किं त्वस्य सुकृतं कर्म के लोका वै विनिर्जिताः। स एवमनुसंप्राप्तः स्थानं देवनमस्कृतम्
What meritorious deeds has he performed, what worlds has he conquered, that he has reached this revered place of the gods?
तस्य विज्ञाय संकल्पं शक्रो वृत्रविमर्दनः। लोमशं प्रहसन्वाक्यमिदमाह शचीपतिः
Knowing his thoughts, Indra, the slayer of Vritra, smiling, spoke these words to Lomaśa, lord of Śacī.
देवर्षे श्रूयतां यत्ते मनसैतद्विवक्षितम्। नायं केवलमर्त्योऽभूत्क्षत्रियत्वमुपागतः
O divine sage, listen to what you have in mind; this one is not merely a mortal who has taken birth as a Kshatriya.
महर्षे मम पुत्रोऽयं कुन्त्यां जातो महाभुजः। अस्त्रहेतोरिह प्राप्तः कस्माच्चित्कारणान्तरात्
O great sage, this mighty-armed one is my son, born of Kunti; he has come here for weapons, for a certain other reason.
अहो नैनं भवान्वेत्ति पुराणमृषिसत्तमम्। शृणु मे वदतो ब्रह्मन्योऽयं यच्चास्य कारणम्
Indeed, you do not know him, the ancient and foremost of sages; hear from me as I speak, he is devoted to Brahman, and this is his reason.
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ। ताविमावभिजानीहि हृषीकेशधनंजयौ
Those two ancient and foremost sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa—know these two as Hṛṣīkeśa and Dhanañjaya.
विख्यातौ त्रिषु लोकेषु नरनारायणावृषी। कार्यार्थमवतीर्णौ तौ पृथ्वीं पुण्यप्रतिश्रयाम्
Nara and Nārāyaṇa, renowned in the three worlds, have descended to the holy earth for a purpose.
यन्न शक्यं शुरैर्द्रष्टुमृषिभिर्वा महात्मभिः। तदाश्रमपदं पुण्यं बदरीनाम विश्रुतम्
That sacred hermitage called Badarī, famed and inaccessible to heroes or great sages, is their abode.
स निवासोऽभवद्विप्र विष्णोर्जिष्णोस्तथैव च। यतः प्रववृते गङ्गा सिद्धचारणसेविता
O Brahmin, that was the dwelling of Viṣṇu and Jishnu; from there the Gaṅgā, served by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, began to flow.
तौ मन्नियोगाद्ब्रह्मर्षे क्षितौ जातौ महाद्युती। भूमेर्भारावतरणं महावीर्यौ करिष्यतः
By my command, O Brahmarṣi, those two radiant ones have taken birth on earth, to relieve her burden by their great might.
उद्वृत्ता ह्यसुराः केचिन्निवातकवचा इति। विप्रियेषु स्थिताऽस्माकं वरदानेन मोहिताः
Some Asuras, known as the Nivātakavacas, have grown arrogant in strength, deluded by boons, and stand opposed to us.
तर्कयन्ते सुरान्हन्तुं बलदर्पसमन्विताः। देवान्न गणयन्त्येते तथा दत्तवरा हि ते
Filled with pride and power, they plot to destroy the gods, disregarding the deities, for such are the boons they have received.
पातालवासिनो रौद्रा दनोः पुत्रा महाबलाः। सर्वे देवनिकाया हि नालं योधयितुं हि तान्
The fierce and mighty sons of Danu, dwelling in the netherworld, cannot be fought by all the hosts of the gods together.
योसौ भूमिगतः श्रीमान्विष्णुर्मुधुनिषूदनः। कपिलो नाम देवोसौ भगवानजितो हरिः
That illustrious Viṣṇu, slayer of Madhu, who dwells on earth, is the god named Kapila, the blessed, unconquered Hari.
येन पूर्वंमहात्मानः खनमाना रसातलम्। दर्शनादेव निहताः सगरस्यात्मजा विभो
By whose mere sight, O mighty one, the great-souled sons of Sagara, while digging into the netherworld, were destroyed.
