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.
यद्वा न पश्यति तदाप्यस्मि साम्यमुपेयिवान्
Even when one does not perceive, one has attained equality with me.
त्वयैव परिहार्यत्वमिदानीं समुपागतम्
Now, the responsibility for avoidance has come to you alone.
गिरमेकामिमामग्रे चक्रपाणेरुदीरय
Speak this single statement before the wielder of the discus.
अत्युच्चं दृष्टवानग्रमत्र साक्ष्ये स्थितोऽस्म्यहम्
I have seen the highest point; here I stand as witness.
संभावितोयं सुतरां पित्रेव हि पितामहः
This one is greatly honored, just as a father by his grandfather.
इत्युक्त्वा मम साहाय्यं सुमहत्क्रियतां त्वया ।। 1.3.2.13.
Having said this, let my great assistance be rendered by you.
तेजःस्तंभाभ्यर्णभाजे तथैव प्राहाशेषं विष्णवे ब्रह्मवाक्यम्
To Vishnu, who dwells in the brilliance and the summit, Brahma spoke the remaining words.
नाग्रं दृष्टमनेनेति निश्चिकाय विवेकवान्
He, discerning, concluded that the summit had not been seen by him.
अनुग्रहीतुं मां मुग्धं हंतुं चास्य विधेर्मदम्
To show me favor in my ignorance, and to destroy the pride of this fate.
मूलसंदर्शनाशक्त्या तेजःस्तंम्भस्य मे मदः
By the inability to perceive the root, the pride of my brilliance was checked.