The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi's Son

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.17.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्ता सादिती राजन्स्वभर्त्रा कश्यपेन वै । अन्वतिष्ठद् व्रतमिदं द्वादशाहमतन्द्रिता ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity uktā sāditī rājan sva-bhartrā kaśyapena vai anv atiṣṭhad vratam idaṁ dvādaśāham atandritā

Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King, thus counseled by her husband Kashyapa Muni, Aditi carried out this vow for twelve days without the slightest slackness.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.17.2)

चिन्तयन्त्येकया बुद्ध्या महापुरुषमीश्वरम् । प्रगृह्येन्द्रियदुष्टाश्वान्मनसा बुद्धिसारथिः ॥ २ ॥

cintayanty ekayā buddhyā mahā-puruṣam īśvaram pragṛhyendriya-duṣṭāśvān manasā buddhi-sārathiḥ

Fixing her intelligence single-mindedly upon Bhagavan, the Supreme Controller, she thereby reined in her senses — those unruly horses — with her mind serving as the charioteer guided by intelligence.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.17.3)

मनश्चैकाग्रया बुद्ध्या भगवत्यखिलात्मनि । वासुदेवे समाधाय चचार ह पयोव्रतम् ॥ ३ ॥

manaś caikāgrayā buddhyā bhagavaty akhilātmani vāsudeve samādhāya cacāra ha payo-vratam

With mind and intelligence made wholly one-pointed, absorbed entirely in Bhagavan Vasudeva, the Soul of all beings, she thus carried out the payo-vrata.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.17.4)

तस्याः प्रादुरभूत्तात भगवानादिपुरुषः । पीतवासाश्चतुर्बाहुः शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ॥ ४ ॥

tasyāḥ prādurabhūt tāta bhagavān ādi-puruṣaḥ pīta-vāsāś catur-bāhuḥ śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharaḥ

My dear King, before her the original Person, Bhagavan, then appeared — clad in yellow garments, four-armed, bearing conch, discus and mace.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.17.5)

तं नेत्रगोचरं वीक्ष्य सहसोत्थाय सादरम् । ननाम भुवि कायेन दण्डवत् प्रीतिविह्वला ॥ ५ ॥

taṁ netra-gocaraṁ vīkṣya sahasotthāya sādaram nanāma bhuvi kāyena daṇḍavat-prīti-vihvalā

The instant He came within the range of her eyes, Aditi rose suddenly in reverence, and overwhelmed with love she fell flat to the ground like a rod, offering her obeisance.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.17.6)

सोत्थाय बद्धाञ्जलिरीडितुं स्थिता नोत्सेह आनन्दजलाकुलेक्षणा । बभूव तूष्णीं पुलकाकुलाकृति- स्तद्दर्शनात्युत्सवगात्रवेपथुः ॥ ६ ॥

sotthāya baddhāñjalir īḍituṁ sthitā notseha ānanda-jalākulekṣaṇā babhūva tūṣṇīṁ pulakākulākṛtis tad-darśanātyutsava-gātra-vepathuḥ

Standing with folded hands to offer praise, she found herself unable to speak — her eyes brimmed with tears of bliss, the hair of her body stood on end, and she remained silent, her limbs trembling with the sheer joy of that vision.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.17.7)

प्रीत्या शनैर्गद्गदया गिरा हरिं तुष्टाव सा देव्यदितिः कुरूद्वह । उद्वीक्षती सा पिबतीव चक्षुषा रमापतिं यज्ञपतिं जगत्पतिम् ॥ ७ ॥

prītyā śanair gadgadayā girā hariṁ tuṣṭāva sā devy aditiḥ kurūdvaha udvīkṣatī sā pibatīva cakṣuṣā ramā-patiṁ yajña-patiṁ jagat-patim

O best of the Kurus, the goddess Aditi then began, with loving and faltering voice, to praise Hari — gazing upon Him as though drinking Him in through her very eyes, Him who is the husband of Rama (the goddess of fortune), the Lord of sacrifice, the Lord of the universe.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.17.8)

श्रीअदितिरुवाच यज्ञेश यज्ञपुरुषाच्युत तीर्थपाद तीर्थश्रवः श्रवणमङ्गलनामधेय । आपन्नलोकवृजिनोपशमोदयाद्य शं नः कृधीश भगवन्नसि दीननाथः ॥ ८ ॥

