प्रावर्तन्ताथ देवानामुत्पाता भयशंसिनः। इन्द्रस्य वज्रं दयितं प्रजज्वाल भयात्ततः
Then, ominous portents appeared among the gods, foretelling danger; Indra's beloved thunderbolt blazed forth in fear.
सधूमा न्यपतत्सार्चिर्दिवोल्का नभसश्च्युता। तथा वसूनां रुद्राणामादित्यानां च सर्वशः
A fiery meteor, trailing smoke, fell from the sky; likewise, among the Vasus, Rudras, and all the Ādityas.
साध्यानां मरुतां चैव ये चान्ये देवतागणाः। स्वं स्वं प्रहरणं तेषां परस्परमुपाद्रवत्
Among the Sādhyas, Maruts, and all the other hosts of gods, each seized their own weapon and rushed against one another.
अभूतपूर्वं संग्रामे तदा देवासुरेऽपि च। ववुर्वाताः सनिर्घाताः पेतुरुल्काः सहस्रशः
In that battle between gods and asuras, the like of which had never been seen, winds howled with thunder, and thousands of meteors fell.
निरभ्रमेव चाकाशं प्रजगर्ज महास्वनम्। देवानामपि यो देवः सोऽप्यवर्षत शोणितम्
The sky, though cloudless, roared with a mighty sound; even the god of gods among the deities rained down blood.
मम्लुर्माल्यानि देवानां नेशुस्तेजांसि चैव हि। उत्पातमेघा रौद्राश्च ववृषुः शोणितं बहु
The garlands of the gods withered, and their brilliance faded; ominous, dreadful clouds poured much blood.
रजांसि मुकुटान्येषामुत्थितानि व्यधर्षयन्। ततस्त्राससमुद्विग्नः सह देवैः शतक्रतुः। उत्पातान्दारुणान्पश्यन्नित्युवाच बृहस्पतिम्
Dust rose up and struck their crowns; then, terrified and disturbed, Indra, with the gods, seeing these dreadful omens, spoke to Bṛhaspati.
किमर्थं भगवन्घोरा उत्पाताः सहसोत्थिताः। न च शत्रुं प्रपश्यामि युधि यो नः प्रधर्षयेत्
"O blessed one, why have these terrible omens suddenly arisen? I see no enemy in battle who could overpower us."
तवापराधाद्देवेन्द्र प्रमादाच्च शतक्रतो। तपसा वालखिल्यानां महर्षीणां महात्मनाम्
Because of your fault, O Indra, and your negligence, O wielder of the thunderbolt, by the austerity of the great-souled Vālakhilya sages—
कश्यपस्य मुनेः पुत्रो विनतायाश्च खेचरः। हर्तुं सोममभिप्राप्तो बलवान्कामरूपधृक्
The son of the sage Kaśyapa, the sky-roaming child of Vinatā, strong and able to assume any form at will, has set out to seize the Soma.
समर्थो बलिनां श्रेष्ठो हर्तुं सोमं विहंगमः। सर्वं संभावयाम्यस्मिन्नसाध्यमपि साधयेत्
That bird, supreme among the mighty, is capable of taking the Soma; I believe he could accomplish anything, even what seems impossible.
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं शक्रः प्रोवाचामृतरक्षिणः। महावीर्यबलः पक्षी हर्तुं सोममिहोद्यतः
Hearing these words, Śakra spoke to the guardians of the nectar: 'A bird of immense strength and power is now preparing to take the Soma.'
युष्मान्संबोधयाम्येष `गृहीत्वावरणायुधान्। परिवार्यामृतं सर्वे यूयं मद्वचनादिह
'I am alerting you all—take up your defensive weapons and surround the nectar on every side, following my command here.'
रक्षध्वं विबुधा वीरा' यथा न स हरेद्बलात्। अतुलं हि बलं तस्य बृहस्पतिरुवाच ह
'Guard it, O heroic gods, so that he does not seize it by force; for his strength is unmatched,' said Bṛhaspati.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विबुधा वाक्यं विस्मिता यत्नमास्थिताः। परिवार्यामृतं तस्थूर्वज्री चेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
Hearing these words, the gods, astonished, took up their positions with determination, surrounding the nectar, while Indra the thunderer stood there, radiant.
