यथैव भगवाञ्जातः क्षिताविह जनार्दनः। माधवेषु महाबुद्धिस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
Just as the blessed Janardana was born on earth among the Madhavas, O greatly wise one, tell me that, O grandsire.
एवमुक्तस्ततो भीष्मः केशवस्य महात्मनः। माधवेषु तथा जन्म कथयामास वीर्यवान्
Thus addressed, then Bhishma, the mighty one, began to tell of the birth of the great-souled Kesava among the Madhavas.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि युधिष्ठिर यथातथम्। यतो नारायणस्येह जन्म वृष्णिषु कौरव
Now, Yudhishthira, I shall tell you truly the circumstances under which Narayana was born among the Vrishnis, O Kaurava.
पुरा लोके महाराज वर्तमाने कृते युगे। आसीत्रैलोक्यविख्यातः सङ्ग्रामस्तारकामयः
Long ago, O great king, when the Krita Yuga prevailed in the world, there was a battle renowned throughout the three worlds, known as the Tarakamaya.
विरोचनो मयस्तारो वराहः श्वेत एव च। विप्रचित्तिः प्रलम्बश्च वृत्रजम्भबलादयः
Virochana, Maya, Tāraka, Varaha, Shveta, Viprachitti, Pralamba, Vritra, Jambha, and Bala—
नमुचिः कालनेमिश्च प्रह्लाद इति विश्रुतः। लम्बः किशोरः स्वर्भानुररिष्टो राक्षसेश्वरः
Namuchi, Kalanemi, Prahlada the famed, Lamba, Kishora, Svarbhanu, Arishta, and the lord of the Rakshasas—
एते चान्ये च बहवो दैत्यसङ्घाः सहस्रशः। नानाशस्त्रधरा राजन्नानाभूषणवाहनाः
And many other hosts of Daityas by the thousands, O king, bearing various weapons and adorned with diverse ornaments and mounts—
देवतानामभिमुखास्तस्थुर्दैतेयदानवाः। देवास्तु युध्यमानास्ते दानवानभ्ययू रणे
These Daityas and Danavas stood facing the gods, and the gods, fighting, advanced upon the Danavas in battle.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्राः साध्या विश्वे मरुद्गणाः। इन्द्रो यमश्च वरुणश्चन्द्रश्चैव धनेश्वरः
The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, the Visvedevas, the hosts of Maruts, Indra, Yama, Varuna, Chandra, and the lord of wealth—
अश्विनौ च महावीर्यौ ये चान्ये देवतागणाः। चक्रुर्युद्धं महाघोरं दानवैश्च यथाक्रमम्
The two mighty Ashvins and other hosts of gods as well, all engaged in a terrible battle with the Danavas, each according to their order.
युध्यमानाः समेयुश्च देवा दैतेयदानवैः। तद्युद्धमभवद्घोरं देवदानवसङ्कुलम्
Fighting, the gods and the Daityas and Danavas came together; that battle became dreadful, crowded with gods and Danavas.
ताभ्यां बलाभ्यां सञ्जज्ञे तुमुलो विग्रहस्तदा। तीक्ष्णशस्त्रैः किरन्तोऽथ अभ्ययुर्देवदानवाः
Between those two armies, a tumultuous conflict arose; hurling sharp weapons, the gods and Danavas advanced upon each other.
घ्रन्ति देवान्सगन्धर्वान्सयक्षोरगचारणान्। ते वध्यमाना दैतेयैर्देवसङ्घास्तदा रणे
The Daityas then struck down the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Charanas; those hosts of gods were being slain in battle by the Daityas.
त्रातारं मनसा जग्मुर्देवं नारायमं प्रभुम्। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र जगाम हरिरीश्वरः
In their minds, the gods sought Narayana, the lord, as their protector; at that moment, Hari, the sovereign, arrived there.
दीपयञ्ज्योतिषा भूमिं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः। तमागतं सुपर्णस्थं विष्णुं लोकनमस्कृतम्
Illuminating the earth with his radiance, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, Vishnu, honored by all the worlds, appeared mounted on Garuda.
