The Rescue of the Earth

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.2.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । एवं मीमांसतस्तस्य पद्मयोनेः परन्तप । मन्वादिभिर्मुनिवरैर्मरीच्याद्यैः समन्ततः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | evaṁ mīmāṁsatastasya padmayoneḥ parantapa | manvādibhirmunivarairmarīcyādyaiḥ samantataḥ

Shri Narayana said: Thus, O scorcher of foes, while the lotus-born Brahma was reflecting, surrounded by Manu and the other great sages headed by Marichi —

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.2.2)

ध्यायतस्तस्य नासाग्राद्विरञ्चेः सहसानघ । वराहपोतो निरगादेकाङ्गुलप्रमाणतः

dhyāyatastasya nāsāgrādvirañceḥ sahasānagha | varāhapoto niragādekāṅgulapramāṇataḥ

as he, Virinchi, sat in meditation, O sinless one, from the very tip of his nose there suddenly emerged a boar-cub the size of a single finger-joint.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.2.3)

तस्यैव पश्यतः खस्थः क्षणेन किल नारद । करिमात्रं प्रववृधे तदद्भुततमं ह्यभूत्

tasyaiva paśyataḥ khasthaḥ kṣaṇena kila nārada | karimātraṁ pravavṛdhe tadadbhutatamaṁ hyabhūt

Even as he watched, O Narada, that being poised in the sky grew, in a moment, to the size of an elephant — a thing most wondrous indeed.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.2.4)

मरीचिमुख्यैर्विप्रेन्द्रैः सनकाद्यैश्च नारद । तद् दृष्ट्वा सौकरं रूपं तर्कयामास पद्मभूः

marīcimukhyairviprendraiḥ sanakādyaiśca nārada | tad dṛṣṭvā saukaraṁ rūpaṁ tarkayāmāsa padmabhūḥ

Seeing that boar-form, O Narada, the lotus-born one, together with the foremost sages headed by Marichi, and with Sanaka and the others, began to wonder.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.2.5)

किमेतत्सौकरव्याजं दिव्यं सत्त्वमवस्थितम् । अत्याश्चर्यमिदं जातं नासिकाया विनिःसृतम्

kimetatsaukaravyājaṁ divyaṁ sattvamavasthitam | atyāścaryamidaṁ jātaṁ nāsikāyā viniḥsṛtam

"What divine being is this, established under the guise of a boar? Most astonishing is this that has emerged from my nostril.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.2.6)

दृष्टोऽङ्गुष्ठशिरोमात्रः क्षणाच्छैलेन्द्रसन्तिभः । आहोस्विद्भगवान्किं वा यज्ञो मे खेदयन्मनः

dṛṣṭo'ṅguṣṭhaśiromātraḥ kṣaṇācchailendrasantibhaḥ | āhosvidbhagavānkiṁ vā yajño me khedayanmanaḥ

Seen only the size of a thumb, in an instant it became like the lord of mountains — is this the Blessed Lord himself, or a sacrifice that now troubles my mind?"

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.2.7)

इति तर्कयतस्तस्य ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः । वराहरूपो भगवाञ्जगर्जाचलसन्निभः

iti tarkayatastasya brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ | varāharūpo bhagavāñjagarjācalasannibhaḥ

While Brahma, the Supreme Self, was thus wondering, the Blessed Lord in boar-form, mountain-like, roared aloud.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.2.8)

विरञ्चिं हर्षयामास संहतांश्च द्विजोत्तमान् । स्वगर्जशब्दमात्रेण दिक्प्रान्तमनुनादयन्

virañciṁ harṣayāmāsa saṁhatāṁśca dvijottamān | svagarjaśabdamātreṇa dikprāntamanunādayan

By the mere sound of his roar, making the far horizons resound, he filled Virinchi and the assembled foremost twice-borns with delight.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.2.9)

ते निशम्य स्वखेदस्य क्षयितुं घुर्घुरस्वनम् । जनस्तपःसत्यलोकवासिनोऽमरवर्यकाः

te niśamya svakhedasya kṣayituṁ ghurghurasvanam | janastapaḥsatyalokavāsino'maravaryakāḥ

Hearing that grunting sound, which dispelled their weariness, the foremost among the immortals dwelling in Jana-loka, Tapo-loka, and Satya-loka —

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.2.10)

