ते त्वां देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च महाद्युते । प्रसादयन्ति चेन्द्राणी नहुषाय प्रदीयताम्
The gods, along with the gandharvas and sages, O radiant one, entreat you: let Indrani be given to Nahusha.
इन्द्राद्विशिष्टो नहुषो देवराजो महाद्युतिः । वृणोत्विमं वरारोहा भर्तृत्वे वरवर्णिनी
Nahusha, the king of the gods, radiant and superior even to Indra, should be chosen by this noble lady of excellent complexion as her husband.
एवमुक्ते तु सा देवी बाष्पमुत्सृज्य सस्वनम् । उवाच रुदती दीना बृहस्पतिमिदं वचः
When this was said, the goddess, shedding tears with a loud sound, spoke these words to Brihaspati, weeping and distressed.
नाहमिच्छामि नहुषं पतिं देवर्षिसत्तम। शरणागतास्मि ते ब्रहंस्त्रायस्व महतो भयात्
I do not wish for Nahusha as my husband, O best of divine sages. I have sought your protection; save me from this great fear by your brahmanic power.
शरणागतं न त्यजेयमिन्द्राणि मम निश्चयः। धर्मज्ञां सत्यशीलां च न त्यजेयमनिन्दिते
I will not abandon one who has sought my protection, O Indrani; this is my resolve. I will not abandon one who knows righteousness and is truthful in conduct, O blameless one.
नाकार्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि ब्राह्मणः सन्विशेषतः । श्रुतधर्मा सत्यशीलो जानन्धर्मानुशासनम्
I do not wish to do what is improper, especially as a brahmin. One who knows the scriptures and is truthful in conduct, understanding the teaching of righteousness, should not act wrongly.
नाहमेतत्करिष्यामि गच्छध्वं वै सुरोत्तमाः । अस्मिंश्चार्थे पुरा गीतं ब्रह्मणा श्रूयतामिदम्
I will not do this; depart, O best of gods. In this matter, a song once uttered by Brahma is to be heard.
न तस्य बीजं रोहति रोहकाले न तस्य वर्षं वर्षति वर्षकाले। भीतं प्रपन्नं प्रददाति शत्रवे न स त्रातारं लभते त्राणमिच्छन्
His seed does not sprout at the time for sprouting; his rain does not fall at the time for raining. He gives to the enemy what is sought in fear, but does not find a protector when he desires protection.
मोघमन्नं विन्दति चाप्यचेताः स्वर्गाल्लोकाद्धश्यति नष्टचेष्टः। भीतं प्रपन्नं प्रददाति यो वै न तस्य हव्यं प्रतिगृह्णन्ति देवाः
He who is unmindful obtains food in vain; having lost his effort, he falls from heaven and the world. He who gives to the enemy what is sought in fear, the gods do not accept his offerings.
प्रमीयते चास्य प्रजा ह्यकाले सदा विवासं पितरोऽस्य कुर्वते। भीतं प्रपन्नं प्रददाति शत्रवे सेन्द्रा देवाः प्रहरन्त्यस्य वज्रम्
His progeny perishes untimely, and his ancestors always cause him to wander. He who gives to the enemy what is sought in fear, the gods along with Indra strike him with the thunderbolt.
एतदेवं विजानन्वै न दास्यामि शचीमिमाम्। इन्द्राणीं विश्रुतां लोके शक्रस्य महिषीं प्रियां
Knowing this, I will not give Shachi, renowned in the world, Indra's beloved queen.
अस्या हितं भवेद्यच्च मम चापि हितं भवेत्। क्रियतां तत्सुरश्रेष्ठा नहि दास्याम्यहं शचीम्
Let what is beneficial for her and what is beneficial for me be done, O best of gods; but I will not give Shachi.
अथ देवाः सगन्धर्वा गुरुमाहुरिदं वचः। कथं सुनीतं नु भवेन्मन्त्रयस्व बृहस्पते
Then the gods together with the Gandharvas spoke to their teacher: How can this be rightly accomplished? Advise us, O Brihaspati.
नहुषं याचतां देवी किंचित्कालान्तरं शुभा। इन्द्राणि हितमेतद्धि तथाऽस्माकं भविष्यति
Let the goddess ask Nahusha for a little delay; this is for Indrani's benefit, and thus it will be for ours as well.
