Chapter 52 - The Review of the Prayer to the Lord

Brahmā said:

1. O excellent sages, after coining out of the belly of that boy, he once again saw the earth turned into a vast sheet of water. It was devoid of people.

2. He saw that same lord in the form of the infant boy whom he had seen before. He was stationed on the branch of banyan tree in a palanquin.

3. That lord had the scar Śrīvatsa on his chest. He was clad in yellow robes and had four arms. His wide eyes resembled the large petals of the lotus and he stayed there taking up the universe.

4. On seeing the sage floating and swimming like a senseless person and approaching him after coming out of his mouth, the lord spoke with laugh.

The Lord said:

5. O dear one, I hope you stayed in my belly comfortably and have had your rest. While wandering about what wonderful thing did you observe there?

6. O excellent sage, you are my devotee and have resorted completely to me. But you are tired. Hence, to help you I speak to you. See me again.

Brahmā said:

7-10. On hearing his words he experienced horripilation due to delight. He looked at the deity who was bedecked with lustrous gems and jewels and who was too dazzling to be seen. In a Muhūrta, O brahmins, by the favour of that lord he had a new pair of eyes delighted and devoid of impurities. O brahmins, the sage bowed his head at his feet that are worshipped by Devas and which had red toes and sole. With a voice chocked with delight he began to eulogise him. The delighted sage looked at the Supreme being again and again with palms joined in reverence and began to eulogise:

Mārkaṇḍya said:

11. O lord of Devas, O lord of Universe, you have assumed the form of a boy by your Māyā, O beautiful lotuseyed one, save me, I am miserable and I have sought refuge in you.

12. O most excellent one among Devas, I am scorched by the fire called Saṃvarta. O lord, save me. I am afraid of the rising of sparks of fire in flames.

13. I am dried up by the fierce wind that is the life-giving breath of the universe. I am perplexed and bewildered as well as tired. Save me, O lord, save me.

14. Scorched by the Ādityas, Pralayāvartaka and others, I do not derive peace. Save me, O lord.

15. I am thirsty and afflicted by hunger. O lord of universe, I am miserable too. I do not see any saviour. Save me, O lord.

16. In this terrible vast sheet of water, as the mobile and immobile beings have perished I do find no resort, save me, O lord.

17. O lord of Devas, the mobile and immobile beings were seen by me in your belly. I am surprised and bewildered. Save me, O lord.

18. In this worldly existence that has no basic support, be pleased O Lord, O most excellent one among Devas, be pleased. O deity fond of the learned and Devas, be pleased.

19. Be pleased, O Lord of the learned. Be pleased, O support of the learned. Be pleased, O lord of the worlds, O cause of the cause of the Universe.

20. Be pleased, O lord of Devas. Be pleased with me, O deity that bear the burden of the earth. Be pleased, O deity residing in waters. Be pleased, O slayer of Madhu demon.

21. Be pleased, O lover of Lakṣmī, be pleased, O lord of Devas. Be pleased, O slayer of Kaṃsa and Keśin. Be pleased O destroyer of Ariṣṭa.^[1]

22. Be pleased, O Kṛṣṇa, O destroyer of Daityas. Be pleased, O slayer of Danu’s sons. Be pleased, O resident of Mathurā. Be pleased, O scion of the family of Yadus.

23-24. Be pleased, O younger brother of Indra, be pleased O bestower of boons, O unchanging one, You are the earth, water, fire, wind and firmament. You are the mind, Ego, and cosmic intellect. You are the Primordial Nature. O lord of the universe, you are Sattva and other things.

25. You are the Puruṣa, the seed of the Universe. You are more excellent than others. You are the sense-organs. O lord, you are the objects, and subtle primary elements.

26. You are the guardian of the quarters. You are Devas, Yajñas and sacrificial gifts. You are Indra, Śiva, offering and the sacrificial fire.

27. You are Yama, the lord of manes; O lord, you are the lord of Rākṣasas (Nirṛti) himself. You are Varuṇa, lord of waters; you are wind and the lord of wealth (Kubera).

28. You are Īśāna, Ananta, Gaṇeśa, Ṣaṇmukha, Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas and Khecaras (Planets).

29-30. You are Dānavas, Yakṣas, Daityas, Maruts, Siddhas, Apsaras, Nāgas, Gandharvas, Cāraṇas, manes, Vālakhilyas, and Prajāpatis. O Acyuta, you are sages, ascetics, Aśvins and demons.

31-33. You are other species too, whatever can be termed a living being. Of what avail is much talk? You are everything beginning with Brahmā and ending with the blade of grass. You are the whole universe consisting of mobile and immobile beings, all things of the past, present and future. Your greatest form, O lord, is steady, motionless and fixed. Even Brahmā and others do not know that. Then what about others of deficient intellect. O lord, you are intrinsically pure. You are perpetual and greater than Prakṛti.

34-35. You are unmanifest, permanent, infinite, all-pervasive, supreme lord. You are the firmament, the greatest being, the calm one, the unborn and unchanging.

36. Who is competent to eulogise you adequately, you who are devoid of attributes and unsullied. O lord, you have been eulogised by me the deficient one of insignificant mind. O lord of the chiefs of Devas, it behoves you to forgive that, O eternal one.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ariṣṭa: An asura, a servant of Kaṃsa. Once, at the instance of Kaṃsa he went to Gokula disguised as an ox to kill Śrīkṛṣṇa. The ox instilled terror in people by crushing hills and mountains, with its horns and bellowing like a bull. But Śrīkṛṣṇa faced the beast with courage and rained blows on him so that it was thrown hundred yojanas away and it cried. At the time of death it regained its former form and was recognized as asura.