Narasimha Purana — Chapter 37
NsP 37.1
नानात्वाद् अवताराणाम् अच्युतस्य महात्मनः न शक्यं विस्तराद् वक्तुं तान् ब्रवीमि समासतः
nānātvād avatārāṇām acyutasya mahātmanaḥ na śakyaṃ vistarād vaktuṃ tān bravīmi samāsataḥ
Because the incarnations of the great-souled Acyuta are so many, it is not possible to tell them at length; I shall relate them in brief.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.2
पुरा किल जगत्स्रष्टा भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः अनन्तभोगशयने योगनिद्रां समागतः
purā kila jagatsraṣṭā bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ anantabhogaśayane yoganidrāṃ samāgataḥ
Formerly, it is said, the Blessed One, the highest Person, the creator of the world, entered into yogic sleep on the couch of Ananta's coils.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.3
अथ तस्य प्रसुप्तस्य देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः श्रोत्राभ्याम् अपतत् तोये स्वेदबिन्दुद्वयं नृप
atha tasya prasuptasya devadevasya śārṅgiṇaḥ śrotrābhyām apatat toye svedabindudvayaṃ nṛpa
Then, as that god of gods, the bearer of the horn bow, lay asleep, two drops of sweat fell from his ears into the water, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.4
मधुकैटभनामानौ तस्माज् जातौ महाबलौ महाकायौ महावीर्यौ महाबलपराक्रमौ
madhukaiṭabhanāmānau tasmāj jātau mahābalau mahākāyau mahāvīryau mahābalaparākramau
From that were born two of great strength, named Madhu and Kaiṭabha, huge of body, of great vigour, of great strength and valour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.5
अच्युतस्य प्रसुप्तस्य महत् पद्मम् अजायत नाभिमध्ये नृपश्रेष्ठ तस्मिन् ब्रह्माभ्यजायत
acyutasya prasuptasya mahat padmam ajāyata nābhimadhye nṛpaśreṣṭha tasmin brahmābhyajāyata
While Acyuta slept, a great lotus arose in the middle of his navel, O best of kings, and in it Brahmā was born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.6
स चोक्तो विष्णुना राजन् प्रजाः सृज महामते तथेत्य् उक्त्वा जगन्नाथं ब्रह्मापि कमलोद्भवः
sa cokto viṣṇunā rājan prajāḥ sṛja mahāmate tathety uktvā jagannāthaṃ brahmāpi kamalodbhavaḥ
And he was told by Viṣṇu, O king: "Create creatures, O greatly wise one"; and Brahmā too, the lotus-born, having said "So be it" to the Lord of the world —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.7
वेदशास्त्रवशाद् यावत् प्रजा स्रष्टुं समुद्यतः तावत् तत्र समायातौ ताव् उभौ मधुकैटभौ
vedaśāstravaśād yāvat prajā sraṣṭuṃ samudyataḥ tāvat tatra samāyātau tāv ubhau madhukaiṭabhau
just as he was setting out to create creatures by the power of the Vedas and the scriptures, at that moment the two, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, arrived there.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.8
आगत्य वेदशास्त्रार्थविज्ञानं ब्रह्मणः क्षणात् अपकृत्य गतौ घोरौ दानवौ बलदर्पितौ
āgatya vedaśāstrārthavijñānaṃ brahmaṇaḥ kṣaṇāt apakṛtya gatau ghorau dānavau baladarpitau
Having come and in an instant stolen away Brahmā's knowledge of the meaning of the Vedas and the scriptures, the two terrible dānavas, proud of their strength, departed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.9
ततः पद्मोद्भवो राजन् ज्ञानहीनो ऽभवत् क्षणात् दुःखितश् चिन्तयाम्_अस कथं स्रक्ष्यामि वै प्रजाः
tataḥ padmodbhavo rājan jñānahīno 'bhavat kṣaṇāt duḥkhitaś cintayām_asa kathaṃ srakṣyāmi vai prajāḥ
Then, O king, the lotus-born became in an instant devoid of knowledge, and, grieved, he thought: "How shall I create creatures?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.10