बहुविघ्नः सुराः कालः कालः कालं नयिष्यति। गर्वितो बलवांश्चापि नहुषो वरसंश्रयात्
Many obstacles will arise, O gods; time will carry time away. Nahusha, proud and strong, will be so by virtue of the boon.
ततस्तेन तथोक्ते तु प्रीता देवास्तथाब्रुवन्। ब्रह्मन्साध्विदमुक्तं ते हितं सर्वं दिवौकसाम्
Then, as he spoke thus, the delighted gods replied: Brahman, well said; what you have spoken is for the good of all the celestials.
एवमेतद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ देवी चेयं प्रसाद्यताम्। ततः समस्ता इन्द्राणीं देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः
So let it be, O best of twice-born; let the goddess be appeased. Then all the gods, led by Agni, approached Indrani.
त्वया जगदिदं सर्वं धृतं स्थावरजङ्गमम्। एकपत्न्यसि सत्या च गच्छस्व नहुषं प्रति
By you, the entire world, movable and immovable, is sustained. You are faithful to one husband and truthful; go to Nahusha.
क्षिप्रं त्वामभिकामश्च विनशिष्यति पापकृत्। नहुषो देवि शक्रश्च सुरैश्वर्यमवाप्स्यति
Quickly, the one who desires you, O goddess, will perish, having committed evil; Nahusha and Shakra will attain lordship over the gods.
एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा इन्द्राणी कार्यसिद्धये। अभ्यगच्छत सव्रीडा नहुषं घोरदर्शनम्
Having thus resolved for the accomplishment of her purpose, Indrani, bashful, approached Nahusha, who appeared terrible.
दृष्ट्वा तां नहुषश्चापि वयोरूपसमन्विताम् । समहृष्यत दुष्टात्मा कामोपहतचेतनः
Seeing her, endowed with youth and beauty, Nahusha, his mind corrupted by desire, rejoiced, though wicked in heart.
अथ तामब्रवीद्दृष्ट्वा नहुषो देवराट् तदा। त्रयाणामपि लोकानामहमिन्द्रः शुचिस्मिते
Then, seeing her, Nahusha, king of the gods, spoke: Among the three worlds, I am Indra, O pure-smiling one.
भजस्व मां वरारोहे पतित्वे वरवर्णिनि। एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी नहुषेण पतिव्रता
Enjoy me, O beautiful one, as your husband, O woman of lovely complexion. Thus addressed by Nahusha, the devoted wife,
प्रावेपत भयोद्विग्ना प्रवाते कदली यथा। प्रणम्य सा हि ब्रह्माणं शिरसा तु कृताञ्जलिः
She trembled, agitated by fear, like a plantain tree in the wind; bowing to Brahma, she made reverence with her head and joined palms.
देवराजमथोवाच नहुषं घोरदर्शनम् । कालमिच्छाम्यहं लब्धुं त्वत्तः कंचित्सुरेश्वर
Then the king of the gods spoke to Nahusha, who appeared fearsome: 'O lord of the gods, I wish to obtain some time from you.'
न हि विज्ञायते शक्रः किं वा प्राप्तः क्व वा गतः। तत्त्वमेतत्तु विज्ञाय यदि न ज्ञायते प्रभो
'For it is not known where Shakra is, or what has happened to him, or where he has gone. If this cannot be known, O lord, then ascertain the truth of this matter.'
ततोऽहं त्वामुपस्थास्ये सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते। एवमुक्तः स इन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमानभूत्
'After that, I will serve you—this I truly say to you.' Thus addressed by Indrani, Nahusha became pleased.
एवं भवतु सुश्रोणि यथा मामिह भाषसे। ज्ञात्वा चागमनं कार्यं सत्यमेतदनुस्मरेः
'So be it, O fair-hipped one, as you have spoken to me here. Having learned the reason for his coming, remember this truth.'
नहुषेण विसृष्टा च निश्चक्राम ततः शुभा। बृहस्पतिनिकेतं च सा जगाम यशस्विनी
Released by Nahusha, the auspicious lady departed from there and went to the abode of Brihaspati, she who was renowned.
तस्याः संश्रुत्य च वचो देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः । चिन्तयामासुरेकाग्राः शक्रार्थं राजसत्तम
Hearing her words, the gods, with Agni at their head, became focused in thought, O best of kings, for the sake of Shakra.