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.
इन्द्रस्य महिषी देवी कस्मान्मां नोपतिष्ठति। अहमिन्द्रोऽस्मि देवानां लोकानां च तथेश्वरः
Why does the goddess, queen of Indra, not attend to me? I am Indra, lord of the gods and of the worlds as well.
आगच्छतु शची मह्यं क्षिप्रमद्य निवेशनम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा दुर्मना देवी बृहस्पतिमुवाच ह
Let Śacī come to my residence quickly today; hearing this, the goddess, distressed, spoke to Bṛhaspati.
रक्ष मां नहुषाद्ब्रह्मंस्त्वामस्मि शरणं गता। सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नां ब्रह्मंस्त्वं मां प्रभाषसे
Protect me from Nahusha, O Brahman; I have taken refuge in you. You, O Brahman, address me, who possesses all auspicious marks.
देवराजस्य दयितामत्यन्तं सुखभागिनीम्। अवैधव्येन युक्तां चाप्येकपत्नीं पतिव्रदाम्
The beloved of the king of the gods, supremely fortunate, joined to her husband without widowhood, devoted to one husband and faithful.
उक्तवानसि मां पूर्वमृतां तां कुरु वै गिरम्। नोक्तपूर्वं च भगवन्मृषा ते किंचिदीश्वर
You have previously promised me this; now fulfill your word. O Lord, you have never before spoken anything false.
तस्मादेतद्भवेत्सत्यं त्वयोक्तं द्विजसत्तम। बृहस्पतिरथोवाच इन्द्राणीं भयमोहिताम्
Therefore, let this come true, O best of twice-born; then Bṛhaspati spoke to Indrāṇī, who was overcome with fear.
यदुक्तासि मया देवि सत्यं तद्भविता ध्रुवम् । द्रक्ष्यसे देवराजं तमिन्द्रं शीघ्रमिहागतम्
What I have said to you, O goddess, will surely come to pass; you will soon see that king of the gods, Indra, arriving here.
न भेतव्यं च नहुषात्सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते। समानयिष्ये शक्रेण नचिराद्भवतीमहम्
You need not fear Nahusha; this is the truth I tell you. I will bring you together with Śakra without delay.
अथ शुश्राव नहुष इन्द्राणीं शरणीं गताम्। बृहस्पतेरङ्गिरसश्रुक्रोध स नृपस्तदा
Then Nahusha heard that Indrani had sought refuge with Brihaspati, the son of Angiras; at that time, the king became enraged.
क्रुद्धं तु नहुषं दृष्ट्वा देवा ऋषिपुरोगमाः। अब्रुवन्देवराजानं नहुषं घोरदर्शनम्
Seeing Nahusha angry, the gods, with the sages at their head, spoke to the king of the gods, Nahusha, who appeared terrifying.
देवराज जहि क्रोधं त्वयि क्रुद्धे जगद्विभो। त्रस्तं सासुरगन्धर्वं सकिंनरमहोरगम्
O king of the gods, abandon your anger, O lord of the world; when you are enraged, the universe—along with the asuras, gandharvas, kinnaras, and great serpents—is filled with fear.
जहि क्रोधमिमं साधो न कुप्यन्ति भवद्विधाः । परस्य पत्नी सा देवी प्रसीदस्व सुरेश्वर
Abandon this anger, O noble one; those like you do not become angry. That goddess is another's wife; be gracious, O lord of the gods.
निवर्तय मनः पापात्परदाराभिमर्शनात्। देवराजोऽसि भद्रं ते प्रजा धर्मेण पालय
Turn your mind away from the sin of coveting another's wife. You are the king of the gods—may good befall you—protect the people with righteousness.
एवमुक्तो न जग्राह तद्वचः काममोहितः । अथ देवानुवाचेदमिन्द्रं प्रति सुराधिपः
Though thus addressed, he did not accept their words, overcome by desire. Then the lord of the gods spoke these words to the gods regarding Indra.
अहल्या धर्षिता पूर्वमृषिपत्नी यशस्विनी । जीवतो भर्तुरिन्द्रेण स वः किं न निवारितः
Ahalya, the illustrious wife of a sage, was once violated by Indra while her husband was alive. Why was he not restrained by you then?
बहूनि च नृशंसानि कृतानीन्द्रेण वै पुरा । वैधर्म्याण्युपधाश्चैव स वः किं न निवारितः
And many other cruel and unrighteous deeds, as well as deceptions, were committed by Indra in the past. Why was he not restrained by you then?
उपतिष्ठतु देवी मामेतदस्या हितं परम्। युष्माकं च सदा देवाः शिवमेवं भविष्यति
Let the goddess approach me; this will be for her highest good, and for you gods as well, all will be well in this way.
इन्द्राणीमानयिष्यामो यथेच्छसि दिवस्पते। जहि क्रोधमिमं वीर प्रीतो भव सुरेश्वर
We will bring Indrani to you, O lord of heaven, as you desire. Abandon this anger, O hero, and be pleased, O lord of the gods.
इत्युक्त्वा तं तदा देवा ऋषिभिः सह भारत। तग्मुर्बृहस्पतिं वक्तुमिन्द्राणीं चाशुभं वचः
Having spoken thus, the gods together with the sages, O Bharata, went to speak to Brihaspati and to Indrani, bearing an unwelcome message.
जानीमः शरणं प्राप्तामिन्द्राणीं तव वेश्मनि। दत्ताभयां च विप्रेन्द्र त्वया देवर्षिसत्तम
We know that Indrani, having sought refuge, is in your house; and you, O foremost of brahmins, have granted her safety, O best of divine sages.