आकाशे ददृशे नातिदूरे किमपि निर्मलम्
In the sky, not far away, he saw something pure and clear.
यद्वा मृणालं तत्सिंधौ वियत्यस्यां कुतस्तु सः
Is it a stalk of lotus in the sea, or in the sky? How could it be there?
अबोधि केतकीबर्हमिति राजीवजन्मना
Born from the lotus, he realized it was a ketakī leaf.
हिरण्यगर्भो विमलमगृह्णात्केतकच्छदम्
Hiraṇyagarbha took up the spotless ketakī leaf.
वर्षाणां शतसाहस्रमुत्पत्यैवं विहायसा
For a hundred thousand years he soared thus through the sky.
अचिंतयत्पद्मसूतिरत्यंतं विहताशयः
The lotus-born, his hopes dashed, pondered deeply.
अनिर्व्यूढप्रतिज्ञावान्नीचतामपि संश्रितः 1.3.2.12.
With his vow unfulfilled, he had even taken refuge in lowliness.
अहमेतत्परीक्षायां क्व परिच्छिन्न पौरुषः प्रध्वंसंत इवांगानि पतामीवाहमप्यधः
In this trial, where is my limited strength? My limbs seem to be falling apart, as if I too am collapsing downward.
किं वान्यद्बहुनोक्तेन सह निश्वासवायुभिः
What more is there to say with many words, along with these sighing breaths?
अहंकारमदग्रंथिरयं त्रुटतु चित्ततः
Let this knot of pride and arrogance be broken from my mind.
यदेष रोदःकुहरपरिणाहाधिकोद्यमः
For this effort, surpassing the measure of the cavity of the world—
तदस्य तेजसां राशेर्नाहं नारायणोऽथवा
Of this mass of splendor, I am neither Nārāyaṇa nor anyone else.
इतो नोत्पतितुं शक्तिरस्ति मे तन्निवर्त्तये
I do not have the power to rise from here and turn that back.
प्रत्यभाषत तं कस्त्वं कुतो वा प्राप्तवानिति
He addressed him: 'Who are you, and from where have you come?'
केतकच्छद एवासं सचैतन्यः शिवाज्ञया
By Śiva’s command, I was a ketaka leaf, endowed with consciousness.
भूलोक इच्छया वस्तुं ततः संप्राप्तवानहम्
Desiring to dwell on earth, I have now arrived here.
इत्थं श्रुत्वा केतकीबर्हवाचं लब्ध्वाश्वासं तं किलांभोजभूतिः 1.3.2.12.
Hearing thus the words of the ketaka leaf, the lotus-born gained reassurance.
ईदृश्यः परितो लग्ना यस्मिन्ब्रह्मांडकोटयः
Countless universes are attached all around to this one.
चतुर्युगायुतैर्यातं ततो निपततो मम
Having passed through forty thousand yugas, I then fell down.
इति ब्रुवाणमेनं च नमस्कृत्य सरोजभूः
Thus, as he was speaking, the lotus-born bowed to him.
ब्रह्मोवाच ब्रह्मणा हि मया स्पर्द्धा विष्णुना सह निर्मिता
Brahmā said: A rivalry was created by me, Brahmā, together with Viṣṇu.
द्वाभ्यामपीदमावाभ्यां विस्मृतं शिववैभवम्
By both of us, the glory of Śiva has been forgotten.
ह्रेपणी संकथा तावदास्तामद्याप्यहं यतः
Let that shameful conversation be set aside for now, for I am still—
सख्यं साप्तपदीनं हि कथ्यते तद्भवान्मयि
For the friendship of seven steps is indeed spoken of; may you consider me thus.
असंस्तुतधियं हित्वा कर्तुमर्हस्यनुग्रहम्
Leaving aside those with unpraising minds, you ought to grant your favor.
हंसकोलाकृती दध्वो मिथः साम्यं व्यपोहितुम् 1.3.2.13.
Assuming the forms of a swan and a boar, we sought to dispel our mutual equality.
न जाने मम चास्याग्रं दिदृक्षोरीदृक्षी दशा
I do not know such a state of longing to see its end.
जातश्रमोऽस्मि नितरां वियुज्य इव चासुभिः
I am utterly exhausted, as if separated from my very life.
तन्मे कुरुष्व मित्रस्य सफलां याचनामिमाम्
Therefore, make this request of your friend fruitful for me.
तत्त्वया करणीयैवं प्रार्थनैषा कृतांजलिः
This must be done by you; with hands joined, this request is made.