan.
तस्मिन्जन्मनि नैवं च चकार सुकृतं कियत् । भुक्त्वा मधु घृतं चैव वेश्यासंगमलालसः
In that life, you did not perform even a little virtuous deed; indulging in honey and ghee, you were eager for union with courtesans.
मद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेन भक्तिर्जाता तवानघ । प्रह्लादोवाच। विस्तराद्वद देवेश कस्य पुत्रस्य किं व्रतम्
By the power of my vow, devotion arose in you, O sinless one. Prahlada said: O Lord of the gods, tell in detail—whose son, and what vow was it?
वेश्यायां वर्तमानेन कथंचिद्धि कृतं मया । ममोपरि कृपां कृत्वा सर्वं कथय सांप्रतम्
While living with a courtesan, I somehow performed it; having shown your compassion to me, tell me everything now.
नृसिंह उवाच। सृष्ट्यर्थं तु पुरा ब्रह्मा चक्रे ह्येतदनुत्तमम् । मद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेन निर्मितं सचराचरम्
Nṛsiṃha said: Formerly, for the purpose of creation, Brahma made this supreme vow; by the power of my vow, all moving and unmoving beings were created.
ईश्वरेण व्रतं चीर्णं वधार्थं त्रिपुरस्यच । व्रतस्यास्यप्रभावेन त्रिपुरस्तु निपातितः
The Lord performed the vow for the destruction of Tripura; by the power of this vow, Tripura was cast down.
अन्यैश्च बहुभिर्देवैरृषिभिश्च पुरातनैः । राजभिश्च महाप्राज्ञैर्विहितं व्रतमुत्तमम्
This excellent vow was also undertaken by many other ancient gods, sages, and great wise kings.
व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन सर्वे सिद्धिमवाप्नुयुः । मम ते वै प्रिया जाता दिवि भोगाननेकशः
By the power of this vow, all attain success; in heaven, many enjoyments have become dear to you through me.
भुक्त्वा मयि विलीनास्तु प्रह्लाद त्वं विशस्व माम् । कार्यार्थमवतारस्ते मच्छरीरत्पृथग्यतः
Having enjoyed them, they merge in me; Prahlada, enter into me. For the sake of duty, your descent is separate from my body.
न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिर्महाकल्पशतैरपि । दरिद्रो लभते लक्ष्मीं धनदस्य च यादृशी
There is no return for them, even after hundreds of great aeons; a poor man obtains wealth like that of Kubera.
ततः कामी लभेत्कामं राज्यार्थी राज्यमुत्तमम् । आयुष्कामो लभेदायुर्यादृशं च शिवस्य हि
Then, one who desires pleasure attains pleasure, one who seeks sovereignty attains supreme sovereignty, and one who desires long life attains a lifespan like that of Shiva.
अवैधव्यकरं स्त्रीणां पुत्रदं भाग्यदं तथा । धनधान्यकरं चैव तथाशोकविनाशनम्
It grants freedom from widowhood to women, sons, good fortune, wealth and grain, and the removal of sorrow.
स्त्रियो वा पुरुषा वापि कुर्वंति व्रतमुत्तमम् । तेभ्यो ददाम्यहं सौख्यं भुक्ति मुक्ति फलं तथा
Whether women or men perform this supreme vow, to them I grant happiness, the fruits of enjoyment and liberation.
बहुनोक्तेन किं वत्स व्रतस्यास्य फलस्य हि । मद्व्रतस्य फलं वक्तुं नाहं शक्तो न शंकरः
What is the use of speaking at length, dear one? I am not able to describe the fruit of this vow, nor is Shankara.
प्रह्लाद उवाच। भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन श्रुतं व्रतमनुत्तमम् । व्रतस्यास्य फलं श्रोतुं त्वयि मे भक्ति कारणम्
Prahlada said: O Lord, by your grace I have heard of this supreme vow; my devotion to you is the reason I wish to hear the fruit of this vow.
