श्रमार्ताश्च वहन्तस्तं नहुषं पापकारिणम् । देवर्षयो महाभागास्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः
Weary from carrying the sinful Nahusha, the great and pure devarṣis and brahmarṣis were afflicted.
पप्रच्छुर्नहुषं देवं संशयं जयतां वर। य इमे ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्ता मन्त्रा वै प्रोक्षणे गवाम्
Those best among the victorious, the sages, questioned Nahusha, the god, about a doubt: 'Are these mantras, declared by Brahmā for the sprinkling of cows, authoritative for you?'
एते प्रमाणं भवत उताहो नेति वासव। नहुषो नेति तानाह तमसा मूढचेतनः
'Are these authoritative for you or not, O Vāsava?' To them, Nahusha, his mind deluded by darkness, replied, 'They are not.'
अधर्मे संप्रवृत्तस्त्वं धर्मं न प्रतिपद्यसे। प्रमाणमेतदस्माकं पूर्वं प्रोक्तं महर्षिभिः
'You have turned to unrighteousness; you do not adhere to righteousness. This was declared by the great sages of old as our authority.'
ततो विवदमानः स मुनिभिः सह वासव । अथ मामस्पृशन्मूर्ध्नि पादेनाधर्मपीडितः
Then, as he argued with the sages, Indra, afflicted by unrighteousness, touched my head with his foot.
तेनाभूद्धततेजाश्च निःश्रीकश्च महीपतिः । ततस्तं तमसा विग्नमवोचं भृशपीडितम्
Because of this, the king lost his brilliance and fortune; then, seeing him troubled by darkness and greatly tormented, I spoke to him.
यस्मात्पूर्वैः कृतं राजन्ब्रह्मर्षिभिरनुष्ठितम् । अदृष्टं दूषयसि मे यच्च मूर्ध्य्रस्पृशः पदा
O king, since you have defiled what was established by the ancient Brahmarshis and, unseen by me, touched my head with your foot—
यच्चापि त्वमृषीन्मूढ ब्रह्मकल्पान्दुरासदान्
And because you, deluded one, have treated the sages—who are as unapproachable as Brahma—
वाहान्कृत्व्रा वाहयसि तेन स्वर्गाद्धतप्रभः । ध्वंस पाप परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणपुण्यो महीतले
—as if they were beasts of burden, making them carry you, your brilliance is destroyed and you are cast down from heaven; perish, sinner, fallen and bereft of merit, on the earth.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि सर्परूपधरो महान्। विचरिष्यसि पूर्णेषु पुनः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि
For ten thousand years you shall wander the earth in the form of a great serpent; when that time is fulfilled, you shall regain heaven.
दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरं नाम तव वंशसमुद्भवम्। निहतो ब्रह्मशापेन प्रपद्यस्व त्रिविष्टपम्
When you see Yudhishthira by name, born in your lineage, and are slain by the curse of a Brahmana, then attain the realm of the gods.
एवं भ्रष्टो दुरात्मा स देवराज्यादरिन्दम। दिष्ट्या वर्धामहे शक्र हतो ब्रह्मर्षिकण्टकः
Thus that evil-minded one was cast down from the kingdom of the gods, O destroyer of foes; by fortune, O Shakra, we rejoice that the thorn of the Brahmarshis has been destroyed.
त्रिविष्टपं प्रपद्यस्व पाहि लोकाञ्शचीपते। जितेन्द्रियो जितामित्रः स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः
Attain the realm of the gods, O lord of Shachi, protect the worlds; self-controlled and victorious over your enemies, praised by the great sages.
ततो देवा भृशं तुष्टा महर्षिगणसंवृताः। पितरश्चैव यक्षाश्च भुजगा राक्षसास्तथा
Then the gods, greatly pleased and surrounded by hosts of great sages, as well as the Pitrs, Yakshas, serpents, and Rakshasas—
गन्धर्वा देवकन्याश्च सर्वे चाप्सरसां गणाः। सरांसि सरितः शैलाः सागराश्च विशांपते
—the Gandharvas, divine maidens, and all the hosts of Apsaras, together with the lakes, rivers, mountains, and oceans, O lord of men—
उपागम्याब्रुवन्सर्वे दिष्ट्या वर्धसि शक्रुहन् । हतश्च नहुषः पापो दिष्ट्यागस्त्येन धीमता। दिष्ट्या पापसमाचारः कृतः सर्पो महीतले
—all approached and said, 'By fortune you thrive, O Shakra, and the sinful Nahusha has been slain by the wise Agastya; by fortune, the evil-doer has become a serpent on earth.'
