यत्ते कार्यं महाभाग क्रियतां तदनन्तरम् । संपूज्याप्सरसः शक्रो विसृज्य च महामतिः
Whatever task you have, O greatly fortunate one, let it be done next. Śakra, having honored the Apsarases, dismissed them, his mind intent.
चिन्तयामास तस्यैव वधोपायं युधिष्ठिर। स तूष्णीं चिन्तयन्वीरो देवराजः प्रतापवान्
Then, Yudhiṣṭhira, he began to consider a means to kill him; that heroic and powerful king of the gods pondered in silence.
विनिश्चितमतिर्धीमान्वधे त्रिशिरसोऽभवत्। वज्रमस्य क्षिपाम्यद्य स क्षिप्रं नभविष्यति
With firm resolve and wisdom, he decided upon the slaying of Triśiras: 'Today I will hurl my thunderbolt at him, and he will not survive.'
शत्रुः प्रवृद्धो नोपेक्ष्यो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा। शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य कृत्वा बुद्धिं वधे दृढाम्
An enemy who has grown powerful should not be disregarded, even if weak, by one who is strong; having discerned with the intellect of scripture, one should fix the mind firmly on his destruction.
अथ वैश्वानरनिभं घोररूपं भयावहम्। मुमोच वज्रं संक्रुद्धः शक्रस्त्रिशिरसं प्रति
Then, blazing with anger, Śakra released his thunderbolt, resembling fire itself, terrifying and dreadful in form, at Triśiras.
स पपात हतस्तेन वज्रेण दृढमाहतः। पर्वतस्येव शिखरं प्रणुन्नं मेदिनीतले
Struck forcefully by that thunderbolt, he fell dead, like the peak of a mountain toppled to the earth.
तं तु वज्रहतं दृष्ट्वा शयानमचलोपमम्। न शर्म लेभे देवेन्द्रो दीपिततस्तस्य तेजसा
Seeing him, struck down by the thunderbolt and lying like an immovable mountain, Indra found no peace, so intense was the radiance emanating from him.
हतोऽपि दीप्ततेजाः स जीवन्निव हि दृश्यते। घातितस्य शिरांस्याजौ जीवन्तीवाद्भुतानि वै
Though slain, he shone with blazing energy and appeared as if still alive; even the severed heads on the battlefield seemed wondrously alive.
शिरांसि तस्याजायन्त त्रीण्येव शकुनास्त्रयः। तित्तिरिः कलविङ्कश्च तथैव च कपिञ्जलः । विश्वरूपशिरांस्येव जायन्ते तानि भारत
From his body, three heads arose, like three birds: a partridge, a kalaviṅka, and a kapiñjala; just as Viśvarūpa's heads, so these appeared, O Bhārata.
ततोऽतिभीतगात्रस्तु शक्र आस्ते विचारयन्। अथाजगाम परशुं स्कन्धेनादाय वर्धकिः
Then, with limbs trembling in great fear, Śakra sat pondering; at that moment, a carpenter arrived, carrying an axe on his shoulder.
तदरण्यं महाराज यत्रास्तेऽसौ निपातितः । स भीतस्तत्र तक्षाणं घटमानं शचीपतिः
In that forest, O King, where he lay fallen, the Lord of Śacī, frightened, saw the carpenter preparing his tools.
अपश्यदब्रवीच्चैनं सत्वरं पाकशासनः । क्षिप्रं छिन्धि शिरांस्यस्य कुरुष्व वचनं मम
Pākaśāsana saw him and spoke quickly: 'Swiftly cut off his heads; do as I command.'
महास्कन्धो भृशं ह्येष परशुर्नभविष्यति। कर्तुं चाहं न शक्ष्यामि कर्म राद्भिर्विगर्हितम्
'This axe has a massive handle and will not break easily; but I cannot perform a deed so condemned by the virtuous.'
मा भैस्त्वं शीघ्रमेतद्वै कुरुष्व वचनं मम। मत्प्रसादाद्धि ते शस्त्रं वज्रकल्पं भविष्यति
'Do not fear; quickly do as I say. By my favor, your weapon will become as powerful as the thunderbolt.'
