योगेन त्वान्ध्यानिनो नित्ययुक्ताः ज्ञात्वा भोगान् सन्त्यजन्ते पुनस्तान् । येऽन्ये मर्त्त्यास्त्वां प्रपन्ना विशुद्धास्ते कर्मभिर्दिव्यभोगान् भजन्ते ।। २४.
Those who are ever engaged in meditation know you through yoga and renounce enjoyments again and again; other mortals who take refuge in you, purified by their actions, partake in divine enjoyments.
अप्रमेयस्य तत्त्वस्य यथा विझः स्वशक्तितः। कीर्तितं तव माहात्म्यमपारं परमात्मनः। शिवो नो भव सर्वत्र योऽसि सोऽसि नमोऽस्तु ते ।। २४.
As far as it is possible for one’s own power to grasp the truth of the immeasurable reality, so has your boundless greatness, O supreme self, been praised; may you, who are Shiva everywhere, be gracious to us—salutations to you.
संपिबन्निव तौ दृष्ट्वा मधुपिङ्गायतेक्षणः । प्रहृष्टवदनोऽत्यर्थमभवच्च स्वकीर्त्तनात् ।। २५.
Seeing those two, whose eyes were tinged like honey and copper, he became exceedingly joyful, as if drinking them in, and was delighted by their praise.
उमापतिर्विरूपाक्षो दक्षयज्ञविनाशनः। पिनाकी खण्डपरशुर्भूतप्रान्तस्त्रिलोचनः ।। २५.
The consort of Umā, the three-eyed one, destroyer of Dakṣa’s sacrifice, bearer of the bow Pināka, wielder of the broken axe, lord of spirits, stood there.
ततः स भगवान् देवः श्रुत्वा वाक्यामृतं तयोः। जानन्नपि महाभागः प्रीतपूर्वमथाब्रवीत् ।। २५.
Then that blessed god, having heard their nectar-like words, though already knowing, spoke with great affection.
कौ भवन्तौ महात्मानौ परस्परहितैषिणौ। समेतावम्बुजाभाक्षौ तस्मिन् घोरे जलप्लवे ।। २५.
Who are you two great souls, lotus-eyed and intent on each other’s welfare, who have come together in this dreadful flood of waters?
तावूचतूर्महात्मानौ सन्निरीक्ष्य परस्परम्। भगवन् किञ्च तथ्येन विज्ञातेन त्वया विभो। कुत्र वा सुखमानन्त्यमिच्छाचारमृते त्वया ।। २५.
Those two great souls, having looked at each other, replied: ‘O Lord, whatever is truly known by you, O mighty one, where is there happiness or endlessness apart from your will?’
उवाच भगवान् देवो मधुरश्लक्ष्णया गिरा। भो भो हिरण्यगर्भ त्वां त्वां च कृष्ण वदाम्यहम् ।। २५.
The blessed god spoke with sweet and gentle words: ‘O Hiraṇyagarbha, O Kṛṣṇa, I address you both.’
प्रीतोऽहमनया भक्त्या शाश्वताक्षरयुक्तया। भवन्तौ माननीयौ वै मम ह्यर्हतरावुभौ। युवाभ्यां किं ददाम्यद्य वराणां वरमुत्तमम् ।। २५.
I am pleased by this devotion, joined with the eternal and imperishable; you both are truly worthy of honor from me. What supreme boon shall I grant you today?
तेनैवमुक्ते वचने ब्रह्माणं विष्णुरब्रवीत् । ब्रूहि ब्रूहि महाभाग वरो यस्ते विवक्षितः ।। २५.
When these words were spoken, Viṣṇu said to Brahmā: ‘Speak, speak, O greatly fortunate one, what boon do you desire?’
प्रजाकामोऽस्म्यहं विष्णो पुत्रमिच्छामि धूर्वहम्। ततः स भगवान् ब्रह्मा वेरप्सुः पुत्रलिप्सया ।। २५.
Desiring progeny, I wish for a steadfast son, O Viṣṇu; then that blessed Brahmā, longing for a son, spoke thus.
अथ विष्णुरुवाचेदं प्रजाकामं प्रजापतिम्। वीरमप्रतिमं पुत्रं यत्त्वमिच्छसि धूर्वहम् ।। २५.
Then Viṣṇu said to the lord of creatures, who desired offspring: ‘The heroic and peerless son whom you wish for, steadfast in virtue—’
पुत्रत्वेनाभियुङ्क्ष्व त्वं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्। सतस्य वाक्यं संपूज्य केशवस्य पितामहः ।। २५.
You should request the god of gods, great Maheśvara, as your son; honoring Keśava’s words, the grandsire did so.
ईशानं वरदं रुद्रमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः । उवाच पुत्रकामस्तु वाक्यानि सह विष्णुना ।। २५.
With joined palms, desiring a son, he addressed Īśāna, the bestower of boons, Rudra, with Viṣṇu together, and spoke these words.
यदि मे भगवान् प्रीतः पुत्रकामस्य नित्यशः। पुत्रो मे भव विश्वात्मन् स्वतुल्यो वापि धूर्व्वहः। नान्यं वरमहं वव्रे प्रीते त्वयि महेश्वर ।। २५.
