करालवदनो दुष्टो यमरूपो दुरासदः
With a terrifying face, wicked, resembling Yama, and hard to approach.
तौ तु दैत्यौ समागत्य कृतसंकेतकौ तदा
Then those two Daityas came together, having made an agreement.
ततो ब्रह्मा भयाविष्टः कांदिशीकश्चचार ह
Thereupon, Brahmā, seized by fear, wandered about in confusion.
पुरुषं पीतवसनं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् उवाच को भवाञ्छेते निःशेषेस्मिंश्चराचरे
He saw a man clad in yellow garments, bearing a conch, discus, and mace, and said: 'Who are you, who stand here as the sole lord among all moving and unmoving beings?'
तमुवाच ततो विष्णुरहमेवं जगत्पिता 5.2.48.
Then Viṣṇu replied to him: 'I am the father of the world in this way.'
इत्युक्तः पद्मजस्तेन कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
Thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa, whose actions are untainted, the lotus-born one spoke.
मया सृष्टं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
All this world, with gods, asuras, and humans, has been created by me.
भोक्तुकामौ क्षुधाविष्टौ दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्माब्रवीदिदम्
Seeing the two, seized by hunger and eager to consume, Brahmā spoke these words.
यदि त्वं कारणं किंचिदस्य लोकस्य कथ्यसे
If you are said to be in any way the cause of this world—
तच्छ्रुत्वा तु तदा विष्णुर्ज्ञात्वा दुःखं परस्परम्
Hearing this, Viṣṇu then, understanding their mutual distress—
इत्युक्त्वा कृतसंकेतौ तौ दैत्यौ बलगर्वितौ
Having spoken thus, those two Daityas, proud of their strength, made a pact.
ब्रह्मविष्णू तदा दृष्ट्वा दानवौ दुर्जयौ रणे
Then Brahmā and Viṣṇu saw those two Dānavas, unconquerable in battle.
अन्योन्यमूचतुस्तौ हि देशकालोचितं वचः
The two spoke to each other words suited to the time and place.
उपस्थितं भयं घोरं तत्र किं कार्यमस्ति नौ
A terrible danger has arisen here—what should we do now?
गम्यतां कृष्ण शीघ्रं वै महाकालवनोत्तमम् अहं तत्र गमिष्यामि व्रज त्वं तत्र केशव ।। 5.2.48.
Go quickly, Kṛṣṇa, to the excellent Mahākāla forest; I will go there—proceed there, Keśava.
इत्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा कृष्णो जगाम सह तेन वै तत्रापि दशसाहस्रकालः पर्यटतोस्तयोः
Thus addressed by Brahmā, Kṛṣṇa went with him; even there, for ten thousand cycles, the two wandered.
ततो ज्वालामयं दिव्यं नूपुरेश्वरदक्षिणे प्रार्थयांचक्रतुर्देवमभयं देहि नौ प्रभो
Then, at the right side of the divine lord of Nūpura, blazing with flames, they prayed: 'Grant us fearlessness, O Lord.'
शरणं भव देवेश दानवाभ्यां प्रपीडितौ
'Be our refuge, Lord of the gods, for we are afflicted by the Dānavas.'
शुश्राव गर्जितं ताभ्यां दानवाभ्यां पितामहः
The Grandfather heard the thunderous roar of those two Dānavas.
स एष मृत्युरस्माकमेति शीघ्रं भयावहः
"This is death approaching us swiftly, bringing terror."
भयार्त्तवचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणः केशवस्य च
Hearing the words of fear from Brahmā and Keśava,
दृष्टं ताभ्यां जगत्सर्वं सार्कचंद्रमहीधरम्
Those two beheld the entire universe, with sun, moon, and mountains.
समुद्रपीठसंयुक्तं नानावर्णाश्रमोज्ज्वलम्
Joined with the seat of the ocean, shining with various colors and stages of life.
ससप्तलोकविन्यासं सदेवासुरराक्षसम्
With the arrangement of the seven worlds, together with gods, demons, and rākṣasas.
दृष्ट्वौ भस्मीकृतौ दैत्यौ तेन लिंगेन पार्वति 5.2.48.
Seeing this, the two Daityas were reduced to ashes by that liṅga, O Pārvatī.
लिंगेनोक्तं प्रसन्नेन भवद्भ्यां किं ददाम्यहम्
The liṅga, being pleased, spoke: "What shall I grant to you both?"
ततो ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च वरयामासतुर्वरम्
Then Brahmā and Viṣṇu requested a boon.
ये च त्वां पूजयिष्यंति यक्ष्यंति च समाहिताः
"Whoever worships you and offers sacrifice with devotion,
अभयेश्वरसंज्ञस्तु ख्यातो भुवि भविष्यसि
You will be known on earth by the name Abhayeśvara.
भविष्यति भयं नैव संसारपतनं तथा
There will be no fear, nor falling into worldly existence.