The Dispute of Vishnu and Brahma

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.7.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । सुप्ते नारायणे देवे नाभौ पङ्कजमुत्तमम् । आविर्बभूव सहसा बृहद्वै शङ्करेच्छया

brahmovāca supte nārāyaṇe deve nābhau paṅkajamuttamam āvirbabhūva sahasā bṛhadvai śaṅkarecchayā

Brahma said: As the God Narayana lay asleep, suddenly upon his navel there appeared, by Shankara's own will, a great and supreme lotus.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.7.2)

अनन्तयष्टिकायुक्तं कर्णिकारसमप्रभम् । अनन्तयोजनायाममनन्तोच्छ्रायसंयुतम्

anantayaṣṭikāyuktaṁ karṇikārasamaprabham anantayojanāyāmamanantocchrāyasaṁyutam

Possessed of an endless stalk, radiant as the karnikara flower, of endless extent in length, and endless in its height.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.7.3)

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं सुन्दरं तत्त्वसंयुतम् । अत्यद्भुतं महारम्यं दर्शनीयमनुत्तमम्

koṭisūryapratīkāśaṁ sundaraṁ tattvasaṁyutam atyadbhutaṁ mahāramyaṁ darśanīyamanuttamam

Radiant as a myriad suns, beautiful, embodying true reality, most wondrous, greatly delightful, supremely worthy to behold.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.7.4)

कृत्वा यत्नं पूर्ववत्स शङ्करः परमेश्वरः । दक्षिणाङ्गान्निजान्मां वै साम्बः शम्भुरजीजनत्

kṛtvā yatnaṁ pūrvavatsa śaṅkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ dakṣiṇāṅgānnijānmāṁ vai sāmbaḥ śambhurajījanat

Making effort as before, Shankara, the Supreme Lord, together with Amba, brought me forth from his own right limb — Shambhu himself gave me birth.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.7.5)

स मायामोहितं कृत्वा मां महेशो द्रुतं मुने । तन्नाभिपङ्कजादाविर्भावयामास लीलया

sa māyāmohitaṁ kṛtvā māṁ maheśo drutaṁ mune tannābhipaṅkajādāvirbhāvayāmāsa līlayā

That Mahesha, O sage, having deluded me with his maya, swiftly caused me, through his play, to arise from that navel-lotus.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.7.6)

एवं पद्मात्ततो जज्ञे पुत्रोऽहं हेमगर्भकः । चतुर्मुखो रक्तवर्णस्त्रिपुण्ड्राङ्कितमस्तकः

evaṁ padmāttato jajñe putro'haṁ hemagarbhakaḥ caturmukho raktavarṇastripuṇḍrāṅkitamastakaḥ

Thus was I born from that lotus as a son, golden-wombed, four-faced, red in hue, my forehead marked with the tripundra.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.7.7)

तन्मायामोहितश्चाहं नाविदं कमलं विना । स्वदेहजनकं तात पितरं ज्ञानदुर्बलः

tanmāyāmohitaścāhaṁ nāvidaṁ kamalaṁ vinā svadehajanakaṁ tāta pitaraṁ jñānadurbalaḥ

Deluded by that maya, dear one, my understanding weakened, I knew of nothing but the lotus — I did not know the true father of my own body.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.7.8)

कोऽहं वा कुत आयातः किं कार्यं तु मदीयकम् । कस्य पुत्रोऽहमुत्पन्नः केनैव निर्मितोऽधुना

ko'haṁ vā kuta āyātaḥ kiṁ kāryaṁ tu madīyakam kasya putro'hamutpannaḥ kenaiva nirmito'dhunā

'Who am I, and from where have I come? What is my task? Whose son am I, born, and by whom now was I fashioned?'

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.7.9)

इति संशयमापन्नं बुद्धिर्मां समपद्यत । किमर्थं मोहमायामि तज्ज्ञानं सुकरं खलु

iti saṁśayamāpannaṁ buddhirmāṁ samapadyata kimarthaṁ mohamāyāmi tajjñānaṁ sukaraṁ khalu

Thus fallen into doubt, this thought occurred to me: 'Why should I remain in delusion? Surely that knowledge is easily attainable.'