If you are pleased with me, O Lord, who always desires a son, let a son be born to me, O Soul of the Universe, or one equal to yourself, O bearer of the sacred grass. I seek no other boon, O Maheshvara, when you are pleased.
तस्य तां प्रार्थनां श्रुत्वा भगवान् भगनेत्रहा। निष्कल्मषममायञ्च बाढमित्यब्रवीद्वचः ।। २५.
Hearing that request, the Lord, destroyer of Bhaga’s eye, spoke these words: 'So be it,' pure and free from deceit.
यदा कार्यसमारम्भे कस्मिंश्चित्तव सुव्रत। अनिष्णत्तौ च कार्यस्य क्रोधस्त्वां समुपेष्यति। आत्मैकादश ये रुद्रा विहिताः प्राण हेतवः ।। २५.
Whenever, O steadfast one, in the undertaking of any task, anger approaches you due to the task being incomplete, those eleven Rudras, established as causes of life, will manifest.
सोऽहमेकादशात्मा वै शूलहस्तः सहानुगः। ऋषिर्म्मित्रो महात्मा वै ललाटाद्भविता तदा ।। २५.
I am that elevenfold self, holding the trident, accompanied by followers; the great sage Mitra, of noble soul, will then be born from the forehead.
प्रसादमतुलं कृत्वा ब्रह्मणस्तादृशं पुरा। विष्णुं पुनरुवाचेदं ददामि च वरन्तव ।। २५.
Having granted incomparable favor to Brahma in the past, he again spoke to Vishnu: 'I grant you this boon.'
स होवाच महाभागो विष्णुर्भवमिदं वचः। सर्व्वमेतत् कृतं देव परितुष्टोऽसि मे यदि। त्वयि मे सुप्रतिष्ठाऽस्तु भक्तिरम्बुदवाहन ।। २५.
The illustrious Vishnu replied to Bhava: 'All this has been accomplished, O Deva. If you are satisfied with me, let my devotion to you, O bearer of the ocean, be firmly established.'
एवमुक्तस्ततो देवस्तमभाषत केशवम्। विष्णो श्रृणु यथा देव प्रीतोऽहन्तव शाश्वत ।। २५.
Thus addressed, the Lord then spoke to Keshava: 'O Vishnu, listen to how I am eternally pleased with you.'
प्रकाशञ्चाप्रकाशञ्च जङ्गमं स्थावरञ्च यत् । विश्वरूपमिदं सर्व्वं रुद्रनारायणात्मकम् ।। २५.
All that is manifest and unmanifest, mobile and immobile, this entire universal form is composed of Rudra and Narayana.
अहमग्निर्भवान् सोमो भवान् रात्रिरहं दिनम्। भवानृतमहं सत्यं भवान् क्रतुरहं फलम् ।। २५.
I am Agni, you are Soma; you are night, I am day; you are truth, I am reality; you are the ritual, I am its fruit.
भवान् ज्ञानमहं ज्ञेयं यज्जपित्वा सदा जनाः । मां विशन्ति त्वयि प्रीते जनाः सुकृतकारिणः। आवाभ्यां सहिता चैव गतिर्नान्या युगक्षये ।। २५.
You are knowledge, I am the object to be known; those who always worship attain me. When you are pleased, the virtuous enter me; together, there is no other path at the end of the age.
आत्मानं प्रकृतिं विद्धि मां विद्धि पुरुषं शिवम्। भवानर्द्धशरीरं मे त्वहन्तव यथैव च ।। २५.
Know yourself as Prakriti, and me as Shiva, the Purusha. You are half my body, just as I am yours.
वामपार्श्वमहम्मह्यं श्यामं श्रीवत्सलक्षणम् । त्वञ्च वामेतरं पार्श्वं त्वहं वै नीललोहितः ।। २५.
I am the left side, dark and marked with the Srivatsa; you are the right side, and I am blue and red.
त्वञ्च मे ह्वदयं विष्णो तव चाहं हृदि स्थितः। भवान् सर्व्वस्य कार्यस्य कर्त्ताहमधिदैवतम् ।। २५.
You are my heart, O Vishnu, and I dwell in your heart. You are the agent of all actions, and I am the presiding deity.
तदेहि स्वस्ति ते वत्स गमिष्याम्यम्बुदप्रभ। एवमुक्त्वा गतो विष्णोर्देवोऽन्तर्द्धानमीश्वरः ।। २५.
So, farewell to you, child; I shall depart, O ocean-radiant one. Having spoken thus, the Lord vanished from Vishnu’s sight.
ततः सोऽन्तर्हिते देवे संप्रहृष्टस्तदा पुनः। अशेत शयने भूप प्रविश्यान्तर्जले हरिः ।। २५.
Then, when the Lord had disappeared, Hari entered the waters and, delighted, lay down upon his bed, O king.
तं पद्मं पद्मगर्भाभं पद्माक्षः पद्मसम्भवः। सम्प्रहृष्टमना ब्रह्मा भेजे ब्राह्मं तदासनम् ।। २५.
Brahma, whose mind was filled with joy, took his seat upon the lotus, resembling the womb of a lotus, with lotus eyes, born from the lotus.