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.
एषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पद्मयोनिः सनातनः। उवाच परमप्रीतस्त्रिदशानर्थवद्वचः
Hearing those words, the eternal Lotus-born, greatly pleased, spoke to the gods words full of meaning.
विदितं मे सुराः सर्वे दानवानां विवेष्टितम्। मनुष्यादेश्च निधनं कालेयैः कालचोदितैः
I know well, O gods, all the actions of the Dānavas, and the destruction of men by the Kāleyas, impelled by time.
क्षयस्तेपामनुप्राप्तः कालेनोपहताश्च ये। उपायं संप्रवक्ष्यामि समुद्रस्य विशोषणे
Their ruin has come upon them, struck down by time; I will declare to you the means for drying up the ocean.
अगस्त्य इतिविग्व्यातो वारुणिः सुसमाहितः। तमुपागम्य सहिता इममर्थं प्रयाचत
Agastya, renowned and steadfast, born of Varuṇa, approach him together and request this matter.
स हि शक्तो महातेजाः क्षणात्पातुं महोदधिम्'। अगस्त्येन विना को हि शक्तोऽन्योऽर्णवशोपणे
For he, possessed of great energy, is able to drink up the great ocean in a moment; apart from Agastya, who else is capable of drying up the sea?
अन्यथा हि न शक्यास्ते विना सागरशोपणम्। समुद्रे च क्षयं नीते कालेयान्निहनिष्यथ
Otherwise, it is not possible to destroy them without drying up the ocean; when the sea is emptied, you will slay the Kāleyas.
एवं श्रुत्वा वचो देवा ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। परमेष्ठिनमाज्ञाप्यअगस्त्यस्याश्रमं ययुः
Thus, hearing the word of Brahmā, the supreme lord, the gods, having received his command, went to Agastya’s hermitage.
तत्रापश्यन्महात्मानं वारुणिं दीप्ततेजसम्। उपास्यमानमृपिभिर्देवैरिव पितामहम्
There they saw the great-souled son of Varuṇa, blazing in brilliance, being served by kings as the gods serve the Grandsire.
तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानं मैत्रावरुणिमच्युतम्। आश्रमश्थं तपोराशिं कर्मभिः स्वैस्तु तुष्टुवुः
Approaching the steadfast sage, the son of Mitra and Varuṇa, a treasury of austerity, dwelling in his hermitage, they praised him with their own deeds.
नहुपेणाभितप्तानां त्वं लोकानां गतिः पुरा। भ्रंशितश्च सुरैश्वर्याल्लोकार्थं लोककण्टकः
You were once the refuge of the worlds, tormented by Nahusha; for the sake of the worlds, you cast down the thorn of the gods from sovereignty.
क्रोधात्प्रवृद्धस्तरणं भास्करस्य नभोगतः। वचस्तवानतिक्रामन्विन्ध्यः शैलो न वर्धते
When the Vindhya mountain, grown proud with anger, rose up to the sky, it ceased to grow, obeying your word, and did not surpass the sun’s path.
तमसा चावृतेलोके मृत्युनाऽभ्यर्दिताः प्रजाः। त्वामेव नाथमासाद्य निर्वृतिं परमां गताः
When the world was covered in darkness and creatures were oppressed by death, they found you as their lord and attained supreme peace.
अस्माकं भयभीतानां नित्यशो भगवान्गतिः। ततस्त्वार्ताः प्रयाचामो वरं त्वां वरदो ह्यसि
For us, always fearful and anxious, you, O blessed one, are the refuge; therefore, distressed, we beg you for a boon, for you are the bestower of boons.
किमर्थं सहसा विन्ध्यः प्रवृद्धः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महामुने
For what reason did the Vindhya suddenly swell, seized by wrath? This I wish to hear from you in detail, great sage.
अद्रिराजं महाघोरं रमेरुं कनकपर्वतम्। उदयास्तमने भानुः प्रदक्षिणमवर्तत
The sun, circling Mount Meru, the great and terrible king of mountains, the golden mountain, moves around it at sunrise and sunset.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा तथा विन्ध्य शैलः सूर्यमथाब्रवीत्। यथा हि मेरुर्भवता नित्यशः परिगम्यते
Seeing this, the Vindhya mountain spoke to the sun: ‘Just as you always circle Meru, so circle me as well, O Bhāskara.’
प्रदक्षिणश्च क्रियते मामेवं करु भास्कर। एवमुक्तस्ततः सूर्यः शैलेन्द्रं प्रत्यभापत
Thus addressed, the sun replied to the lord of mountains: ‘I do not make this circuit of my own will, O mountain.’
नाहमात्मेच्छया शैल करोम्येनं प्रदक्षिणम्। एष मार्गः प्रदिष्टो मे येनेदं निर्मितं जगत्
‘This path has been assigned to me by which this world was created.’
एवमुक्तस्ततः क्रोधात्प्रवृद्धः सहसाऽचलः। सूर्याचन्द्रमसोर्मार्गं रोद्धुमिच्छन्परंतप
Thus addressed, then, Acalā, inflamed with anger, suddenly sought to block the path of the sun and the moon, scorcher of foes.
ततो देवाः सहिताः सर्व एव। सेन्द्राः समागम्य महाद्रिराजम्। निवारयामासुरुपायतस्तं न च स्म तेषां वचनं चकार
Then all the gods together, with Indra at their head, assembled before the great mountain king and tried to dissuade him by various means, but he did not heed their words.