The Birth of Rudra and the Hymn of Vishnu and Shri

Verse 1 (vishnu.1.8.1)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । कथितस् तामसः सर्गो ब्रह्मणस् ते महामुने । रुद्रसर्गं प्रवक्ष्यामि तन् मे निगदतः शृणु

śrīparāśara uvāca kathitas tāmasaḥ sargo brahmaṇas te mahāmune rudrasargaṁ pravakṣyāmi tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu

Shri Parashara said: I have told you, O great sage, of Brahma's dark (tamasa) creation. I shall now tell of the creation of Rudra; hear it from me as I relate it.

Verse 2 (vishnu.1.8.2)

कल्पादाव् आत्मनस् तुल्यं सुतं प्रध्यायतस् ततः । प्रादुर् आसीत् प्रभोर् अङ्के कुमारो नीललोहितः

kalpādāv ātmanas tulyaṁ sutaṁ pradhyāyatas tataḥ prādur āsīt prabhor aṅke kumāro nīlalohitaḥ

At the beginning of the kalpa, as he meditated upon a son resembling himself, there appeared upon the Lord's lap a youth of blue-red hue.

Verse 3 (vishnu.1.8.3)

रुदन् वै सुस्वरं सोऽथ द्रवंश् च द्विजसत्तम । किं रोदिषीति तं ब्रह्मा रुदन्तं प्रत्युवाच ह

rudan vai susvaraṁ so 'tha dravaṁś ca dvijasattama kiṁ rodiṣīti taṁ brahmā rudantaṁ pratyuvāca ha

He, O best of the twice-born, wept aloud with a sweet voice, and ran about weeping; Brahma then said to him as he wept, 'Why do you weep?'

Verse 4 (vishnu.1.8.4)

नाम देहीति तं सोऽथ प्रत्युवाच प्रजापतिः । रुद्रस् त्वं देव नाम्नासि मा रोदीर् धैर्यम् आवह । एवम् उक्तः पुनः सोऽथ सप्तकृत्वो रुरोद वै

nāma dehīti taṁ so 'tha pratyuvāca prajāpatiḥ rudras tvaṁ deva nāmnāsi mā rodīr dhairyam āvaha evam uktaḥ punaḥ so 'tha saptakṛtvo ruroda vai

'Give me a name,' he then said in reply. Prajapati replied: 'You are named Rudra, O god; do not weep — take courage.' Thus addressed, he wept again, seven times.

Verse 5 (vishnu.1.8.5)

ततोऽन्यानि ददौ तस्मै सप्त नामानि स प्रभुः । स्थानानि चैषाम् अष्टानां पत्नीः पुत्रांश् च वै विभुः

tato 'nyāni dadau tasmai sapta nāmāni sa prabhuḥ sthānāni caiṣām aṣṭānāṁ patnīḥ putrāṁś ca vai vibhuḥ

Then that all-pervading Lord gave him seven other names as well, and assigned stations, wives, and sons to these eight forms.

Verse 6 (vishnu.1.8.6)

भवं शर्वम् अथेशानं तथा पशुपतिं द्विज । भीमम् उग्रं महादेवम् उवाच स पितामहः

bhavaṁ śarvam atheśānaṁ tathā paśupatiṁ dvija bhīmam ugraṁ mahādevam uvāca sa pitāmahaḥ

O twice-born, that grandfather then declared these names: Bhava, Sharva, Ishana, and Pashupati; Bhima, Ugra, and Mahadeva.

Verse 7 (vishnu.1.8.7)

चक्रे नामान्य् अथैतानि स्थानान्य् एषां चकार सः । सूर्यो जलं मही वायुर् वह्निर् आकाशम् एव च । दीक्षितो ब्राह्मणः सोम इत्य् एतास् तनवः क्रमात्

cakre nāmāny athaitāni sthānāny eṣāṁ cakāra saḥ sūryo jalaṁ mahī vāyur vahnir ākāśam eva ca dīkṣito brāhmaṇaḥ soma ity etās tanavaḥ kramāt

He gave these names, and he assigned to them these stations: the sun, water, earth, wind, fire, and space, and the initiated brahmin, and the moon — these are their bodies, in order.

