राज्ञोऽक्षिगोचरो जातो नीलनामा महागिरिः । राजतैः कानकैः शृंगैः समंतात्परिराजितः
Before the king's eyes appeared the great mountain called Nila, adorned all around with peaks of silver and gold.
किमग्निः प्रज्वलत्येष द्वितीयः किमु भास्करः । किमयं वैद्युतः पुंजो ह्यकस्मात्स्थिरकांतिधृक्
Is this fire blazing? Is it a second sun? Is this a mass of lightning, suddenly radiant and steady?
तापस ब्राह्मणो दृष्ट्वा नीलप्रस्थं सुशोभितम् । राज्ञे निवेदयामास एष पुण्यो महागिरिः
The ascetic Brahmin, seeing the splendid Nila plateau, reported to the king: 'This is the holy great mountain.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिश्रेष्ठः शिरसा प्रणनाम ह । धन्योऽस्मि कृतकृत्योऽस्मि नीलो मे दृष्टिगोचरः
Hearing this, the foremost king bowed his head and said: 'I am blessed, my purpose is fulfilled, for Nila is within my sight.'
अमात्यो राजपत्नी च करम्बस्तंतुवायकः । नीलदर्शनसंहृष्टा बभूवुः पुरुषर्षभ
The minister, the queen, the cook, and the weaver, O best of men, became joyful at the sight of Nila.
पंचैते विजये काले नीलपर्वतमारुहन् । महादुंदुभिनिर्घोषाञ्च्छृण्वन्तो ह्यमरैः कृतान्
These five, at the time of victory, ascended the Nila mountain, hearing the great sounds of celestial drums played by the gods.
तस्योपरितने शृंगे चित्रपादपराजिते । ददर्श हाटकाबद्धं देवालयमनुत्तमम्
On the summit of that mountain, adorned with wondrous footpaths, he saw an excellent temple bound with gold.
ब्रह्मागत्य सदा पूजां करोति परमेष्ठिनः । नैवेद्यं कुरुते यत्र हरिसंतोषकारकम्
There, Brahmā himself comes and always performs worship of the Supreme Lord, offering food that brings delight to Hari.
दृष्ट्वाथ तत्र विमलं देवायतनमुत्तमम् । प्रविवेश परीवारैः पंचभिः सह संवृतः
Seeing that pure and excellent temple, he entered within, surrounded by his five attendants.
तत्र दृष्ट्वा जातरूपे महामणिविचित्रिते । सिंहासने विराजंतं चतुर्भुजमनोहरम्
There he saw, upon a throne adorned with gold and great jewels, the enchanting four-armed Lord shining brilliantly.
चंड प्रचंड विजय जयादिभिरुपासितम् । प्रणनाम सपत्नीको राजा सेवकसंयुतः
Worshipped by Caṇḍa, Pracaṇḍa, Vijaya, Jaya, and others, the king, together with his wife and attendants, bowed down.
प्रणम्य परमात्मानं महाराजः सुरोत्तमम् । स्नापयामास विधिवद्वेदोक्तैः स्नानमंत्रकैः
Having bowed to the Supreme Self, the best of kings, excelling among the gods, bathed Him according to the prescribed Vedic mantras.
अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे प्रीतेन मनसा नृपः । चंदनेन विलिप्यैनं सुवस्त्रे विनिवेद्य च
With a joyful mind, the king offered arghya, pādya, and other rites, anointed Him with sandalwood, and presented fine garments.
धूपमारार्तिकं कृत्वा सर्वस्वादुमनोहरम् । नैवेद्यं भगवन्मूर्त्यै न्यवेदयदथो नृपः
Having performed incense and waving of lights, all supremely sweet and delightful, the king then offered food to the image of the Lord.
प्रणम्य च स्तुतिं चक्रे तापसब्राह्मणेन च । यथामतिगुणग्रामगुंफितस्तोत्रसंचयैः
After bowing, he offered praise, along with the ascetic and the brāhmaṇa, with hymns woven from abundant and fitting virtues.
राजोवाच। एकस्त्वं पुरुषः साक्षाद्भगवान्प्रकृतेः परः । कार्यकारणतो भिन्नो महत्तत्त्वादिपूजितः
The king said: You alone are the direct Person, O Lord, beyond nature, distinct from cause and effect, worshipped by the great principles and others.
त्वन्नाभिकमलाज्जज्ञे ब्रह्मा सृष्टिविचक्षणः । तथा संहारकर्ता च रुद्रस्त्वन्नेत्रसंभवः
From the lotus of Your navel was born Brahmā, skilled in creation; likewise, the destroyer Rudra arose from Your eye.
त्वयाज्ञप्तः करोत्यस्य विश्वस्य परिचेष्टितम् । त्वत्तो जातं पुराणाद्यज्जगत्स्थास्नु चरिष्णु च
Commanded by You, he performs the activities of this universe; all that is ancient, stable, and moving in the world has arisen from You.
चेतनाशक्तिमाविश्य त्वमेनं चेतयस्यहो । तव जन्म तु नास्त्येव नांतस्तव जगत्पते । वृद्धिक्षयपरीणामास्त्वयि संत्येव नो विभो
Entering with the power of consciousness, You make this world conscious—yet You have no birth, nor end, O Lord of the world; in You, O mighty one, there is truly no growth, decay, or transformation.
तथापि भक्तरक्षार्थं धर्मस्थापनहेतवे । करोषि जन्मकर्माणि ह्यनुरूपगुणानि च
Still, for the protection of devotees and the establishment of dharma, You take on births and deeds, suited to each circumstance.
त्वया मात्स्यं वपुर्धृत्वा शंखस्तु निहतोसुरः । वेदाः सुरक्षिता ब्रह्मन्महापुरुषपूर्वज
Assuming the form of a fish, You slew the demon Śaṅkha; O Brahman, ancient Great Person, You protected the Vedas.
शेषो न वेत्ति महि ते भारत्यपि महेश्वरी । किमुतान्ये महाविष्णो मादृशास्तु कुबुद्धयः
Even Śeṣa does not know Your greatness, nor does Bhāratī or Maheśvarī; how much less, O Great Viṣṇu, can others like me, of small understanding?
मनसा त्वां न चाप्नोति वागियं परमेश्वरी । तस्मादहं कथं त्वां वै स्तोतुं स्यामीश्वरः प्रभो
The mind cannot attain You, nor can this supreme speech, O Lord of lords; so how then, O Master, am I able to praise You?
इति स्तुत्वा स शिरसा प्रणाममकरोन्मुहुः । गद्गदस्वरसंयुक्तो रोमहर्षांकितांगकः
Thus praising, he repeatedly bowed his head, his voice choked with emotion, his body marked by hairs standing on end.
इति स्तुत्या प्रहृष्टात्मा भगवान्पुरुषोत्तमः । उवाच वचनं सत्यं राजानं प्रति सार्थकम्
Thus, being delighted by the praise, the Blessed Supreme Person spoke true and meaningful words to the king.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। तव स्तुत्या प्रहर्षोऽभून्मम राजन्महामते । जानीहि त्वं महाराज मां च प्रकृतितः परम्
The Blessed Lord said: O king of great wisdom, your praise has brought me joy; know, O great king, that I am truly the Supreme by nature.
नैवेद्यभक्षणं त्वं हि शीघ्रं कुरु मनोहरम् । चतुर्भुजत्वमाप्तः सन्गंतासि परमं पदम्
Quickly partake of the delightful offering; you have attained four-armed form and will reach the supreme abode.
त्वत्कृत्स्तुतिरत्नेन यो मां स्तोष्यति मानवः । तस्यापि दर्शनं दास्ये भुक्तिमुक्तिवरप्रदम्
Any person who praises me with your jewel-like hymn, I will grant them a vision as well, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation.
इत्येवं वचनं राजा श्रुत्वा भगवतोदितम् । नैवेद्यभक्षणं चक्रे चतुर्भिः सह सेवकैः
Hearing these words spoken by the Blessed Lord, the king partook of the offering together with his four attendants.
ततो विमानं संप्राप्तं किंकिणीजालमंडितम् । अप्सरोवृंदसंसेव्यं सर्वभोगसमन्वितम्
Then a celestial chariot appeared, adorned with networks of tinkling bells, attended by groups of apsarases, and filled with every enjoyment.