देवदेवो महादेवो विष्णुरूपी महेश्वरः ८.
The god of gods, the great god, Maheśvara, is of the form of Viṣṇu.
अहं हि सर्वदेवानां पुरोवर्ती भवाम्यतः वैकुंठमागता गीर्भिर्विष्णुं स्तोतुं प्रचक्रिरे॥ ८.
Indeed, I stand before all the gods; therefore, those who came from Vaikuṇṭha began to praise Viṣṇu with words.
नमो भगवते तुभ्यं देवदेव जगत्पते ८.
Salutations to you, O Blessed Lord, god of gods, lord of the universe.
एतल्लिंगं त्वया विष्णो धृतं वै पिण्डिरूपिणा ८.
This liṅga, O Viṣṇu, was assumed by you in the form of a mass.
तथा कमठरूपेण धृतो वै मंदराचलः ८.
Likewise, in the form of a tortoise, you bore Mount Mandara.
हिरण्यकशिपुर्दैत्यो हतो नृहरिरूपिणा ८.
The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain by you in the form of Narasiṃha.
भृगूणामन्वये भूत्वा कृतवीर्यात्मजो हतः ८.
Being born in the lineage of Bhṛgu, the son of Kṛtavīrya was slain.
रावमस्य भयादस्मात्त्रातुं भूयोर्हसि त्वरम्॥ ८.
Because of the fear of Rāvaṇa, you must quickly descend to protect the earth.
एवं संप्रार्थितो देवैर्भगवान्भूतभावनः ८.
Thus entreated by the gods, the Blessed Lord, creator of beings,
हे देवाः श्रूयतां वाक्यं प्रस्तावसदृशं महत् अवतारान्प्रकुर्वन्तु वानरीं तनुमाश्रिताः॥ ८.
"O gods, listen to these words, fitting to the occasion: let them perform descents, taking on the form of monkeys."
अहं हि मानुषो भूत्वा ह्यज्ञानेन समावृतः ब्रह्मविद्यासहायोस्मि भवतां कार्यसिद्धये॥ ८.
"Indeed, I shall become human, enveloped in ignorance; I will be aided by the knowledge of Brahman for the accomplishment of your purpose."
जनकस्य गृहे साक्षाद्ब्रह्मविद्या जनिष्यति ८.
"In the house of Janaka, the knowledge of Brahman will be born in person."
तपसा महता युक्तो ब्रह्मविद्यां यदेच्छति ८.
"Endowed with great austerity, whoever desires the knowledge of Brahman—"
एवं संभाष्य भगवान्विष्णुः परममङ्गलः ८.
Thus having spoken, the Blessed Viṣṇu, supremely auspicious,
तथा ब्रह्मांशसंभूतो जाम्बवान्नृक्षकुञ्जरः ८.
Likewise, Jāmbavān, the bear-king, was born from a portion of Brahmā.
यो वै चैकादशो रुद्रो हनूमान्स महाकपिः ८.
And Hanūmān, the great monkey, is that eleventh Rudra.
मैंदादयोऽथ कपयस्ते सर्वे सुरसत्तमाः ८.
Then Mainda and the other monkeys—all these are the best of the gods.
तथैव विष्णुरुत्पन्नः कौशल्यानंदवर्द्धनः ८.
In the same way, Viṣṇu was born, increasing the joy of Kauśalyā.
शेषोपि भक्त्या विष्णोश्च तपसाऽवातरद्भुवि॥ ८.
Śeṣa also descended to earth through devotion to Viṣṇu and through austerity.
दोर्दण्डावपि विष्णोश्च अवतीर्णौ प्रतापिनौ ८.
Even the mighty arms of Viṣṇu, blazing with power, incarnated.
मिथिलाधिपतेः कन्या या उक्ता ब्रह्मवादिभिः सीता जाता लांगलस्य इयं भूमिविकर्षणात्॥ ८.
The daughter of the king of Mithilā, whom the knowers of Brahman have spoken of, Sītā, was born from the furrow of the plough, from the turning of the earth.
तस्मात्सीतेति विख्याता विद्या सान्वीक्षिकी तदा ८.
Therefore she became renowned as Sītā, and that knowledge was then called inquiry.
जनकस्य कुले जाता विश्रुता जनकात्मजा ८.
Born in the house of Janaka, she became famous as the daughter of Janaka.
सा दत्ता जनकेनैव विष्णवे परमात्मने॥ ८.
She was given by Janaka himself to Viṣṇu, the Supreme Self.
तयाथ विद्यया सार्द्धं देवदेवो जगत्पतिः ८.
Then, together with her, with that knowledge, the god of gods, the lord of the world—
रावणं जेतुकामो वै रामो राजीवलोचनः ८.
Rāma, lotus-eyed, desiring to conquer Rāvaṇa—
शेषावतारोऽपि महांस्तपः परमदुष्करम् ८.
Śeṣa’s incarnation also performed great austerity, extremely difficult.
शत्रुघ्नो भरतश्चैव तेपतुः परमं तपः॥ ८.
Indeed, both Śatrughna and Bharata practiced supreme austerity.
ततोऽसौ तपसा युक्तः सार्द्धं तैर्देवतागणैः विष्णुना घातितः शस्त्रैः शिवसारूप्यमाप्तवान्॥ ८.
Then, endowed with austerity, together with those hosts of deities, he was slain by Viṣṇu with weapons and attained resemblance to Śiva.
सगमः स पुनः सद्यो बंधुभिः सह सुव्रताः॥ ८.
He, together with his companions, immediately went again, steadfast in vows.