धारयन्तो विचित्राणि काञ्चनानि मनस्विनः। कवचानि महार्हाणि वैदूर्यविकृतानि च
They wore splendid golden armor, adorned with precious gems and inlaid with beryl, their minds resolute.
चर्माण्यपि च गात्रेषु भानुमन्ति दृढानि च। विविधानि च शस्त्राणि घोररूपाण्यनेकशः
They also donned shining, sturdy coats of mail on their bodies, and wielded many kinds of terrifying weapons of various forms.
शिततीक्ष्णाग्रधाराणि समुद्यम्य सुरोत्तमः। सविस्फुलिङ्गज्वालानि सधूमानि च सर्वशः
The best of the gods raised weapons with sharp, keen edges, blazing with sparks and smoke on every side.
चक्राणि परघांश्चैव त्रिशूलानि परश्वधान्। शक्तीश्च विविधास्तीक्ष्णाः करवालांश्च निर्मलान्। स्वदेहरूपाण्यादाय गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः
They took up discus, iron clubs, tridents, battle-axes, many sharp spears, spotless swords, and maces of fearsome appearance, each suited to their own form.
तैः शस्त्रैर्भानुमद्भिस्ते दिव्याभरणभूषिताः। भानुमन्तः सुरगणास्तस्थुर्विगतकल्मषाः
Adorned with divine ornaments and bearing radiant weapons, the hosts of gods stood shining, free from all stain.
अनुपमबलवीर्यतेजसो धृतमनसः परिरक्षणेऽमृतस्य। असुरपुरविदारणाः सुरा ज्वलनसमिद्धवपुःप्रकाशिनः
Unmatched in strength, valor, and brilliance, firm in mind to protect the nectar, the gods—destroyers of demon cities—shone with bodies blazing like fire.
इति समरवरं सुराः स्थितास्ते परिघसहस्रशतैः समाकुलम्। विगलितमिव चाम्बरान्तरं तपनमरीचिविकाशितं बभासे
Thus the gods stood ready for the great battle, the area crowded with hundreds and thousands of iron clubs; it shone like the sky lit by the rays of the sun.
कोऽपराधो महेन्द्रस्य कः प्रमादश्च सूतज। तपसा वालखिल्यानां संभूतो गरुडः कथम्
What was Indra’s fault, and what was his negligence, O charioteer’s son? How did Garuḍa arise from the austerity of the Vālakhilyas?
कश्यपस्य द्विजातेश्च कथं वै पक्षिराट् सुतः। अधृष्टः सर्वभूतानामवध्यस्चाभवत्कथम्
How did the king of birds, son of Kaśyapa and Vinatā, become invincible and invulnerable among all beings?
कथं च कामचारी स कामवीर्यश्च खेचरः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं पुराणे यदि पठ्यते
How did he become a free-roaming, wish-fulfilling, sky-dwelling being? I wish to hear all this, if it is told in the Purāṇa.
विषयोऽयं पुराणस्य यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। शृणु मे वदतः सर्वमेतत्संक्षेपतों द्विज
This is indeed a topic of the Purāṇa about which you question me; listen as I recount all this to you in brief, O twice-born.
यजतः पुत्रकामस्य कश्यपस्य प्रजापतेः। साहाय्यमृषयो देवा गन्धर्वाश्च ददुः किल
When Kasyapa, the lord of creatures, was performing a sacrifice desiring sons, the sages, gods, and Gandharvas indeed assisted him.
तत्रेध्मानयने शक्रो नियुक्तः कश्यपेन ह। मुनयो वालखिल्याश्च ये चान्ये देवतागणाः
There, for gathering the sacrificial fuel, Kasyapa appointed Indra, along with the Valakhilya sages and other groups of deities.
शक्रस्तु वीर्यसदृशमिध्यभारं गिरिप्रभम्। समुद्यम्यानयामास नातिकृच्छ्रादिव प्रभुः
Indra, powerful as he was, lifted a load of fuel, shining like a mountain, and carried it with ease, as if it were no great effort.
अथापश्यदृषीन्ह्रस्वानङ्गुष्ठोदरवर्ष्मणः। पलाशवर्तिकामेकां वहतः संहतान्पथि
Then he saw the sages, small in stature, their bodies no larger than a thumb, carrying together a single palasha twig along the path.