Verse 8 (vishnu.1.8.8)

सुवर्चला तथैवोषा विकेशी चापरा शिवा । स्वाहा दिशस् तथा दीक्षा रोहिणी च यथाक्रमम्

suvarcalā tathaivoṣā vikeśī cāparā śivā svāhā diśas tathā dīkṣā rohiṇī ca yathākramam

Suvarchala, likewise Usha, Vikeshi, and another named Shiva; Svaha, the quarters of space, Diksha, and Rohini, in due order —

Verse 9 (vishnu.1.8.9)

सूर्यादीनां नरश्रेष्ठ रुद्राद्यैर् नामभिः सह । पत्न्यः स्मृता महाभाग तदपत्यानि मे शृणु

sūryādīnāṁ naraśreṣṭha rudrādyair nāmabhiḥ saha patnyaḥ smṛtā mahābhāga tadapatyāni me śṛṇu

O best of men, together with the names Rudra and the rest, these are remembered as the wives of the sun and the other forms; O illustrious one, now hear from me their offspring —

Verse 10 (vishnu.1.8.10)

येषां सूतिप्रसूतैश् च इदम् आपूरितं जगत्

yeṣāṁ sūtiprasūtaiś ca idam āpūritaṁ jagat

by whose descendants and further offspring this entire world has been filled.

Verse 11 (vishnu.1.8.11)

शनैश्चरस् तथा शुक्रो लोहिताङ्गो मनोजवः । स्कन्दः स्वर्गोऽथ सन्तानो बुधश् चानुक्रमात् सुताः

śanaiścaras tathā śukro lohitāṅgo manojavaḥ skandaḥ svargo 'tha santāno budhaś cānukramāt sutāḥ

Shanaishchara (Saturn), and Shukra (Venus), Lohitanga (Mars), Manojava, Skanda, Svarga, Santana, and Budha (Mercury) — these, in order, are their sons.

Verse 12 (vishnu.1.8.12)

एवंप्रकारो रुद्रोऽसौ सतीं भार्याम् अविन्दत । दक्षकोपाच् च तत्याज सा सती स्वं कलेवरम्

evaṁprakāro rudro 'sau satīṁ bhāryām avindata dakṣakopāc ca tatyāja sā satī svaṁ kalevaram

Rudra, of this kind, took Sati as his wife; and out of anger at Daksha, that Sati abandoned her own body.

Verse 13 (vishnu.1.8.13)

हिमवद्दुहिता साभून् मेनायां द्विजसत्तम । उपयेमे पुनश् चोमाम् अनन्यां भगवान् भवः

himavadduhitā sābhūn menāyāṁ dvijasattama upayeme punaś comām ananyāṁ bhagavān bhavaḥ

O best of the twice-born, she was then born, through Mena, as the daughter of Himavat; and the blessed Bhava again married her, now called Uma, who was none other than Sati herself.

Verse 14 (vishnu.1.8.14)

देवौ धातृविधातारौ भृगोः ख्यातिर् असूयत । श्रियं च देवदेवस्य पत्नी नारायणस्य या

devau dhātṛvidhātārau bhṛgoḥ khyātir asūyata śriyaṁ ca devadevasya patnī nārāyaṇasya yā

Khyati, the wife of Bhrigu, bore the two gods Dhatri and Vidhatri, and also Shri, who is the wife of Narayana, the god of gods.

Verse 15 (vishnu.1.8.15)

श्रीमैत्रेय उवाच । क्षीराब्धौ श्रीः समुत्पन्ना श्रूयतेऽमृतमन्थने । भृगोः ख्यात्यां समुत्पन्नेत्य् एतद् आह कथं भवान्

śrīmaitreya uvāca kṣīrābdhau śrīḥ samutpannā śrūyate 'mṛtamanthane bhṛgoḥ khyātyāṁ samutpannety etad āha kathaṁ bhavān

Shri Maitreya said: It is heard that Shri arose from the ocean of milk, at the churning for nectar; how then do you say that she was born from Khyati, wife of Bhrigu?

Verse 16 (vishnu.1.8.16)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । नित्यैवैषा जगन्माता विष्णोः श्रीर् अनपायिनी । यथा सर्वगतो विष्णुस् तथैवेयं द्विजोत्तम

śrīparāśara uvāca nityaivaiṣā jaganmātā viṣṇoḥ śrīr anapāyinī yathā sarvagato viṣṇus tathaiveyaṁ dvijottama

Shri Parashara said: She is eternal, the mother of the world, Vishnu's Shri, never separate from him; just as Vishnu is all-pervading, so too, O best of the twice-born, is she.

Verse 17 (vishnu.1.8.17)

अर्थो विष्णुर् इयं वाणी नीतिर् एषा नयो हरिः । बोधो विष्णुर् इयं बुद्धिर् धर्मोऽसौ सत्क्रिया त्व् इयम्

artho viṣṇur iyaṁ vāṇī nītir eṣā nayo hariḥ bodho viṣṇur iyaṁ buddhir dharmo 'sau satkriyā tv iyam

Vishnu is meaning; she is speech. He is right conduct; she is policy. Vishnu is understanding; she is intellect. He is dharma; she is virtuous action.

