The Gods' Plea and Vishnu's Vow

Verse 1 (padma.5.7.1)

अगस्त्य उवाच। अथोग्रं स तपो दैत्यो दशवर्षसहस्रकम् । चकार भानुमक्ष्णा च पश्यन्नूर्ध्वपदे स्थितः

agastya uvāca athograṁ sa tapo daityo daśavarṣasahasrakam cakāra bhānumakṣṇā ca paśyannūrdhvapade sthitaḥ

Agastya said: Then that demon performed fierce austerity for ten thousand years, standing on his toes, gazing unblinking at the sun.

Verse 2 (padma.5.7.2)

कुंभकर्णोऽपि कृतवांस्तपः परमदुश्चरम् । विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा चचार परमं तपः

kuṁbhakarṇo'pi kṛtavāṁstapaḥ paramaduścaram vibhīṣaṇastu dharmātmā cacāra paramaṁ tapaḥ

Kumbhakarna too performed austerity most difficult to accomplish, and righteous Vibhishana practiced the highest austerity.

Verse 3 (padma.5.7.3)

तदा प्रसन्नो भगवान्देवदेवः प्रजापतिः । देवदानवयक्षादि मुकुटैः परिसेवितः

tadā prasanno bhagavāndevadevaḥ prajāpatiḥ devadānavayakṣādi mukuṭaiḥ parisevitaḥ

Then the Lord, god of gods, the Creator, was pleased — he who is served by the bowed crowned heads of gods, demons, and yakshas.

Verse 4 (padma.5.7.4)

ददौ राज्यं च सुमहद्भुवनत्रयभास्वरम् । वपुश्च कृतवान्रम्यं देवदानवसेवितम्

dadau rājyaṁ ca sumahadbhuvanatrayabhāsvaram vapuśca kṛtavānramyaṁ devadānavasevitam

He granted him a vast kingdom, radiant across the three worlds, and gave him too a lovely form, honored by gods and demons alike.

Verse 5 (padma.5.7.5)

तदा संतापितो भ्राता धनदो धर्मबुद्धिमान् । विमानं तु ततो नीतं लंका च नगरी हठात्

tadā saṁtāpito bhrātā dhanado dharmabuddhimān vimānaṁ tu tato nītaṁ laṁkā ca nagarī haṭhāt

Then his brother Dhanada, righteous-minded, was afflicted with grief, for his chariot and the city of Lanka too had been seized from him by force.

Verse 6 (padma.5.7.6)

भुवनं तापितं सर्वं देवाश्चैव दिवो गताः । हतवान्ब्राह्मणकुलं मुनीनां मूलकृंतनः

bhuvanaṁ tāpitaṁ sarvaṁ devāścaiva divo gatāḥ hatavānbrāhmaṇakulaṁ munīnāṁ mūlakṛṁtanaḥ

The whole world was scorched; even the gods fled to heaven; he slaughtered the brahmin clans, uprooting the very sages.

Verse 7 (padma.5.7.7)

तदातिदुःखिता देवाः सेंद्रा ब्रह्माणमाययुः । स्तुतिं चक्रुर्महात्मानो दंडवत्प्रणतिं गताः

tadātiduḥkhitā devāḥ seṁdrā brahmāṇamāyayuḥ stutiṁ cakrurmahātmāno daṁḍavatpraṇatiṁ gatāḥ

Then the deeply grieved gods, together with Indra, went to Brahma; those great souls fell prostrate and offered praise.

Verse 8 (padma.5.7.8)

ते तुष्टुवुः सुराः सर्वे वाग्भिरर्थ्याभिरादृताः । ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्किंकरोमीति चाब्रवीत्

te tuṣṭuvuḥ surāḥ sarve vāgbhirarthyābhirādṛtāḥ tataḥ prasanno bhagavānkiṁkaromīti cābravīt

All the gods, with due reverence, praised him with meaningful words; then the Lord, pleased, said, "What shall I do?"

Verse 9 (padma.5.7.9)

ततो निवेदयांचक्रुर्ब्रह्मणे विबुधाः पुरः । दशग्रीवाच्च संकष्टं तथा निजपराभवम्

tato nivedayāṁcakrurbrahmaṇe vibudhāḥ puraḥ daśagrīvācca saṁkaṣṭaṁ tathā nijaparābhavam

Then the wise gods related to Brahma, in his presence, their distress and their own defeat at the hands of the ten-necked one.

