प्रभाते समदृश्यन्त नियताहारकर्शिताः। महीतलस्था मुनयः शरीरैर्गतजीवितैः
In the morning, the ascetics, emaciated by regulated food, were seen lying lifeless upon the ground.
क्षीणमांसैर्विरुधिरैर्विमज्जान्त्रैर्विसन्धिभिः। आकीर्णैराचिता भूमिः शङ्खानामिव राशिभिः
The earth was strewn and heaped with bodies, their flesh wasted, bloodless, entrails spilled, and joints dislocated, like piles of conch shells.
लशैर्विप्रविद्धैश्च स्रुवैर्भग्नैस्तथैव च। विकीर्णैरग्निहोत्रैश्च भूर्बभूव समावृता
The ground was covered with scattered limbs, discarded ladles, broken vessels, and strewn sacrificial implements.
निःस्वाध्यायवपट्कारं नष्टयज्ञोत्सवक्रियम्। जगदासीन्निरुत्साहं कालेयभयपीडितम्
The world became dispirited, afflicted by the fear of the Kāleyas, devoid of recitation, ritual, and lost festival sacrifices.
एवं संक्षीयमाणाश्च मानवा मनुजेश्वर। आत्मत्राणपपा भीताः प्राद्रवन्त दिशो भयात्
Thus, as people were being diminished, O lord of men, terrified, they fled in all directions to save themselves.
केचिद्गुहाः प्रविविशुर्निर्भरांश्चापरे श्रिताः। अपरे मरणोद्विग्ना भयात्प्राणान्समुत्सृजन्
Some entered caves, others took refuge in dense forests; others, distressed by fear of death, abandoned their lives.
केचिदत्रमहेष्वासाः शूराः परमहर्षिताः। मार्गमाणआः परं यत्नं दानवानां प्रचक्रिरे
But some great archers, heroic and exceedingly joyful, made every effort to pursue the Dānavas.
न चैतानधिजग्मुस्ते समुद्रं समुपाश्रितान्। श्रमं जग्मुश्च परममाजग्मुः क्षयमेव च
Yet they could not overtake those who had taken refuge in the ocean; they grew weary and ultimately met their end.
जगत्युपशमं याते नष्टयज्ञोत्सवक्रिये। आजग्मुः परमामार्तिं त्रिदशा मनुजेश्वर
When the world had become quiet, with all sacrifices and festivals lost, the gods, O lord of men, fell into great distress.
समेत्य समहेन्द्राश्च भयान्मन्त्रं प्रचक्रिरे
Gathering together with Indra, out of fear, they held a council.
शरण्यं शरणं देवं नारायणमजं विभुम्। तेऽभिगम्य नमस्कृत्य वैकुण्ठमपराजितम्। ततो देवाः समस्तास्ते तदोचुर्मधुसूदनम्
Seeking refuge, they approached the god Nārāyaṇa, the unborn, the all-pervading; having bowed to the unconquered Vaikuṇṭha, all the gods then addressed Madhusūdana.
त्वंनः स्रष्टा च भर्ता च हर्ता च जगतः प्रभो। त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं यच्चेङ्गं यच्च नेङ्गति। `त्वय्येव पुण्डरीकाक्ष पुनस्तत्प्रविलीयते
You are our creator, sustainer, and destroyer, O Lord of the world; by you this universe is created, what moves and what does not; in you alone, O lotus-eyed one, it is again dissolved.
त्वया भूमिः पुरा नष्टा समुद्रात्पुष्करेक्षण। वाराहं वपुराश्रित्यजगदर्थे समुद्धृता
Once, O lotus-eyed one, when the earth was lost in the ocean, you assumed the form of a boar and raised her up for the sake of the world.
आदिदैत्यो महावीर्यो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा। नारसिंहं वपुः कृत्वा सूदितः पुरुषोत्तम
Long ago, the first and mighty Daitya, Hiraṇyakaśipu, was slain by you, O best of men, when you took the form of Narasiṃha.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां बलिश्चापि महासुरः। वामनं वपुराश्रित्य त्रैलोक्याद्धंशितस्त्वया
Bali, the great Asura, invincible to all beings, was cast down by you from the three worlds, assuming the form of Vāmana.