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.7.10)

एतत्कमलपुष्पस्य पत्रारोहस्थलं ह्यधः । मत्कर्ता च स वै तत्र भविष्यति न संशयः

etatkamalapuṣpasya patrārohasthalaṁ hyadhaḥ matkartā ca sa vai tatra bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'Below, at the place from which the petals of this lotus flower arise, there my maker surely will be found — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.7.11)

इति बुद्धिं समास्थाय कमलादवरोहयम् । नाले नाले गतस्तत्र वर्षाणां शतकं मुने

iti buddhiṁ samāsthāya kamalādavarohayam nāle nāle gatastatra varṣāṇāṁ śatakaṁ mune

Resolving thus, I descended from the lotus; O sage, I traveled down along the stalk, from segment to segment, for a hundred years.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.7.12)

न लब्धं तु मया तत्र कमलस्थानमुत्तमम् । संशयं च पुनः प्राप्तः कमले गन्तुमुत्सुकः

na labdhaṁ tu mayā tatra kamalasthānamuttamam saṁśayaṁ ca punaḥ prāptaḥ kamale gantumutsukaḥ

Yet I did not find there the supreme base of the lotus; falling again into doubt, I grew eager to return to the lotus.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.7.13)

आरुरोहाथ कमलं नालमार्गेण वै मुने । कुड्मलं कमलस्याथ लब्धवान्न विमोहितः

ārurohātha kamalaṁ nālamārgeṇa vai mune kuḍmalaṁ kamalasyātha labdhavānna vimohitaḥ

Then, O sage, I climbed back up the lotus by the way of its stalk; but I could not find even the bud of the lotus, so deluded had I become.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.7.14)

नालमार्गेण भ्रमतो गतं वर्षशतं पुनः । क्षणमात्रं तदा तत्र ततस्तिष्ठन्विमोहितः

nālamārgeṇa bhramato gataṁ varṣaśataṁ punaḥ kṣaṇamātraṁ tadā tatra tatastiṣṭhanvimohitaḥ

Wandering thus along the way of the stalk, another hundred years passed as if it were a mere instant; then I remained standing there, utterly bewildered.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.7.15)

तदा वाणी समुत्पन्ना तपेति परमा शुभा । शिवेच्छया परा व्योम्नो मोहविध्वंसिनी मुने

tadā vāṇī samutpannā tapeti paramā śubhā śivecchayā parā vyomno mohavidhvaṁsinī mune

Then, O sage, by Shiva's will, a supreme and auspicious voice arose from the ether, dispelling my delusion, saying: 'Perform austerity.'

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.7.16)

तच्छ्रुत्वा व्योमवचनं द्वादशाब्दं प्रयत्नतः । पुनस्तप्तं तपो घोरं द्रष्टुं स्वजनकं तदा

tacchrutvā vyomavacanaṁ dvādaśābdaṁ prayatnataḥ punastaptaṁ tapo ghoraṁ draṣṭuṁ svajanakaṁ tadā

Hearing that voice from the sky, I then, with great effort, performed severe austerity for twelve years, in order to behold my own true father.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.7.17)

तदा हि भगवान्विष्णुश्चतुर्बाहुः सुलोचनः । मय्येवानुग्रहं कर्तुं द्रुतमाविर्बभूव ह

tadā hi bhagavānviṣṇuścaturbāhuḥ sulocanaḥ mayyevānugrahaṁ kartuṁ drutamāvirbabhūva ha

Then indeed the Lord Vishnu, four-armed, fair-eyed, in order to show grace to me alone, swiftly appeared.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.7.18)

शङ्खचक्रायुधकरो गदापद्मधरः परः । घनश्यामलसर्वाङ्गः पीताम्बरधरः परः

śaṅkhacakrāyudhakaro gadāpadmadharaḥ paraḥ ghanaśyāmalasarvāṅgaḥ pītāmbaradharaḥ paraḥ