Verse 10 (padma.5.7.10)

क्षणं ध्यात्वा ययौ ब्रह्मा कैलासं त्रिदशैः सह । तस्य शैलस्य पार्श्वे तु वैचित्र्येण समाकुलाः

kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvā yayau brahmā kailāsaṁ tridaśaiḥ saha tasya śailasya pārśve tu vaicitryeṇa samākulāḥ

Having meditated for a moment, Brahma went to Kailasa together with the thirty gods; there, beside that mountain, bewildered by its wondrous beauty,

Verse 11 (padma.5.7.11)

स्थिताः संतुष्टुवुर्देवाः शंभुं शक्रपुरोगमाः । नमो भवाय शर्वाय नीलग्रीवाय ते नमः

sthitāḥ saṁtuṣṭuvurdevāḥ śaṁbhuṁ śakrapurogamāḥ namo bhavāya śarvāya nīlagrīvāya te namaḥ

the gods, with Indra at their head, stood and praised Shambhu: "Salutation to Bhava, to Sharva, to the blue-throated one!"

Verse 12 (padma.5.7.12)

नमः स्थूलाय सूक्ष्माय बहुरूपाय ते नमः । इति सर्वमुखेनोक्तां वाणीमाकर्ण्य शंकरः

namaḥ sthūlāya sūkṣmāya bahurūpāya te namaḥ iti sarvamukhenoktāṁ vāṇīmākarṇya śaṁkaraḥ

"Salutation to the gross, to the subtle, to the one of many forms!" Hearing this speech spoken by every mouth, Shankara —

Verse 13 (padma.5.7.13)

प्रोवाच नंदिनं देवा नानयेति ममांतिकम् । एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा आहूता नंदिना च ते

provāca naṁdinaṁ devā nānayeti mamāṁtikam etasminnaṁtare devā āhūtā naṁdinā ca te

said to Nandin, "Bring the gods before me." Meanwhile, summoned by Nandin, the gods,

Verse 14 (padma.5.7.14)

प्रविश्यांतःपुरे देवा ददृशुर्विस्मितेक्षणाः । ब्रह्मागत्य ददर्शाथ शंकरं लोकशंकरम्

praviśyāṁtaḥpure devā dadṛśurvismitekṣaṇāḥ brahmāgatya dadarśātha śaṁkaraṁ lokaśaṁkaram

entering the inner chamber, beheld him with astonished eyes; Brahma too came and saw Shankara, benefactor of all the worlds —

Verse 15 (padma.5.7.15)

गणकोटिसहस्रैस्तु सेवितं मोदशालिभिः । नग्नैर्विरूपैः कुटिलैर्धूसरैर्विकटैस्तथा

gaṇakoṭisahasraistu sevitaṁ modaśālibhiḥ nagnairvirūpaiḥ kuṭilairdhūsarairvikaṭaistathā

attended by thousands of crores of joyful attendant spirits — naked, misshapen, crooked, ash-grey, and fearsome in form.

Verse 16 (padma.5.7.16)

प्रणिपत्याग्रतः स्थित्वा सह देवैः पितामहः । उवाच देवदेवेशं पश्यावस्थां दिवौकसाम्

praṇipatyāgrataḥ sthitvā saha devaiḥ pitāmahaḥ uvāca devadeveśaṁ paśyāvasthāṁ divaukasām

Bowing and standing in front, together with the gods, Grandsire Brahma said to the Lord of gods: "Behold the plight of the celestials!"

Verse 17 (padma.5.7.17)

कृपां कुरु महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । दुष्टदैत्यवधार्थं त्वं समुद्योगं विधेहि भोः

kṛpāṁ kuru mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala duṣṭadaityavadhārthaṁ tvaṁ samudyogaṁ vidhehi bhoḥ

"Have mercy, Mahadeva, lover of those who take refuge in you! Make effort, O lord, to bring about that wicked demon's destruction."

Verse 18 (padma.5.7.18)

सोऽपि तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दैन्यशोकसमन्वितम् । त्रिदशैः सहितैः सर्वैराजगाम हरेः पदम्

so'pi tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dainyaśokasamanvitam tridaśaiḥ sahitaiḥ sarvairājagāma hareḥ padam

Hearing that speech, full of misery and grief, he too went, together with all the thirty gods, to the feet of Hari.

Verse 19 (padma.5.7.19)

तुष्टुवुर्मुनयः सर्वे ससुरोरगकिन्नराः । जय माधव देवेश जय भक्तजनार्तिहन्

tuṣṭuvurmunayaḥ sarve sasuroragakinnarāḥ jaya mādhava deveśa jaya bhaktajanārtihan

All the sages, together with gods, serpents, and kinnaras, praised him: "Victory, Madhava, lord of gods! Victory, destroyer of your devotees' suffering!"

Verse 20 (padma.5.7.20)

विलोकय महादेव लोकयस्व स्वसेवकान् । इत्युच्चैर्जगदुः सर्वे देवाः शर्वपुरोगमाः

vilokaya mahādeva lokayasva svasevakān ityuccairjagaduḥ sarve devāḥ śarvapurogamāḥ

"Look upon us, Mahadeva! Behold your own servants!" — thus all the gods, with Shiva at their head, cried out loudly.