Verse 18 (vishnu.1.8.18)

स्रष्टा विष्णुर् इयं सृष्टिः श्रीर् भूमिर् भूधरो हरिः । संतोषो भगवांल् लक्ष्मीस् तुष्टिर् मैत्रेय शाश्वती

sraṣṭā viṣṇur iyaṁ sṛṣṭiḥ śrīr bhūmir bhūdharo hariḥ saṁtoṣo bhagavāṁl lakṣmīs tuṣṭir maitreya śāśvatī

Vishnu is the creator; she is creation. Shri is the earth; Hari is the sustainer of the earth. The blessed one is contentment; Lakshmi, O Maitreya, is eternal satisfaction.

Verse 19 (vishnu.1.8.19)

इच्छा श्रीर् भगवान् कामो यज्ञोऽसौ दक्षिणा तु सा । आज्याहुतिर् असौ देवी पुरोडाशो जनार्दनः

icchā śrīr bhagavān kāmo yajño 'sau dakṣiṇā tu sā ājyāhutir asau devī puroḍāśo janārdanaḥ

Shri is desire itself; the blessed one is Kama. He is sacrifice; she is the sacrificial fee. The goddess is the oblation of clarified butter; Janardana is the sacrificial cake.

Verse 20 (vishnu.1.8.20)

पत्नीशाला मुने लक्ष्मीः प्राग्वंशो मधुसूदनः । चितिर् लक्ष्मीर् हरिर् यूप इध्मा श्रीर् भगवान् कुशः

patnīśālā mune lakṣmīḥ prāgvaṁśo madhusūdanaḥ citir lakṣmīr harir yūpa idhmā śrīr bhagavān kuśaḥ

O sage, Lakshmi is the wives' hall in the sacrifice; Madhusudana is the eastern sacrificial hall. Lakshmi is the altar; Hari is the sacrificial post. Shri is the kindling wood; the blessed one is the kusha grass.

Verse 21 (vishnu.1.8.21)

सामस्वरूपी भगवान् उद्गीतिः कमलालया । स्वाहा लक्ष्मीर् जगन्नाथो वासुदेवो हुताशनः

sāmasvarūpī bhagavān udgītiḥ kamalālayā svāhā lakṣmīr jagannātho vāsudevo hutāśanaḥ

The blessed one is of the nature of the Sama chant; the lotus-dwelling one is the Udgitha chant. Svaha is Lakshmi; the Lord of the world, Vasudeva, is the sacred fire.

Verse 22 (vishnu.1.8.22)

शंकरो भगवाञ् छौरिर् गौरी लक्ष्मीर् द्विजोत्तम । मैत्रेय केशवः सूर्यस् तत्प्रभा कमलालया

śaṁkaro bhagavāñ chaurir gaurī lakṣmīr dvijottama maitreya keśavaḥ sūryas tatprabhā kamalālayā

O best of the twice-born, the blessed Shauri is Shankara; Gauri is Lakshmi. O Maitreya, Keshava is the sun; the lotus-dwelling one is its radiance.

Verse 23 (vishnu.1.8.23)

विष्णुः पितृगणः पद्मा स्वधा शाश्वतपुष्टिदा । द्यौः श्रीः सर्वात्मको विष्णुर् अवकाशोऽतिविस्तरः

viṣṇuḥ pitṛgaṇaḥ padmā svadhā śāśvatapuṣṭidā dyauḥ śrīḥ sarvātmako viṣṇur avakāśo 'tivistaraḥ

Vishnu is the host of ancestors; Padma is Svadha, who ever bestows nourishment. Shri is Heaven; the all-pervading Vishnu is boundless, vast space itself.

Verse 24 (vishnu.1.8.24)

शशाङ्कः श्रीधरः कान्तिः श्रीस् तस्यैवानपायिनी । धृतिर् लक्ष्मीर् जगच्चेष्टा वायुः सर्वत्रगो हरिः

śaśāṅkaḥ śrīdharaḥ kāntiḥ śrīs tasyaivānapāyinī dhṛtir lakṣmīr jagacceṣṭā vāyuḥ sarvatrago hariḥ

The moon is Shridhara; its ever-unfailing loveliness is his Shri. Dhriti is Lakshmi; the activity of the world is Hari as the all-pervading Vayu.

Verse 25 (vishnu.1.8.25)

जलधिर् द्विज गोविन्दस् तद्वेला श्रीर् महामते । लक्ष्मीस्वरूपम् इन्द्राणी देवेन्द्रो मधुसूदनः

jaladhir dvija govindas tadvelā śrīr mahāmate lakṣmīsvarūpam indrāṇī devendro madhusūdanaḥ

O brahmin, the ocean is Govinda; its shore, O wise one, is Shri. Indrani has the very form of Lakshmi; Devendra is Madhusudana.