ततः शक्रः स्तूयमानो गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः। ऐरावतं समारुह्य द्विपेन्द्रं लक्षणैर्युतम्
Then Shakra, praised by the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsaras, mounted Airavata, the lord of elephants, adorned with auspicious marks.
पावकः सुमहातेजा महर्षिश्च बृहस्पतिः। यमश्च वरुणश्चैव कुबेरश्च धनेश्वरः
The radiant Agni, the great sage Brihaspati, Yama, Varuna, and Kubera, the lord of wealth—
सर्वैर्देवैः परिवृतः शक्रो वृत्रनिषूदनः । गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च यातस्त्रिभुवनं प्रभुः
—with all the gods surrounding Shakra, the slayer of Vritra, along with Gandharvas and Apsaras, the lord set out for the three worlds.
स समेत्य महेन्द्राण्या देवराजः शतक्रतुः। मुदा परमया युक्तः पालयामास देवराट्
Having arrived, the king of the gods, Shatakratu, united with Mahendra's queen, joyfully began to rule the gods.
ततः स भगवांस्तत्र अङ्गिराः समदृश्यत। अथर्ववेदमन्त्रैश्च देवेन्द्रं समपूजयत्
Then the venerable Angiras appeared there, and with Atharvaveda mantras, worshipped Devendra.
ततस्तु भगवानिन्द्रः संहृष्टः समपद्यत। वरं च प्रददौ तस्मै अथर्वाङ्गिरसे तदा
Then the blessed Indra became delighted and at that time granted a boon to Atharvangirasa.
अथर्वाङ्गिरसं नाम वेदेऽस्मिन्वै भविष्यति। उदाहरणमेतद्धि यज्ञभागं च लप्स्यसे
In this Veda, there will be a section called Atharvāṅgiras; this is an example, and you will obtain your share of the sacrifice.
एवं संपूज्य भगवानथर्वाङ्गिरसं तदा। व्यसर्जयन्महाराज देवराजः शतक्रतुः
Then, having duly honored the venerable Atharvāṅgiras at that time, the king of the gods, Śatakratu, dismissed him, O great king.
संपूज्य सर्वांस्त्रिदशानृषींश्चापि तपोधनान्। इन्द्रः प्रमुदितो राजन्धर्मेणापालयत्प्रजाः
Having honored all the gods and also the ascetic sages rich in austerity, Indra, delighted, O king, ruled his subjects in accordance with righteousness.
एवं दुःखमनुप्राप्तमिन्द्रेण सह भार्यया। अज्ञातवासश्च कृतः शत्रूणां वधकाङ्क्षया
Thus, having endured suffering together with his wife, Indra lived in concealment, desiring the destruction of his enemies.
नात्र मन्युस्त्वया कार्यो यत्क्लिष्टोऽसि महावने। द्रौपद्या सह राजेन्द्र भ्रातृभिश्च महात्मभिः
You should not be angry here, even though you have suffered in the great forest, O king, together with Draupadī and your noble brothers.
एवं त्वमपि राजेन्द्र राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि भारत। वृत्रं हत्वा यथा प्राप्तः शक्रः कौरवनन्दन
In the same way, O king, you too will regain your kingdom, O Bhārata, just as Śakra did after slaying Vṛtra, O joy of the Kauravas.
दुराचारश्च नहुषो ब्रह्वद्विट् पापचेतनः। अगस्त्यशापाभिहतो विनष्टः शाश्वतीः समाः
Nahusha, of evil conduct, hostile to Brahmins and wicked-minded, was destroyed for many ages, struck down by Agastya's curse.
एवं तव दुरात्मानः शत्रवः शत्रुसूदन । क्षिप्रं नाशं गमिष्यन्ति कर्णदुर्योधनादयः
In the same way, your evil-hearted enemies, O destroyer of foes, Karṇa, Duryodhana, and the others, will quickly meet their end.