ततो युद्धं समभवद्वृत्रवासवयोर्महत्। संक्रुद्धयोर्महाघोरं प्रसक्तं कुरुसत्तम
Then a great battle arose between Vṛtra and Vāsava, fierce and terrible, as both were enraged, O best of the Kurus.
ततो जग्राह देवेन्द्रं वृत्रो वीरः शतक्रतुम् । अपावृत्याक्षिपद्वक्रे शक्रं कोपसमन्वितः
Then Vṛtra, the hero, seized Indra, the wielder of a hundred sacrifices, and, having overpowered him, hurled him aside in anger.
ग्रस्ते वृत्रेण शक्रे तु संभ्रान्तास्त्रिदिवेश्वराः। असृजंस्ते महासत्वा जृम्भिकां वृत्रनाशिनीम्
When Indra was swallowed by Vṛtra, the lords of the three worlds were alarmed; they released a mighty yawn, destroyer of Vṛtra.
विजृम्भमाणस्य ततो वृत्रस्यास्यादपावृतात्। स्वान्यङ्गान्यभिसंक्षिप्य निष्क्रान्तो बलनाशनः
Then, as Vṛtra's mouth yawned wide open, the destroyer of strength, having contracted his own limbs, escaped from within.
ततः प्रभृति लोकस्य जृम्भिका प्राणिसंश्रिता। जहृषुश्च सुराः सर्वे शक्रं दृष्ट्वा विनिःसृतम्
From that time, yawning became inherent among living beings; and all the gods rejoiced, seeing Indra emerge.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं वृत्रवासवयोः पुनः । संरब्धयोस्तदा घोरं सुचिरं भरतर्षभ
Then again a battle broke out between Vṛtra and Vāsava, fierce and prolonged, as both were enraged, O bull among the Bharatas.
यदा व्यवर्धत रणे वृत्रो बलसमन्वितः। त्वष्टुस्तेजोबलाविद्धस्तदा शक्रो न्यवर्तत
When Vṛtra, endowed with strength, grew powerful in battle, pierced by the energy and might of Tvaṣṭṛ, then Indra withdrew.
निवृत्ते च तदा देवा विषादमगमन्परम् । समेत्य सह शक्रेण त्वष्टुस्तेजोविमोहिताः
When Indra withdrew, the gods fell into great despair, gathered together with him, bewildered by Tvaṣṭṛ's energy.
अमन्त्रयन्त ते सर्वे मुनिभिः सह भारत। किं कार्यमिति वै राजन्विचिन्त्य भयमोहिताः
All of them, together with the sages, deliberated, O Bhārata, thinking, 'What should be done?'—confused by fear.
जग्मुः सर्वे महात्मानं मनोभिर्विष्णुमव्ययम्। उपविष्टा मन्दराग्रे सर्वे वृत्रवधेप्सवः
All went in their minds to the imperishable Viṣṇu, seated at the summit of Mandara, all desiring the slaying of Vṛtra.
सर्वं व्याप्तमिदं देवा वृत्रेण जगदव्ययम्। न ह्यस्य सदृशं किञ्चित्प्रतिघाताय यद्भवेत्
The gods said: All this imperishable world has been enveloped by Vṛtra; there is nothing equal to him that could oppose him.
समर्थो ह्यभवं पूर्वमसमर्थोऽस्मि सांप्रतम्। कथं नु कार्यं भद्रं वो दुर्धर्षः स हि मे मतः
I was capable before, but now I am powerless; what should be done for your welfare? For he seems invincible to me.
तेजस्वी च महात्मा च युद्धे चामितविक्रमः । ग्रसेत्रिभुवनं सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
He is radiant, great-souled, and of immeasurable valor in battle; he could devour all three worlds, with gods, asuras, and humans.
तस्माद्विनिश्चयमिमं शृणुध्वं त्रिदिवौकसः। विष्णोः क्षयमुपागम्य समेत्य च महात्मना
Therefore, O dwellers of heaven, listen to this decision: having approached the abode of Viṣṇu, and united with that great soul—
एवमुक्ते मघवता देवाः शर्षिगणास्तदा। शरण्यं शरमं देवं जग्मुर्विष्णुं महाबलम्
When Maghavan had spoken thus, the gods and hosts of sages went to Viṣṇu, the refuge and protector, the mighty god.