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि व्रतस्यास्य विधिं परम् । कस्मिन्मासे भवेदेव कस्मिंश्चिद्वासरे प्रभो
Now I wish to hear the supreme procedure of this vow—O Lord, in which month and on what day should it be performed?
एतद्विस्तरतो देव वक्तुमर्हसि सांप्रतम् । विधिना येन वै स्वामिन्समग्रफलभाग्भवेत्
O God, you should now tell this in detail—by what procedure, O Master, one may obtain the complete fruit.
नृसिंह उवाच। प्रह्लाद वत्स भद्रं ते शृणुष्वैकमना व्रतम् । वैशाखेसित पक्षे तु चतुर्दश्यां समाचरेत्
Nṛsiṃha said: Prahlada, dear one, may it be well with you; listen attentively to the vow. In the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, it should be performed on the fourteenth day.
ममाविर्भावसंयुक्तं मम संतुष्टिकारणम् । शृणु पुत्र ममोत्पत्तिं भक्तानां सुखहेतवे
Hear, my son, of my manifestation, the cause of my satisfaction; listen to my origin, which brings happiness to devotees.
पश्चिमायां दिशायां च संजातं कारणांतरात् । मौलिस्तानमिदं क्षेत्रं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्
In the western direction, due to another cause, this place of the crown arose; it is sacred and destroys sin.
तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तु विख्यातो ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । हारीत इति नाम्ना च ज्ञानध्यानपरायणः
In that field, a renowned Brahmin, accomplished in the Vedas, named Harita, devoted to knowledge and meditation, became known.
तस्य स्त्री तु महापुण्या सतीरूपा सदा प्रभो । लीलावती तु नाम्ना च भर्तुर्वशपरा सदा
His wife was supremely virtuous, always faithful, O Lord; named Lilavati, she was ever devoted to her husband's will.
ताभ्यां तपो महत्तप्तं कालं बहुतरं सुत । एकविंशयुगाश्चैव यातास्तत्र न संशयः । तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे तु वै ताभ्यां प्रत्यक्षो वाभवत्तदा
Together, they performed great austerity for a long time, O son; twenty-one ages passed there, without doubt. In that field, they then saw the divine presence.
नृसिंह उवाच। यं यं वांछयसे ब्रह्मंस्तं ददामि न संशयः । ताभ्यामुक्तं तदा तस्मै दीयते चेद्वरो मम
Narasimha said: Whatever boon you desire, O Brahmin, I grant it without doubt. Whatever they asked at that time, I gave as my boon.
त्वादृशो मम पुत्रस्तु ह्यधुनैव भवत्विति । मयोक्तं तु तदा वत्स पुत्रोऽहं ते न संशयः
Let a son like me be born to you immediately—so I spoke then, O child. I am your son, without doubt.
विश्वकर्मा ह्यहं साक्षात्परमात्मा परात्परः । उदरेऽहं न वत्स्यामि यतोऽहं वै सनातनः
I am Visvakarma himself, the supreme soul, transcending all. I will not reside in the womb, for I am eternal.
हारीतेन तदा चोक्तं भवत्वेवं न संशयः । तदाप्रभृति वै क्षेत्रे स्थितोऽहं भक्तकारणात्
Harita then said: Let it be so, without doubt. From that time, I have remained in the field for the sake of devotees.
अत्रागत्य प्रकुर्वीत दर्शनं भक्तसत्तमः । तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयामि निरंतरम्
Whoever comes here, the best among devotees, and seeks my vision, I destroy all their obstacles continuously.
एतस्मात्कारणाच्चैव व्रतं वै विधिपूर्वकम् । ये कुर्वंति नरश्रेष्ठा न तेषां विद्यते भयम्
For this reason, those best among men who perform the vow according to prescribed rules have no fear.
बालरूपमयं ध्यात्वा ताभ्यां सह विशेषतः । पूजनं कुरुते रात्रौ स वै नारायणो भवेत्
Meditating especially on my child form together with them, whoever performs worship at night becomes Narayana.