śrī-aditir uvāca yajñeśa yajña-puruṣācyuta tīrtha-pāda tīrtha-śravaḥ śravaṇa-maṅgala-nāmadheya āpanna-loka-vṛjinopaśamodayādya śaṁ naḥ kṛdhīśa bhagavann asi dīna-nāthaḥ

Shri Aditi said: O Lord of sacrifice, O enjoyer of sacrifice, infallible one, at whose feet stand all sacred crossings, whose very hearing is auspicious and whose name is auspicious to chant — O original one who has appeared to lift the suffering of the surrendered — grant us well-being. O Lord, O Bhagavan, You alone are the shelter of the helpless.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.17.9)

विश्वाय विश्वभवनस्थितिसंयमाय स्वैरं गृहीतपुरुशक्तिगुणाय भूम्ने । स्वस्थाय शश्वदुपबृंहितपूर्णबोध- व्यापादितात्मतमसे हरये नमस्ते ॥ ९ ॥

viśvāya viśva-bhavana-sthiti-saṁyamāya svairaṁ gṛhīta-puru-śakti-guṇāya bhūmne sva-sthāya śaśvad-upabṛṁhita-pūrṇa-bodha- vyāpāditātma-tamase haraye namas te

You are the universe itself, the regulator of its creation, maintenance and dissolution; freely taking up the powers of the three modes of nature, You remain ever fixed in Your own being, Your eternal, unbroken knowledge forever holding illusion at bay. To You, Hari, I offer my obeisance.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.17.10)

आयुः परं वपुरभीष्टमतुल्यलक्ष्मी- र्द्योभूरसाः सकलयोगगुणास्त्रिवर्गः । ज्ञानं च केवलमनन्त भवन्ति तुष्टात् त्वत्तो नृणां किमु सपत्नजयादिराशीः ॥ १० ॥

āyuḥ paraṁ vapur abhīṣṭam atulya-lakṣmīr dyo-bhū-rasāḥ sakala-yoga-guṇās tri-vargaḥ jñānaṁ ca kevalam ananta bhavanti tuṣṭāt tvatto nṛṇāṁ kim u sapatna-jayādir āśīḥ

O unlimited one, by Your satisfaction alone people obtain a life span, a body, unmatched fortune as they desire, all the delights of the heavens, the earth and the nether worlds, every mystic perfection, the threefold aim of dharma, artha and kama, and even pure knowledge itself — what then to speak of a trifle like victory over one's rivals?

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.17.11)

श्रीशुक उवाच अदित्यैवं स्तुतो राजन्भगवान्पुष्करेक्षणः । क्षेत्रज्ञः सर्वभूतानामिति होवाच भारत ॥ ११ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca adityaivaṁ stuto rājan bhagavān puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ kṣetra-jñaḥ sarva-bhūtānām iti hovāca bhārata

Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King, best of the Bharatas, when Aditi had thus praised Him, the lotus-eyed Bhagavan, the indwelling Self of every being, replied as follows.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.17.12)

श्रीभगवानुवाच देवमातर्भवत्या मे विज्ञातं चिरकाङ्क्षितम् । यत् सपत्नैर्हृतश्रीणां च्यावितानां स्वधामतः ॥ १२ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca deva-mātar bhavatyā me vijñātaṁ cira-kāṅkṣitam yat sapatnair hṛta-śrīṇāṁ cyāvitānāṁ sva-dhāmataḥ

Shri Bhagavan said: O mother of the gods, I have understood your long-cherished wish — that your sons, stripped of their fortune by their rivals and driven from their own abode, be restored.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.17.13)

तान्विनिर्जित्य समरे दुर्मदानसुरर्षभान् । प्रतिलब्धजयश्रीभिः पुत्रैरिच्छस्युपासितुम् ॥ १३ ॥

tān vinirjitya samare durmadān asurarṣabhān pratilabdha-jaya-śrībhiḥ putrair icchasy upāsitum

Having vanquished those arrogant chiefs of the asuras in battle and won back victory and fortune, you wish then, together with your sons, to worship Me.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.17.14)

इन्द्रज्येष्ठैः स्वतनयैर्हतानां युधि विद्विषाम् । स्त्रियो रुदन्तीरासाद्य द्रष्टुमिच्छसि दुःखिताः ॥ १४ ॥

indra-jyeṣṭhaiḥ sva-tanayair hatānāṁ yudhi vidviṣām striyo rudantīr āsādya draṣṭum icchasi duḥkhitāḥ

