अशेषसंशयाम्भोदशरत्समय किं त्व् अहम् । तृप्तिम् एषां न गच्छामि वचसां वदतस् तव
Though all clouds of doubt have cleared, like the autumn season, I do not find satisfaction in listening to your words.
बडिविज्ञानसम्प्राप्तिं पुनर् मद्बोधवृद्धये । विभो कथय खिद्यन्ते सन्तो नावनतं प्रति
Speak again, O Lord, for the growth of my understanding, about the attainment of supreme knowledge; the wise are not wearied by hearing of the highest.
शृणु राघव ते वक्ष्ये बडिवृत्तान्तम् उत्तमम् । श्रुतेन येन तेन त्वं बोधम् आप्स्यसि शाश्वतम्
Listen, Rāghava, I will tell you the excellent story of Baḍa; by hearing it, you will attain eternal understanding.
अस्त्य् अस्मिञ् जगतः कोशे कस्मिंश्चिद् दिक्तटान्तरे । पातालम् इति विख्यातो लोको भूमेर् अधस् स्थितः
In some corner of this world's expanse, within a certain direction's boundary, there exists a realm beneath the earth, known as Pātāla.
क्षीरोदार्णवजाताभिर् दिग्धाभिर् अमृताम्बुभिः । क्वचिद् दानवकन्याभिर् भाति निर्विवरान्तरः
At times, it shines with the nectar-waters born of the ocean of milk, and sometimes with the daughters of the Dānavas, its interior without any gaps.
जिह्वाचरोद्दामरवैर् विषभारभरायुधैः । क्वचिद् भोगिभिर् आपूर्णस् सहस्रशतमस्तकैः
In some places, it was filled with serpents whose tongues moved restlessly, bearing the heavy burden of venom as their weapon, with hundreds and thousands of hoods.
हेलाविवलिताशेषविश्वोद्धरणघस्मरैः । क्वचिद् दनुसुतैर् व्याप्तश् चलद्भिर् इव मेरुभिः
Elsewhere, it was crowded with the sons of Danu, who, with playful ease, shook the entire universe, appearing like moving mountains.
कटकुड्याग्रविश्रान्तवसुधामण्डलोद्धुरैः । क्वचिद् दिग्दन्तिभिर् दन्तद्रुमाद्रिभिर् उपाश्रितः
In some regions, it was occupied by elephants of the quarters, whose tusks resembled trees and mountains, resting at the summits of fort walls and earth's circles.
महाकटकटाशब्ददग्धभूतपरम्परैः । क्वचिद् दुर्गन्धिदिग्भागो ध्वनन् नरकमण्डलैः
In some directions, it was filled with lines of beings scorched by the loud, harsh noise of great clattering, and resounded with circles of hellish men, foul-smelling and dreadful.
आभूतलम् अभिप्रोतसप्तपातालमण्डलैः । क्वचिद् रत्नाकरैर् व्याप्तः पातालैर् इतरैर् इव
In some places, it was interwoven down to the earth with the seven regions of the underworld, and elsewhere, it was filled with oceans of jewels, as if with other netherworlds.
सुरासुरशिरस्सुप्तपादाम्भोरुहपांसुना । क्वचिद् भगवता तेन कपिलेन पवित्रितः
In some places, it was purified by the dust from the lotus feet of the blessed Kapila, where the heads of gods and demons lay as if asleep.
असुरीसम्भृतानन्तपूजनक्रीडनैषिणा । क्वचिद् भगवता तेन हाटकेशेन पालितः
Elsewhere, it was protected by the blessed Hāṭakeśa, who delighted in endless acts of worship performed by the demonesses.
तस्मिन्न् असुरदोस्स्तम्भधार्यमाणमहाभरे । बभूव दानवो राजा विरोचनसुतो बडिः
In that place, bearing the immense weight upheld by the pillar of the demon lord, there was the king of the Dānavas, Baḍi, son of Virocana.
स्वाक्रान्तेन समं सर्वैस् सुरविद्याधरोरगैः । पादसंवाहनं यस्य सुरराजेन वाञ्छितम्
With his own power equal to all the gods, celestial beings, and serpents, the king of the gods himself desired to massage his feet.
कोशस् त्रैलोक्यरत्नानां पाता सर्वशरीरिणाम् । धर्ता भुवनधर्माणां यस्य प्रणतवान् हरिः
He was the treasury of all the jewels of the three worlds, the protector of all embodied beings, the sustainer of the laws of the universe, before whom Hari bowed.