असुरश्च महेष्वासो जम्भ इत्यभिविश्रुतः। यज्ञक्षोभकरः क्रूरस्त्वयैव विनिपातितः
The renowned Asura Jambha, a great archer and cruel disturber of sacrifices, was also destroyed by you alone.
एवमादीनि कर्माणि येषां संख्या न विद्यते। अस्माकं भयभीतानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन
Deeds such as these, whose number cannot be known, have been performed by you; for us, who are fearful and anxious, you are the refuge, O Madhusūdana.
तस्मात्त्वां देवदेवेश लोकार्थं ज्ञापयामहे। रक्ष लोकांश्च देवांश्च शक्रं च महतो भयात्। `शरणागतसंत्राणे त्वमेकोऽसि दृढव्रतः
Therefore, O Lord of the gods and ruler of the universe, we appeal to you for the sake of the worlds: protect the worlds, the gods, and Indra from great fear; you alone, firm in your vow, are the savior of those who seek refuge.
तव प्रसादाद्वर्धन्ते प्रजाः सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः। ता भाविता भावयनति हव्यकव्यैर्दिवौकसः
By your grace, all four kinds of beings increase; and those beings, honoring the gods with offerings of oblations and ancestral rites, are themselves honored.
लोका ह्येवं विवर्धन्ते ह्यन्योन्यं समुपाश्रिताः। त्वत्प्रसादान्निरुद्विग्नास्त्वयैव परिरक्षिताः
Indeed, the worlds flourish in this way, each depending on the other; by your favor, they are free from distress and protected by you.
इदं च समनुप्राप्तं लोकानां भयमुत्तमम्। न च जानीम केनेति रात्रौ वध्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः
Now, this supreme fear has come upon the worlds, and we do not know by whom it is caused; at night, Brāhmaṇas are being slain.
क्षीणेषु च ब्राह्मणेषु पृथिवी क्षयमेष्यति। तत पृथिव्यां क्षीणायां त्रिदिवं क्षयमेष्यति
When the Brāhmaṇas are destroyed, the earth will come to ruin; and when the earth is ruined, heaven too will perish.
त्वत्प्रसादान्महाबाहो लोकाः सर्वे जगत्पते। विनाशं नाधिगच्छेयुस्त्वया वै परिरक्षिताः
By your grace, O mighty-armed Lord of the world, all the worlds would not face destruction, for they are protected by you.
विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं प्रजानां क्षयकारणम्। भवतां चापि वक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं विगतज्वराः
I know, O gods, the cause of the destruction of beings; and I will tell you—listen without anxiety.
कालेया इति विख्याता गणाः परमदारुणाः। तैश्च वृत्रं समाश्रित्य जगत्सर्वं प्रमाथितम्
There are hosts known as Kāleyas, exceedingly fierce; with Vṛtra as their ally, they have devastated the entire world.
ते वृत्रं निहतं दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षेण धीमता। जीवितं परिरक्षन्तः प्रविष्टा वरुणालयम्
When they saw Vṛtra slain by the wise thousand-eyed one, they entered Varuṇa’s abode, seeking to preserve their lives.
ते प्रविश्योदधिं घोरं नक्रग्राहसमाकुलम्। उत्सादार्थं लोकानां रात्रौ घ्नन्ति ऋषीनिह
Entering the dreadful ocean, filled with crocodiles and sea-monsters, they kill sages here at night, intending the destruction of the worlds.
न तु शक्याः क्षयं नेतुं समुद्राश्रयिणो हि ते। समुद्रस्य क्षये बुद्धिर्भवद्भिः संप्रधार्यताम्
But they cannot be destroyed, for they dwell in the ocean; let a plan for the destruction of the ocean be considered by you.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो देवा विष्णुना समुदीरितम्। विष्णुमेव पुरस्कृत्यब्रह्माणं समुपस्थिताः
Hearing these words spoken by Viṣṇu, the gods, placing Viṣṇu at their head, approached Brahmā.
ततस्ते प्रणता भूत्वा तमेवार्धं न्यवेदयन्। सर्वलोकविनाशार्थं कालेया कृतनिश्चयाः
Then, having bowed down, they reported to him in full: the Kāleyas, resolved on the destruction of all the worlds.