Verse 21 (padma.5.7.21)

इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य सुराधिनाथो दृष्ट्वा सुरार्तिं परिचिंत्य विष्णुः । जगाद देवाञ्जलदोच्चया गिरा दुःखं तु तेषां प्रशमं नयन्निव

ityuktamākarṇya surādhinātho dṛṣṭvā surārtiṁ pariciṁtya viṣṇuḥ jagāda devāñjaladoccayā girā duḥkhaṁ tu teṣāṁ praśamaṁ nayanniva

Hearing these words, the lord of the gods, Vishnu, seeing the celestials' distress and reflecting deeply, spoke to the gods in a voice as deep as thundering clouds, as though calming their sorrow —

Verse 22 (padma.5.7.22)

भो ब्रह्मशर्वेंद्र पुरोगमामराः शृण्वंतु वाचं भवतां हितेरताम् । जाने दशग्रीवकृतं भयं वस्तन्नाशयाम्यद्य कृतावतारः

bho brahmaśarveṁdra purogamāmarāḥ śṛṇvaṁtu vācaṁ bhavatāṁ hiteratām jāne daśagrīvakṛtaṁ bhayaṁ vastannāśayāmyadya kṛtāvatāraḥ

"O Brahma, Shiva, Indra, and the immortals led by them, hear these words of mine spoken for your good. I know the fear that the ten-necked one has caused you; taking incarnation, I shall destroy it this very day."

Verse 23 (padma.5.7.23)

पुरी त्वयोध्या रविवंशजातैर्नृपैर्महादानमखादिसत्क्रियैः । प्रपालिता भूतलमंडनीया विराजते राजतभूमिभागैः

purī tvayodhyā ravivaṁśajātairnṛpairmahādānamakhādisatkriyaiḥ prapālitā bhūtalamaṁḍanīyā virājate rājatabhūmibhāgaiḥ

"There is the city of Ayodhya, protected by kings born of the Solar dynasty through great gifts, sacrifices, and other good deeds — an ornament of the earth, resplendent with lands of silvery soil."

Verse 24 (padma.5.7.24)

तस्यां दशरथो राजा निरपत्यः श्रियान्वितः । पालयत्यधुना राज्यं दिक्चक्रजयवान्विभुः

tasyāṁ daśaratho rājā nirapatyaḥ śriyānvitaḥ pālayatyadhunā rājyaṁ dikcakrajayavānvibhuḥ

"There King Dasharatha, endowed with prosperity but without offspring, now rules the kingdom, mighty, victorious in every direction."

Verse 25 (padma.5.7.25)

स तु वंद्यादृष्यशृंगात्प्रार्थितात्पुत्रकाम्यया । पुत्रेष्ट्यां विधिना यज्वा महाबलसमन्वितः

sa tu vaṁdyādṛṣyaśṛṁgātprārthitātputrakāmyayā putreṣṭyāṁ vidhinā yajvā mahābalasamanvitaḥ

"He, out of desire for a son, entreated the venerable sage Rishyashringa, and performed the Putreshti sacrifice with proper rite, endowed with great strength —"

Verse 26 (padma.5.7.26)

ततोऽहं प्रार्थितः पूर्वं तपसा तेन भोः सुराः । पत्नीषु तिसृषु प्रीत्या चतुर्धापि भवत्कृते

tato'haṁ prārthitaḥ pūrvaṁ tapasā tena bhoḥ surāḥ patnīṣu tisṛṣu prītyā caturdhāpi bhavatkṛte

"O gods, by that sage's austerity I had already been entreated before; for your sake, out of love, I shall appear fourfold among his three wives."

Verse 27 (padma.5.7.27)

राम लक्ष्मण शत्रुघ्न भरताख्या समन्वितः । कर्तास्मि रावणोद्धारं समूल बलवाहनम्

rāma lakṣmaṇa śatrughna bharatākhyā samanvitaḥ kartāsmi rāvaṇoddhāraṁ samūla balavāhanam

"As Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, and one named Bharata, I shall root out Ravana, together with his armies and vehicles, entirely."

Verse 28 (padma.5.7.28)

भवंतोऽपि स्वकैरंशैरवतीर्य चरंत्विह । ऋक्षवानररूपेण सर्वत्र पृथिवीतले

bhavaṁto'pi svakairaṁśairavatīrya caraṁtviha ṛkṣavānararūpeṇa sarvatra pṛthivītale

"You too, descending with your own portions, roam here upon the earth everywhere in the form of bears and monkeys."