छन्दोमयैः स्तोत्रवरैरृक्सामाथर्वसम्भवैः । वचोभिः पुरुषं त्वाद्यं द्विजेन्द्राः पर्यवाकिरन्

chandomayaiḥ stotravarairṛksāmātharvasambhavaiḥ | vacobhiḥ puruṣaṁ tvādyaṁ dvijendrāḥ paryavākiran

the lords of the twice-born surrounded that Primal Person on every side, with the words of the finest hymns, made of the metres, born of the Rig, Sama and Atharva.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.2.11)

तेषां स्तोत्रं निशम्याद्यो भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः । कृपावलोकमात्रेणानुगृहीत्वाऽऽप आविशत्

teṣāṁ stotraṁ niśamyādyo bhagavān harirīśvaraḥ | kṛpāvalokamātreṇānugṛhītvā''pa āviśat

Hearing their hymn, the Blessed Hari, the Primal Lord, graced them with but a glance of compassion, and entered the waters.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.2.12)

तस्यान्तर्विशतः क्रूरसटाघातप्रपीडितः । समुद्रोऽथाब्रवीद्देव रक्ष मां शरणार्तिहन्

tasyāntarviśataḥ krūrasaṭāghātaprapīḍitaḥ | samudro'thābravīddeva rakṣa māṁ śaraṇārtihan

As he entered within it, the ocean, tormented by the blows of his fierce mane, cried out: "O God, destroyer of the suffering of those who seek refuge, protect me!"

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.2.13)

इत्याकर्ण्य समुद्रोक्तं वचनं हरिरीश्वरः । विदारयञ्जलचराञ्जगामान्तर्जले विभुः

ityākarṇya samudroktaṁ vacanaṁ harirīśvaraḥ | vidārayañjalacarāñjagāmāntarjale vibhuḥ

Hearing this speech of the ocean, Hari the Lord, tearing through the aquatic creatures, the mighty one, went deep within the water.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.2.14)

इतस्ततोऽभिधावन्सन् विचिन्वन्पृथिवीं धराम् । आघ्रायाघ्राय सर्वेशो धरामासादयच्छनैः

itastato'bhidhāvansan vicinvanpṛthivīṁ dharām | āghrāyāghrāya sarveśo dharāmāsādayacchanaiḥ

Running hither and thither in search of the earth, the Lord of all, sniffing again and again, gradually located her.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.2.15)

अन्तर्जलगतां भूमिं सर्वसत्त्वाश्रयां तदा । भूमिं स देवदेवेशो दंष्ट्रयोदाजहार ताम्

antarjalagatāṁ bhūmiṁ sarvasattvāśrayāṁ tadā | bhūmiṁ sa devadeveśo daṁṣṭrayodājahāra tām

That earth, submerged in the waters, the very support of all beings, was then drawn up by the God of gods upon his tusk.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.2.16)

तां समुद्धृत्य दंष्ट्राग्रे यज्ञेशो यज्ञपूरूषः । शुशुभे दिग्गजो यद्वदुद्धृत्याथ सुपद्मीनीम्

tāṁ samuddhṛtya daṁṣṭrāgre yajñeśo yajñapūrūṣaḥ | śuśubhe diggajo yadvaduddhṛtyātha supadmīnīm

Having raised her upon the tip of his tusk, the Lord of sacrifice, the very embodiment of sacrifice, shone forth — as an elephant of the quarters shines, lifting up a lovely lotus-plant.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.2.17)

तं दृष्ट्वा देवदेवेशो विरञ्चिः समनुः स्वराट् । तुष्टाव वाग्भिर्देवेशं दंष्ट्रोद्धतवसुन्धरम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā devadeveśo virañciḥ samanuḥ svarāṭ | tuṣṭāva vāgbhirdeveśaṁ daṁṣṭroddhatavasundharam

Seeing him, Virinchi, the self-ruling Brahma, together with Manu, praised with words that God of gods who had raised the earth upon his tusk.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.2.18)

ब्रह्मोवाच । जितं ते पुण्डरीकाक्ष भक्तानामार्तिनाशन । खर्वीकृतसुराधार सर्वकामफलप्रद

brahmovāca | jitaṁ te puṇḍarīkākṣa bhaktānāmārtināśana | kharvīkṛtasurādhāra sarvakāmaphalaprada

Brahma said: Victory to you, O lotus-eyed one, destroyer of your devotees' suffering, who has lightened the burden of the gods, giver of the fruit of every desire!

