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.
प्रलीनान्स्वेष्विवाङ्गेषु निराहारांस्तपोधनान्। क्लिश्यमानान्मन्दबलान्गोष्पदे संप्लुतोदके
Emaciated, sustained by austerity, faint with hunger, their limbs withdrawn into themselves, they struggled in a puddle of water at a cow's hoof-print.
तान्सर्वान्विस्मयाविष्टो वीर्योन्मत्तः पुरन्दरः। अपहास्याभ्यगाच्छीघ्रं लम्बयित्वाऽवमन्य च
Filled with amazement and intoxicated by his own strength, Purandara laughed at them, mocked them, and quickly passed by.
तेऽथ रोषसमाविष्टाः सुभृशं जातमन्यवः। आरेभिरे महत्कर्म तदा शक्रभयंकरम्
Then, seized by intense anger and greatly enraged, those sages undertook a mighty act, terrifying even to Indra.
जुहुवुस्ते सुतपसो विधिवज्जातवेदसम्। मन्त्रैरुच्चावचैर्विप्रा येन कामेन तच्छृणु
Those ascetics, with proper rites, offered oblations into the fire, reciting both high and low mantras—listen to the desire for which they performed this.
कामवीर्यः कामगमो देवराजभयप्रदः। इन्द्रोऽन्यः सर्वदेवानां भवेदिति यतव्रताः
May there arise, by our austerity, another Indra, endowed with desire, strength, and movement at will, who will bring fear to the king of the gods.
इन्द्राच्छतगुणः शौर्ये वीर्ये चैव मनोजवः। तपसो नः फलेनाद्य दारुणः संभवित्विति
May one be born, dreadful, a hundred times greater than Indra in heroism, strength, and speed, as the fruit of our austerity.
तद्बुद्ध्वा भृशसंतप्तो देवराजः शतक्रतुः। जगाम शरणं तत्र कश्यपं संशितव्रतम्
Learning of this, the king of the gods, Indra of a hundred sacrifices, was greatly troubled and sought refuge with Kasyapa, steadfast in his vows.
तच्छ्रुत्वा देवराजस्य कश्यपोऽथ प्रजापतिः। वालखिल्यानुपागम्य कर्मसिद्धिमपृच्छत
Hearing the king of the gods, Kasyapa, lord of creatures, approached the Valakhilyas and inquired about the completion of their rite.
केन कामेन चारब्धं भवद्भिर्होमकर्म च। याथातथ्येन मे ब्रूत श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि मे
With what desire did you begin this sacrificial act? Tell me truthfully, for I am eager to hear.
अवज्ञाताः सुरेन्द्रेण मूढेनाकृतबुद्धिना। ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तेन सदाचारान्निरस्यता
We were scorned by Indra, the king of the gods, who, blinded by arrogance and lacking judgment, cast aside good conduct.