शोककाले शुचो मात्वं हर्षकाले च मा हृषः २१.
In times of sorrow, do not grieve; in times of joy, do not exult.
इंद्रं चेदागतः कालः सदा युक्त मतंद्रितम् २१.
If the appointed time has come, O Indra, always be steadfast and undisturbed.
को हि स्थातुमलं लोके मम क्रुद्धस्य संयुगे २१.
For who in this world is truly able to stand against me in battle when I am enraged?
त्वमेव वेत्सि मां दैत्य योहं यादृक्पराक्रमः २१.
You alone, O demon, know me—what kind of power I possess.
येषां त्वं कोटिभागेऽपि परिपूर्णो न तारक २१.
Even in a fraction of your strength, O Tāraka, you are not complete.
इच्छन्संजीवयाम्येतदनिच्छन्नाशये क्षणात् २१.
If I wish, I restore life to this one; if I do not wish, I destroy him in an instant.
अंगुल्यग्रेण दैत्येंद्र पुनर्धर्मं नलोपये २१.
With just the tip of my finger, O lord of demons, I can again remove righteousness.
लोपयामि ततः कं च धर्मोऽयं शरणं व्रजेत् २१.
Then, whomever I remove, this righteousness will seek refuge elsewhere.
सोऽयं कालः पचेद्विश्वं वृक्षे फलमिवागतम् २१.
Now that time has come which cooks the universe, like a fruit ripening on a tree.
प्राप्नोति पुरुषो दैत्य पश्य कालस्य चित्रताम् २१.
A person attains, O demon, whatever is due—behold the variety of time.
स्वकर्मपरिपाकस्य फलदं वै विदुर्बुधाः २१.
The wise know that the fruits of one's actions ripen accordingly.
पुण्येन तत्र सोख्यं स्याद्दृःखं पापेन निश्चितम् मदुक्तं वचनं सर्वं यदि मंतुमिहार्हसि॥ २१.
Through virtue there is happiness there; through sin, surely suffering. If you are to consider all my words here.
मामत्र संस्थितं दृष्ट्वा कालनेमिमुखैर्युतम्॥ २१.
Seeing me standing here, surrounded by the faces of Kālanemi and others—
कस्येह न व्यथेद्बुर्मृत्योरपि जिवांसतः २१.
Who here would not be shaken, even among the living, by the face of death?
ब्रवीषि यद्यत्त्वं वाक्यं ततथैव न संशयः २१.
Whatever you say, let it be so—there is no doubt.
कर्तुमुत्सहते लोके दृष्ट्वा संप्रस्थितं जगत् २१.
Who in this world is able to act, seeing the world itself setting forth?
कालाग्नावाहितं घोरे गुह्ये सततगत्वरे २१.
Cast into the dreadful fire of time, always hidden in the secret passage—
कालो हरति संप्राप्ते नदीवेग इवोन्मुखान् २१.
When time arrives, it sweeps away those who are eager, like a river's current.
कालेन ह्रियमाणानां प्रलापः श्रूयते नृणाम् २१.
As people are carried off by time, their lamentations are heard.
स्पृहामोहातिवादेषु लोकः सक्तो न बुध्यते २१.
Absorbed in longing, delusion, and excessive talk, the world does not awaken.
जानामि त्वामहं विष्णो सर्वभूतवरं प्रभुम् २१.
O Viṣṇu, I know you as the supreme lord, the best among all beings.
केचिद्भजंति त्वां भक्त्या वैरेण हेलया परे २१.
Some worship you with devotion, others with enmity or indifference.
पुराणः शाश्वतो धर्मः सर्वप्राणभृतां समः २१.
You are the ancient, eternal dharma, impartial to all living beings.
पुनर्मर्कस्वरूपेण भ्रांतव्यं भुवनत्रयम् २१.
Again, in the form of a monkey, you will wander through the three worlds.
एवमुक्ते तारकेण देवा हर्षं प्रपेदिरे २१.
When Tāraka spoke thus, the gods were filled with joy.
दैत्येंद्र भव तत्त्वज्ञो विद्याज्ञानतपोन्वितः २१.
O lord of the daityas, become one who knows the truth, endowed with knowledge, wisdom, and asceticism.
कालचारित्रतत्त्वज्ञ शिवभक्त महामते २१.
Knower of the nature of time and conduct, devotee of Śiva, great-minded one.
यावत्ते तपसो वीर्यं तावद्भुंक्ष्वजगत्त्रयम् २१.
As long as your ascetic power endures, so long may you rule the three worlds.
इत्युक्त्वा मर्कयूथेन वृतो नारायणः प्रभुः २१.
Having spoken thus, Lord Nārāyaṇa, surrounded by a troop of monkeys, departed.
ततो मेरुं समागम्य प्रोवाच वचनं हरिः २१.
Then Hari, having reached Meru, spoke these words.