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.2.19)

इयं च धरणी देव शोभते वसुधा तव । पद्मिनीव सुपत्राढ्या मतङ्गजकरोद्धृता

iyaṁ ca dharaṇī deva śobhate vasudhā tava | padminīva supatrāḍhyā mataṅgajakaroddhṛtā

O God, this earth too shines as your very wealth — like a lotus-plant, rich with lovely leaves, lifted up on an elephant's trunk.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.2.20)

इदं च ते शरीरं वै शोभते भूमिसङ्गमात् । उद्धृताम्बुजशुण्डाग्रकरीन्द्रतनुसन्निभम्

idaṁ ca te śarīraṁ vai śobhate bhūmisaṅgamāt | uddhṛtāmbujaśuṇḍāgrakarīndratanusannibham

O God, this body of yours too shines from its union with the earth — resembling the form of a lordly elephant whose trunk-tip bears a raised lotus.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.2.21)

नमो नमस्ते देवेश सृष्टिसंहारकारक । दानवानां विनाशाय कृतनानाकृते प्रभो

namo namaste deveśa sṛṣṭisaṁhārakāraka | dānavānāṁ vināśāya kṛtanānākṛte prabho

Salutation, salutation to you, O Lord of gods, agent of creation and dissolution! O Lord who assumes manifold forms for the destruction of the demons!

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.2.22)

अग्रतश्च नमस्तेऽस्तु पृष्ठतश्च नमो नमः । सर्वामराधारभूत बृहद्धाम नमोऽस्तु ते

agrataśca namaste'stu pṛṣṭhataśca namo namaḥ | sarvāmarādhārabhūta bṛhaddhāma namo'stu te

Salutation to you before, and salutation, salutation to you behind! O support and foundation of all the immortals, O vast abode of splendour — salutation be to you!

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.2.23)

त्वयाहं च प्रजासर्गे नियुक्तः शक्तिबृंहितः । त्वदाज्ञावशतः सर्गं करोमि विकरोमि च

tvayāhaṁ ca prajāsarge niyuktaḥ śaktibṛṁhitaḥ | tvadājñāvaśataḥ sargaṁ karomi vikaromi ca

By you I have been appointed to the task of creation, and empowered with strength; subject to your command alone, I both create and undo creation.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.2.24)

त्वत्सहायेन देवेशा अमराश्च पुरा हरे । सुधां विभेजिरे सर्वे यथाकालं यथाबलम्

tvatsahāyena deveśā amarāśca purā hare | sudhāṁ vibhejire sarve yathākālaṁ yathābalam

O Hari, Lord of gods, in ancient times, by your help alone, all the immortals shared out the nectar, each in his own time and according to his strength.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.2.25)

इन्द्रस्त्रिलोकीसाम्राज्यं लब्धवांस्तन्निदेशतः । भुनक्ति लक्ष्मीं बहुलां सुरसङ्घप्रपूजितः

indrastrilokīsāmrājyaṁ labdhavāṁstannideśataḥ | bhunakti lakṣmīṁ bahulāṁ surasaṅghaprapūjitaḥ

Indra obtained the sovereignty of the three worlds by your ordinance alone, and enjoys abundant fortune, worshipped by the assembly of gods.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.2.26)

वह्निः पावकतां लब्ध्वा जाठरादिविभेदतः । देवासुरमनुष्याणां करोत्याप्यायनं तथा

vahniḥ pāvakatāṁ labdhvā jāṭharādivibhedataḥ | devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṁ karotyāpyāyanaṁ tathā

Fire, having attained the state of the purifying flame through its manifold forms, the gastric fire among them, likewise nourishes gods, demons, and men.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.2.27)

धर्मराजोऽथ पितॄणामधिपः सर्वकर्मदृक् । कर्मणां फलदातासौ त्वन्नियोगादधीश्वरः

dharmarājo'tha pitṝṇāmadhipaḥ sarvakarmadṛk | karmaṇāṁ phaladātāsau tvanniyogādadhīśvaraḥ

Then Dharmaraja, overseer of the ancestors, who sees every deed, having been made ruler by your appointment, is the giver of the fruit of actions.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.2.28)

नैरृतो रक्षसामीशो यक्षो विघ्नविनाशनः । सर्वेषां प्राणिनां कर्मसाक्षी त्वत्तः प्रजायते

nairṛto rakṣasāmīśo yakṣo vighnavināśanaḥ | sarveṣāṁ prāṇināṁ karmasākṣī tvattaḥ prajāyate

Nairrita is lord of the rakshasas, the Yaksha the destroyer of obstacles — the witness of the deeds of all beings comes into existence from you alone.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.2.29)