दृष्ट्वा मुदा युताः सर्वे भयं त्यक्त्वा रमे सुराः। चक्रुर्युद्धं पुनः सर्वे देवा दैतेयदानवैः
Seeing him arrive, all the gods, filled with joy and abandoning fear, once more engaged in battle with the Daityas and Danavas.
तद्युद्धमभवद्घोरमचिन्त्यं रोमहर्षणम्। जघ्रुर्दैत्यान्त्रणे घोराः सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमाः
That battle became terrible, inconceivable, and hair-raising; all the fierce gods, led by Shakra, struck down the Daityas in the fight.
ते बाध्यमाना बिबुधैर्दुद्रुवुदैत्यदानवाः
Oppressed by the gods, the Daityas and Danavas fled.
विद्रुतान्दानवान्दृष्ट्वा तदा भारत संयुगे। कालनेमिरिति ख्यातो दानवः प्रत्यदृश्यता
Seeing the Danavas fleeing then on the battlefield, O Bharata, the Danava known as Kalanemi appeared.
शत्रुप्रहरणे घोरः शतबाहुः शताननः। शतशीर्षः स्थितः श्रीमाञ्छतशृङ्गं इवाचलः
Terrible in striking his foes, with a hundred arms, a hundred faces, a hundred heads, splendid as a mountain with a hundred peaks, he stood firm.
भास्कराकारमुकुटः शिञ्जिताभरणाङ्गदः। धूम्रकेतुर्हरिश्मश्रुर्निर्दष्टोष्ठपुटाननः
He wore a crown shining like the sun, his ornaments and armlets jingling; his crest was smoky, his beard tawny, and his mouth, with lips bitten in anger, appeared fierce.
त्रैलोक्यान्तरविस्तारं धारयन्विपुलं वपुः। तर्जयन्वै रणे देवाञ्छादयन्वै दिशो दश
Bearing a vast body that spanned the expanse between the three worlds, he threatened the gods in battle and covered all ten directions.
अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्क्रुद्धो व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः। तत्र शस्त्रप्रतानैश्च देवान्धर्षितवान्त्रणे
Then, exceedingly enraged, he charged forward with mouth agape like Death himself; there, with volleys of weapons, he assaulted the gods in battle.
अभ्याययुः सुरान्सर्वान्पुनस्ते दैत्यदानवाः। आपीडयन्त्रणे क्रुद्धास्ततो देवान्युधिष्ठिर
Again, O Yudhishthira, the Daityas and Danavas, enraged, pressed upon all the gods in battle.
ते वध्यमाना विबुधाः समरे कालनेमिना। दैत्यैश्चैव महाराज दुद्रुवुस्ते दिशो दश
Assailed in battle by Kalanemi and the Daityas, the gods, O great king, fled in all ten directions.
विबुधान्विद्रुतान्दृष्ट्वा कालनेमिर्महा।ञसुरः। इन्द्रं यमं च वरुणं वायुं च धनदं रविम्
Seeing the gods fleeing, the mighty asura Kalanemi pursued Indra, Yama, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, and the Sun.
एतांश्चान्यान्बलाञ्जित्वा तेषां कार्याण्यवाप सः। तान्सर्वान्सहसा जित्वा कालनेमिर्महासुरः
Having subdued these and other hosts, he accomplished his purposes; having swiftly conquered them all, the great asura Kalanemi—
ददर्श गगने विष्णुं सुपर्णस्थं महाद्युतिम्। तं दृष्ट्वा क्रोधताम्राक्षस्तर्जयन्नभ्ययात्तदा
—beheld Vishnu in the sky, radiant and seated upon Garuda; seeing him, his eyes reddened with rage, he advanced, threatening.
स बाहुशतमुद्यम्य सर्वास्त्रग्रहणं रणे। रोषाद्भारत दैत्येन्द्रो विष्णोरुरसि पातयत्
Raising a hundred arms, seizing all weapons in battle, the lord of the Daityas, furious, hurled them at Vishnu's chest, O Bharata.
दैत्याश्च दानवाश्चैव सर्वे मयपुरोगमाः। स्वान्यायुधानि सङ्गृह्य सर्वे विष्णुमुपाद्रवन्
Then all the Daityas and Danavas, with Maya at their head, took up their weapons and together rushed at Vishnu.