ऐरावणस्य संशोषं यन्नाम्ना कटभित्तयः । केकयेवाहिहृन्नाड्यो जग्मुर् आजग्मुर् आर्तताम्
By whose name the ramparts of Kaṭa dried up Airāvata, and the heart-veins of serpents, like those of Kekaya, came to distress and returned to suffering.
प्रतापोग्रोष्मभिर् यस्य कल्पकाल इवाब्धयः । ययुश् शोषोन्मुखास् सप्त तप्ततां कुपिताकृतेः
Whose fierce heat of majesty, like the time of dissolution, caused the seven oceans to become eager for drying up, scorched by his wrathful form.
यदध्वराज्यधूमाभ्रराजयो वलिताद्रयः । ब्रह्माण्डकोटरस्यास्य सदा कवचतां ययुः
Whose sacrificial clarified butter smoke, crowned with clouds, made the mountains bend, and always formed a shield over the cavity of the cosmic egg.
यस्य दृष्टिदृढापाताद् अनुपातकुलाचलाः । विनमन्ति दिशस् सर्वा लताः फलनता इव
By the firm gaze of whose eyes, the directions, along with their mountains, bow down, just as creepers bend with fruit.
लीलाविजितनिश्शेषभुवनाभोगभूषणः । दशकोटीस् स वर्षाणां दैत्यो राज्यं चकार ह
He, adorned by the enjoyment of worlds conquered in sport, ruled as a demon king for ten million years.
अथ गच्छत्स्व् अनल्पेषु युगेष्व् आवर्तवृत्तिषु । सुरासुरमहौघेषु प्रोत्पतत्सु पतत्सु च
Then, as countless ages passed in cycles, with great floods of gods and demons rising and falling,
अजस्रम् उपभुक्तेषु त्रैलोक्योदरवर्तिषु । भोगेष्व् अभजद् उद्वेगं बडिर् दानवनायकः
Though he constantly enjoyed pleasures found within the belly of the three worlds, Baḍir, the lord of the Dānavas, did not experience distress.
मेरुशृङ्गशिखादन्तदिग्धवातायने स्थितः । एकदा चिन्तयाम् आस स्वयं संसारसंस्थितिम्
Once, standing in the wind-filled corridor smeared by the peaks and summits of Mount Meru, he began to reflect on the nature of worldly existence.
किमन्तम् इदम् अक्षुण्णशक्तिनैव मयाधुना । साम्राज्यम् इह कर्तव्यं विहर्तव्यं जगत्त्रये
With my power yet unbroken, should I now establish sovereignty here and enjoy the three worlds—how long will this last?
महता मम राज्येन त्रैलोक्याद्भुतकारिणा । किं वा भवति भुक्तेन भूरिभोगातिभारिणा
What is gained by my vast kingdom, which astonishes the three worlds, or by indulging in these abundant, overwhelming pleasures?
आपातमात्रमधुरम् आवश्यकपरिक्षयम् । भोगोपभोगमात्रं मे किं नामेदं सुखावहम्
Enjoyment of pleasures is sweet only at first, but inevitably leads to exhaustion—how can this be called happiness?
पुनर् दिनैककलना शार्वरीसंस्थितिः पुनः । पुनस् तान्य् एव कर्माणि लज्जायै न तु तुष्टये
Again comes the calculation of the day, again the passing of the night, and again the same actions—done out of shame, not out of satisfaction.
पुनर् आलिङ्ग्यते कान्ता पुनर् एव च भुज्यते । सेयं शिशुजनक्रीडा लज्जायै महताम् इह
Again the beloved is embraced, again she is enjoyed—this is but the play of children, a cause for shame among the wise.
तम् एव शुक्तविरसं व्यापारौघं पुनः पुनः । दिवसे दिवसे कुर्वन् प्राज्ञः कस्मान् न लज्जते
Why does the wise man not feel ashamed, performing day after day the same tasteless, repetitive activities, like savoring the same flavorless shell?
पुनर् दिनं पुना रात्रिः पुनः कार्यपरम्परा । पुनः पुनर् अहं मन्ये प्राज्ञस्येयं विडम्बना
Day returns, night returns, and again the endless chain of actions; again and again I think—this is a mockery for the wise.