धाता विधाता जगतो वासुदेवः सनातनः । विश्वमेवेदं पुरुषस्तद्विश्वमुपजीवति
Vasudeva, eternal, is the creator and ordainer of the world. This universe is indeed that Person; the world subsists upon him.
हिरण्मयवपुर्नित्यःपुंडरीकनिभेक्षणः । श्रीभूलीलापतिः सौम्योनिर्म्मलः शुभविग्रहः
He is eternal, with a golden form, lotus-like eyes, the lord of Sri and Bhumi, gentle, pure, and possessing an auspicious body.
तेनैव सृष्टौ ब्रह्मेशौ सर्गे देवोत्तमौ विभू । तस्यैवाज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य वर्त्तेते ब्रह्मशंकरौ
Thus, in creation, Brahma and Shiva—those two supreme gods—exist by upholding his command; Brahma and Shankara act in accordance with his will.
भीषास्माद्वाति पवनो भीषोदेति दिवाकरः । भीषास्मादग्निश्चंद्रोऽथ मृत्युर्धावति पंचमः
Out of fear of him the wind blows, out of fear the sun rises; out of fear fire, the moon, and death—the fifth—move forth.
आसीदेको हरिर्दिव्यो देवो नारायणः परः । ब्रह्मा नेंद्रो न चेशानो न च चंद्र दिवाकरौ
There was only one divine Hari, the supreme god Narayana; there was no Brahma, no Indra, no Ishana, nor the moon or the sun.
न वा द्यावापृथिव्यौ च नक्षत्राणि दिवौकसः । तस्य विष्णोः परं धाम सदा पश्यंति सूरयः
There were not the heavens or the earth, nor the stars or celestial beings; the sages always behold that supreme abode of Vishnu.
एवं सर्वोपनिषदामर्थं हित्वा द्विजोत्तमाः । रागाल्लोभाद्भयाद्वापि किं ब्रवीथ ममाग्रतः
Thus, O best of twice-born, having abandoned the meaning of all the Upanishads, whether out of passion, greed, or fear, what do you say before me?
तं सर्वरक्षकं देवं त्यक्त्वा सर्वेश्वरं हरिम् । कथं पाषंडमाश्रित्य पूजयामि च शंकरम्
Having abandoned that god Hari, the protector of all, the lord of all, how could I, taking refuge in heresy, worship Shankara?
लक्ष्मीपतिं देवदेवमनंतं पुरुषोत्तमम् । इंदीवरदलश्यामं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम्
The consort of Lakshmi, god of gods, infinite, the supreme person, dark as a blue lotus petal, with eyes wide as lotus leaves—
श्रीवत्सलक्षितोरस्कं सर्व्वाभरणभूषितम् । सदा कुमारं सर्व्वेशं नित्यानन्दसुखप्रदम्
With chest marked by the Srivatsa, adorned with all ornaments, ever youthful, lord of all, bestower of eternal bliss and happiness—
कृष्णं दध्युर्महात्मानो योगिनः सनकादयः । यमर्चयंति ब्रह्मेश शक्राद्या देवतागणाः
The great-souled yogis such as Sanaka meditate upon Krishna; Brahma, Shiva, Indra, and other hosts of gods worship him.
यस्य पत्न्याः कटाक्षार्द्धदृष्ट्या दृष्टा दिवौकसः । ब्रह्मेंद्र रुद्र वरुण यम सोम धनाधिपाः
By a mere sidelong glance from his wife, the dwellers of heaven—Brahma, Indra, Rudra, Varuna, Yama, Soma, and Kubera—are seen.
यन्नामस्मरणादेव पापिनामपि सत्वरम् । मुक्तिर्भवति जंतूनां ब्रह्मादीनां सुदुर्लभा
By merely remembering his name, even the sinful quickly attain liberation—a liberation difficult even for beings like Brahma to obtain.
स एवं रक्षकः श्रीशो देवानामपि सर्वदा । तमेव पूजयिष्यामि लक्ष्म्या संयुतमच्युतम्
He alone is the protector, the lord of Sri, always for the gods; I will worship only him, the infallible one, united with Lakshmi.
प्राप्स्यामि सुसुखेनैव तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । रुद्र उवाच- इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुस्ततः
I will easily attain that supreme abode of Vishnu. Rudra said: Hearing these words, then Hiranyakashipu—
क्रोधेन महताविष्टो जज्वालाग्निरिवापरः । परितो वीक्ष्य दैतेयानित्याह क्रोधमूर्छितः
Overcome by great anger, blazing like another fire, he looked around at the Daityas and, maddened by rage, spoke.
हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच - भीषणैः शस्त्रसंघातैः प्रह्लादं पापकारिणम् । ममाज्ञया घातयध्वं शत्रुपूजनतत्परम्
Hiranyakashipu said: With terrifying weapons, kill Prahlada, the evildoer, by my command—he who is devoted to worshiping the enemy.
रक्षिता हरिरेवेति रक्षते तेन वात्सलात् । अद्यैव सफलं तस्य पश्येयं हरिरक्षणम्
If Hari alone is the protector and protects him out of affection, then today I shall see the fruition of that protection by Hari.
रुद्र उवाच- तदोद्यतास्त्रा दैतेया हंतुं दैत्येश्वरात्मजम् । परिवार्य महात्मानं तस्थुर्दैत्येश्वराज्ञया
Rudra said: Then the Daityas, weapons raised, surrounded the great-souled son of the lord of the Daityas, standing by the command of their king.
प्रह्लादोऽपि तथा विष्णुं ध्यात्वा हृदयपंकजे । जपन्नष्टाक्षरं मंत्रं तस्थौ गिरिरिवापरः
Prahlada, too, meditating on Vishnu in the lotus of his heart, reciting the eight-syllabled mantra, stood firm like another mountain.
तं जघ्नुः परितो वीराः शूलतोमरशक्तिभिः । प्रह्लादस्य वपुस्तत्र हरिसंस्मरणाच्छुभे
The warriors surrounded him and struck with spears, javelins, and lances; yet Prahlada’s body, blessed by remembrance of Hari, remained unharmed.
विष्णोः प्रभावाद्दुद्धर्षाद्वज्रभूतमभूद्भृशम् । ततः संप्राप्य तद्गात्रं महास्त्राणि सुरद्विषाम्
By the power of Vishnu, his body became unassailable, like adamant; then, upon striking his limbs, the mighty weapons of the enemies of the gods
नीलोत्पलदलानीव पेतुश्चिछन्नाः क्षितौ शुभे । अल्पमप्यस्य तद्गात्रं भेत्तुं दैत्या न च क्षमाः
fell to the ground, scattered like petals of blue lotuses, O blessed one; the demons were unable to break even a small part of his body.
विस्मितावाङ्मुखास्तस्थुर्दैत्य राजांतिके भटाः । तादृग्विधं महात्मानं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं महाबलम्
Astonished and speechless, the warriors stood before the king of the demons, having seen such a great-souled and powerful son.
विस्मयं परमं गत्वा दैत्यराट्क्रोधमूर्छितः । आदिदेश ततः सर्वान्दंदशूकान्महाविषान्
Filled with utmost wonder and overcome by anger, the king of the demons then ordered all the venomous serpents.
वासुकिप्रभृतीन्भीमान्खादयध्वमिति क्रुधा । आदिष्टास्तेन राज्ञाथ ते नागाः सुमहाबलाः
He commanded the fierce serpents, led by Vasuki, in his wrath: 'Devour him!' Thus ordered by the king, those mighty serpents
ज्वलितास्या महाभीमास्तं च खादुर्महाबलम् । गरुडध्वजभक्तं तं विदश्य गरलायुधाः
with blazing mouths, terrifying in form, attacked that powerful devotee of Garuda’s banner, biting him with their venomous weapons.
निर्विषाश्च्छिन्नदशना बभूवुरनिलाशनाः । वैनतेयसहस्रेण छिन्नगात्राः सुविह्वलाः
Their venom gone, their fangs broken, they became wind-eaters; their bodies were wounded by the thousand attacks of Vainateya, and they were greatly distressed.
प्रदुद्रुवुर्दिशः सर्वावमंतो रुधिरं भृशम् । तादृग्विधान्महासर्पान्दृष्ट्वा दैत्यपतिस्तदा
They fled in all directions, blood flowing profusely; seeing such mighty serpents, the lord of the demons then
आदिदेश ततः क्रुद्धो दिग्गजान्सुमदान्वितान् । निर्दिष्टास्तेन राज्ञाथ दिग्गजाश्च मदोद्धताः
angrily ordered the elephants of the quarters, intoxicated and powerful; thus commanded by the king, those elephants, maddened with pride,