सवज्रमथ फेनं तं क्षिप्रं वृत्रे निसृष्टवान्। प्रविश्य फेनं तं विष्णुरथ वृत्रं व्यनाशयत्
Then, with his thunderbolt, he swiftly hurled that foam at Vritra; Vishnu entered that foam and destroyed Vritra.
निहते तु ततो वृत्रे दिशो वितिमिराऽभवन्। प्रववौ च शिवो वायुः प्रजाश्च जहृषुस्तथा
When Vritra was slain, the quarters became free of darkness; the auspicious wind blew, and the people rejoiced likewise.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा यक्षरक्षोमहोरगाः । ऋषयश्च महेन्द्रं तमस्तुवन्विविधैः स्तवैः
Then the gods, together with the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, great serpents, and sages, praised that Mahendra with various hymns.
नमस्कृतः सर्वभूतैः सर्वभूतान्यसान्त्वयत्। हत्वा शत्रुं प्रहृष्टात्मा वासवः सह दैवतैः
Having been saluted by all beings, he comforted all creatures; after slaying his enemy, Vasava, joyful in spirit, rejoiced with the gods.
विष्णुं त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठं पूजयामास धर्मवित्। ततो हते महावीर्ये वृत्रे देवभयङ्करे
The righteous one worshipped Vishnu, the best of the three worlds; then, when the mighty and terrifying Vritra, who frightened the gods, was slain—
अनृतेनाभिभूतोऽभूच्छक्रः परमदुर्मनाः । त्रैशीर्षयाऽभिभूतश्च स पूर्वं ब्रह्महत्यया
The wielder of the discus was overcome by falsehood and became deeply troubled; previously, he had been afflicted by the three-headed one and by the sin of Brahmin-slaying.
महादेवस्य भूतैश्च स पुनर्ब्रह्महा इति। आक्रुष्टो निर्भयैर्भूयो व्रीडितो बलवृत्रहा
Again, the beings of Mahadeva called him a Brahmin-slayer; thus, the slayer of Vritra was shamed and reproached by the fearless ones.
सोऽन्तमाश्रित्य लोकानां नष्टसंज्ञो विचेतनः। न प्राज्ञायत देवेन्द्रस्त्वभिभूतः स्वकर्मभिः
He, having reached the end of the worlds, lost awareness and consciousness; Indra, overpowered by his own actions, was no longer recognized.
प्रतिच्छन्नोऽवसच्चाप्सु चेष्टमान इवोरगः । ततः प्रनष्टे देवेन्द्रे ब्रह्महत्या भयार्दिते
Concealed, he dwelled in the waters, moving like a serpent; then, when Indra had vanished, stricken by fear of Brahmin-slaying—
भूमिः प्रध्वस्तसंकाशा निर्वृक्षा शुष्ककानना । विच्छिन्नस्रोतसो नद्यः सरांस्यनुदकानि च
The earth lost its luster, became treeless, and its forests dried up; the rivers lost their streams, and the lakes were without water.
संक्षोभश्चापि सत्वानामनावृष्टिकृतोऽभवत्। देवाश्चापि भृशं त्रस्तास्तथा सर्वे महर्षयः
There arose a disturbance among beings, caused by the absence of rain; the gods and all the great sages were greatly afraid.
अराजकं जगत्सर्वमभिभूतमुपद्रवैः। ततो भीताऽभवन्देवाः को नो राजा भवेदिति
The whole world, without a king, was afflicted by calamities; then the gods became fearful, wondering, 'Who shall be our king?'
दिवि देवर्षयश्चापि देवराजविनाकृताः। न स्म कश्चन देवानां राज्ये वै कुरुते मतिम्
In heaven, the divine sages, bereft of their king, did not consider anyone among the gods fit to rule.
ऋषयोऽथाब्रुवन्सर्वे देवाश्च त्रिदिवेश्वराः। अयं वै नहुपः श्रीमान्देवराज्येऽभिषिच्यताम्
Then all the sages and the gods, lords of the three worlds, said: 'Let this illustrious Nahusha be anointed as king of the gods.'
तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च धार्मिकश्चैव नित्यदा। ते गत्वा त्वब्रुवन्सर्वे राजा नो भव पार्थिव
He is powerful, renowned, and always righteous; so they all went and said, 'Be our king, O ruler among men.'
स तानुवाच नहुषो देवानृपिगणांस्तथा । पितृभिः सहितान्राजन्परिप्सन्हितमात्मनः
Nahusha replied to them—the gods, the groups of kings, and those with their ancestors—desiring what was beneficial for himself:
दुर्बलोऽहं न मे शक्तिर्भवतां परिपालने। बलवाञ्ज्ञायतां कश्चिद्बलं शक्रे हि नित्यदा
'I am weak and have no strength to protect you; let someone strong be appointed, for Indra always possessed strength.'
तमब्रुवन्पुनः सर्वे देवा ऋषिपुरोगमाः । अस्माकं तपसा युक्तः पाहि राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे
Then all the gods, led by the sages, said to him again: 'Endowed with our austerities, rule the kingdom of heaven.'
परस्परभयं घोरमस्माकं हि न संशयः । अभिषिच्यस्व राजेन्द्र भव राजा त्रिविष्टपे
'There is no doubt that we have terrible mutual fear; be anointed, O king, and become the ruler of heaven.'
देवदानवयक्षाणामृषीणां रक्षसां तथा। पितृगन्धर्वभूतानां चक्षुर्विषयवर्तिनाम्
'Of the gods, demons, yakshas, sages, rakshasas, ancestors, gandharvas, and spirits—of all beings who dwell in the realm of the senses—'
तेज आदास्यसे पश्यन्बलवांश्च भविष्यसि। धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सदा सरवलोकाधिपो भव
You shall acquire brilliance as you observe, and you shall become powerful; always upholding righteousness, become the lord of all the worlds.
ब्रह्मर्षीश्चापि देवांश्च गोपायस्व त्रिविष्टपे
Protect the Brahmarshis and the gods as well in the heavenly realm.
धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य तदा सर्वलोकाधिपोऽभवत्। सुदुर्लभं वरं लब्ध्वा प्राप्य राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे
Then, upholding righteousness, he became the lord of all the worlds, having obtained a most rare boon and attained sovereignty in heaven.
धर्मात्मा सततं भूत्वा कामात्मा समपद्यत। देवोद्यानेषु सर्वेषु नन्दनोपवनेषु च
Having always been devoted to righteousness, he then became attached to desire, in all the gardens of the gods and in the groves of Nandana.
कैलासे हिमवत्पृष्ठे मन्दरे श्वेतपर्वते। सह्ये महेन्द्रे मलये समुद्रेषु सरित्सु च
On Kailāsa, on the slopes of Himavat, on Mandara, on the White Mountain, on Sahya, Mahendra, Malaya, in the oceans and in the rivers,
अप्सरोभिः परिवृतो देवकन्यासमावृतः । नहुषो देवराजोऽथ क्रीडन्बहुविधं तदा
Surrounded by Apsarases and attended by divine maidens, then Nahusha, king of the gods, sported in many ways.
श्रृण्वन्दिव्या बहुविधाः कथाः श्रुतिमनोहराः । वादित्राणि च सर्वाणि गीतं च मधुरस्वनम्
Hearing many kinds of celestial tales, enchanting to the ear, and all kinds of instruments and sweet-sounding songs,
विश्वावसुर्नारदश्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः। ऋतवः षट्च देवेन्द्रं मूर्तिमन्त उपस्थिताः
Viśvāvasu, Nārada, the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases, and the six seasons, all appeared before King of the Gods in embodied form.
मारुतः सुरभिर्वाति मनोज्ञः सत्वशीतलः । एवं विक्रीडतस्तस्य नहुषस्य दुरात्मनः
A fragrant, delightful, and gentle breeze blew; thus, as Nahusha, of evil mind, sported in this way,
संप्राप्ता दर्शनं देवी शक्रस्य महिषी प्रिया। स तां संदृश्य दुष्टात्मा प्राह सर्वान्सभासदः
The goddess, beloved queen of Śakra, came into view; seeing her, that wicked-minded one addressed all the assembly.