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."
तत्रासौ तरुवृंदेन पुष्पामोदाभिनंदितः। अनुगृह्याथ भगवान्वनं तत्समृगांडजम्
"There, honored by the multitude of trees, fragrant with the scent of flowers, the blessed one accepted that forest, with its beasts and birds."
जगतोऽनुग्रहार्थाय वासं तत्रान्वरोचयत्। पुष्करं नाम तत्तीर्थं क्षेत्रं वृषभमेव च
"For the welfare of the world, he chose to dwell there; that sacred place is called Puṣkara, and the field is known as Vṛṣabha."
जनितं तद्भगवता लोकानां हितकारिणा। ब्रह्माणं तत्र वै गत्वा तोषयध्वं मया सह
"It was established by the blessed one, benefactor of the worlds; go there to Brahmā, together with me, and propitiate him."
आराध्यमानो भगवान्प्रदास्यति वरान्वरान्। इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्विष्णुः सह तैर्देवदानवैः
"When worshipped, the blessed one will grant boons, one after another." Having spoken thus, the blessed Viṣṇu, with those gods and Dānavas—
जगाम तद्वनोद्देशं यत्रास्ते स तु कंजजः। प्रहृष्टास्तुष्टमनसः कोकिलालापलापिताः
Went to that part of the forest where the lotus-born resides; delighted, with joyful hearts, accompanied by the calls of cuckoos.
पुष्पोच्चयोज्ज्वलं शस्तं विविशुर्ब्रह्मणो वनम्। संप्राप्तं सर्वदेवैस्तु वनं नंदनसंमितम्
Entering Brahmā's forest, splendid with heaps of bright flowers, all the gods arrived at that woodland, akin to Nandana.
पद्मिनीमृगपुष्पाढ्यं सुदृढं शुशुभे तदा। प्रविश्याथ वनं देवाः सर्वपुष्पोपशोभितम्
At that time, the forest, rich with lotuses and wildflowers, appeared splendid and strong; then the gods entered the woodland, adorned with every kind of blossom.
इह देवोस्तीति देवा बभ्रमुश्च दिदृक्षवः। मृगयंतस्ततस्ते तु सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः
Here are the gods, so the gods wandered about, eager to see; all the gods, along with Indra, began to hunt there.
अद्भुतस्य वनस्यांतं न ते ददृशुराशुगाः। विचिन्वद्भिस्तदा देवं दैवैर्वायुर्विलोकितः
They did not see the end of that wondrous forest, though swift; as they searched, the god Vayu was perceived by the deities.
स तानुवाच ब्रह्माणं न द्रक्ष्यथ तपो विना। तदा खिन्ना विचिन्वंतस्तस्मिन्पर्वतरोधसि
He spoke to them: 'You will not see Brahma without austerity.' Then, weary from searching, they remained on the mountain slope.