तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा परितुष्टो जनार्दनः १९.
Hearing her words, Janārdana was well pleased.
सुतलंगच्छ दैत्येन्द्र मा विलंबितुमर्हसि १९.
Go to Sutala, O king of the Daityas; you should not delay.
परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं तात किं कार्यं करवाणि ते १९.
I am pleased with you, dear one; what shall I do for you?
वरं वरय भद्रं ते सर्वान्कामान्ददामि ते १९.
Choose a boon, good fortune to you; I will grant you all desires.
विमुक्तो हि परिष्वक्तो देवदेवेन चक्रिणा १९.
Freed and embraced by the Lord of gods, the wielder of the discus—
त्वया कृतमिदं सर्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् १९.
By you, all this world, both moving and unmoving, has been accomplished.
भक्तिरस्तु पदांभोजे तव देव जनार्दन १९.
May devotion to your lotus feet arise, O God Janardana.
एवमभ्यर्थितस्तेन भगवान्भूतभावनः १९.
Thus entreated by him, the blessed Lord, creator of beings, spoke.
बले त्वं सुतलं याहि ज्ञातिसंबंधिभिर्वृतः १९.
Bali, go to Sutala, surrounded by your kinsmen and relatives.
सुतले किं नु मे कार्यं देवदेव वदस्व मे १९.
O Lord of gods, tell me what I must do in Sutala.
तदोवाच हृषीकेशो बलिं तं कृपयाऽन्विततः १९.
Then Hṛṣīkeśa, filled with compassion, spoke to Bali.
द्वारि स्थितस्तव विभो निवासामि नित्यं मा खिद्यतामसुरवर्य बले श्रृणुष्व १९.
O mighty one, I will dwell always at your door; do not be distressed, best of Asuras, Bali, listen.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विष्मोरतुलतेजसः १९.
Hearing that statement of Viṣṇu, of incomparable splendor,
तदा पुत्रशतेनैव बाणमुख्येन सत्वरम् १९.
Then, with a hundred sons and Bāṇa at their head, swiftly—
त्रैलोक्ये याचका ये च सर्वे यांति बलिं प्रति १९.
All the petitioners in the three worlds go to Bali,
भुक्तिकामाश्च ये केचिन्मुक्तिकामास्तथा परे १९.
Those who desire enjoyment, and others who seek liberation as well,
एवंविधो बलिर्जातः प्रसादाच्छंकरस्य च १९.
Thus Bali became such, by the grace of Śaṅkara.
अशुचिं भूमिमासाद्य गंधपुष्पादिकं महत् १९.
Even if one attains impure ground, with great quantities of fragrance and flowers,
किं पुनः परया भक्त्या चार्चयंति महेश्वरम् १९.
How much more so those who worship Maheśvara with supreme devotion?
शिवात्परतरो नास्ति पूजनीयो हि भो द्विजाः १९.
There is none greater than Śiva, truly he alone is to be worshipped, O twice-born ones.
जातिहीनाश्च चंडालाः श्वपचा ह्यंत्यजा ह्यमी १९.
Even those without caste, the Caṇḍālas, the dog-eaters, and the outcastes—these indeed—
तस्मात्सदाशिवः पूज्यः सर्वैरेवमनीषिभिः १९.
Therefore Sadāśiva is to be worshipped by all, even by those lacking wisdom.
महेशं परमारथज्ञाश्चिंतयंति हृदि स्थितम् १९.
Those who know the supreme goal contemplate Maheśa, abiding in the heart.
विना शिवेन यत्किंचिदशिवं भवति क्षणात् १९.
Without Śiva, whatever there is becomes inauspicious in a moment.
रजोगुणान्वितो ब्रह्मा विष्णुः सत्त्वगुणान्वितः १९.
Brahmā is endowed with the quality of passion, Viṣṇu with the quality of goodness.
लिंगरूपो महादेवो ह्यर्चनीयो मुमुक्षुभिः १९.
Mahādeva, in the form of the liṅga, is indeed to be worshipped by those seeking liberation.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च सगुणाः कीर्तितास्त्वया २०.
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra have been described by you as possessing qualities.
त्रिभिर्गुणैर्व्याप्तमिदं चराचरं जगन्महद्व्याप्यथ वाल्पकं वा २०.
This entire great world, both moving and unmoving, is pervaded by the three qualities, whether vast or minute.
यद्दृश्यमानं महदल्पकं च तन्नश्वरं कृतकत्वाच्च सूत॥ २०.
Whatever is seen, whether great or small, is perishable, O Sūta, because it is made.
तस्माद्विमृश्य भोः सूत संशयं छेत्तुमर्हसि २०.
Therefore, O Sūta, after due reflection, you should resolve this doubt.