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Emaciated, sustained by austerity, faint with hunger, their limbs withdrawn into themselves, they struggled in a puddle of water at a cow's hoof-print.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.
तद्विघातार्थमारम्भो विधिवत्तस्य कश्यप
Therefore, O Kasyapa, this rite was properly begun for the purpose of obstructing him.
एवमस्त्विति तं चापि प्रत्यूचुः सत्यवादिनः। तान्कश्यप उवाचेदं सान्त्वपूर्वं प्रजापतिः
So be it, they replied truthfully; and Kasyapa, lord of creatures, addressed them with gentle words.
अयमिन्द्रस्त्रिभुवने नियोगाद्ब्रह्मणः कृतः। इन्द्रार्थे च भवन्तोऽपि यत्नवन्तस्तपोधनाः
This Indra was appointed over the three worlds by the command of Brahma; and you ascetics also exerted yourselves for Indra's sake.
न मिथ्या ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं कर्तुमर्हथ सत्तमाः। भवतां हि न मिथ्याऽयं संकल्पो वै चिकीर्षितः
O excellent ones, you should not act contrary to Brahma's word; for your intention, too, is never false.
भवत्वेष पतत्रीणामिन्द्रोऽतिबलसत्त्ववान्। प्रसादः क्रियतामस्य देवराजस्य याचतः
Let this one be the Indra of the birds, exceedingly strong and powerful; grant this favor to the king of the gods, who requests it.
एवमुक्ताः कश्यपेन वालखिल्यास्तपोधनाः। प्रत्यूचुरभिसंपूज्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं प्रजापतिम्
Thus addressed by Kaśyapa, the Vālakhilyas, rich in austerity, honored the best of sages, the lord of creatures, and replied:
इन्द्रार्थोऽयं समारम्भः सर्वेषां नः प्रजापते। अपत्यार्थं समारम्भो भवतश्चायमीप्सितः
This endeavor of ours, O lord of creatures, is for Indra’s sake; but your endeavor, which you desire, is for offspring.
तदिदं सफलं कर्म त्वयैव प्रतिगृह्यताम्। तथा चैवं विधत्स्वात्र यथा श्रेयोऽनुपश्यसि
Therefore, let this act bear fruit through your acceptance; and act here as you see best.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देवी दाक्षायणी शुभा। विनता नाम कल्याणी पुत्रकामा यशस्विनी
At that very time, the auspicious daughter of Daksha, Vinatā by name, virtuous and renowned, desired a son.
तपस्तप्त्वा व्रतपरा स्नाता पुंसवने शुचिः। उपचक्राम भर्तारं तामुवाचाथ कश्यपः
Having performed austerities, devoted to vows, purified by bathing in the Puṃsavana rite, she approached her husband; then Kaśyapa spoke to her.