वरुणो यादसामीशो लोकपालो जलाधिपः । त्वदाज्ञाबलमाश्रित्य लोकपालत्वमागतः

varuṇo yādasāmīśo lokapālo jalādhipaḥ | tvadājñābalamāśritya lokapālatvamāgataḥ

Varuna, lord of aquatic creatures, guardian of the world, master of the waters, taking refuge in the strength of your command, attained the office of world-guardian.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.8.2.30)

वायुर्गन्धवहः सर्वभूतप्राणनकारणम् । जातस्तव निदेशेन लोकपालो जगद्गुरुः

vāyurgandhavahaḥ sarvabhūtaprāṇanakāraṇam | jātastava nideśena lokapālo jagadguruḥ

Vayu, the bearer of fragrance, the very cause of the breath of all beings, was born by your direction, and is guardian of the world and teacher of the universe.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.8.2.31)

कुबेरः किन्नरादीनां यक्षाणां जीवनाश्रयः । त्वदाज्ञान्तर्गतः सर्वलोकपेषु च मान्यभूः

kuberaḥ kinnarādīnāṁ yakṣāṇāṁ jīvanāśrayaḥ | tvadājñāntargataḥ sarvalokapeṣu ca mānyabhūḥ

Kubera, refuge of the life of the Kinnaras and the Yakshas, remaining within your command, has become honoured among all the guardians of the worlds.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.8.2.32)

ईशानः सर्वरुद्राणामीश्वरान्तकरः प्रभुः । जातो लोकेशवन्द्योऽसौ सर्वदेवाधिपालकः

īśānaḥ sarvarudrāṇāmīśvarāntakaraḥ prabhuḥ | jāto lokeśavandyo'sau sarvadevādhipālakaḥ

Ishana, lord of all the Rudras, the mighty one who brings about the end at the close of an age — born as one revered by the lords of the worlds, the overseer of all the gods.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.8.2.33)

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते जगदीशाय कुर्महे । यस्यांशभागाः सर्वे हि जाता देवाः सहस्रशः

namastubhyaṁ bhagavate jagadīśāya kurmahe | yasyāṁśabhāgāḥ sarve hi jātā devāḥ sahasraśaḥ

We offer salutation to you, O Blessed One, Lord of the universe, from whose very portions the thousands of gods have all been born.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.8.2.34)

नारद उवाच । एवं स्तुतो विश्वसृजा भगवानादिपूरुषः । लीलावलोकमात्रेणाप्यनुग्रहमवासृजत्

nārada uvāca | evaṁ stuto viśvasṛjā bhagavānādipūruṣaḥ | līlāvalokamātreṇāpyanugrahamavāsṛjat

Narada said: Thus praised by Brahma, the creator of the universe, the Blessed Primal Person bestowed his grace by but a playful glance.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.8.2.35)

तत्रैवाभ्यागतं दैत्यं हिरण्याक्षं महासुरम् । रुन्धानमध्वनो भीमं गदयाताडयद्धरिः

tatraivābhyāgataṁ daityaṁ hiraṇyākṣaṁ mahāsuram | rundhānamadhvano bhīmaṁ gadayātāḍayaddhariḥ

Right there, the terrible great demon Hiranyaksha, who had come and was blocking his way, Hari struck down with his mace.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.8.2.36)

तद्रक्तपङ्कदिग्धाङ्गो भगवानादिपूरुषः । उद्धृत्य धरणीं देवो दंष्ट्रया लीलयाप्सु ताम्

tadraktapaṅkadigdhāṅgo bhagavānādipūruṣaḥ | uddhṛtya dharaṇīṁ devo daṁṣṭrayā līlayāpsu tām

The Blessed Primal Person, his limbs smeared with that demon's blood-mire, having playfully drawn the earth up out of the waters upon his tusk,

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.8.2.37)

निवेश्य लोकनाथेशो जगाम स्थानमात्मनः । एतद्भगवतश्चित्रं धरण्युद्धरणं परम्

niveśya lokanātheśo jagāma sthānamātmanaḥ | etadbhagavataścitraṁ dharaṇyuddharaṇaṁ param

and having set her in place, the Lord and Master of the worlds departed to his own abode. This is the Blessed Lord's supreme and wondrous rescue of the earth.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.8.2.38)

शृणुयाद्यः पुमान् यश्च पठेच्चरितमुत्तमम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो वैष्णवीं गतिमाप्नुयात्

śṛṇuyādyaḥ pumān yaśca paṭheccaritamuttamam | sarvapāpavinirmukto vaiṣṇavīṁ gatimāpnuyāt

Whatever person shall hear, or shall read, this excellent deed shall be freed from every sin and shall attain the path of Vishnu.