Bearing conch, discus, mace and lotus in his hands, his whole form dark as a rain-cloud, clad in yellow garments.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.7.19)

मुकुटादिमहाभूषः प्रसन्नमुखपङ्कजः । कोटिकन्दर्पसङ्काशःसन्दृष्टो मोहितेन सः

mukuṭādimahābhūṣaḥ prasannamukhapaṅkajaḥ koṭikandarpasaṅkāśaḥsandṛṣṭo mohitena saḥ

Adorned with a crown and other great ornaments, his lotus face serene, resplendent as a myriad Kamadevas — thus he was seen by me, deluded as I was.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.7.20)

तद् दृष्ट्वा सुन्दरं रूपं विस्मयं परमं गतः । कालाभं काञ्चनाभं च सर्वात्मानं चतुर्भुजम्

tad dṛṣṭvā sundaraṁ rūpaṁ vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ kālābhaṁ kāñcanābhaṁ ca sarvātmānaṁ caturbhujam

Beholding that beautiful form, I was filled with the greatest wonder — dark as a cloud, radiant as gold, the very self of all, four-armed.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.7.21)

तथाभूतमहं दृष्ट्वा सदसन्मयमात्मना । नारायणं महाबाहुं हर्षितो ह्यभवं तदा

tathābhūtamahaṁ dṛṣṭvā sadasanmayamātmanā nārāyaṇaṁ mahābāhuṁ harṣito hyabhavaṁ tadā

Beholding him thus, of the nature both of the existent and the non-existent in his own being, that mighty-armed Narayana, I then became filled with joy.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.7.22)

मायया मोहितः शम्भोस्तदा लीलात्मनः प्रभोः । अविज्ञाय स्वजनकं तमवोचं प्रहर्षितः

māyayā mohitaḥ śambhostadā līlātmanaḥ prabhoḥ avijñāya svajanakaṁ tamavocaṁ praharṣitaḥ

Deluded then by the maya of that playful Lord Shambhu, and not recognizing my own true father, I spoke to him with great delight.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.7.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । कस्त्वं वदेति हस्तेन समुत्थाप्य सनातनम् । तदा हस्तप्रहारेण तीव्रेण सुदृढेन तु

brahmovāca kastvaṁ vadeti hastena samutthāpya sanātanam tadā hastaprahāreṇa tīvreṇa sudṛḍhena tu

Brahma said: 'Who are you? Speak,' — and, raising up that eternal one with my hand, then by a sharp and mighty blow of the hand,

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.7.24)

प्रबुद्ध्योत्थाय शयनात्समासीनः क्षणं वशी । ददर्श निद्राविक्लिन्न नीरजामललोचनः

prabuddhyotthāya śayanātsamāsīnaḥ kṣaṇaṁ vaśī dadarśa nidrāviklinna nīrajāmalalocanaḥ

he, awakened and risen from his couch, self-possessed, sat for a moment, his lotus-pure eyes still moist with sleep, and looked at me.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.7.25)

मामत्र संस्थितं भासाध्यासितो भगवान्हरिः । आह चोत्थाय ब्रह्माणं हसन्मां मधुरं सकृत्

māmatra saṁsthitaṁ bhāsādhyāsito bhagavānhariḥ āha cotthāya brahmāṇaṁ hasanmāṁ madhuraṁ sakṛt

Beholding me standing there in that radiance, the Lord Hari, rising, spoke to me, Brahma, once, laughing sweetly.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.7.26)

विष्णुरुवाच । स्वागतं स्वागतं वत्स पितामह महाद्युते । निर्भयो भव दास्येऽहं सर्वान्कामान्न संशयः

viṣṇuruvāca svāgataṁ svāgataṁ vatsa pitāmaha mahādyute nirbhayo bhava dāsye'haṁ sarvānkāmānna saṁśayaḥ

Vishnu said: 'Welcome, welcome, my child, O grandsire of great splendor! Be without fear; I shall grant you all your desires, without doubt.'

