त्वदर्थोऽयं समारम्भः कृष्णवर्त्मन्नमोस्तु ते। मुखं त्वमसि देवानां यज्ञस्त्वमसि पावक
This undertaking is for your sake; homage to you, who move on the path of Krishna. You are the mouth of the gods, you are the sacrifice, O Pāvaka.
पावनात्पावकश्चासि वहनाद्धव्यवाहनः। वेदास्त्वदर्थं जाता वै जातवेदास्ततो ह्यसि
You are Pāvaka because you purify, and Havyavāhana because you carry the offerings. The Vedas have arisen for your sake, therefore you are Jātavedas.
चित्रभानुः सुरेशश्च अनलस्त्वं विभावसो। स्वर्गद्वारस्पृशश्चासि हुताशो ज्वलनः शिखी
You are Citrabhānu, lord of the gods, you are Anala, O Vibhāvasu. You touch the gates of heaven, you are Hutāśa, Jvalana, and Śikhī.
वैश्वानरस्त्वं पिङ्गेशः प्लवङ्गो भूरितेजसः। कुमारसूस्त्वं भगवान्रुद्रगर्भो हिरण्यकृत्
You are Vaiśvānara, Piṅgeśa, Plavaṅga of great brilliance; you are the blessed son of Kumāra, Rudra's embryo, the golden one.
अग्निर्ददातु मे तेजो वायुः प्राणं ददातु मे। पृथिवी बलमादध्याच्छिवं चापो दिशन्तु मे
May Agni grant me energy, may Vāyu give me breath; may the earth bestow strength, and may the waters grant me well-being.
अपां गर्भ महासत्व जातवेदः सुरेश्वर। देवानां मुखमग्ने त्वं सत्येन विपुनीहि माम्
O Agni, embryo of the waters, of great being, Jātaveda, lord of the gods, mouth of the gods, purify me with truth.
ऋषिभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्चैव दैवतैरसुरैरपि। नित्यं सुहुत यज्ञेषु सत्येन विपुनीहि माम्
By sages, by Brahmins, by gods and even by Asuras, you are always well-offered in sacrifices; purify me with truth.
धूमकेतुः शिखी च त्वं पापहाऽनिसम्भवः। सर्वप्राणिषु नित्यस्थः सत्येन विपुनीहि माम्
You are Dhūmaketu and Śikhī, destroyer of sin, born of none; you dwell always in all beings—purify me with truth.
एवं स्तुतोऽसि भगवन्प्रीतेन शिचिना मया। तुष्टिं पुष्टिं श्रुतं चैव प्रीति चाग्ने प्रयच्छ मे
Thus have I praised you, O Lord, with devotion, O shining one; grant me satisfaction, nourishment, learning, and joy, O Agni.
इत्येवं मन्त्रमाग्नेयं पठन्यो जुहुयाद्विभुम्। ऋद्धिमान्सततं दान्तः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Thus, one should recite this Agni mantra and offer to the Lord; the self-controlled, ever-prosperous one is freed from all sins.
यज्ञविघ्नमिमं कर्तुं नार्हस्त्वं यज्ञवाहन। एवमुक्त्वा तु माद्रेयः कुशैरास्तीर्य मेदिनीम्
You should not cause this obstruction to the sacrifice, O carrier of offerings. Having spoken thus, the son of Mādrī spread kusa grass upon the ground.
विधिवत्पुरुषव्याघ्रः पावकं प्रत्युपाविशत्। प्रमुखे तस्य सैन्यस्य भीतोद्विग्रस्य भारत
According to the rite, the tiger among men approached Pāvaka, in front of his army, though fearful and anxious, O Bhārata.
न चैनमत्यगाद्वह्निरुवाच महोदधिः। तमुपेत्य शनैर्वह्निरुवाच कुरुनन्दनम्
But the fire did not consume him; then the great ocean spoke. Approaching gently, Agni spoke to the descendant of Kuru.
सहदेवं नृणां देवं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः। उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ कौरव्य जिज्ञासेयं कृता मया
To Sahadeva, god among men, Agni spoke these words with gentle reassurance: 'Arise, arise, O Kauravya, I have tested you.'
