सकलमिदमजस्य यस्य रूपं परमपदात्मवतः सनातनस्य । तमनिधनमशेषबीजभूतं प्रभुममलं प्रणताः स्म वासुदेवम्
We bow to Vasudeva, the stainless Lord, the imperishable, the root of all seeds, whose form is this entire universe, unborn, eternal, and possessed of the supreme state.
स्तात्रस्यास्यावसाने तदे ददृशुः परमेश्वरम् । शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिं गरुडस्थं सुरा हरिम्
At the conclusion of this hymn, they beheld the Supreme Lord, Hari, holding conch, discus, and mace, standing upon Garuda, the god of gods.
तमूचुः सकला देवाः प्रणिपातपुरः सरम् । प्रसीद देव!दैत्येभ्यस्त्राहीति शरणार्थिनः
All the gods, led by reverent prostration, addressed him: 'Be gracious, O God! Protect us from the Daityas, for we have come to you for refuge.'
त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञाभागश्व दैत्यैर्ह्रादपुरोगमैः । ह्टतं नो ब्रह्मणोऽप्याज्ञामुल्लङ्घय परमेश्वर
'The three worlds and the shares of sacrifice have been seized by the Daityas, led by Hrada. Even the command of Brahma has been violated, O Supreme Lord.'
यद्यप्यशेषभूतस्य वयं ते च तवांशकाः । तथाप्यविद्याभेदेन भिन्नं पश्यामहे जगत्
'Although we and they are all your parts, O Lord of all beings, still, due to the difference of ignorance, we perceive the world as divided.'
स्ववर्णधर्माभिरता वेदमार्गानुसारिणः । न शक्यास्तेऽरयो हन्तुमस्माभिस्तपसान्विताः
'Devoted to the duties of our own order, following the path of the Vedas, and endowed with austerity, we are unable to slay those enemies.'
तमुपायममेयात्मन्नस्माकं दातुमर्हसि । येन तानसुरान हन्तु भवेम भगवन् ! क्षमाः
'O immeasurable one, you ought to grant us a means by which, O Lord, we may be able to destroy those Asuras.'
इत्युक्तो भगवांस्तेभ्यो मायामोहं शरीरतः । तमुत्पाद्य ददौ विष्णुः प्राह चेदं सुरोत्तमान्
Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord produced from his own body the delusion of Maya and gave it to them; then Vishnu spoke these words to the best of the gods.
मायामोहोऽयमखिलान् दैत्यांस्तान्मोहयिष्यति । ततो वध्या भविष्यन्ति वेदमार्गबहिष्कृताः
'This delusion of Maya will bewilder all those Daityas; then, excluded from the path of the Veda, they will become fit for destruction.'
स्थितौ स्थितस्य मे वध्या यावन्तः परिपन्थिनः । ब्रह्मणो येऽधिकारस्य देवदैत्यादिकाः सुराः
'As long as I remain established in the work of preservation, all those who are obstacles—gods, Daityas, and others—who transgress the authority of Brahma, are fit to be destroyed.'
तदूगच्छत न भीः कीर्या मायामोहोऽयमग्रतः । गच्छत्वद्योपकाराय भवता भवतां सुराः
Therefore, do not be afraid; this delusion of illusion stands before you. Let it go now, for your benefit, by your own will, O gods.
इत्युक्ताः प्रणिपत्यैनं ययुर्देवा यथागतम् । मायामोहोऽपि तैः सार्द्धं ययौ यत्र महासुराः
Thus addressed, the gods bowed to him and departed as they had come; and the delusion of illusion went with them to where the great asuras were.
पराशर उवाच । तपस्यभिरतान् सोऽथ मायामोहो महासुरान् । मैत्रेय ! ददृशे गत्वा नर्मदातीरसंश्रितान्
Parāśara said: Then, Maitreya, the delusion of illusion, having gone, saw the great asuras engaged in austerities, dwelling on the banks of the Narmadā.
ततो दिगम्बरो मुण्डो बर्हिपत्रधरो द्रिज । मायामोहोऽसुरान् श्लक्ष्णमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, naked, shaven-headed, and wearing peacock feathers, the delusion of illusion spoke these gentle words to the asuras.
हे दैत्यपतयो ! ब्रूत यदर्थं तप्यते तपः । ऐहिकं वाथ पारत्र्यं तपसः फलमिच्छथ
O lords of the daityas, tell me for what purpose you perform austerities. Do you desire the fruit of asceticism for this world or for the next?