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.7.27)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्मितपूर्वं सुरर्षभः । रजसा बद्धवैरश्च तमवोचं जनार्दनम्

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā smitapūrvaṁ surarṣabhaḥ rajasā baddhavairaśca tamavocaṁ janārdanam

Hearing those words of his, O foremost of sages, I, first smiling, but then bound by enmity born of rajas, spoke to that Janardana.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.7.28)

ब्रह्मोवाच । भाषसे वत्स वत्सेति सर्वसंहारकारणम् । मामिहाति स्मितं कृत्वा गुरुः शिष्यमिवानघ

brahmovāca bhāṣase vatsa vatseti sarvasaṁhārakāraṇam māmihāti smitaṁ kṛtvā guruḥ śiṣyamivānagha

Brahma said: 'You address me, O sinless one — me, the very cause of the destruction of all — as "child, child," as a guru would address his own pupil!'

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.7.29)

कर्तारं जगतां साक्षात्प्रकृतेश्च प्रवर्तकम् । सनातनमजं विष्णुं विरिञ्चिं विष्णुसम्भवम्

kartāraṁ jagatāṁ sākṣātprakṛteśca pravartakam sanātanamajaṁ viṣṇuṁ viriñciṁ viṣṇusambhavam

'The direct creator of the worlds, the very mover of Prakriti, the eternal, unborn — I, Vishnu — and Brahma too is born of Vishnu.'

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.7.30)

विश्वात्मानं विधातारं धातारं पङ्कजेक्षणम् । किमर्थं भाषसे मोहाद्वक्तुमर्हसि सत्वरम्

viśvātmānaṁ vidhātāraṁ dhātāraṁ paṅkajekṣaṇam kimarthaṁ bhāṣase mohādvaktumarhasi satvaram

'The Self of the universe, the ordainer, the supporter, the lotus-eyed one — why do you speak to me so, out of delusion? Tell me at once.'

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.7.31)

वेदो मां वक्ति नियमात्स्वयम्भुवमजं विभुम् । पितामहं स्वराजं च परमेष्ठिनमुत्तमम्

vedo māṁ vakti niyamātsvayambhuvamajaṁ vibhum pitāmahaṁ svarājaṁ ca parameṣṭhinamuttamam

'The Veda itself, by its own rule, calls me the Self-Born, the Unborn, the All-Pervading, the Grandsire, the Sovereign, the supreme Parameshthin.'

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.7.32)

इत्याकर्ण्य हरिर्वाक्यं मम क्रुद्धो रमापतिः । सोऽपि मामाह जाने त्वां कर्तारमिति लोकतः

ityākarṇya harirvākyaṁ mama kruddho ramāpatiḥ so'pi māmāha jāne tvāṁ kartāramiti lokataḥ

Hearing these words of mine, Hari, the Lord of Rama, grew angry, and he too said to me: 'I know you, from popular report, as some sort of "creator."'

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.7.33)

विष्णुरुवाच । कर्तुं धर्तुं भवानङ्गादवतीर्णो ममाव्ययात् । विस्मृतोऽसि जगन्नाथं नारायणमनामयम्

viṣṇuruvāca kartuṁ dhartuṁ bhavānaṅgādavatīrṇo mamāvyayāt vismṛto'si jagannāthaṁ nārāyaṇamanāmayam

Vishnu said: 'You have descended from my own imperishable limb in order to create and sustain; you have forgotten the untainted Lord of the world, Narayana.'

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.7.34)

पुरुषं परमात्मानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम् । विष्णुमच्युतमीशानं विश्वस्य प्रभवोद्भवम्

puruṣaṁ paramātmānaṁ puruhūtaṁ puruṣṭutam viṣṇumacyutamīśānaṁ viśvasya prabhavodbhavam

'The Purusha, the Supreme Self, invoked by many, praised by many; Vishnu, Achyuta, the ruler, the very source of the universe —'

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.7.35)

नारायणं महाबाहुं सर्वव्यापकमीश्वरम् । मन्नाभिपद्मतस्त्वं हि प्रसूतो नात्र संशयः

nārāyaṇaṁ mahābāhuṁ sarvavyāpakamīśvaram mannābhipadmatastvaṁ hi prasūto nātra saṁśayaḥ

