सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति देव्यनुग्रहलालिता। शृणुयादपि यश्चैव प्रदद्यादथवा मतिम्
She too obtains that fruit, cherished by the grace of the goddess; and whoever hears or gives his mind to this—
सोपि विद्याधरो भूत्वा स्वर्गलोके चिरं वसेत्। इदमिह मदनेन पूर्वसृष्टं शतधनुषा च कृतं नरेण तद्वत्
He too, becoming a Vidyadhara, dwells long in heaven; this was formerly established here by Madana and accomplished by Shatadhanu, and likewise by men.
कृतमथ पवनेन नंदिना च किमु जननाथमहाद्भुतं न वा स्यात्
And if it was performed by Pavana and Nandina, then what wonder is there, O lord of men, if it is not a great marvel?
भीष्म उवाच। यज्ञपवर्तमासाद्य विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। पदानि चेह दत्तानि किमर्थं पदपद्धतिः
Bhishma said: Having reached the sacrificial ground, the mighty Vishnu placed his steps here; for what purpose was this arrangement of steps made?
कृता वै देवदेवेन तन्मे वद महामते। कतमो दानवस्तेन विष्णुना दमितोत्र वै
Indeed, it was done by the god of gods—tell me this, O wise one; which demon was subdued here by Vishnu?
कृत्वा वै पदविन्यासं तन्मे शंस महामुने। स्वर्लोके वसतिर्विष्णोर्वैकुंठेऽस्य महात्मनः
Having made the arrangement of steps, tell me, O great sage, about Vishnu's residence in heaven, in Vaikuntha, the abode of the great soul.
स कथं मानुषे लोके पदन्यासं चकार ह। देवलोकेषु वै देव देवाः सेंद्रपुरोगमाः
How did he set foot in the world of men? In the worlds of the gods, indeed, the gods with Indra at their head—
तपसा महता ब्रह्मन्भक्ता ये सततं प्रभुम्। श्रीवराहस्य वसतिर्महर्ल्लोके प्रकीर्तिता
O Brahman, those who are ever devoted to the Lord through great austerity— it is said that the abode of Śrī Varāha is in Maharloka.
नृसिंहस्य तथा प्रोक्ता जनलोके महात्मनः। त्रिविक्रमस्य वसतिस्तपोलोके प्रकीर्तिता
Likewise, it is declared that the abode of the great-souled Nṛsiṃha is in Janaloka, and that of Trivikrama is renowned in Tapoloka.
लोकानेतान्परित्यज्य कथं भूमौ पदद्वयम्। क्षेत्रे पैतामहे चास्मिन्पुष्करे यज्ञपर्वते
Abandoning these worlds, how did he place two feet upon the earth, in this ancestral field, at Puṣkara, on the mountain of sacrifice?
पदानि कृतवान्ब्रह्मन्विस्तरान्मम कीर्तय। श्रुतेन सर्वपापस्य नाशो वै भविता ध्रुवम्
O Brahman, tell me in detail how he made his steps here; by hearing this, all sins will surely be destroyed.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। सम्यक्पृच्छसि भोस्त्वं यत्संशृणु त्वं समाहितः। यथापूर्वं पदन्यासः कृतो देवेन विष्णुना
Pulastya said: You have asked well, O best of men; now listen attentively as I recount how, in ancient times, Viṣṇu set his steps.
यज्ञपर्वतमासाद्य शिलापर्वतरोधसि। पुरा कृतयुगे भीष्म देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये
In the Kṛta Yuga, long ago, Bhīṣma, for the accomplishment of the gods’ purpose, Viṣṇu approached Yajña Mountain, on the slope of the stony mountain.
विष्णुना च कृतं पूर्वं पृथिव्यर्थे परंतप। त्रिदिवं सर्वमानीतं दानवैर्बलवत्तरैः
Formerly, O scorcher of foes, Viṣṇu acted for the sake of the earth, for all of heaven had been seized by the powerful Dānavas.
त्रैलोक्यं वशमानीय जित्वा देवान्सवासवान्। दानवा यज्ञभोक्तारस्तत्रासन्बलवत्तराः
Having conquered the gods along with Indra, the Dānavas brought the three worlds under their control; there, the mighty Dānavas became the enjoyers of sacrifice.
