तत्राहं देवगन्धर्वैः सहितो भूरिदक्षिणैः। अस्त्रार्तमवसं स्वर्गे शिक्षाणोऽस्त्राणि भारत
There, together with the gods and Gandharvas, who are generous with gifts, I stayed in heaven, O Bhārata, learning weapons as I desired.
विश्वावसोश्च वै पुत्रश्चित्रसेनोऽभवत्सखा। स च गान्धर्वमखिलं ग्राहयामास मां नृप
Chitrasena, the son of Viśvāvasu, became my friend, and he taught me all the arts of the Gandharvas, O King.
तत्राहमवसं राजन्गृहीतास्त्रः सुपूजितः। सुखं शक्रस् भवने सर्वकामसमन्वितः
There, O King, I stayed, honored and equipped with weapons, enjoying happiness in Śakra’s mansion, with every desire fulfilled.
शृण्वन्वै गीतशब्दं च तूर्यशब्दं च पुष्कलम्। पश्यंश्चाप्सरसः श्रेष्ठा नृत्यन्तीर्भरतर्षभ
Hearing the sounds of songs and abundant music, and seeing the foremost Apsarases dancing, O bull among the Bharatas.
तत्सर्वमनवज्ञाय तथ्यं विज्ञाय भारत। अत्यर्थं प्रतिगृह्याहमस्त्रेष्वेव व्यवस्थितः
Having truly understood and not disregarded all that, O Bhārata, I devoted myself entirely to the mastery of weapons.
ततोऽतुष्यत्सहस्राक्षस्तेन कामेन मे विभुः। एवं मे वसतो राजन्नेष कालोऽत्यगाद्दिवि
Then the thousand-eyed lord was exceedingly pleased with my devotion, and thus, O King, my time in heaven passed.
कृतास्त्रमतिविश्वस्तमथ मां हरिवाहनः। रसंस्पृश्य मूर्ध्नि पाणिब्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, when I had mastered the weapons and was filled with confidence, the bearer of the discus, touching my head with his hands, spoke these words:
न त्वमद्य युधा जेतुं शक्यः सुरगणैरपि। किं पुनर्मानुषे लोके मानुषैरकृतात्मभिः
Today, not even the hosts of gods could defeat you in battle; what then of men in the world, especially those whose spirits are untrained?
अप्रमेयोऽप्रधृष्यश्च युद्धेष्वप्रतिमस्तथा। `अजेयस्त्वं हि सङ्ग्रामे सर्वैरपिसुरासुरैः
You are immeasurable, unassailable, and unrivaled in battle; truly, you are invincible in combat even by all the gods and demons together.
अथाब्रवीत्पुनर्देवः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः। अस्त्रयुद्धे समो वीर न ते कश्चिद्भविष्यति
Then again the god, his body thrilled with joy, said: ‘O hero, in the warfare of weapons, there will be no one equal to you.’
अप्रमत्तः सदा दक्षः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः। ब्रह्मण्यश्चास्त्रविच्चासि शूरश्चासि कुरूद्वह
You are ever vigilant, always skillful, truthful in speech, master of your senses, devoted to the Brahmanas, learned in weapons, and valiant, O joy of the Kurus.
अस्त्राणि समवाप्तानि त्वया दश च पञ्च च। पञ्चभिर्विधिभिः पार्थ विद्यते न त्वया समः
You have acquired fifteen weapons, O Partha, and by five methods; there is no one equal to you in these.
प्रयोगमुपसंहारमावृत्तिं च धनञ्जय। प्रायश्चित्तं च वेत्थ त्वं प्रतीघातं च सर्वशः
You know, O Dhananjaya, the deployment, withdrawal, and repetition of weapons, as well as all expiations and counteractions.
तव गुर्वर्थकालोऽयं समुत्पन्नः परंतप। प्रतिजानीष्व तं कर्तुं ततो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम्
Now the time has come for you to serve your preceptor, O scorcher of foes; declare your intent to do so, and then I will instruct you further.
