यस्य वा गुणसन्दोहस्तस्य नो रूपमुत्तमम्
And if someone had a collection of virtues, his appearance was not excellent.
एवं वर्षसहस्रांते भ्रमतस्तस्यभूतलम्
Thus, after wandering the earth for a thousand years—
कदाचिदथ तौ श्रान्तौ भ्रममाणावितस्ततः
Once, as the two wandered about, weary from their journey—
श्वेतद्वीपं समालोक्य तथान्यां बदरीं शुभाम्
They beheld Śvetadvīpa and also the auspicious Badarī.
अथ ताभ्यां मुनिर्दृष्टो नारदो ब्रह्मसंभवः
Then, before them, appeared the sage Nārada, born from Brahmā.
क्व देवः पुंडरीकाक्षः सांप्रतं वर्तते मुने आवाभ्यां संप्रहृष्टाभ्यां न संदृष्टः स केशवः
"O sage, where does the lotus-eyed Lord now dwell? Though we have come here, joyful, we have not seen Keśava."
हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे स संतिष्ठति सर्वदा ॥ ६.८०.
"He always abides in the field of Hāṭakeśvara."
तस्मात्तद्दर्शनार्थाय गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम्
"Therefore, go there without delay to see Him."
अहमप्येव तत्रैव प्रस्थितस्तस्य दर्शनात्
"I too am setting out there for His audience."
अथ तौ पक्षिविप्रेन्द्रौ स च ब्रह्मसुतो मुनिः
Then those two foremost of bird-sages, along with the son of Brahmā, the sage,
अथ दृष्ट्वा महत्तेजो वैष्णवं दूरतोऽपि तम्
From afar, they saw that great Vaiṣṇava radiance.
अत्रैव त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ तिष्ठ दूरेऽपि तेजसः
"Here, O best of twice-born, remain at a distance from that radiance."
नो चेत्संपत्स्यसे भस्म पतंग इव पावकम्
"Otherwise, you will be reduced to ashes like a moth in fire."
आवाभ्यां तत्प्रसादेन सोढमेतत्सुदुःसहम्
"By His grace alone have we endured this, which is extremely difficult to bear."
एवं तं ब्राह्मणं तत्र मुक्त्वा दूरे सुतान्वितम्
Thus, leaving that brāhmaṇa there at a distance, together with his sons,
दिव्यस्तुतिपरौ मूर्ध्नि धृतहस्तांजलीपुटौ
Absorbed in divine praise, with hands joined and placed upon their heads,
त्रिःपरिकम्य तं देवमष्टांगं प्रणतौ हरिम् ६.८०.
They circumambulated the Lord three times and bowed to Hari with eightfold prostration.
पादसंवाहनासक्तां विष्णु वक्त्राहितेक्षणाम्
Engaged in massaging His feet, their gaze fixed upon Viṣṇu's face,
सन्निविष्टां तदभ्याशे सम्यग्ध्यानपरायणाम्
They sat nearby, wholly devoted to proper meditation.
अथ तौ विष्णुना हर्षादुभावपि प्रहर्षितौ
Then, both were filled with joy by Viṣṇu Himself.
गरुडो वै ब्राह्मणाय यन्मां पृच्छसि केशव
O Keśava, you ask me, Garuḍa, on behalf of the brāhmaṇa.
कच्चिन्नेंद्रस्य संजातं भयं दानवसंभवम्
Has fear arisen for Indra, born from the Dānavas?
यज्ञभागं लभंते स्म कच्चिद्देवाः सवासवाः
Have the gods, along with Indra, obtained their share of the sacrifice?
रोरूयमाणा भारार्ता दानवैः पीडिता भृशम्
Are the gods, tormented greatly by the Dānavas, crying out in distress, burdened by the weight?
उग्रसेनसुतः कंसः संभूतः स महासुरः
Kaṃsa, the son of Ugrasena, that great asura, has arisen.
अरिष्टो धेनुकः केशी प्रलम्बोनाम चापरः
Ariṣṭa, Dhenuka, Keśī, and another named Pralamba—
इतश्चेतश्च धावद्भिर्दानवैरेभिरेव च ६.८०.
And these Dānavas are running here and there in all directions.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुस्तथा जातो मर्त्यलोके जनोऽधुना
Now, people in the mortal world are raising their arms upward.
भारावतरणं देव न करिष्यसि चाशु चेत्
O god, if you do not quickly relieve the burden of the earth—
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा
Hearing these words from her, the goddess Earth, spoken to Brahmā, the creator of the worlds—