विषं कालानलप्रख्यं कालकूटमिति श्रुतम्
This poison, famed as Kālakūṭa, is like the fire of time.
तस्य विष्णुरहं वापि सर्वे वा सुरपुङ्गवाः
Of this, whether it be Viṣṇu, myself, or all the foremost gods—
इत्युक्त्वा पद्मगर्भाभः पद्मायोनिरयोनिजः
Having spoken thus, the one resembling the lotus-born, the self-born, not born from a womb,
ततः स्तोतुं समारब्धो ब्रह्मा वेद विदां वरः
Then Brahmā, best of those who know the Vedas, began to praise.
नमः पिनाकहस्ताय वज्रहस्ताय वै नमः
Salutations to the one who holds the Pināka bow, and to the one who holds the thunderbolt.
नमः सुरारिहन्त्रे च सोमसूर्याग्निचक्षुषे
Salutations to the destroyer of the enemies of the gods, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire.
सांख्याय चैव योगाय भूतग्रामाय वै नमः
Salutations to Sāṃkhya, to Yoga, and to the host of beings.
सुरेतसे ऽथ रुद्राय देवदेवाय रंहसे
To the source of the gods, to Rudra, to the god of gods, to the swift one,
कपालिने विरूपाय शिवाय वरदाय च
To the skull-bearer, the deformed, the auspicious, and the bestower of boons,
वृद्धाय चैव शुद्धाय मुक्तायैव बलाय च
To the ancient, the pure, the liberated, and the strong,
अग्राय चैव चोग्राय विप्रायानेकचक्षुषे
To the foremost, the fierce, the wise, and the one with many eyes,
नित्याय चैवानित्याय नित्यानित्याय वै नमः
To the eternal, the non-eternal, and the one who is both eternal and non-eternal, salutations.
चिन्त्याय चैवाचिन्त्याय चिन्त्याचिन्त्याय वै नमः
To the conceivable, the inconceivable, and the one who is both conceivable and inconceivable, salutations.
उमाप्रियाय शर्वाय नन्दिवक्त्राङ्किताय च
To the beloved of Umā, to Śarva, and to the one marked with the face of Nandi,
बहुरूपाय मुण्डाय दण्डिने च वरूथिने
To the one of many forms, the shaven-headed, the staff-bearer, and the armored one,
धन्विने रथिने चैव यमिने ब्रह्मचारिणे
To the archer, the charioteer, the controller, and the celibate,
एवं स्तुत्वा ततो ब्रह्मा प्रणिपत्य वरानने
Having thus praised, then Brahma, bowing to the one with the beautiful face,
सूक्ष्मो ऽसि योगातिशयादचिन्त्यो न हि प्रभो व्यक्तिमुफैषि रुद्रः
You are subtle, inconceivable due to supreme yoga; truly, O Lord, Rudra, you do not assume a manifest form.
स्तुतो ऽहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्वेदवेदाङ्गसंभवैः
I have been praised with various hymns arising from the Vedas and their branches.
भूतभव्यभवन्नाथ लोकनाथ जगत्पते
O Lord of past, future, and present, Lord of the worlds, Master of the universe,
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततो ब्रह्मा प्रत्युवाचांबुजेक्षणः
Hearing these words, then Brahma, lotus-eyed, replied:
सुरासुरैर्मथ्यमाने पयोधौ पङ्कजेक्षण
When the ocean was being churned by gods and demons, O lotus-eyed one,
प्रादुर्भूतं विषं घोरं संवर्त्ताग्निसमप्रभम्
A terrible poison arose, blazing like the fire of dissolution.
तत्पिबस्व महादेव लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Drink that, O Mahadeva, for the welfare of the worlds.
त्वदृते ऽन्यो महादेव वेगं सोढुं न विद्यते
Except for you, O Mahadeva, there is no one able to withstand its force.
बाढ मित्येव तद्वाक्यं प्रतिगृह्य वरानने
‘So be it,’ having accepted those words, O beautiful-faced one,
पिबतो मे महाघोरं विषं सुरभयप्रदम्
As I drank the most terrible poison, causing fear to the gods,
तं दृष्ट्वोत्पलपत्राभं कण्ठसक्तमिवोरगम्
Seeing it, resembling a lotus petal, as if a serpent clung to my throat,
अथोवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Then the mighty Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, spoke,
ततस्तस्य वचःश्रुत्वा मया गिरिवरात्मजे
Then, having heard his words, by me, O daughter of the mountain,