गुरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय दैत्येंद्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत् स्वर्गे वसंतु सुचिरं नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥ १८.
Hearing the teacher's command, the lord of the Daityas spoke: 'Let them dwell in heaven for a long time; there is no need for deliberation here.'
प्रहस्यो वाच भगवान्भार्गवाणां महातपाः १८.
The venerable, great ascetic among the Bhargavas laughed and said:
यत्त्वयोक्तं च वचनं बले मम न रोचते १८.
O Bali, the words you have spoken do not please me.
अश्वमेधशतेनैव यज त्वं जातवेदसम् १८.
Perform a hundred horse sacrifices to Jatavedas.
तथेति मत्वा स बलिर्महात्मा हित्वा तदानीं त्रिदिवं मनस्वी १८.
Thinking 'So be it,' the great-souled Bali, resolute in mind, then abandoned heaven.
तन्नर्मदाया गुरुकुल्यसंज्ञकं तीरे महातीर्थमुदारशोभम् १८.
On the bank of the Narmada, at the great and splendid holy place called Gurukulyasaṃjñaka, he arrived.
ततोऽश्वमेधैर्बहुभिर्विचक्षणो गुरुप्रयुक्तः स महायशाबलिः १८.
Then, directed by his teacher, the illustrious Bali performed many horse sacrifices.
कृत्वा ब्राह्मणमाचार्यमृत्विजः षोडशाऽभवन् १८.
Having appointed a Brahmin as the chief priest, there were sixteen officiating priests.
यज्ञानामूनमेकेन शतं दीक्षापरेण हि १८.
By a single initiation, he accomplished the root of sacrifices, and by another, a hundred more.
यावद्यज्ञशतं पूर्णं तस्य राज्ञो भविष्यति १८.
That king will attain the completion of a hundred sacrifices.
व्रतेन तेन संतुष्टो भगवान्हरिरीश्वरः १८.
By that vow, the blessed Lord Hari, the Supreme Lord, was satisfied.
अदित्याः कश्यपेनैव उपनीतस्तदा प्रभुः १८.
Then, the Lord was initiated by Kashyapa among the Adityas.
दत्तं यज्ञोपवीतं च ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना १८.
The sacred thread was given by Brahma, the Supreme Creator.
मेखला च समानीता अजिनं च महाद्भुतम् १८.
The girdle and a wondrous deerskin were also brought.
तत्र भिक्षा समानीता भवान्या चार्थसिद्धये १८.
There, alms were procured by Bhavani for the fulfillment of the purpose.
अभिवंद्य श्रीशो वामनो ह्दितिं तथा याज्ञिकस्य बलेराह च्छलनार्थं स्वयं प्रभुः॥ १८.
Having bowed, Shri Vamana thus addressed Aditi and, for the sake of deception, spoke to the sacrificer Bali himself.
तदा महेशः स जगाम स्वर्गं प्रकंपयन्गां प्रपदा भरेण १८.
Then the great Lord went to heaven, shaking the earth with the weight of his steps.
गीर्भिर्यथार्थाभिरभिष्टुतो जनैर्मुनीश्वरैर्देवगणैर्महात्मा १८.
Praised with truthful words by people, great sages, and hosts of gods, the great soul was extolled.
उद्गापयन्साम यतो हि साक्षाच्चकार देवो बटुरूपवेषः १८.
Chanting the Sama hymns, the god assumed the form and attire of a dwarf.
ददर्श तं महायज्ञमश्वमेधं बलेस्तदा १८.
Then Bali beheld that great sacrifice, the Ashvamedha.
ब्रह्मरूपेण महता व्याप्तमासीद्दिगंतरम् १८.
It was pervaded in all directions by the great form of Brahma.
तच्छ्रुत्वा च बलिः प्राह शंडामर्क्कौ च बुद्धिमान् १८.
Hearing this, the wise Bali spoke to Shanda and Amarka.
तथेति मत्वा त्वरितावुत्थितौ तौ तदा द्विजाः १८.
Thinking 'so be it,' those two Brahmins quickly rose at that time.
ददृशाते महात्मानं श्रीहरिं बटुरूपिणम् १८.
They saw the great-souled Shri Hari in the form of a dwarf.
ब्रह्मचारी समायात एक एव न चापरः किमर्थं तन्न जानीमो जानीहि त्वं महामते॥ १८.
A single celibate student has arrived, and there is no other; we do not know the reason—O wise one, discern it.
एवमुक्ते तु वचने ताभ्यां स च महामनाः १८.
When these words were thus spoken by the two, that great-minded one—
स ददर्श महातेजा विरोचनसुतो महान् १८.
The mighty son of Virocana, radiant with great energy, beheld him.
आनयित्वा बटुं सद्यः संनिवेश्यः निजासने १८.
He immediately brought the young ascetic and seated him on his own seat.
विनम्रकंधरो भूत्वा उवाच श्लक्ष्णया गिरा १८.
With his head bowed, he spoke with gentle words.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विरोचनसुतस्य वै १८.
Hearing the words of Virocana’s son,