कृता बाष्कलिना सर्वे दानवेन बलीयसा। एवंभूते तदा लोके त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
All this was accomplished by Bāṣkali, the powerful Dānava; thus, at that time, in the world, in the three worlds with all their moving and unmoving beings—
परमार्तिं ययौ शक्रो निराशो जीविते कृतः। स बाष्कलिर्दानवेंद्रोऽवध्योयं मम संयुगे
Indra fell into utmost distress, despairing of life: ‘This Bāṣkali, lord of the Dānavas, is invincible to me in battle.’
ब्रह्मणो वरदानेन सर्वेषां तु दिवौकसाम्। तदहं ब्रह्मणो लोके वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः
By the boon granted by Brahmā to all the dwellers of heaven, I am now beset by all the gods in the world of Brahmā.
व्रजामि शरणं देवं गतिरन्या न विद्यते। एवं विचिंत्य देवेंद्रो वृतः सर्वैर्दिवौकसैः
I go for refuge to the Lord; there is no other recourse. Thus reflecting, the lord of the gods, surrounded by all the immortals—
जगाम त्वरितो भीष्म यत्र देवः पितामहः। ब्रह्मणः स पदं प्राप्य वृतस्तैश्च दिवौकसैः
Quickly went, O Bhīṣma, to where the god, the Grandfather, was; reaching the abode of Brahmā, accompanied by those immortals—
अब्रवीज्जगतः कार्यं प्राप्तामापदमुत्तमाम्। किं न जानासि वै देव यतो नो भयमागतम्
He spoke of the world’s predicament, the supreme calamity that had arisen: ‘Do you not know, O god, the cause of our fear?’
दैत्यैर्यदाहृतं सर्वं वरदानाच्च ते प्रभो। कथितं वै मया सर्वं बाष्कलेश्च दुरात्मनः
All has been taken by the Daityas, O Lord, due to the boon you granted; I have told you everything, including the wickedness of Bāṣkali.
क्रियतां चाविलंबेन पिता त्वं नः पितामहः। तत्त्वं चिंतय देवेश शांत्यर्थं जगतस्त्विह
Act without delay, O Father, Grandfather of us all; consider, O Lord of gods, what is to be done here for the peace of the world.
तेषां च पश्यतां किंचिच्छ्रौतस्मार्तादिकाः क्रियाः। न प्रावर्तन्त हानिस्तु तैरस्माकं दिनेदिने
While they looked on, the rites—Vedic, Smārta, and others—were not performed; because of this, our loss increased day by day.
यथा हि प्राकृतः कश्चित्स्वार्थमुद्दिश्य भाषते। विज्ञाप्यसे तथास्माभिर्निरस्तोपकृतैः सदा
Just as an ordinary person speaks with his own interest in mind, so too have we informed you, always free from ulterior motives.
यद्येनोपकृतं यस्य सहस्रगुणितं पुनः। यो न तस्योपकाराय तत्करोति वृथा मतिः
If someone has received a favor from another, and does not return it a thousandfold, his understanding is in vain.
तस्योपकारदग्धस्य निस्त्रपस्यासतः पुनः। नरकेष्वपि संवासस्तस्य दुष्कृतकारिणः
For one who, scorched by another's favor, shameless and untrue, again acts wickedly, even dwelling in hells is his lot.
नैतावतैव साधुत्वं कृते यातु प्रतिक्रिया। स्वार्थैकनिष्ठबुद्धीनामेतन्नापि प्रवर्तते
Goodness is not achieved merely by reciprocation; those whose minds are fixed only on their own gain do not act thus.
यद्यस्य नाभवत्स्थानं जगतो ह्यत्र दुःखदं। शतधा हृदयं दीर्णं तन्न तृप्तिमुपागतम्
If someone has not found a place in this world, which brings suffering, even if his heart is torn a hundredfold, it does not attain satisfaction.
तत्र वा यत्र गंतास्मि निमग्नानुद्धरस्व नः। उपायकथनेनास्य येन तेजः प्रवर्तते
Wherever I am to go, lift us out from being submerged, by telling the means by which his energy may be set in motion.