समीक्ष्य तत्राऽच्युतमायतश्रमं प्रनष्टहर्षं तु ननर्त हर्षात् । उवाच चैनं परमार्थमच्युतं षंढात्तवादः स विधिस्ततोऽच्युतम् २६ ।
(Returning to the original place) on seeing Viṣṇu there, utterly exhausted and lacking pleasure, Brahmā danced with joy. Viṣṇu, in the manner of a eunuch admitting his inability(to a woman), told him the truth (that he could not see the bottom). But Brahmā told Viṣṇu like this.
स्तंभाग्रमेतत्समुदीक्षितं हरे तत्रैव साक्षी ननु केतकं त्विदम् । ततोऽवदत्तत्र हि केतकं मृषा तथेति तद्धातृवचस्तदंतिके २७ ।
“O Hari, the top of this column has been seen by me. This Ketakī flower is my witness.” The Ketaka flower repeated the falsehood endorsing the words of Brahmā in his presence.
विधिं प्रहर्तुं शठमग्निलिंगतः स ईश्वरस्तत्र बभूव साकृतिः । समुत्थितः स्वामि विलोकनात्पुनः प्रकंपपाणिः परिगृह्य तत्पदम् २९ ।
The Lord taking up a visible form in order to chastise Brahmā who practised trickery, came out of the column of fire. On seeing the lord, Viṣṇu stood up and with his hands shaking with fear caught hold of the lord’s feet.
आद्यंतहीनवपुषि त्वयि मोहबुद्ध्या भूयाद्विमर्श इह नावति कामनोत्थः । स त्वं प्रसीद करुणाकर कश्मलं नौ मृष्टं क्षमस्व विहितं भवतैव केल्या 1.7.३० ।
It is out of ignorance and delusion about you whose body is without a beginning or an end that we indulged in this quest prompted by our own desire. Hence O, Sympathetic Being, forgive us for our fault. In fact, it is but another form of your divine sport.