तेन कार्यं महत्कार्यमस्माकं द्विजसत्तम। पाथेन च महायुद्धे समेताभ्यामसंशयम्
By him, O best of twice-born, a great task must be accomplished for us; with his aid, we shall face the great battle without doubt.
सोऽसुरान्दर्शनादेव शक्तो हन्तुं सहानुगान्। निवातकवचान्सर्वान्नागानिव महाह्रदे
He is able, by his very sight, to destroy the Asuras along with their followers, just as he destroyed all the Nivatakavachas in the great abyss.
किंतु नाल्पेन कार्येण प्रबोध्यो मधुसूदनः। तेजसः सुमहाराशिः प्रबुद्धः प्रदहेज्जगत्
However, Madhusudana should not be awakened for a minor task; when awakened, he is a vast mass of energy and could burn up the world.
अयं तेषां समस्तानां शक्तः प्रतिसमासने। तान्निहत्यरणे शूरः पुनर्यास्यति मानुषान्
He alone is able to face all of them in battle; after slaying them in the field, the valiant one will return to the world of men.
भवानस्मन्नियोगेन यातु तावन्महीतलम्। काम्यके द्रक्ष्यसे वीरं निवसन्तं युधिष्ठिरम्
You, by our command, should go to the earth; in Kamyaka you will see the heroic Yudhishthira residing there.
सवाच्यो मम संदेशाद्धर्मात्मा सत्यसंगरः। नोत्कणअठा फल्गुने कार्या कृतास्त्रः शीघ्रमेष्यति
You must convey my message to him, the righteous one firm in truth; let Phalguna not be grieved, for, well-trained in arms, he will soon return.
नाशुद्बाहुवीर्येण नाकृतास्त्रेण वा रणे। भीष्मद्रोणादयो युद्धे शक्याः प्रतिसमासितुम्
Neither by mere strength of arms nor by one unskilled in weapons can Bhishma, Drona, and the others be faced in battle.
गृहीतास्त्रो गुडाकेशो महाबाहुर्महामनाः। नृत्तवादित्रगीतानां दिव्यानां पारमीयिवान्
Guḍākeśa, mighty-armed and great-minded, having mastered weapons, has crossed to the far shore of divine dance, music, and song.
भवानपि विविक्तानि तीर्थानि मनुजेश्वर। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैर्द्रष्टुमर्हत्यरिंदम
You too, O lord of men, along with all your brothers, ought to visit the sacred fords in solitude, O subduer of foes.
तीर्थेष्वाप्लुत्य पुण्येषु विपाप्मा विगतज्वरः। राज्यं भोक्ष्यसि धर्मेण सुखी विगतकल्मपः
Having bathed in those holy fords, freed from sin and distress, you will enjoy your kingdom righteously, happy and free from stain.
भवांश्चैनं द्विजश्रेष्ठ पर्यटन्तं महीतलम्। त्रातुमर्हति विप्राग्र्य तपोबलसमन्वितः
You, O best of Brahmins, endowed with ascetic power, should protect him as he wanders the earth.
गिरिदुर्गेषु च सदा देशेषु विषमेषु च। वसन्ति रासा रौद्रास्तेभ्योरक्षां विधास्यति
In mountain fortresses and difficult regions, fierce bands dwell; you must provide protection from them.
एवमुक्ते महेन्द्रेण बीभत्सुरपि लोमशम्। उवाच प्रयतो वाक्यं रक्षेथाः पाण्डुनन्दनम्
When Mahendra had spoken thus, Bhībhatsu also addressed Lomasha with reverence, saying, 'Protect the son of Pandu.'
[यथा गुप्तस्त्वया राजा चरेत्तीर्थानि सत्तम। दानं दद्याद्यथा चैव तथा कुरु महामुने ।।]
[As the king, guarded by you, should visit the fords, O noble one, and give gifts as is proper, so do, O great sage.]
तथेति संप्रतिज्ञाय लोमशः सुमहातपाः। कामय्कं वनमुद्दिश्य समुपायान्महीतलम्
Having promised, 'So be it,' Lomasha, of great ascetic power, set out for the earth, aiming for the Kamyaka forest.