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.
यथाख्यातं मया दृष्टं जगत्तत्स्थमवेक्ष्य ताम्। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं निवृत्तोत्सवमंगलम्
As I have described and seen, observing the world as it is: devoid of study and sacrificial utterance, with festivals and auspicious rites ceased.
त्यक्ताध्ययनसंयोगं मुक्तवार्ता परिग्रहम्। दंडनीत्या परित्यक्तं श्वासमात्रावशेषितम्
Abandoning the pursuit of learning, giving up all dealings, forsaken by the rule of law, left with only the breath of life.
जगदार्तिमपि प्राप्तं पुनः कष्टतरां दशां। एतावता हि कालेन वयं ग्लानिमुपागताः
The world has come to grief, and again to an even worse state; in this time, we have come to exhaustion.
ब्रह्मोवाच। जानामि बाष्कलिं तं तु वरदानाच्च गर्वितम्। अजेयं भवतां मन्ये विष्णुसाध्यो भविष्यति
Brahma said: I know that Bāṣkali, proud because of the boon he received; I consider him invincible to you, and only to Viṣṇu will he be attainable.
निरुध्य संस्थितो ब्रह्मा भावं तत्वमयं तदा। समाधिस्थस्य तस्यैव ध्यानमात्राच्चतुर्भुजः
Then Brahma, restraining himself, entered into a state of absorption, and from his meditation alone, the four-armed one appeared.
स्तोकेनैव हि कालेन चिंत्यमानः स्वयंभुवा। आजगाम मुहूर्तेन सर्वेषामेव पश्यताम्
In but a short time, as he was contemplated by the self-born one, he arrived in a moment, as all were watching.
विष्णुरुवाच। भो भो ब्रह्मन्निवर्त्तस्व ध्यानादस्मान्निवारितः। यदर्थमिष्यते ध्यानं सोहं त्वां समुपागतः
Viṣṇu said: O Brahma, cease your meditation, for I have been drawn here by it; for the purpose for which you meditate, I have come to you.
ब्रह्मोवाच। महाप्रसाद एषोऽत्र स्वामिनो हि प्रदर्शनम्। कस्यान्यस्य भवेच्चैषा चिन्ता या जगतः प्रभो
Brahma said: This is a great favor, the Lord's appearance here; for whom else would such concern for the world arise, O Lord?
ममैव तावदुत्पत्तिर्जगदर्थे विनिर्मिता। जगदेतत्त्वदर्थीयं तत्त्वतो नास्ति विस्मयः
My own creation was made for the sake of the world; this world is truly yours, so there is no wonder.
भवता पालनं कार्यं संहरेद्रुद्र एव तु। एवंभूते जगत्यस्मिन्शक्रस्यास्य महात्मनः
By you the world must be protected; only Rudra is to dissolve it. In this world as it is, of this great-souled Indra—