Verse 29 (padma.5.7.29)

इत्युक्त्वा विररामाशु नभसीरितवाङ्मुने । देवाः श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं सर्वे संहृष्टमानसाः

ityuktvā virarāmāśu nabhasīritavāṅmune devāḥ śrutvā mahadvākyaṁ sarve saṁhṛṣṭamānasāḥ

Having said this, he fell silent at once — his voice, O sage, had resounded through the sky. Hearing this great pronouncement, all the gods became joyful,

Verse 30 (padma.5.7.30)

ते चक्रुर्गदितं यादृग्देवदेवेन धीमता । स्वैःस्वैरंशैर्मही पूर्णा ऋक्षवानररूपिभिः

te cakrurgaditaṁ yādṛgdevadevena dhīmatā svaiḥsvairaṁśairmahī pūrṇā ṛkṣavānararūpibhiḥ

and did just as the wise God of gods had spoken; the earth became filled, each with their own portions, with beings in the form of bears and monkeys.

Verse 31 (padma.5.7.31)

योऽसौ विष्णुर्महादेवो देवानां दुःखनाशकः । सत्वमेव महाराज भगवान्कृतविग्रहः

yo'sau viṣṇurmahādevo devānāṁ duḥkhanāśakaḥ satvameva mahārāja bhagavānkṛtavigrahaḥ

"That very Vishnu, that very Mahadeva, destroyer of the gods' sorrow — you yourself, great king, are that very Lord, who has taken on a bodily form."

Verse 32 (padma.5.7.32)

भरतोऽयं लक्ष्मणश्च शत्रुघ्नश्च महामते । तावकांशाद्दशग्रीवो जनितश्च सुरार्द्दनः

bharato'yaṁ lakṣmaṇaśca śatrughnaśca mahāmate tāvakāṁśāddaśagrīvo janitaśca surārddanaḥ

"O greatly wise one, this Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna were born from your own portions; and the ten-necked tormentor of the gods was likewise born, in his own turn."

Verse 33 (padma.5.7.33)

पूर्ववैरानुबंधेन जानकीं हृतवान्पुनः । स त्वया निहतो दैत्यो ब्रह्मराक्षसजातिमान्

pūrvavairānubaṁdhena jānakīṁ hṛtavānpunaḥ sa tvayā nihato daityo brahmarākṣasajātimān

"Bound by an old enmity, he carried off Janaki once more; that demon, born of a brahmin-rakshasa lineage, has been slain by you."

Verse 34 (padma.5.7.34)

पुलस्त्यपुत्रो दैत्येंद्र सर्वलोकैककंटकः । पातितः पृथिवी सर्वा सुखमापमहेश्वर

pulastyaputro daityeṁdra sarvalokaikakaṁṭakaḥ pātitaḥ pṛthivī sarvā sukhamāpamaheśvara

"The sole thorn of all the worlds, that grandson of Pulastya, has been felled; O great lord, now all the earth has attained happiness."

Verse 35 (padma.5.7.35)

ब्राह्मणानां सुखं त्वद्य मुनीनां तापसं बलम् । शिवानि सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वे यज्ञाः सुसंहिताः

brāhmaṇānāṁ sukhaṁ tvadya munīnāṁ tāpasaṁ balam śivāni sarvatīrthāni sarve yajñāḥ susaṁhitāḥ

"Today there is happiness for the brahmins, strength in the sages' austerity, auspiciousness in every sacred ford, and all sacrifices stand well established."

Verse 36 (padma.5.7.36)

त्वयि राज्ञि जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् । सुखं प्रपेदे विश्वात्मञ्जगद्योने नरोत्तम

tvayi rājñi jagatsarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam sukhaṁ prapede viśvātmañjagadyone narottama

"With you as king, O soul of the universe, womb of the world, best of men, the whole world — with its gods, demons, and men — has attained happiness."

Verse 37 (padma.5.7.37)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयानघ । उत्पत्तिश्च विपत्तिश्च मया मत्यनुसारतः

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ tvayānagha utpattiśca vipattiśca mayā matyanusārataḥ

"All this, sinless one, has been told to you, as you asked — your own origin and misfortune, as far as my understanding allows."

Verse 38 (padma.5.7.38)

इत्थं निशम्य दितिजेंद्र कुलानुकारिवार्तां महापुरुष ईश्वरईशिता च । संरुद्धबाष्पगलदश्रुमुखारविंदो भूमौ पपात सदसि प्रथितप्रभावः

itthaṁ niśamya ditijeṁdra kulānukārivārtāṁ mahāpuruṣa īśvaraīśitā ca saṁruddhabāṣpagaladaśrumukhāraviṁdo bhūmau papāta sadasi prathitaprabhāvaḥ

Hearing thus this account tracing the lineage of the lord of demons, that great being — though himself Lord of lords — could hold back his tears no longer; his lotus-face streaming, he, of renowned power, fell to the ground there in that assembly.