Verse 26 (vishnu.1.8.26)

यमश् चक्रधरः साक्षाद् धूमोर्णा कमलालया । ऋद्धिः श्रीः श्रीधरो देवः स्वयम् एव धनेश्वरः

yamaś cakradharaḥ sākṣād dhūmorṇā kamalālayā ṛddhiḥ śrīḥ śrīdharo devaḥ svayam eva dhaneśvaraḥ

Yama is himself the wielder of the discus; Dhumorna is the lotus-dwelling one. Riddhi is Shri; the god Shridhara is himself the Lord of wealth.

Verse 27 (vishnu.1.8.27)

गौरी लक्ष्मीर् महाभागा केशवो वरुणः स्वयम् । श्रीर् देवसेना विप्रेन्द्र देवसेनापतिर् हरिः

gaurī lakṣmīr mahābhāgā keśavo varuṇaḥ svayam śrīr devasenā viprendra devasenāpatir hariḥ

The illustrious Gauri is Lakshmi; Keshava is himself Varuna. O foremost of brahmins, the celestial army is Shri; Hari is the commander of the divine host.

Verse 28 (vishnu.1.8.28)

अवष्टम्भो गदापाणिः शक्तिर् लक्ष्मीर् द्विजोत्तम । काष्ठा लक्ष्मीर् निमेषोऽसौ मुहूर्तोऽसौ कला तु सा

avaṣṭambho gadāpāṇiḥ śaktir lakṣmīr dvijottama kāṣṭhā lakṣmīr nimeṣo 'sau muhūrto 'sau kalā tu sā

O best of the twice-born, the support of the world is he who bears the mace; Shakti is Lakshmi. Kashtha is Lakshmi; he is the moment; he is the muhurta; and she is the fraction of time.

Verse 29 (vishnu.1.8.29)

ज्योत्स्ना लक्ष्मीः प्रदीपोऽसौ सर्वः सर्वेश्वरो हरिः । लताभूता जगन्माता श्रीर् विष्णुर् द्रुमसंस्थितिः

jyotsnā lakṣmīḥ pradīpo 'sau sarvaḥ sarveśvaro hariḥ latābhūtā jaganmātā śrīr viṣṇur drumasaṁsthitiḥ

Moonlight is Lakshmi; he is the lamp; Hari, the Lord of all, is all things. As a creeper, the mother of the world is Shri; Vishnu is the tree supporting it.

Verse 30 (vishnu.1.8.30)

विभावरी श्रीर् दिवसो देवश् चक्रगदाधरः । वरप्रदो वरो विष्णुर् वधूः पद्मवनालया

vibhāvarī śrīr divaso devaś cakragadādharaḥ varaprado varo viṣṇur vadhūḥ padmavanālayā

Night is Shri; the day is the god who bears the discus and mace. The bestower of boons, Vishnu, is himself the bridegroom; she who dwells in the lotus-forest is the bride.

Verse 31 (vishnu.1.8.31)

नदस्वरूपी भगवाञ् श्रीर् नदीरूपसंस्थिता । ध्वजश् च पुण्डरीकाक्षः पताका कमलालया

nadasvarūpī bhagavāñ śrīr nadīrūpasaṁsthitā dhvajaś ca puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ patākā kamalālayā

The blessed one is of the nature of a great river's masculine flow; Shri abides in the form of the river herself. Pundarikaksha is the flagstaff; the lotus-dwelling one is the banner.

Verse 32 (vishnu.1.8.32)

तृष्णा लक्ष्मीर् जगत्स्वामी लोभो नारायणः परः । रतिरागौ च धर्मज्ञ लक्ष्मीर् गोविन्द एव च

tṛṣṇā lakṣmīr jagatsvāmī lobho nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ ratirāgau ca dharmajña lakṣmīr govinda eva ca

Thirst is Lakshmi; the Lord of the world, the supreme Narayana, is greed. O knower of dharma, Rati and Raga, too, are Lakshmi and Govinda.

Verse 33 (vishnu.1.8.33)

किं वात्र बहुनोक्तेन संक्षेपेणेदम् उच्यते

kiṁ vātra bahunoktena saṁkṣepeṇedam ucyate

But what use is there in saying so much here? This is stated in brief —

Verse 34 (vishnu.1.8.34)

देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्येषु पुंनाम्नि भगवान् हरिः । स्त्रीनाम्नि लक्ष्मीर् मैत्रेय नानयोर् विद्यते परम्

devatiryaṅmanuṣyeṣu puṁnāmni bhagavān hariḥ strīnāmni lakṣmīr maitreya nānayor vidyate param

Among gods, animals, and men, whatever bears a masculine name is the blessed Hari; whatever bears a feminine name, O Maitreya, is Lakshmi; there exists nothing higher than these two.