चोदितस् त्वं सृजस्वेति प्रजा देवेन तत् कथम् स्रक्ष्ये ऽहं ज्ञानहीनस् तु अहो कष्टम् उपस्थितम्
coditas tvaṃ sṛjasveti prajā devena tat katham srakṣye 'haṃ jñānahīnas tu aho kaṣṭam upasthitam
You have been urged by the god: 'Create creatures' — how then shall I create, being without knowledge? Alas, a calamity has befallen!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.11
इति संचिन्त्य दुःखार्तो ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः यत्नतो वेदशास्त्राणि स्मरन्न् अपि न दृष्टवान्
iti saṃcintya duḥkhārto brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ yatnato vedaśāstrāṇi smarann api na dṛṣṭavān
Having thus reflected, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, stricken with grief, though he tried hard to recall the Vedas and scriptures, did not perceive (them).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.12
ततो विषण्णचित्तस् तु तं देवं पुरुषोत्तमम् एकाग्रमनसा सम्यक् शास्त्रेण स्तोतुम् आरभत्
tato viṣaṇṇacittas tu taṃ devaṃ puruṣottamam ekāgramanasā samyak śāstreṇa stotum ārabhat
Then, downcast in mind, with single-pointed thought he began duly to praise that god, the highest Person, with a hymn.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.13
ॐ नमो वेदनिधये शास्त्राणां निधये नमः विज्ञाननिधये नित्यं कर्मणां निधये नमः
oṃ namo vedanidhaye śāstrāṇāṃ nidhaye namaḥ vijñānanidhaye nityaṃ karmaṇāṃ nidhaye namaḥ
"Oṃ, homage to the treasury of the Veda; homage to the treasury of the scriptures; homage always to the treasury of knowledge, to the treasury of rites.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.14
विद्याधराय देवाय वागीशाय नमो नमः अचिन्त्याय नमो नित्यं सर्वज्ञाय नमो नमः
vidyādharāya devāya vāgīśāya namo namaḥ acintyāya namo nityaṃ sarvajñāya namo namaḥ
To the god who holds all knowledge, to the lord of speech, homage, homage; to the unthinkable one homage, always; to the all-knowing one homage, homage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.15
अमूर्तिस् त्वं महाबाहो यज्ञमूर्तिर् अधोक्षज साम्नां मूर्तिस् त्वम् एवाद्य सर्वदा सर्वरूपवान्
amūrtis tvaṃ mahābāho yajñamūrtir adhokṣaja sāmnāṃ mūrtis tvam evādya sarvadā sarvarūpavān
You are without form, O mighty-armed one; you are the embodiment of sacrifice, O Adhokṣaja; you alone, from the beginning, are the embodiment of the Sāman chants, always possessing every form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.16
सर्वज्ञानमयो ऽसि त्वं हृदि ज्ञानमयो ऽच्युत देहि मे त्वं सर्वज्ञानं देवदेव नमो नमः
sarvajñānamayo 'si tvaṃ hṛdi jñānamayo 'cyuta dehi me tvaṃ sarvajñānaṃ devadeva namo namaḥ
You consist of all knowledge; you are knowledge itself within the heart, O Acyuta. Grant me all knowledge, O god of gods; homage, homage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.17
इत्थं स्तुतस् तदा तेन शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ब्रह्माणम् आह देवेशो दास्ये ते ज्ञानम् उत्तमम्
itthaṃ stutas tadā tena śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ brahmāṇam āha deveśo dāsye te jñānam uttamam
Praised thus by him then, the bearer of conch, discus and mace, the lord of the gods, said to Brahmā: "I shall give you the highest knowledge."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.18
इत्य् उक्त्वा तु तदा विष्णुश् चिन्तयाम्_अस पार्थिव केनास्य नीतं विज्ञानं केन रूपेण चादधे
ity uktvā tu tadā viṣṇuś cintayām_asa pārthiva kenāsya nītaṃ vijñānaṃ kena rūpeṇa cādadhe
But having said this, Viṣṇu then reflected, O king: "By whom was his knowledge carried off, and in what form shall I take it back?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.19
