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.'
तत इन्द्रो व्रतं घोरमाचरत्पाकशासनः। तपसा च सुसंयुक्तः सह देवैर्मरुद्गणैः
Then Indra, the subduer of Pāka, undertook a terrible vow, practicing severe austerity together with the gods and the hosts of Maruts.
समुद्रेषु पृथिव्यां च वनस्पतिषु स्त्रीषु च। विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां च तान्वरैरप्ययोजयत्
He divided the sin of Brahmin-slaying among the oceans, the earth, the trees, and women, assigning it to them by boons.
वरदस्तु वरं दत्त्वा पृथिव्यै सागराय च। वनस्पतिभ्यः स्त्रीभ्यश्च ब्रह्महत्यां नुनोद ताम्
Having granted boons to the earth and the ocean, to the trees and to women, he transferred the sin of Brahmin-slaying to them.
ततस्तु शुद्धो भगवान्देवैर्लोकैश्च पूजितः । इन्द्रस्थानमुपातिष्ठत्पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः
Then, purified, the blessed one, honored by the gods and worlds, assumed the station of Indra, worshipped by the great sages.
त्वष्टा प्रजापतिः श्रुत्वा शक्रेणाथ हतं सुतम्। क्रोधसंरक्तनयन इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Tvaṣṭṛ, the lord of creatures, hearing that his son had been slain by Śakra, his eyes red with anger, spoke these words:
तप्यमानं तपो नित्यं क्षान्तं दान्तं जितेन्द्रियम्। विनाऽपराधेन यतः पुत्रं हिंसितवान्मम
My son, who practiced austerity constantly, who was patient, self-controlled, and master of his senses, was harmed by you without any fault.
तस्माच्छक्रविनाशाय वृत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम्। लोकाः पश्यन्तु मे वीर्यं तपसश्च बलं महम् । स च पश्यतु देवेन्द्रो दुरात्मा पापचेतनः
Therefore, for the destruction of Śakra, I will create Vṛtra; let the worlds witness my power and the might of my austerity, and let that evil-minded, wicked-hearted Indra see as well.
उपस्पृश्य ततः क्रुद्धस्तपस्वी सुमहायशाः । अग्नौ हुत्वा समुत्पाद्य घोरं वृत्रमुवाच ह
Then, having purified himself, angry, and possessed of great fame, the ascetic, after offering oblations into the fire, produced the terrible Vṛtra and spoke to him.
इन्द्रशत्रो विवर्धस्व प्रभावात्तपसो मम। सोऽवर्घत दिवं स्तब्ध्वा सूर्यवैश्वानरोपमः
O slayer of Indra, grow in strength by the power of my austerity! Thus, having blocked the heavens, he stood firm, blazing like the sun and fire.
किं करोमीति चोवाच कालसूर्य इवोदितः। शक्रं जहीति चाप्युक्तो जगाम त्रिदिवं ततः
He spoke, 'What shall I do?' rising like the sun of time; and when told, 'Slay Indra,' he went to the threefold heaven.