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.
ऊर्मितां पुनर् आसाद्य पुनर् एति निरूर्मिताम् । यथा जलं तथैवायं तां ताम् एति क्रियां जनः
Just as water rises in waves and then becomes still again, so too people move from one action to another.
उन्मत्तचेष्टिताकारा पुनः पुनर् इयं क्रिया । जनं हासयति प्राज्ञं बाललीलोपमा मुहुः
This repeated activity, resembling the behavior of the insane, makes the wise laugh again and again, as at the play of children.
कृतयाप्य् अनया नित्यं क्रियया कृतकार्यया । को ऽर्थस् स्यात् तादृशो येन पुनः कर्म न गच्छति
Even when all tasks are completed by such constant action, what is truly gained, so that one would not return to action again?
कियन्तम् अथ वा कालम् इदम् आडम्बरं महत् । इहास्माभिर् अनुष्ठेयं किं यावत् समवाप्यते
For how long must we continue this great display here, until we have accomplished whatever is to be attained?
अनन्तेयं शिशुक्रीडा वस्तुशून्यैव वस्तुतः । आवृत्त्या क्रियते व्यर्थम् अनर्थप्रसवार्थिभिः
This endless child's play is, in reality, devoid of substance; it is repeated in vain by those who seek the birth of what is worthless.
फलम् एकं महोदारं नेह पश्यामि किञ्चन । कार्यम् अस्तीतरत् प्राप्ते यस्मिन् नाम न किञ्चन
I do not see here any one great and noble result; there is only some other task to be done, in which truly there is nothing at all.
भोगाद् ऋते किम् अत्यन्तं स्याद् रम्यम् अविनाशि च । एतत् सञ्चिन्तयाम्य् आशु दध्यौ मत्वेत्य् असौ बडिः
Apart from enjoyment, what could there be that is utterly delightful and imperishable? Reflecting thus, Baḍiḥ quickly pondered and decided.
अथाभ्युवाचासुरराड् आ संस्मृतम् इति क्षणात् । आत्मन्य् एव मनस्य् अर्थं सभ्रूभङ्गं विमर्शयन्
Then the lord of the asuras spoke, recalling in an instant, pondering the matter in his own mind with furrowed brow.
पुरा किलेह भगवान् पृष्टो ऽभूत् स विरोचनः । पिता मयात्मतत्त्वज्ञो दृष्टलोकपरावरः
Long ago, it is said, the venerable Virocana, my father—knower of the Self, who had seen the world’s true nature—was questioned here.
यथा सकलदुःखानां सुखानां च महामते । यत्र सर्वे भ्रमाश् शान्ताः को ऽसौ सीमान्त उच्यताम्
O greatly wise one, where is that ultimate boundary in which all sorrows and joys are stilled, and all delusions are pacified? Tell me of that limit.