सुवर्णाद्रिगुहादुर्गसंस्थितास्त्रिदशादयः
The gods and others, dwelling in the caves and fortresses of the golden mountain,
हृताधिकारास्त्रिदशा मया यद्यपि निर्जिताः
Though conquered by me, the gods have been deprived of their authority.
ज्ञातं तत्तु मया देवा वेदमन्त्रबलान्विताः
But I have come to know that these gods possess the power of Vedic mantras.
इति मत्वा ततो दैत्यो विष्णुमालक्ष्य निद्रितम्
Thinking thus, the demon, seeing Vishnu asleep,
नीतास्तु तेन ते वेदास्तद्भयात्ते निराक्रमन्
Took away the Vedas, and out of fear of him, they departed.
तान्मार्गमाणः शंखोऽपि समुद्रांतर्गतो भ्रमन् अथ देवैः स्तुतो विष्णुर्बोधितस्तानुवाच ह 2.4.13.
While searching for them, Shankha too wandered within the ocean; then, praised by the gods, Vishnu was awakened and spoke to them.
ऊर्जस्य शुक्लैकादश्यां भवद्भिः प्रतिबोधितः
On the bright eleventh day of the month of Urja, you awakened me.
वेदाः शंखहृताः सर्वे तिष्ठंत्युदकसंस्थिताः
All the Vedas, taken by Shankha, remain situated in the water.
अद्यप्रभृति वेदास्तु मंत्रबीजसमन्विताः
From today onward, the Vedas are endowed with the seeds of mantras.
कालेऽस्मिन्ये प्रकुर्वंति प्रातःस्नानं नरोत्तमाः
At this time, the best of men perform their morning bath.
अद्यप्रभृत्यहमपि भवामि जलमध्यगः
From today onward, I too shall dwell in the midst of the waters.
कातिकव्रतिनां चेंद्र रक्षा कार्या त्वया सदा खात्पपात जले विंध्यवासिनः कस्य पश्यतः
O Indra, you must always protect those who observe the Kārtika vow; the one dwelling on Vindhya fell into the water as someone watched.
हत्वा शंखासुरं विष्णुर्बदरीवनमागमत्
Having slain Shankhasura, Vishnu went to the Badari forest.
विष्णुरुवाच जलांतरविशीर्णांस्तान्यूयं वेदान्प्रमार्गथ तावत्प्रयागं तिष्ठामि देवतागणसंयुतः
Vishnu said: You must search for those Vedas scattered in the water; meanwhile, I shall remain at Prayaga, accompanied by hosts of deities.
उद्धृताश्च सबीजास्ते वेदा यज्ञसमन्विताः
Those Vedas, complete with their seeds and accompanied by sacrifice, were recovered.
स स एव ऋषिर्जातस्तत्तत्प्रभृति पार्थिव
From that time onward, that very sage was born, O king.
विष्णवे सविधात्रे ते लब्धान्वेदान्न्यवेदयन्
They presented the Vedas, which they had obtained, to Vishnu, the creator.
अयजद्वाजिमेधेन देवर्षिगणसंयुतः
Accompanied by groups of gods and sages, he performed an ashvamedha sacrifice.
हर्षकालोऽयमस्माकं तस्मात्त्वं वरदो भव
This is a time of joy for us; therefore, you should be the granter of boons.
स्थानेऽस्मिन्द्रुहिणो वेदान्नष्टान्प्राप पुनस्त्वयम्
In this very place, Brahmā has regained the lost Vedas.
स्थानमेतद्धि नः श्रेष्ठं पृथिव्यां पुण्यवर्धनम्
Indeed, this place of ours is the most excellent on earth, increasing merit.
कालोऽप्ययं महापुण्यो ब्रह्मघ्नाऽऽदिविशुद्धिकृत्
This time, too, is supremely holy, purifying even the slayers of Brahmins and others.
तथास्तु सुलभं त्वेतद्ब्रह्मक्षेत्रमितिप्रथम्
So be it—let this Brahma-kshetra be easily accessible, as it is renowned.
सूर्यवंशोद्भवो राजा गंगामत्रानयिष्यति 2.4.13.
A king born of the Solar dynasty will bring the Ganges here.
यूयं च सर्वे ब्रह्माद्या निवसंतु मया सह
And may you all, beginning with Brahmā, dwell here together with me.
सर्वपापानि नश्यंति तीर्थराजस्य दर्शनात्
All sins are destroyed by the sight of this king of sacred fords.
कालोऽप्येष महापुण्यफलदोऽस्तु सदा नृणाम्
May this time, too, always bestow the highest merit upon people.
नारद उवाच एवं देवान्देवदेवस्तदुक्त्वा तत्रैवांतर्धानमागात्सवेधाः
Nārada said: Thus, having spoken to the gods, the Lord of gods vanished there along with the Creator.
167a कार्तिके तुलसीमूले योऽर्चयेद्धरिमीश्वरम्
Whoever worships Hari, the Lord, at the root of the Tulasī plant in the month of Kārtika—
तत्र या तुलसीमूले विष्णोः पूजा त्वयोदिता
There, the worship of Viṣṇu at the root of Tulasī, as you have described—