बन्धनं वा वधो वापि पूर्वाभ्यासेन जायते
Bondage or even death arises from previous practice.
भवान् दिवाकीर्तिमिमं सुपुत्रं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे विनियोजयस्व
You should establish this son, Divākīrti, in the duties of household life.
भवान् दिवाकीर्तिमिमं सुपुत्रं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे विनियोजयस्व
You should establish this son, Divākīrti, in the duties of household life.
जगाम पुण्यं सदनं मुरारेः ख्यातं बदर्याश्रममाद्यमीड्यम्
He went to the sacred abode of Murāri, renowned as the prime and venerable Badarī hermitage.
तस्माच्च पूर्वं द्विजवर्य वै मया अभ्यस्तमासीन्ननु ते ब्रवीमि
And previously, O best of twice-born, I had practiced; now I speak to you.
ज्ञानानि चैवाब्यसंतां हि पूर्वं भवन्ति धर्मार्थशांसि नाथ
Indeed, knowledge is practiced beforehand; O lord, teachings of dharma and artha arise.
ध्यायंस्तदास्ते मधुकैटभघ्नं नारायणं चक्रगदासिपाणिम्
He sat in meditation, contemplating Nārāyaṇa—slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha—who holds the discus, mace, and sword in his hands.
जज्ञवाटमुपागम् उच्चैर्वचनमब्रवीत्
He approached the sacrificial enclosure and spoke in a loud voice.
यज्ञो ऽश्वमेधः प्रवरः क्रतूनां मुख्यस्तथा सत्रिषु दैत्यनाथः
The horse sacrifice is the foremost of rituals, the chief among all sacrifices, O lord of the Daityas.
सार्घपात्रः समभ्यागाद्यत्र देवः स्थितो ऽभवत्
The vessel for the sacrificial fee was brought forth, where the god himself was present.
भरद्वाजर्षिणा सार्धं यज्ञवाटं प्रवेशयत्
He entered the sacrificial enclosure together with the sage Bharadvāja.
प्रोवाच भगवन् ब्रूहि किं दद्मि तव मानद
He said: 'O venerable one, speak—what shall I give you, O bestower of honor?'
विहस्य सुचिरं कालं भरद्वाजमवेक्ष्य च
Smiling for a long time and gazing at Bharadvāja,
न स धारयते भूम्यां पारक्यां जातवेदसम्
He does not sustain the fire, Jātavedas, on foreign ground.
मच्छरीरप्रमाणेन देहि राजन् पदत्रयम्
Grant me, O king, three steps of land measured by my own body.
बाणं च तनयं वीक्ष्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Looking at his son Bāṇa, he spoke these words:
येन क्रमत्रयं मौर्ख्याद् याचते बुद्धितो ऽपि च
Who, out of folly, asks for three steps, even though he is wise?
धनादिकं भूरि न वै ददाति यथेह विष्णोर्न बहुप्रयासः
He does not ask for abundant wealth and the like, for here, with Viṣṇu, there is not much effort.
मयि दातरि यश्चायमद्य याचेत् पदत्रयम्
Even as I am the giver, today he asks for three steps.
याचस्व विष्णो गजवाजिभूमिं दासीहिरण्यं यदभीप्सितं च
Ask of Viṣṇu for elephants, horses, land, maidservants, gold—whatever you desire.
दातुर्याचयितुर्लज्जा कथं न स्यात् पदत्रये
How could there not be shame for the giver and the petitioner in asking for just three steps?
एतभ्यः कतमं दद्यां स्थानं याचस्व वामन
Of these, which place should I give? Ask for it, O Vāmana.
एतावता त्वहं चार्थी देहि राजन् पदत्रयम्
With just this much, I am a supplicant; grant me, O king, three steps of land.
बलिर्भृङ्गारमादाय ददौ विष्णोः क्रमत्रयम्
Bali, taking up the ritual water, granted Viṣṇu the three strides.
त्रैलोक्यक्रमणार्थाय बहुरूपं जगन्मयम्
For the purpose of traversing the three worlds, he assumed many forms, embodying the universe.
सत्यं तपो जानुयुग्मे ऊरुभ्यां मेरुमन्दरौ
Truth and austerity were at his knees; Meru and Mandara were his thighs.
लिङ्गे स्थितो मन्मथश्च वृषणाभ्यां प्रजापतिः
Desire abided in his phallus, and Prajapati in his testicles.
वलिषु त्रिषु नद्यश्च यज्ञास्तु जठरे स्थिताः
In his three folds were the rivers, and sacrifices resided in his belly.
पृष्ठस्था वसवो देवाः स्कन्धौ रुद्रैरधिषठितौ
The Vasus, the gods, were on his back; his shoulders were presided over by the Rudras.
हृदये संस्थितो ब्रह्मा कुलिशो हृदयास्थिषु
Brahma was established in his heart, and the thunderbolt in the bones of his heart.