वेद्मि सर्वमभिप्रायं तव धर्मसुतस्य च। मया तु रक्षितव्या पूरियं भरतसत्तम
I know all your intentions and those of the son of Dharma; but I must protect this city, O best of the Bharatas.
यावद्राज्ञो हि नीलस्य कुले वंशधरा इति। ईप्सितं तु करिष्यामि मनसस्तव पाण्डव
As long as there are descendants in the line of King Nīla, I will do what you desire in your heart, O Pāṇḍava.
तत उत्थाय हृष्टात्मा प्राञ्जलिः शिरसा नतः। पूजयामास माद्रेयटः पावकं भरतर्षभ
Then, rising with a joyful heart, with joined palms and bowed head, the son of Mādrī worshipped Pāvaka, O bull among the Bharatas.
पावके विनिवृत्ते तु नीलो राजाऽभ्यगात्तदा। पावकस्याज्ञया चैनमर्चयामास पार्थिवः
When Pāvaka had withdrawn, King Nīla then approached; by the command of Pāvaka, the king honored him.
सत्कारेण नरव्याघ्रं सहदेवं युधां पतिम्। प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां करे च विनिवेश्य च
With honor, Sahadeva, the tiger among men and lord of warriors, received that homage and placed it in his hand.
माद्रीसुतस्ततः प्रायाद्विजयी दक्षिणां दिशम्। त्रैपुरं स वशे कृत्वा राजानममितौजसम्
Then the son of Madri, victorious, proceeded toward the southern direction, having subdued Tripura and its king of immense energy.
निजग्राह महाबाहुस्तरसा पौरवेश्वरम्। आकृतिं कौशिकाचार्यं यत्ने महता ततः
With great strength, he swiftly seized the lord of the Pauravas, whose form was like the sage Kaushika, exerting himself greatly.
वशे चक्रे महाबाहुः सुराष्ट्राधिपतिं तदा। सुराष्ट्रविषयस्थश्च प्रेषयामास रुक्मिणे
At that time, the mighty-armed one brought the king of Saurashtra under his control, and sent word to Rukmin, who dwelled in the territory of Saurashtra.
राज्ञे भोजकटस्थाय महामात्राय धीमते। भीष्मकायस धर्मात्मा साक्षादिन्द्रसखाय वै
He sent a message to the wise king Bhishmaka, who resided at Bhojakata, the righteous soul, and friend of Indra himself.
च चास्य प्रतिजग्राह ससुतः शासनं तदा। प्रीतिपूर्वं महाराज वासुदेवमवेक्ष्य च
And he, along with his son, accepted the command at that time, O great king, with affection, having regard for Vasudeva.
ततः स रत्नान्यादाय पुनः प्रायाद्युधां पतिः। ततः शूर्पारकं चैव तालाकटमथापि च
Then the lord of warriors, taking the jewels, again departed; thereafter, he subdued Shurparaka, Talakata, and others.
वशे चक्रे महातेजा दण्डकांश्च महाबलः। सागरद्वीपवासांश्च नृपतीन्म्लेच्छयोनिजान्
The mighty and powerful one brought the Dandakas under his sway, as well as the island-dwelling kings of foreign origin.
निषादान्पुरुषादांश्च कर्णप्रावरणानपि। ये च कालमुखा नाम नरराक्षसयोनयः
He subdued the Nishadas, the Purushadas, and the Karnapravaranas, and those called Kaalamukhas, who are of human and rakshasa descent.
कृत्स्नं कोलगिरिं चैव सुरभीपट्टनं तथा। द्वीपं ताम्राह्वयं चैव पर्वतं रामकं तथा
He brought all of Kolagiri, Surabhipattana, the island called Tamra, and the mountain named Ramaka under his control.
तिमिङ्गिलं च स नृपं वशे कृत्वा महामतिः। एकपादांश्च पुरुषान्केरलान्वनवासिनः
He subdued the king Timiṅgila, and the one-footed men, the Keralas, and those dwelling in the forests.
नगरीं सञ्जयन्तीं च पाषण्डं करहाटकम्। दूतैरेव वशे चक्रे करं चैनानदापयत्
He brought the city Sanjayanti, Pashanda, and Karahataka under his sway through messengers, and made them pay tribute.