'Narayana, the mighty-armed, the all-pervading Lord — from my own navel-lotus you were indeed born, of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.7.36)

तवापराधो नास्त्यत्र त्वयि मायाकृतं मम । शृणु सत्यं चतुर्वक्त्र सर्वदेवेश्वरो ह्यहम्

tavāparādho nāstyatra tvayi māyākṛtaṁ mama śṛṇu satyaṁ caturvaktra sarvadeveśvaro hyaham

'There is no fault of yours in this — it is my own maya at work upon you. Hear the truth, O four-faced one: I alone am the Lord of all the gods.'

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.7.37)

कर्ता हर्ता च भर्ता च न मयास्ति समो विभुः । अहमेव परं ब्रह्म परं तत्त्वं पितामह

kartā hartā ca bhartā ca na mayāsti samo vibhuḥ ahameva paraṁ brahma paraṁ tattvaṁ pitāmaha

'Creator, destroyer, and sustainer — there is no lord equal to me. I alone am the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Reality, O grandsire.'

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.7.38)

अहमेव परं ज्योतिः परमात्मा त्वहं विभुः । अद्य दृष्टं श्रुतं सर्वं जगत्यस्मिञ्चराचरम्

ahameva paraṁ jyotiḥ paramātmā tvahaṁ vibhuḥ adya dṛṣṭaṁ śrutaṁ sarvaṁ jagatyasmiñcarācaram

'I alone am the Supreme Light, I alone am the Supreme Self, the all-pervading Lord; all that has today been seen or heard in this moving and unmoving world —'

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.7.39)

तत्तद्विद्धि चतुर्वक्त्र सर्वं मन्मयमित्यथ । मया सृष्टं पुराव्यक्तं चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वकम्

tattadviddhi caturvaktra sarvaṁ manmayamityatha mayā sṛṣṭaṁ purāvyaktaṁ caturviṁśatitattvakam

'know all of that, O four-faced one, to be of my own being alone. By me was created of old the unmanifest, the twenty-four tattvas.'

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.7.40)

नित्यं तेष्वणवो बद्धाः सृष्टाः क्रोधभयादयः । प्रभावाच्च भवानङ्गान्यनेकानीह लीलया

nityaṁ teṣvaṇavo baddhāḥ sṛṣṭāḥ krodhabhayādayaḥ prabhāvācca bhavānaṅgānyanekānīha līlayā

'Within them the eternal atomic souls are bound; anger, fear and the rest were created; and by my own power, through play, you and your many offspring as well.'

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.7.41)

सृष्टा बुद्धिर्मया तस्यामहङ्कारस्त्रिधा ततः । तन्मात्रं पञ्चकं तस्मान्मनो देहेन्द्रियाणि च

sṛṣṭā buddhirmayā tasyāmahaṅkārastridhā tataḥ tanmātraṁ pañcakaṁ tasmānmano dehendriyāṇi ca

'By me Buddhi was created, and from it, Ahamkara, threefold; from that the five tanmatras, and from them mind, body and the senses.'

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.7.42)

आकाशादीनि भूतानि भौतिकानि च लीलया । इति बुद्ध्वा प्रजानाथ शरणं व्रज मे विधे

ākāśādīni bhūtāni bhautikāni ca līlayā iti buddhvā prajānātha śaraṇaṁ vraja me vidhe

'And the elements beginning with ether, and their derivatives, all through my play. Understanding this, O lord of creatures, take refuge in me.'

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.7.43)

अहं त्वां सर्वदुःखेभ्यो रक्षिष्यामि न संशयः । ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मा क्रोधसमन्वितः । को वा त्वमिति सम्भर्त्स्याब्रुवं मायाविमोहितः

ahaṁ tvāṁ sarvaduḥkhebhyo rakṣiṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ brahmovāca iti śrutvā vacastasya brahmā krodhasamanvitaḥ ko vā tvamiti sambhartsyābruvaṁ māyāvimohitaḥ

'I shall protect you from all sorrows, without doubt.' Brahma said: Hearing these words of his, I, filled with anger, deluded by maya, rebuked him, saying: 'And who, then, are you?'