पारत्र्यफललाभाय तपश्वर्या महामते । अस्माभिरियमारब्धा किं वा तेऽत्र विवक्षितम्
We, of great understanding, have undertaken these austerities for the attainment of the fruit of the next world. Or is there something else you wish to say about this?
कुरुध्वं मम वाक्यानि यदि मुक्तिमभीप्सथ । अर्हध्वमेनं धर्मञ्च मुक्तिद्रारमसंवृतम्
If you desire liberation, then follow my words. You are worthy of this dharma, which is the gateway to liberation.
धर्मो विमुक्तेरर्होऽयं नैतदस्मात् परः परः । अत्रैव संस्थिताः स्वर्गं विमुक्तिं वा गमिष्यथ । अर्हध्वं धर्ममेतञ्च सर्वे यूयं महाबलाः
This dharma is worthy of liberation; there is nothing higher than this. Remaining here itself, you will attain heaven or liberation. All of you, mighty ones, are worthy of this dharma.
एवं प्रकारैर्बहुभिर्युक्तिदर्शनवर्द्धितैः । मायामोहन ते देत्या वेदमार्गादपाकृताः
In this way, with many arguments strengthened by reasoning, the delusion of illusion led the daityas away from the path of the Veda.
धर्मायैतदधर्माय सदेतन्न सदित्यपि । विमुक्तये त्विदं नैतदू विमुक्तिं सम्प्रच्छात
This is for dharma, that is for adharma; this is real, that is unreal—so it is said. But for liberation, this is not the way; do not seek liberation in this manner.
परमार्थोऽयमत्यर्थं परमार्थो न चाप्ययम् कार्यमेतदकार्य्यञ्च नैतदेवं स्पुटं त्विदम् । दिग्वाससामयं धर्मो धर्मोऽयं बहुवाससाम्
This is the highest truth, and yet it is not the highest truth; this is action, and yet it is inaction—thus, nothing here is clear. The dharma of the naked is one thing, and the dharma of those with many garments is another.
इत्यनैकान्तवादञ्च मायामोहेन नैकधा । तेन दर्शयता दैत्याः स्वधर्मांस्त्याजिता द्रिज
Thus, by presenting many-sided arguments of indeterminacy, the delusion of illusion caused the daityas to abandon their own dharmas, O twice-born.
अर्हतेमं महाधर्मं मायामोहेन ते यतः । प्रोक्तास्तमाश्रिता धर्ममार्हतास्तेन तेऽभवन्
Because the delusion of illusion proclaimed this great dharma, they adopted that dharma and became followers of it.
त्रयीधर्मसमुत्सर्ग मायामोहेन तेऽसुराः । कारितास्तन्मया ह्मासंस्ततोऽन्ये तत्प्रबोधिताः
Through the delusion of illusion, those asuras were made to abandon the dharma of the three Vedas; I too became like them, and others were awakened by them.
तैरप्यन्ये परे तैश्व तैरप्यन्ये परे च तैः । अल्पैरहोभिः सन्तयक्ता तैर्दैत्यैः प्रायशस्त्रयी
By them, others, and by those others still more, and again by others—within a few days, most of the daityas abandoned the threefold Vedic path.
पुनश्व रक्ताम्बरधृङू मायामोहोऽजितेक्षिणः । अन्यानाहासुरान् गत्वा मृद्धल्पमधुराक्षरम्
Again, wearing red garments, the delusion of illusion, unconquered, went to other asuras and addressed them with soft, gentle, and sweet words.
स्वर्गार्थं यदि वो वाञ्छा निर्वाणार्थमथासुराः । तदलं पशुघातादिदुष्टधर्मैर्निबोधत
If your desire is for heaven, or asuras, if it is for liberation, then enough of these evil dharmas like animal sacrifice—listen.
विज्ञानमयमेवैतदशेषमवगच्छत । बुध्यध्वं मे वचः सम्यगू बुधैरेवमुदीरितम्
Understand that all this is truly made of knowledge alone. Listen well to my words, as spoken by the wise.
जगदेतदनाधारं भ्रान्तिज्ञानार्थतत्परम् । रागादिदुष्टमत्यर्थं भ्राम्यते भवसङ्कटे
This world, lacking a true foundation, is absorbed in false knowledge and delusion; thoroughly corrupted by passion and the like, it wanders in the peril of worldly existence.
एवं बुध्यत बुध्यध्वं बुध्यतैवमितीरयन् । मायामोहः स दैतेयान् धर्ममत्याजयन्नजम्
Thus, proclaiming, 'Understand! Awaken! Comprehend in this way!'—that illusion and delusion caused the Daityas to abandon the unborn (eternal) Dharma.