उत्तिष्ठ गच्छामि महासुरस्य यज्ञं सुराणां हि हिताय विप्र
Arise, I go to the great asura's sacrifice, for the welfare of the gods, O brāhmaṇa.
विलासलीलागमनो गिरीन्द्रात् स चाभ्यगच्छत् कुरुजाङ्गलं हि
He departed playfully from the lord of mountains and reached the Kurujāngala.
क्षुब्धाः समुद्रा दिवि ऋक्षमण्डलो बभौ विपर्यस्तगतिर्महर्षे
The oceans were agitated; in the sky, the circle of stars shone, their courses disturbed, O great sage.
यथा प्रदग्धो ऽस्मि महेश्वरेण किं मां न संधक्ष्ययति वासुदेवः
Just as I was burned by Maheśvara, why does Vāsudeva not burn me as well?
भक्त्या द्विजेन्द्ररपि संप्रपादितान् नैव प्रतीच्चन्ति विभोर्भयेन
Even those offered with devotion by the best of twice-born are not accepted by the Lord, out of fear.
पप्रच्छोशनसं शुक्रं प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः
He approached Śukra, son of Uśanas, bowed with joined palms, and questioned him.
किमासुरीयान् सुहुतानपीह भागान् न गृह्णन्ति हुताशनाश्च
Why do the fires here not accept the offerings, even when the Asuric shares are well offered?
दिशः किमर्थं तमसा परिप्लुता दोषेण कस्याद्य वदस्व मे गुरो
Why are the directions enveloped in darkness? Tell me today, O teacher, whose fault is this?
अथ ज्ञात्वा कारणं च बलिं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, understanding the reason, Bali spoke these words.
हुताशना मन्त्रहुतानपीह नूनं समागच्छति वासुदेवः
Surely, where oblations are offered with mantras into the fire, there Vāsudeva himself comes together.
तस्यां चलत्यां मकरालयामी उद्वृत्तवेला दितिजाद्य जाताः
When the ocean, abode of makaras, is agitated, the sons of Diti are born with swelling tides.
धर्मं सत्यं च पथ्यं च सर्वोत्साहसमीरितम्
Righteousness, truth, and what is proper—all are expressed with utmost effort.
किं वा वाच्यं मुरारेर्निजहितमथवा तद्धितं वा प्रयुढञ्जे तथ्यं पथ्यंप्रियभोमम वदशुभदन्तत्करिष्ये न चान्यत्
What should be said for Murāri’s benefit, or for the benefit of his own, let that which is true, proper, and dear to me be spoken; I will do that, and nothing else.
विचिन्त्य नारद प्राह भूतभव्यविदीश्वरः
Having reflected, Nārada spoke—he who knows the past, future, and all directions.
श्रुतिप्रमाणं मखभोजिनो बहिः सुरास्तदर्थं हरिर् अभ्युपैति
The authority of the scriptures is outside the sacrificial enjoyers; for that purpose, Hari approaches.
कार्यं न देयं हि विभो तृणाग्रं यदध्वरे भूकनकादिकं वा
O Lord, nothing at all should be given in the sacrifice—not even a blade of grass or a speck of gold from the earth.
यस्योदरे भूर्भुवनाकपालरसातलेशा निवसन्ति नित्यशः
In whose belly the earth, the guardians of the worlds, and the nether regions always dwell.
समागते ऽप्ययर्थिनि हीनवृत्ते जनार्दने लोकपतौ कथं तु
Even when Janārdana, lord of the world, comes in a humble form and asks for something insignificant, how can it be so?
दृश्यते हि तथा तच्च सत्यं ब्राह्मणसत्तम
Indeed, it is seen to be so, and this is true, O best of Brāhmaṇas.
वाक्कायमनसानीह योन्यन्तरगतान्यपि
Here, even those actions that are hidden within speech, body, and mind—
या वृत्ता मलये पूर्वं कोशकारसुतस्य तु
That conduct which formerly occurred on Malaya, concerning the son of the weaver—
कथां पौराणिकीं पुण्यां महाकौतूहलं हि मे
I have a great curiosity for the ancient, meritorious tale.
पूर्वाभ्यासनिबद्धां हि सत्यां भृगुकुलोद्वह
Indeed, O best of Bhṛgu’s line, it is bound by previous practice and is true.
कोशकार इति ख्यात आसीद् ब्रह्मंस्तपोरतः
There was a Brāhmaṇa known as the weaver, devoted to austerity.
सती वात्स्यायनसुता धर्मशीला पतिव्रता
His wife, daughter of Vātsyāyana, was virtuous and devoted to her husband.
मूकवन्नालपति स न च पश्यति चान्धवत्
He speaks like one mute and sees like one blind.
मन्यमाना गृहद्वारि षष्ठे ऽहनि समुत्सृजत्
Thinking thus, on the sixth day, she abandoned him at the doorway of the house.
स्वं शिशुं कृशमादाय सूर्पाक्षी नाम नामतः
Taking her own emaciated child, she, named Sūrpākṣī, by name,
तमादाय जगामाथ भोक्तुं शालोदरे गिरौ
Having taken him, she went to eat on the mountain called Śālodara.
नेत्रहीनः प्रत्युवाच किमानीतस्त्वया प्रिये
The one without sight spoke: 'What have you brought, dear?'