विष्णोरपि प्रसादेन दुष्प्रवेशं महासुरैः
By the grace of Vishnu, even the great asuras found it difficult to enter.
रुद्रकोटिं समाश्रित्य स्थितास्ते ब्रह्मचारिणः
Taking shelter in Rudra’s multitude, those celibates remained there.
शुक्रस्तु भार्गवान् सर्वान् निन्ये यज्ञविधौ मुने
O sage, Shukra, the descendant of Bhrigu, led them all in the performance of the sacrifice.
यज्ञदीक्षां बलेः शुक्रश्चाकार विधिना स्वयम्
Shukra himself duly performed the sacrificial initiation for Bali.
मृगाजिनावृतः पृष्ठे बर्हिपत्रविचित्रितः
He was covered on his back with a deerskin, adorned with a variety of darbha grass.
हयग्रीवप्रलम्बाद्यैर्मयबाणपुरोगमैः
With Hayagriva, Pralamba, and others, with Maya and Bana at the forefront,
ललनानां सहस्रस्य प्रधाना ऋषिकन्यका
Among a thousand maidens, the chief was the sage’s daughter.
महीं विहर्तुमुत्सृष्टस्तारकाक्षो ऽन्वगाच्च तम्
Released to roam the earth, Tarakaksha followed her.
गते च मासत्रितये हूयमाने च पावके
When three months had passed and the fire was being offered,
सुषुवे देवजननी माधवं वामनाकृतिम्
The mother of the gods gave birth to Madhava in the form of Vamana.
ब्रह्मा समभ्येत्य समं महर्षिभिः स्तोत्रं जगादाथ विभोर्महर्षे
Then Brahma, together with the great sages, approached and recited a hymn to the mighty Lord.
नमो ऽस्तु ते शत्रुवनेन्धनाग्ने नमो ऽस्तु वै पापमहादवाग्ने
Homage to you, O fire that consumes the fuel of enemies; homage to you, O fire that burns the great forest of sin.
नमस्ते जगादाधार नमस्ते पुरुषोत्तम
Salutations to you, supporter of the universe; salutations to you, supreme person.
पीतवासः श्रियःकान्त जनार्दन नमो ऽस्तु ते
Clad in yellow garments, beloved of Shri, Janardana, salutations to you.
सर्वधारी धराधारी रूपधारी नमो ऽस्तु ते
Bearer of all, sustainer of the earth, bearer of forms—salutations to you.
कुरुष्व दैवतपते मघोनो ऽश्रुप्रमार्जनम्
O lord of the gods, wipe away the tears of Indra.
प्रोवाच भगवान् मह्यं कुरूपनयनं विभो
The blessed one spoke to me, O mighty one, regarding the bringing of the Kurus.
भरद्वाजो महातेजा बार्हस्पत्यस्तपोधनः
Bharadvāja, of great brilliance, son of Bṛhaspati, rich in austerity,
ततो ददुः प्रीतियुताः सर्व एव वरान् क्रमात्
Then, filled with affection, all of them granted boons in turn.
मृगाजिनं कुम्भयोनिर्भरद्वाजस्तु मेखलाम्
Kumbhayoni gave a deerskin, and Bharadvāja gave a girdle.
अक्षसूत्रं वारुणिस्तु कौश्यं वेदमथाङ्गिराः
Varuṇi gave a string of beads, and Aṅgirā gave silk and the Veda.
कम्ण्डलुं बृहत्तेजाः प्रादाद्विष्णोर्बृहस्पतिः
Bṛhaspati, of great splendor, gave a water pot to Viṣṇu.
संस्तूयमानो ऋषिभिः साङ्गं वेदमधीयत
Praised by the sages, he studied the Veda with its limbs.
महदाख्यानसंयुक्तं गन्धर्वसहितं मुने
Along with great narratives and accompanied by Gandharvas, O sage.
लोकचारप्रवृत्त्यर्थमभूच्छ्रुतिविशारदः
He became skilled in the Vedas for the sake of understanding worldly conduct and activity.
प्रोवाच ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठं भरद्वाजमिदं वचः
He spoke these words to the foremost of Brahmins, Bharadvāja:
तत्र दैत्यपतेः पुण्यो हयमेधः प्रवर्तते
There, the holy horse sacrifice of the lord of the Daityas is being performed.
तेनाहं प्रतिजानामि कुरुक्षेत्रं गतो बलिः
By that, I declare: Bali has gone to Kurukṣetra.
गमिष्यामो वयं विष्णो बलेरध्वरं मा खिद
We shall go, O Viṣṇu, to Bali’s sacrifice; do not be troubled.
सान्निध्यं भवतो ब्रूहि ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
Tell me of your presence; I wish to know it truly.