You wish to see, standing beside their fallen husbands, the grieving, weeping wives of the enemies your sons — Indra foremost among them — will slay in war.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.17.15)

आत्मजान्सुसमृद्धांस्त्वं प्रत्याहृतयशःश्रियः । नाकपृष्ठमधिष्ठाय क्रीडतो द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥ १५ ॥

ātmajān susamṛddhāṁs tvaṁ pratyāhṛta-yaśaḥ-śriyaḥ nāka-pṛṣṭham adhiṣṭhāya krīḍato draṣṭum icchasi

You wish to see your own sons, their fame and fortune fully restored, established once more upon the summit of heaven, at play as before.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.17.16)

प्रायोऽधुना तेऽसुरयूथनाथा अपारणीया इति देवि मे मतिः । यत्तेऽनुकूलेश्वरविप्रगुप्ता न विक्रमस्तत्र सुखं ददाति ॥ १६ ॥

prāyo ’dhunā te ’sura-yūtha-nāthā apāraṇīyā iti devi me matiḥ yat te ’nukūleśvara-vipra-guptā na vikramas tatra sukhaṁ dadāti

Yet, O mother of the gods, it is My judgment that just now the lords of the asuras are all but unconquerable, sheltered as they are by brahmanas whom the Supreme Controller always favors — and force used against them there would bring no happiness.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.17.17)

अथाप्युपायो मम देवि चिन्त्यः सन्तोषितस्य व्रतचर्यया ते । ममार्चनं नार्हति गन्तुमन्यथा श्रद्धानुरूपं फलहेतुकत्वात् ॥ १७ ॥

athāpy upāyo mama devi cintyaḥ santoṣitasya vrata-caryayā te mamārcanaṁ nārhati gantum anyathā śraddhānurūpaṁ phala-hetukatvāt

Even so, O goddess, since I have been pleased by your observance of this vow, some means must be found by Me — for worship offered to Me is never in vain, and it bears fruit exactly according to one's faith.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.17.18)

त्वयार्चितश्चाहमपत्यगुप्तये पयोव्रतेनानुगुणं समीडितः । स्वांशेन पुत्रत्वमुपेत्य ते सुतान् गोप्तास्मि मारीचतपस्यधिष्ठितः ॥ १८ ॥

tvayārcitaś cāham apatya-guptaye payo-vratenānuguṇaṁ samīḍitaḥ svāṁśena putratvam upetya te sutān goptāsmi mārīca-tapasy adhiṣṭhitaḥ

You have worshipped Me fittingly, as far as it was possible, through the payo-vrata, for the protection of your sons; abiding within the austerity of Kashyapa Muni, I shall take My own plenary portion and become your son, so protecting your remaining children.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.17.19)

उपधाव पतिं भद्रे प्रजापतिमकल्मषम् । मां च भावयती पत्यावेवंरूपमवस्थितम् ॥ १९ ॥

upadhāva patiṁ bhadre prajāpatim akalmaṣam māṁ ca bhāvayatī patyāv evaṁ rūpam avasthitam

Go now, O gentle one, and worship your husband, the pure Prajapati Kashyapa — holding in mind that it is I who am thus present within him.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.17.20)

नैतत् परस्मा आख्येयं पृष्टयापि कथञ्चन । सर्वं सम्पद्यते देवि देवगुह्यं सुसंवृतम् ॥ २० ॥

naitat parasmā ākhyeyaṁ pṛṣṭayāpi kathañcana sarvaṁ sampadyate devi deva-guhyaṁ susaṁvṛtam

O goddess, this must never be disclosed to another, however much you may be questioned — that which is secret even to the gods bears its fruit only when carefully guarded.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.17.21)

श्रीशुक उवाच एतावदुक्त्वा भगवांस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । अदितिर्दुर्लभं लब्ध्वा हरेर्जन्मात्मनि प्रभोः । उपाधावत् पतिं भक्त्या परया कृतकृत्यवत् ॥ २१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca etāvad uktvā bhagavāṁs tatraivāntaradhīyata aditir durlabhaṁ labdhvā harer janmātmani prabhoḥ upādhāvat patiṁ bhaktyā parayā kṛta-kṛtyavat