मधुकैटभकृतं सर्वम् इति ज्ञात्वा जनार्दनः मात्स्यं रूपं समास्थाय बहुयोजनम् आयतम् बहुयोजनविस्तीर्णं सर्वज्ञानमयं नृप
madhukaiṭabhakṛtaṃ sarvam iti jñātvā janārdanaḥ mātsyaṃ rūpaṃ samāsthāya bahuyojanam āyatam bahuyojanavistīrṇaṃ sarvajñānamayaṃ nṛpa
Knowing that all this was done by Madhu and Kaiṭabha, Janārdana took on the form of a fish, extended over many yojanas, spread out over many yojanas, made up of all knowledge, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.20
स प्रविश्य जलं तूर्णं क्षोभयाम्_अस तं हरिः प्रविश्य च स पातालं दृष्टवान् मधुकैटभौ
sa praviśya jalaṃ tūrṇaṃ kṣobhayām_asa taṃ hariḥ praviśya ca sa pātālaṃ dṛṣṭavān madhukaiṭabhau
Entering the water swiftly, Hari stirred it up; and having entered Pātāla he saw Madhu and Kaiṭabha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.21
तौ मोहयित्वा तुमुलं तज् ज्ञानं जगृहे हरिः वेदशास्त्राणि मुनिभिः संस्तुतो मधुसूदनः
tau mohayitvā tumulaṃ taj jñānaṃ jagṛhe hariḥ vedaśāstrāṇi munibhiḥ saṃstuto madhusūdanaḥ
Having thrown those two into utter confusion, Hari seized that knowledge, the Vedas and the treatises—the slayer of Madhu, praised by the sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.22
आनीय ब्रह्मणे दत्त्वा त्यक्त्वा तन् मात्स्यकं नृप जगद्धिताय स पुनर् योगनिद्रावशं गतः
ānīya brahmaṇe dattvā tyaktvā tan mātsyakaṃ nṛpa jagaddhitāya sa punar yoganidrāvaśaṃ gataḥ
Having brought them and given them to Brahmā, and having abandoned that fish form, O king, for the welfare of the world he again gave himself over to the sleep of yoga.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.23
ततः प्रबुद्धौ संक्रुद्धौ ताव् उभौ मधुकैटभौ आगत्य ददृशाते तु शयानं देवम् अव्ययम्
tataḥ prabuddhau saṃkruddhau tāv ubhau madhukaiṭabhau āgatya dadṛśāte tu śayānaṃ devam avyayam
Then those two, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, awoke in great fury, and coming there they saw the imperishable god lying asleep.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.24
अयं स पुरुषो धूर्त आवां संमोह्य मायया आनीय वेदशास्त्राणि दत्त्वा शेते ऽत्र साधुवत्
ayaṃ sa puruṣo dhūrta āvāṃ saṃmohya māyayā ānīya vedaśāstrāṇi dattvā śete 'tra sādhuvat
"This is that crafty person who, having bewildered us two by his magic and carried off the Vedas and the treatises and given them away, lies sleeping here like a virtuous man."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.25
इत्य् उक्त्वा तौ महाघोरौ दानवौ मधुकैटभौ बोधयाम्_असतुस् तूर्णं शयानं केशवं नृप
ity uktvā tau mahāghorau dānavau madhukaiṭabhau bodhayām_asatus tūrṇaṃ śayānaṃ keśavaṃ nṛpa
Having said this, those two most terrible dānavas, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, quickly woke the sleeping Keśava, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.26
युद्धार्थम् आगताव् अत्र त्वया सह महामते आवयोर् देहि संग्रामं युध्यस्वोत्थाय सांप्रतम्
yuddhārtham āgatāv atra tvayā saha mahāmate āvayor dehi saṃgrāmaṃ yudhyasvotthāya sāṃpratam
"We two have come here for battle with you, O great-minded one. Grant us combat; rise up and fight now."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.27
इत्युक्तो भगवांस् ताभ्यां देवदेवो नृपोत्तम तथेति चोक्त्वा तौ देवः शार्ङ्गं सज्जम् अथाकरोत्
ityukto bhagavāṃs tābhyāṃ devadevo nṛpottama tatheti coktvā tau devaḥ śārṅgaṃ sajjam athākarot
Addressed thus by those two, the Blessed One, god of gods, O best of kings, said to them "So be it," and then the god made his Śārṅga bow ready.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.28