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.7.44)

किमर्थं भाषसे भूरि बह्वनर्थकरं वचः । नेश्वरस्त्वं परं ब्रह्म कश्चित्कर्ता भवेत्तव

kimarthaṁ bhāṣase bhūri bahvanarthakaraṁ vacaḥ neśvarastvaṁ paraṁ brahma kaścitkartā bhavettava

'Why do you speak so much, such harmful words? You are no Lord, no Supreme Brahman — someone else must be your creator too.'

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.7.45)

मायया मोहितश्चाहं युद्धं चक्रे सुदारुणम् । हरिणा तेन वै सार्धं शङ्करस्य महाप्रभोः

māyayā mohitaścāhaṁ yuddhaṁ cakre sudāruṇam hariṇā tena vai sārdhaṁ śaṅkarasya mahāprabhoḥ

Deluded by the maya of that great Lord Shankara, I then waged a most terrible battle with that Hari.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.7.46)

एवं मम हरेश्चासीत्सङ्गरो रोमहर्षणः । प्रलयार्णवमध्ये तु रजसा बद्धवैरयोः

evaṁ mama hareścāsītsaṅgaro romaharṣaṇaḥ pralayārṇavamadhye tu rajasā baddhavairayoḥ

Thus, in the midst of the ocean of dissolution, there arose between me and Hari, both bound by enmity born of rajas, a hair-raising combat.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.7.47)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे लिङ्गमभवच्चावयोः पुरः । विवादशमनार्थं हि प्रबोधार्थं तथावयोः

etasminnantare liṅgamabhavaccāvayoḥ puraḥ vivādaśamanārthaṁ hi prabodhārthaṁ tathāvayoḥ

Meanwhile, before the two of us, there appeared a Linga, for the sake of quelling our dispute and awakening us both.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.7.48)

ज्वालामालासहस्राढ्यं कालानलशतोपमम् । क्षयवृद्धिविनिर्मुक्तमादिमध्यान्तवर्जितम्

jvālāmālāsahasrāḍhyaṁ kālānalaśatopamam kṣayavṛddhivinirmuktamādimadhyāntavarjitam

Abounding in a thousand garlands of flame, like a hundred fires of universal dissolution; free of decrease or increase, without beginning, middle or end.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.7.49)

अनौपम्यमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं विश्वसम्भवम् । तस्य ज्वालासहस्रेण मोहितो भगवान्हरिः

anaupamyamanirdeśyamavyaktaṁ viśvasambhavam tasya jvālāsahasreṇa mohito bhagavānhariḥ

Beyond compare, indescribable, unmanifest, the very source of the universe. By its thousand flames, the Lord Hari too was struck with wonder.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.7.50)

मोहितं चाह मामत्र किमर्थं स्पर्धसेऽधुना । आगतस्तु तृतीयोऽत्र तिष्ठतां युद्धमावयोः

mohitaṁ cāha māmatra kimarthaṁ spardhase'dhunā āgatastu tṛtīyo'tra tiṣṭhatāṁ yuddhamāvayoḥ

And, himself bewildered, he said to me: 'Why do we now contend? A third has arrived here — let our battle now cease.'

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.7.51)

कुत एवात्र सम्भूतः परीक्षावोऽग्निसम्भवम् । अधो गमिष्याम्यनलस्तम्भस्यानुपमस्य च

kuta evātra sambhūtaḥ parīkṣāvo'gnisambhavam adho gamiṣyāmyanalastambhasyānupamasya ca

'From where indeed has it arisen here? Let us test this fiery manifestation. I shall go downward, to find the base of this peerless pillar of flame.'

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.7.52)

परीक्षार्थं प्रजानाथ तस्य वै वायुवेगतः । भवानूर्ध्वं प्रयत्नेन गन्तुमर्हति सत्वरम्

parīkṣārthaṁ prajānātha tasya vai vāyuvegataḥ bhavānūrdhvaṁ prayatnena gantumarhati satvaram

'For the sake of testing it, O lord of creatures, swift as the wind, you should go upward with all effort, and swiftly.'