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Having spoken thus, Bhagavan disappeared then and there. Having obtained the rare boon that Hari would take birth within her, Aditi, feeling her purpose accomplished, went to her husband with the deepest devotion.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.17.22)

स वै समाधियोगेन कश्यपस्तदबुध्यत । प्रविष्टमात्मनि हरेरंशं ह्यवितथेक्षणः ॥ २२ ॥

sa vai samādhi-yogena kaśyapas tad abudhyata praviṣṭam ātmani harer aṁśaṁ hy avitathekṣaṇaḥ

Through the yoga of meditative trance, Kashyapa — whose vision never errs — perceived that a portion of Hari had entered within himself.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.17.23)

सोऽदित्यां वीर्यमाधत्त तपसा चिरसम्भृतम् । समाहितमना राजन्दारुण्यग्निं यथानिलः ॥ २३ ॥

so ’dityāṁ vīryam ādhatta tapasā cira-sambhṛtam samāhita-manā rājan dāruṇy agniṁ yathānilaḥ

O King, just as wind draws forth the fire long stored within firewood, so Kashyapa, his mind wholly absorbed, placed within Aditi's womb the seed he had kept gathered through his long austerity.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.17.24)

अदितेर्धिष्ठितं गर्भं भगवन्तं सनातनम् । हिरण्यगर्भो विज्ञाय समीडे गुह्यनामभिः ॥ २४ ॥

aditer dhiṣṭhitaṁ garbhaṁ bhagavantaṁ sanātanam hiraṇyagarbho vijñāya samīḍe guhya-nāmabhiḥ

When Brahma, born of the golden womb, understood that the eternal Bhagavan now dwelt within Aditi's womb, he began to praise Him by His most secret names.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.17.25)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच जयोरुगाय भगवन्नुरुक्रम नमोऽस्तु ते । नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय त्रिगुणाय नमो नमः ॥ २५ ॥

śrī-brahmovāca jayorugāya bhagavann urukrama namo ’stu te namo brahmaṇya-devāya tri-guṇāya namo namaḥ

Shri Brahma said: Victory to You, Bhagavan whose glory spreads everywhere, O Urukrama of vast strides — obeisance to You. Obeisance to the Lord of the brahmanas, the ruler of the three modes of nature — obeisance again and again.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.17.26)

नमस्ते पृश्निगर्भाय वेदगर्भाय वेधसे । त्रिनाभाय त्रिपृष्ठाय शिपिविष्टाय विष्णवे ॥ २६ ॥

namas te pṛśni-garbhāya veda-garbhāya vedhase tri-nābhāya tri-pṛṣṭhāya śipi-viṣṭāya viṣṇave

Obeisance to You who once dwelt in the womb of Prishni, who abide hidden within the Veda, the ordainer, whose navel bears the three worlds, who stand beyond the three worlds, who have entered the core of every heart — obeisance to You, O Vishnu.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.17.27)

त्वमादिरन्तो भुवनस्य मध्य- मनन्तशक्तिं पुरुषं यमाहुः । कालो भवानाक्षिपतीश विश्वं स्रोतो यथान्तःपतितं गभीरम् ॥ २७ ॥

tvam ādir anto bhuvanasya madhyam ananta-śaktiṁ puruṣaṁ yam āhuḥ kālo bhavān ākṣipatīśa viśvaṁ sroto yathāntaḥ patitaṁ gabhīram

You are the beginning, the end, and the continuance of this world, the Person of unlimited power of whom the sages speak. O Lord, as a current sweeps along whatever has fallen into its deep waters, so You, as time itself, draw the whole universe onward.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.17.28)

त्वं वै प्रजानां स्थिरजङ्गमानां प्रजापतीनामसि सम्भविष्णुः । दिवौकसां देव दिवश्च्युतानां परायणं नौरिव मज्जतोऽप्सु ॥ २८ ॥

tvaṁ vai prajānāṁ sthira-jaṅgamānāṁ prajāpatīnām asi sambhaviṣṇuḥ divaukasāṁ deva divaś cyutānāṁ parāyaṇaṁ naur iva majjato ’psu

You alone are the source from which all beings, moving and unmoving, and all the Prajapatis themselves arise. O Lord, just as a boat is the one hope of one who is drowning, so You alone are the final refuge of the gods now fallen from heaven.