ततोऽहमब्रवं राजन्देवराजमिदं वचः। विषह्यं यन्मया कर्तुं कृतमेव निबोध तत्
Then I said to the king of the gods these words: 'Whatever I am able to accomplish, consider that already done.'
ततो मामब्रवीद्राजन्प्रहसन्बलवृत्रहा। नाविपह्यं तवाद्यास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन
Then, smiling, the slayer of Vritra said to me, 'There is nothing in the three worlds that is beyond your power now.'
निवातकवचा नाम दानवा मम शत्रवः। समुद्रकुक्षिमाश्रित्य दुर्गे प्रतिवसन्त्युत
The Danavas called Nivatakavachas are my enemies; they dwell in a fortress within the ocean's depths.
तिस्रः कोट्यः समाख्यातास्तुल्यरूपबलप्रभाः। तांस्तत्रजहि कौन्तेय गुर्वर्थस्ते भविष्यति
Three crores of them are said to exist, equal in form, strength, and splendor; slay them, O son of Kunti, for this will be your service to your teacher.
ततो मातलिसंयुक्तं मयूरसमरोमभिः। हयैरुपेतं प्रादान्मे रथं दिव्यं महाप्रभम्
Then he gave me a splendid divine chariot, yoked with horses adorned with peacock plumes and accompanied by Matali.
बबन्ध चैव मे मूर्ध्नि किरीटमिदमुत्तमम्। स्वरूपसदृशं चैव प्रादादङ्गविभूषणम्
He placed this excellent crown upon my head, and gave me ornaments befitting my form.
अभेद्यं कवचं चेदं स्पर्सरूपवदुत्तमम्। अजरां ज्यामिमां चापि गाण्डीवे समयोजयत्
He gave me this impenetrable armor, supreme and pleasing to the touch, and fitted this ageless bowstring to Gandiva.
ततः प्रायामहं तेन स्यन्दनेन विराजता। येनाजयद्देवपतिर्बलिं वैरोचनिं पुरा
Then I set out in that resplendent chariot, by which the lord of the gods once conquered Bali, the son of Virocana.
ततो देवाः सर्व एव तेन घोषेण बोधिताः। मन्वाना देवराजं मां समाजग्मुर्विशांपते
Then all the gods, awakened by that sound, thinking I was the king of the gods, came to me, O lord of the people.
दृष्ट्वा च मामपृच्छन्त किं करिष्यसि फल्गुन। तानब्रुवं यथाभूतमिदं कर्ताऽस्मि संयुगे
Seeing me, they asked, 'What will you do, O Phalguna?' I told them truthfully, 'This is what I will do in battle.'
निवातकवचानां तु प्रस्थितं मां तधैपिणम्। निबोधत महाभागा शिवं चाशास्त मेऽनघाः
Know, O blessed ones, that I set out for the Nivatakavachas; may you, free from sin, wish me well.
ततो वाग्भिः प्रशस्ताभिस्त्रिदशाः पृथिवीपते'। तुष्टुवुर्मां प्रसन्नास्ते यथा देवं पुरंदरम्
Then the gods, pleased, praised me with excellent words, O king of the earth, as they once praised Indra, the lord of the gods.
रथेनानेन मघवा जितवाञ्शम्बरं युधि। नमुचिं बलवृत्रौ च प्रह्लादनरकावपि
With this very chariot, Maghavan conquered Shambara in battle, as well as Namuci, Vala, Vritra, Prahlada, and Naraka.
बहूनि च सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदान्यपि। रथेनानेन दैत्यानां जितवान्मघवा युधि
And with this chariot, Maghavan defeated in battle many thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of millions of Daityas.
न्वमप्यनेन कौन्तेय निबातकवचान्रणे। विजेता युधि विक्रम्य पुरेव मघवा वशी
Even now, O son of Kunti, with this, I shall conquer the Nivatakavachas in battle, striving as Maghavan did before, the masterful one.
अयंच शङ्खप्रवरो येन जेतासि दानवान्। अनेन विजिता लोका शक्रेणापि महात्मना
And this foremost conch, by which you will defeat the Danavas—by this, the worlds were conquered even by the great-souled Shakra.