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.7.53)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवं व्याहृत्य विश्वात्मा स्वरूपमकरोत्तदा । वाराहमहमप्याशु हंसत्वं प्राप्तवान्मुने

brahmovāca evaṁ vyāhṛtya viśvātmā svarūpamakarottadā vārāhamahamapyāśu haṁsatvaṁ prāptavānmune

Brahma said: Having spoken thus, the Self of the universe then assumed the form of a boar; and I, O sage, swiftly took on the form of a swan.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.7.54)

तदाप्रभृति मामाहुर्हंसहंसो विराडिति । हंस हंसेति यो ब्रूयात्स हंसोऽथ भविष्यति

tadāprabhṛti māmāhurhaṁsahaṁso virāḍiti haṁsa haṁseti yo brūyātsa haṁso'tha bhaviṣyati

From that time onward, they have called me 'Hamsa, Hamsa, Virat'; whoever repeats 'Hamsa, Hamsa,' he too shall attain that state.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.7.55)

सुश्वेतो ह्यनलप्रख्यो विश्वतः पक्षसंयुतः । मनोऽनिलजवो भूत्वा गतोर्ध्वं चोर्ध्वतः पुरा

suśveto hyanalaprakhyo viśvataḥ pakṣasaṁyutaḥ mano'nilajavo bhūtvā gatordhvaṁ cordhvataḥ purā

Pure white, radiant as fire, winged on every side, swift as mind and wind, I went upward, ever further upward.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.7.56)

नारायणोऽपि विश्वात्मा सुश्वेतो ह्यभवत्तदा । दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम्

nārāyaṇo'pi viśvātmā suśveto hyabhavattadā daśayojanavistīrṇaṁ śatayojanamāyatam

Narayana too, the Self of the universe, then became pure white; ten yojanas in breadth, a hundred yojanas in length —

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.7.57)

मेरुपर्वतवर्ष्माणं गौरतीक्ष्णोग्रदंष्ट्रिणम् । कालादित्यसमाभासं दीर्घघोणं महास्वनम्

meruparvatavarṣmāṇaṁ gauratīkṣṇogradaṁṣṭriṇam kālādityasamābhāsaṁ dīrghaghoṇaṁ mahāsvanam

his body as vast as Mount Meru, white, his tusks sharp and fierce, radiant as the sun of dissolution, long-snouted, of a mighty roar.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.7.58)

ह्रस्वपादं विचित्राङ्गं जैत्रं दृढमनौपमम् । वाराहाकारमास्थाय गतवांस्तदधौ जवात्

hrasvapādaṁ vicitrāṅgaṁ jaitraṁ dṛḍhamanaupamam vārāhākāramāsthāya gatavāṁstadadhau javāt

Short-legged, of wondrous limbs, ever-victorious, firm, beyond compare — assuming this form of a boar, he plunged downward, swiftly, into the deep.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.7.59)

एवं वर्षसहस्रं च चरन्विष्णुरधो गतः । तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु श्वेतवाराहसंज्ञकः

evaṁ varṣasahasraṁ ca caranviṣṇuradho gataḥ tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu śvetavārāhasaṁjñakaḥ

Thus for a thousand years Vishnu went on, journeying downward; from that time onward he is known in the worlds by the name Shvetavaraha.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.7.60)

कल्पो बभूव देवर्षे नराणां कालसंज्ञकः । बभ्राम बहुधा विष्णुः प्रभविष्णुरधोगतः

kalpo babhūva devarṣe narāṇāṁ kālasaṁjñakaḥ babhrāma bahudhā viṣṇuḥ prabhaviṣṇuradhogataḥ

O divine sage, that period became a kalpa, called an age among men; mighty Vishnu wandered in manifold ways, journeying ever downward.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.7.61)