ऊचुश्च सर्वे देवेशं विष्णुं वृत्रभयार्दिताः। त्रयो लोकास्त्वया क्रान्तास्त्रिभिर्विक्रमणैः पुरा
All, afflicted by fear of Vṛtra, addressed Viṣṇu, lord of the gods: 'By your three strides, the three worlds were traversed before.'
अमृतं चाहृतं विष्णो दैत्याश्च निहता रणे। बलिं बद्ध्वा महादैत्यं शक्रो देवाधिपः कृतः
The nectar was retrieved by Viṣṇu, the Daityas were slain in battle, Bali the great Daitya was bound, and Śakra was established as lord of the gods.
त्वं प्रभुः सर्वदेवानां त्वया सर्वमिदं ततम्। त्वं हि देवो महादेव सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः
You are the lord of all the gods; by you this entire universe is pervaded. Indeed, you are the god, the great god, honored by all the worlds.
गतिर्भव त्वं देवानां सेन्द्राणाममरोत्तम। जगद्व्याप्तमिदं सर्वं वृत्रेणासुरसूदन
You are the refuge of the gods, including Indra, O best of immortals; this whole world is pervaded by you, O slayer of Vṛtra and Asuras.
अवश्यं करणीयं मे भवतां हितमुत्तमम्। तस्मादुपायं वक्ष्यामि यथाऽसौ नभविष्यति
It is absolutely necessary for me to accomplish your highest good; therefore, I will tell you a means by which he will not exist.
गच्छध्वं सर्षिगन्धर्वा यत्रासौ विश्वरूपधृक्। साम तस्य प्रयुञ्जध्वं तत एनं विजेष्यथ
Go, together with the sages and Gandharvas, to where he, the one assuming all forms, is; employ the Sāman against him, and then you will defeat him.
भविष्यति जयो देवाः शक्रस्य मम तेजसा । अदृश्यश्च प्रवेक्ष्यामि वज्रे ह्यस्यायुधोत्तमे
Victory will be yours, O gods, for Śakra, by my energy; I will enter invisibly into this supreme weapon, the thunderbolt.
गच्छध्वमृषिभिः सार्धं गन्धर्वैश्च सुरोत्तमाः । वृत्रस्य सह शक्रेण सन्धिं कुरुत माचिरम्
Go with the sages and the best of Gandharvas, O best of gods; quickly make peace between Vṛtra and Śakra.
एवमुक्ते तु देवेन ऋषयस्त्रिदशास्तथा । ययुः समेत्य सहिताः शक्रं कृत्वा पुरःसरम्
When the god had spoken thus, the sages and the celestials likewise, having assembled together, went with Śakra at their head.
समीपमेत्य च यदा सर्व एव महौजसः। तं तेजसा प्रज्वलितं प्रतपन्तं दिशो दश
When all those of great energy approached, they saw him blazing with radiance, scorching the ten directions.
ग्रसन्तमिव लोकांस्त्रीन्सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ यथा। ददृशुस्ते ततो वृत्रं शक्रेण सह देवताः
As if swallowing the three worlds, like the sun and moon, the gods then beheld Vṛtra together with Śakra.
ऋषयोऽथ ततोऽभ्येत्य वृत्रमूचुः प्रियं वचः। व्याप्तं जगदिदं सर्वं तेजसा तव दुर्जय
Then the sages approached and spoke gentle words to Vṛtra: 'This whole world is pervaded by your unconquerable energy.'
न च शक्नोषि निर्जेषुं वासवं बलिनां वर। युध्यतोश्चापि वां कालो व्यतीतः सुमहानिह
But you are unable to defeat Vāsava, O best of the strong; and the time for your battle with him has already passed, here, greatly.
पीड्यन्ते च प्रजाः सर्वाः सदेवासुरमानुषाः । सख्यं भवतु ते वृत्र शक्रेण सह नित्यदा
All beings, including gods, asuras, and humans, are afflicted; let there be eternal friendship between you, Vṛtra, and Śakra.
अवाप्स्यसि सुखं त्वं च शक्रलोकांश्च शाश्वतान्। ऋषिवाक्यं निशम्याथ वृत्रःस तु महाबलः
You will attain happiness and the eternal realms of Śakra; hearing the words of the sages, Vṛtra, of great might, then—