ज्याघोषतलघोषेण शङ्खशब्देन माधवः खं दिशः प्रदिशश् चैव पूरयाम्_अस लीलया
jyāghoṣatalaghoṣeṇa śaṅkhaśabdena mādhavaḥ khaṃ diśaḥ pradiśaś caiva pūrayām_asa līlayā
With the twang of his bowstring and the slap of his palm, and with the sound of his conch, Mādhava filled the sky, the directions and the intermediate directions, in play.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.29
तौ च राजन् महावीर्यौ ज्याघोषं चक्रतुस् तदा युयुधाते महाघोरौ हरिणा मधुकैटभौ
tau ca rājan mahāvīryau jyāghoṣaṃ cakratus tadā yuyudhāte mahāghorau hariṇā madhukaiṭabhau
And those two of great valour, O king, then made their bowstrings twang; the two most terrible ones, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, fought with Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.30
कृष्णश् च युयुधे ताभ्यां लीलया जगतः पतिः समं युद्धं अभूद् एवं तेषाम् अस्त्राणि मुञ्चताम्
kṛṣṇaś ca yuyudhe tābhyāṃ līlayā jagataḥ patiḥ samaṃ yuddhaṃ abhūd evaṃ teṣām astrāṇi muñcatām
And Kṛṣṇa, the lord of the world, fought with those two in play; thus the battle was even, as they loosed their weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.31
केशवः शार्ङ्गनिर्मुक्तैः शरैर् आशीविषोपमैः तानि शस्त्राणि सर्वाणि चिच्छेद तिलशस् तदा
keśavaḥ śārṅganirmuktaiḥ śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ tāni śastrāṇi sarvāṇi ciccheda tilaśas tadā
With arrows loosed from the Śārṅga bow, like venomous snakes, Keśava then cut all those weapons to bits.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.32
तौ युद्ध्वा सुचिरं तेन दानवौ मधुकैटभौ हतौ शार्ङ्गविनिर्मुक्तैः शरैः कृष्णेन दुर्मदौ
tau yuddhvā suciraṃ tena dānavau madhukaiṭabhau hatau śārṅgavinirmuktaiḥ śaraiḥ kṛṣṇena durmadau
Having fought with him a very long time, those two dānavas Madhu and Kaiṭabha, drunk with arrogance, were slain by Kṛṣṇa with arrows loosed from the Śārṅga bow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.33
तयोस् तु मेदसा राजन् विष्णुना कल्पिता मही मेदिनीति ततः संज्ञाम् अवापेयं वसुंधरा
tayos tu medasā rājan viṣṇunā kalpitā mahī medinīti tataḥ saṃjñām avāpeyaṃ vasuṃdharā
And out of the fat of those two, O king, the earth was fashioned by Viṣṇu; from that this earth obtained the name "Medinī."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.34
एवं कृष्णप्रसादेन वेदांल् लब्ध्वा प्रजापतिः प्रजाः ससर्ज भूपाल वेददृष्टेन कर्मणा
evaṃ kṛṣṇaprasādena vedāṃl labdhvā prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ sasarja bhūpāla vedadṛṣṭena karmaṇā
Thus, by Kṛṣṇa's grace, having obtained the Vedas, Prajāpati brought forth creatures, O king, by action ordained in the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.35
य इदं शृणुयान् नित्यं प्रादुर्भावं हरेर् नृप वसित्वा चन्द्रसदने वेदविद् ब्राह्मणो भवेत्
ya idaṃ śṛṇuyān nityaṃ prādurbhāvaṃ harer nṛpa vasitvā candrasadane vedavid brāhmaṇo bhavet
Whoever should constantly hear this manifestation of Hari, O king, having dwelt in the mansion of the moon, becomes a brāhmaṇa knowing the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 37.36
मात्स्यं वपुस् तन् महद् अद्रितुल्यं विद्यामयं लोकहिताय विष्णुः आस्थाय भीमं जनलोकसंस्थैः स्तुतो ऽथ यस् तं स्मर भूमिपाल
mātsyaṃ vapus tan mahad adritulyaṃ vidyāmayaṃ lokahitāya viṣṇuḥ āsthāya bhīmaṃ janalokasaṃsthaiḥ stuto 'tha yas taṃ smara bhūmipāla
That great fish-body, equal to a mountain, made of knowledge—which Viṣṇu, for the world's welfare, assumed, terrible, and was then praised by those dwelling in the world of men—remember him, O ruler of the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain