कुर्वंति रमणीयं वै रमणीयतरं वनम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं नित्यं प्रमुदितांडजम्
They make the beautiful forest even more delightful, always filled with various groups of animals and perpetually joyful birds.
तद्वनं नंदनसमं मनोदृष्टिविवर्द्धनम्। पद्मयोनिस्तु भगवांस्तथा रूपं वनोत्तमम्
That forest, equal to Nandana, increases the delight of the mind; the blessed Lotus-born thus beheld that supreme forest form.
ददर्शादर्शवद्दृष्ट्या सौम्ययापा पयन्निव। ता वृक्षपंक्तयः सर्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं तथागतम्
He saw, as if in a mirror, with gentle gaze, as if drinking it in; all those rows of trees, seeing the divine one thus arrived.
निवेद्य ब्रह्मणे भक्त्या मुमुचुः पुष्पसंपदः। पुष्पप्रतिग्रहं कृत्वा पादपानां पितामहः
Having devotedly announced to Brahma, they released their abundance of flowers; the Grandfather accepted the offering of flowers from the trees.
वरं वृणीध्वं भद्रं वः पादपानित्युवाच सः। एवमुक्ता भगवता तरवो निरवग्रहाः
He said, 'Choose a boon, may you be blessed, O trees.' Thus addressed by the Blessed One, the trees, without hesitation,
ऊचुः प्रांजलयः सर्वे नमस्कृत्वा विरिंचनम्। वरं ददासि चेद्देव प्रपन्नजनवत्सल
All spoke with joined palms, having bowed to Virinchin: 'If you grant a boon, O Lord, lover of those who seek refuge—'
इहैव भगवन्नित्यं वने संनिहितो भव। एष नः परमः कामः पितामह नमोस्तु ते
'May you always dwell here, O Blessed One, in this forest; this is our highest wish. Grandfather, we bow to you.'
त्वं चेद्वससि देवेश वनेस्मिन्विश्वभावन। सर्वात्मना प्रपन्नानां वांछतामुत्तमं वरम्
'If you reside here, O Lord of gods, creator of the universe, grant the highest boon to all those who seek refuge, according to their wishes.'
वरकोटिभिरन्याभिरलं नो दीयतां वरम्। सन्निधानेन तीर्थेभ्य इदं स्यात्प्रवरं महत्
'Let no other boon, even among millions, be given to us; by your presence, may this place become the greatest of holy sites.'
ब्रह्मोवाच। उत्तमं सर्वक्षेत्राणां पुण्यमेतद्भविष्यति। नित्यं पुष्पफलोपेता नित्यसुस्थिरयौवनाः
Brahma said: 'This will be the supreme and most sacred of all places; always endowed with flowers and fruits, ever firm in youthful vigor.'
कामगाः कामरूपाश्च कामरूपफलप्रदाः। कामसंदर्शनाः पुंसां तपःसिद्ध्युज्वला नृणाम्
'Able to move at will, with forms as desired, granting fruits of desired forms; fulfilling wishes of men, radiant with the success of austerities.'
श्रिया परमया युक्ता मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यथ। एवं स वरदो ब्रह्मा अनुजग्राह पादपान्
'Endowed with supreme prosperity, by my grace you shall become so.' Thus, the boon-giving Brahma favored the trees.
स्थित्वा वर्ष सहस्रं तु पुष्करं प्रक्षिपद्भुवि। क्षितिर्निपतिता तेन व्यकंपत रसातलम्
Having remained for a thousand years, he cast the lotus upon the earth; by its fall, the ground trembled down to the netherworld.
विवशास्तत्यजुर्वेलां सागराः क्षुभितोर्मयः। शक्राशनि हतानीव व्याघ्र व्याला वृतानि च
The oceans, their waves agitated, abandoned their shores in distress; like those struck by Indra's thunderbolt, tigers and wild beasts were scattered.
शिखराण्यप्यशीर्यंत पर्वतानां सहस्रशः। देवसिद्धविमानानि गंधर्वनगराणि च
Thousands of mountain peaks were shattered; the aerial palaces of gods and siddhas, and the cities of gandharvas as well.
प्रचेलुर्बभ्रमुः पेतुर्विविशुश्च धरातलम्। कपोतमेघाः खात्पेतुः पुटसंघातदर्शिनः
They moved, wandered, fell, and entered the earth; pigeon-clouds fell from the sky, seen as clusters of wings.
ज्योतिर्गणांश्छादयंतो बभूवुस्तीव्र भास्कराः। महता तस्य शब्देन मूकांधबधिरीकृतम्
The hosts of luminaries were obscured, the suns became fierce; by that great sound, all were made mute, blind, and deaf.
बभूव व्याकुलं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्। सुरासुराणां सर्वेषां शरीराणि मनांसि च
All three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings, became agitated; the bodies and minds of all gods and demons as well.
अवसेदुश्च किमिति किमित्येतन्न जज्ञिरे। धैर्यमालंब्य सर्वेऽथ ब्रह्माणं चाप्यलोकयन्
They wondered, 'What is this? What is this?'—but could not understand; then, gathering their courage, they all looked toward Brahmā.
न च ते तमपश्यंत कुत्र ब्रह्मागतो ह्यभूत्। किमर्थं कंपिता भूमिर्निमित्तोत्पातदर्शनम्
Yet they did not see him there—where had Brahmā gone? Why was the earth trembling, and why did these ominous signs appear?
तावद्विष्णुर्गतस्तत्र यत्र देवा व्यवस्थिताः। प्रणिपत्य इदं वाक्यमुक्तवंतो दिवौकसः
Then Viṣṇu went to the place where the gods had assembled; after bowing down, the dwellers of heaven spoke these words.
किमेतद्भगवन्ब्रूहि निमित्तोत्पातदर्शनम्। त्रैलोक्यं कंपितं येन संयुक्तं कालधर्मणा
"O Lord, tell us what this is—these omens and portents; by what force of time has the three worlds been shaken?"
जातकल्पावसानं तु भिन्नमर्यादसागरम्। चत्वारो दिग्गजाः किं तु बभूवुरचलाश्चलाः
"It seems the end of a cosmic cycle has come, the ocean of order has been breached; even the four elephants of the directions have become unsteady—what is the cause?"
समावृता धरा कस्मात्सप्तसागरवारिणा। उत्पत्तिर्नास्ति शब्दस्य भगवन्निः प्रयोजना
"Why is the earth enveloped by the waters of the seven seas? O Lord, there is no cause for the sound—no purpose for it."
यादृशो वा स्मृतः शब्दो न भूतो न भविष्यति। त्रैलोक्यमाकुलं येन चक्रे रौद्रेण चोद्यता
"Such a sound, as is remembered, has never been before nor will be again; by this fierce noise, the three worlds have been thrown into confusion."
शुभोऽशुभो वा शब्दोरेयं त्रैलोक्यस्य दिवौकसाम्। भगवन्यदि जानासि किमेतत्कथयस्व नः
"Whether this sound is auspicious or inauspicious for the gods of the three worlds, O Lord, if you know, please tell us what it is."
एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीद्विष्णुः परमेणानुभावितः। मा भैष्ट मरुतः सर्वे शृणुध्वं चात्र कारणम्
Thus addressed, Viṣṇu, endowed with supreme power, replied: "Do not fear, all you Maruts; listen now to the reason for this."
निश्चयेनानुविज्ञाय वक्ष्याम्येष यथाविधम्। पद्महस्तो हि भगवान्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
"Having ascertained with certainty, I will explain this properly: the blessed Brahmā, lotus-handed, the grandsire of the worlds—"
भूप्रदेशे पुण्यराशौ यज्ञं कर्तुं व्यवस्थितः। अवरोहे पर्वतानां वने चातीवशोभने
"He is established in a holy region of the earth, intent on performing a sacrifice, in a most beautiful forest at the foot of the mountains."
कमलं तस्य हस्तात्तु पतितं धरणीतले। तस्य शब्दो महानेष येन यूयं प्रकंपिताः
"From his hand, a lotus fell to the earth; it was that great sound which caused you all to be shaken."