कं भवन्तमहं विद्यां घोरकर्माणमद्य वै। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तत्त्वेन कथयस्व मे
'Who are you, sir, and what is your purpose in this dreadful act? I wish to know this truly; tell me everything.'
अहमिन्द्रो देवराजस्तक्षन्विदितमस्तु ते। कुरुष्वैतद्यथोक्तं मे तक्षन्माऽत्र विचारय
'I am Indra, king of the gods—know this, carpenter. Do as I have instructed; do not hesitate here.'
मया हि निहतः शेते त्रिशिरास्त्वं च विद्वि वै
'It is by me that Triśiras lies slain, and you should know this, O wise one.'
क्रूरेण नापत्रपसे कथं शक्रेह कर्मणा। ऋषिपुत्रमिमं हत्वा ब्रह्महत्याभयं न ते
'How do you not feel shame, O Śakra, for this cruel act? Having killed this sage's son, do you not fear the sin of Brahminicide?'
पश्चाद्धर्मं चरिष्यामि पावनार्थ सुदुश्चरम्। शत्रुरेष महावीर्यो वज्रेण निहतो मया
'Afterwards I will perform difficult penance for purification; this mighty and valiant enemy has been slain by me with the thunderbolt.'
अद्यापि चाहमुद्विग्नस्तक्षन्नस्माद्बिभेमि वै। क्षिप्रं छिन्धि शिरांसि त्वं करिष्येऽनुग्रहं तव
'Even now I am troubled, carpenter, and I fear him; quickly cut off his heads, and I will grant you a boon.'
शिरः पशोस्ते दास्यन्ति भागं यज्ञेषु मानवाः । एष तेऽनुग्रहस्तक्षन्क्षिप्रं कुरु मम प्रियम्
Men will offer the head of the beast as a share in sacrifices; this is my favor to you, carpenter—quickly do what pleases me.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु तक्षा स महेन्द्रवचनात्तदा। शिरांस्यथ त्रिशिरसः कुठारेणाच्छिनत्तदा
Hearing these words of Mahendra, then the carpenter cut off the heads of Triśiras with an axe.
निकृत्तेषु ततस्तेषु निष्क्रामन्नण्डजास्त्वथ। कपिञ्जलास्तित्तिराश्च कलविङ्काश्च सर्वशः
When those heads were severed, birds hatched from eggs emerged—francolins, partridges, and larks, all of them.
येन वेदानधीते स्म पिबते सोममेव च। तस्माद्वक्रार्द्विनिश्चेरुः क्षिप्रं तस्य कपिञ्जलाः
From the head by which he studied the Vedas and drank Soma, from that curved head quickly came forth the francolins.
येन सर्वा दिशो राजन्पिबन्निव नीरीक्षते। तस्माद्वक्राद्विनिश्चेरुस्तित्तिरास्तस्य पाण्डव
From the head by which, O Pāṇḍava, he gazed in all directions as if drinking them in, from that curved head came forth the partridges.
यत्सुरापं तु तस्यासीद्वक्रं त्रिशिरसस्तदा। कलविङ्काः समुत्पेतुः श्येनाश्च भरतर्षभ
From the head of Triśiras that was addicted to wine, O bull among the Bharatas, larks and hawks sprang forth.
ततस्तेषु निकृत्तेषु विज्वरो मघवानथ। `तक्ष्णे तथा वरं दत्त्वा प्रहृष्टस्त्रिदशेश्वरः
Then, when those heads were severed, Maghavan, free from fever, having granted the boon to the carpenter, rejoiced, O lord of the gods.
जगाम त्रिदिवं देवस्तक्षाऽपि स्वगृहान्ययौ। मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं हत्वा शत्रुं सुरारिहा
The god went to heaven, and the carpenter returned to his own house, considering himself accomplished, having slain the enemy, destroyer of the gods' foe.
तक्षापि स्वगृहं गत्वा नैव शंसति कस्यचित्। अथैनं नाभिजानन्ति वर्षमेकं तथागतम्
The carpenter, having gone home, did not tell anyone; thus, for one year, no one knew of his deed.
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे भूताः पशुपतेः प्रभो। तमाक्रोशन्त मघवान्नः प्रभुर्ब्रह्महा इति
But when a year had passed, the beings of the lord of cattle reproached Maghavan, saying, 'Our lord is a slayer of a Brahmin.'