नापश्यदल्पमप्यस्य मूलं लिङ्गस्य सूकरः । तावत्कालं गतश्चोर्ध्वमहमप्यरिसूदन

nāpaśyadalpamapyasya mūlaṁ liṅgasya sūkaraḥ tāvatkālaṁ gataścordhvamahamapyarisūdana

That boar could not find even the smallest trace of that Linga's root; and for that same span of time, O slayer of foes, I too journeyed upward.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.7.62)

सत्वरं सर्वयत्नेन तस्यान्तं ज्ञातुमिच्छया । श्रान्तो न दृष्ट्वा तस्यान्तमहं कालादधोगतः

satvaraṁ sarvayatnena tasyāntaṁ jñātumicchayā śrānto na dṛṣṭvā tasyāntamahaṁ kālādadhogataḥ

Swiftly, with every effort, desiring to know its end — yet wearied, and unable to find its end, I, after that long time, came back down.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.7.63)

तथैव भगवान्विष्णुः श्रान्तः कमललोचनः । सर्वदेवनिभस्तूर्णमुत्थितः स महावपुः

tathaiva bhagavānviṣṇuḥ śrāntaḥ kamalalocanaḥ sarvadevanibhastūrṇamutthitaḥ sa mahāvapuḥ

Likewise the Lord Vishnu, lotus-eyed, wearied, resplendent as all the gods, that mighty-bodied one, swiftly rose up again.

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.7.64)

समागतो मया सार्धं प्रणिपत्य भवं मुहुः । मायया मोहितः शम्भोस्तस्थौ संविग्नमानसः

samāgato mayā sārdhaṁ praṇipatya bhavaṁ muhuḥ māyayā mohitaḥ śambhostasthau saṁvignamānasaḥ

He came together with me; and, bowing again and again to Bhava, he stood there, his mind agitated, deluded still by Shambhu's maya.

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.7.65)

पृष्ठतः पार्श्वतश्चैव ह्यग्रतः परमेश्वरम् । प्रणिपत्य मया सार्धं सस्मार किमिदं त्विति

pṛṣṭhataḥ pārśvataścaiva hyagrataḥ parameśvaram praṇipatya mayā sārdhaṁ sasmāra kimidaṁ tviti

Bowing to the Supreme Lord from behind, from the side, and from before, together with me, he pondered: 'What indeed is this?'

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.7.66)

अनिर्देश्यं च तद्रूपमनाम कर्मवर्जितम् । अलिङ्गं लिङ्गतां प्राप्तं ध्यानमार्गेऽप्यगोचरम्

anirdeśyaṁ ca tadrūpamanāma karmavarjitam aliṅgaṁ liṅgatāṁ prāptaṁ dhyānamārge'pyagocaram

That form was indescribable, nameless, free of action; the formless one had taken on the state of a Linga, beyond the reach even of the path of meditation.

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.7.67)

स्वस्थं चित्तं तदा कृत्वा नमस्कारपरायणौ । बभूवतुरुभावावामहं हरिरपि ध्रुवम्

svasthaṁ cittaṁ tadā kṛtvā namaskāraparāyaṇau babhūvaturubhāvāvāmahaṁ harirapi dhruvam

Then, settling our minds, both of us — myself and Hari indeed — became wholly devoted to reverent salutation.

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.7.68)

जानीवो न हि ते रूपं योऽसि सोऽसि महाप्रभो । नमोऽस्तु ते महेशान रूपं दर्शय नौ त्वरम्

jānīvo na hi te rūpaṁ yo'si so'si mahāprabho namo'stu te maheśāna rūpaṁ darśaya nau tvaram

'We do not know your form; whatever you are, you are, O great Lord. Salutations to you, O Maheshana; show us your form swiftly.'

Verse 69 (shiva.rudra.7.69)

एवं शरच्छतान्यासन्नमस्कारं प्रकुर्वतोः । आवयोर्मुनिशार्दूल मदमास्थितयोस्तदा

evaṁ śaracchatānyāsannamaskāraṁ prakurvatoḥ āvayormuniśārdūla madamāsthitayostadā

Thus, O tiger among sages, as we two, still possessed then by our pride, continued in salutation, a hundred autumns passed.