हंभायमाना कल्याणी वसिष्ठस्याथ नन्दिनी। आगम्याभिमुखी पार्थ तस्थौ भगवदुन्मुखी
Nandinī, the auspicious one of Vasiṣṭha, lowing loudly, approached and stood facing the venerable sage, O Pārtha.
शृणोमि ते रवं भद्रे विनदन्त्याः पुनः पुनः
O blessed one, I hear your cry, resounding again and again.
ह्रियसे त्वं बलाद्भद्रे विश्वामित्रेण नन्दिनि। किं कर्तव्यं मया तत्र क्षमावान्ब्राह्मणो ह्यहम्
You are being taken by force, O blessed Nandinī, by Viśvāmitra; what should I do in this matter? For I am a brāhmaṇa, steadfast in forbearance.
सा भयान्नन्दिनी तेषां बलानां भरतर्षभ। विश्वामित्रभयोद्विग्ना वसिष्ठं समुपागमत्
Out of fear of those mighty men, O bull among the Bharatas, Nandinī, agitated by fear of Viśvāmitra, approached Vasiṣṭha.
कशाग्रदण्डाभिहतां क्रोशन्तीं मामनाथवत्। विश्वामित्रबलैर्घोरैर्भगवन् किमुपेक्षसे
Struck with whips and sticks, crying out like one without a protector, O venerable one, why do you tolerate these terrible forces of Viśvāmitra?
एवं तस्यां तदा पार्थ धर्षितायां महामुनिः। न चुक्षुभे तदा धैर्यान्न चचाल धृतव्रतः
Even as she was thus violated, O Pārtha, the great sage did not become agitated at that time, nor did he waver from his firm vow.
क्षत्रियाणां बलं तेजो ब्राह्मणानां क्षमा बलम्। क्षमा मां भजते यस्माद्गम्यतां यदि रोचते
The strength and energy of kṣatriyas is their power; the strength of brāhmaṇas is forbearance. Since forbearance is my support, go if you wish.
किं नु त्यक्ताऽस्मि भगवन्यदेवं त्वं प्रभाषसे। अत्यक्ताऽहं त्वया ब्रह्मन्नेतुं शक्या न वै बलात्
O venerable one, am I abandoned that you speak thus? I am not abandoned by you, O brāhmaṇa, nor can I be taken away by force.
न त्वां त्यजामि कल्याणि स्थीयतां यदि शक्यते। दृढेन दाम्ना बद्ध्वैष वत्सस्ते हियते बलात्
I do not abandon you, O auspicious one; remain if you are able. This calf of yours is being taken away by force, bound with a strong rope.
स्थीयतामिति तच्छ्रुत्वा वसिष्ठस्य पयस्विनी। ऊर्ध्वाञ्चितशिरोग्रीवा प्रबभौ रौद्रदर्शना
Hearing 'remain' from Vasiṣṭha, the cow of abundant milk, with head and neck raised, shone forth with a terrible appearance.
क्रोधरक्तेक्षणा सा गौर्हंभारवघनस्वना। विश्वामित्रस्य तत्सैन्यं व्यद्रावयत सर्वशः
Her eyes bloodshot with rage, that cow, with a deep, thunderous low, scattered all of Viśvāmitra's army.
कशाग्रदण्डाभिहता काल्यमाना ततस्ततः। क्रोधरक्तेक्षणा क्रोधं भूय एव समाददे
Struck with whips and sticks, tormented here and there, her eyes red with anger, she grew even more enraged.
आदित्य इव मध्याह्ने क्रोधदीप्तवपुर्बभौ। अङ्गारवर्षं मुञ्चन्ती मुहुर्वालधितो महत्
Blazing with the radiance of wrath like the midday sun, she repeatedly released a great shower of embers from her tail.
असृजत्पह्लवान्पुच्छात्प्रस्रवाद्द्राविडाञ्छकान्। योनिदेशाच्च यवानाञ्शकृतः शबरान्बहून्
From her tail she produced Pahlavas, from her excrement Drāviḍas and Śakas, and from her womb many Yavanas and Śabaras.
मूत्रतश्चासृजत्कांश्चिच्छबरांश्चैव पार्श्वतः। पौण्ड्रान्किरातान्यवनान्सिंहलान्बर्बरान्खसान्
From her urine she produced some Śabaras, and from her sides Pauṇḍras, Kirātas, Yavanas, Siṃhalas, Barbaras, and Khasas.
चिबुकांश्च पुलिन्दांश्च चीनान्हूणान्सकेरलान्। ससर्ज फेनतः सा गौर्म्लेच्छान्बहुविधानपि
From her foam she created Cibukas, Pulindas, Cīnas, Hūṇas, Keralas, and many other kinds of mlecchas.
तैर्विसृष्टैर्महासैन्यैर्नानाम्लेच्छगणैस्तदा। नानावरणसंछन्नैर्नानायुधधरैस्तथा
With those great armies thus produced, composed of various groups of mlecchas, clad in diverse armor and bearing various weapons,
अवाकीर्यत संरब्धैर्विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यतः। एकैकश्च तदा योधः पञ्चभिः सप्तभिर्वृतः
They, enraged, overwhelmed Viśvāmitra's forces before his eyes; and each warrior was surrounded by five or seven others.
अस्त्रवर्षेण महता वध्यमानं बलं तदा। प्रभग्नं सर्वतस्त्रस्तं विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यतः
At that time, the great army was being destroyed by a mighty shower of weapons, shattered and fleeing in all directions before Viśvāmitra's eyes.
तस्य तच्चतुरङ्गं वै बलं परमदुःसहम्। प्रभग्नं सर्वतो घोरं पयस्विन्या विनिर्जितम्
That fourfold force of his, exceedingly difficult to withstand, was broken everywhere, terrifying, and defeated by the cow of plenty.
न च प्राणैर्वियुज्यन्ते केचित्तत्रास्य सैनिकाः। विश्वामित्रस्य संक्रुद्धैर्वासिष्ठैर्भरतर्षभ
Yet none of Viśvāmitra's soldiers there lost their lives, O bull among the Bharatas, for they were restrained by the wrathful sons of Vasiṣṭha.
सा गौस्तत्सकलं सैन्यं कालयामास दूरतः। विश्वामित्रस्य तत्सैन्यं काल्यमानं त्रियोजनम्
That cow drove the entire army far away; Viśvāmitra's army, being driven off, was scattered for three yojanas.
क्रोशमानं भयोद्विग्नं त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छत। `विश्वामित्रस्ततो दृष्ट्वा क्रोधाविष्टः स रोदसी
Crying out in fear and distress, they found no protector; seeing this, Viśvāmitra became possessed by anger, filling both earth and sky.
ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वसिष्ठे मुनिसत्तमे। घोररूपांश्च नाराचान्क्षुरान्भल्लान्महामुनिः
The great sage, enraged, rained down showers of arrows upon the best of sages, Vasiṣṭha, and released terrifying arrows, razors, and broad-headed shafts.
विश्वामित्रप्रयुक्तांस्तान्वैणवेन व्यमोचयत्। वसिष्ठस्य तदा दृष्ट्वा कर्मकौशलमाहवे
Those weapons launched by Viśvāmitra were countered by Vaiṇava weapons; seeing Vasiṣṭha's skill in battle at that time,
विश्वामित्रोऽपि कोपेन भूयः शत्रुनिपातनः। दिव्यास्त्रवर्षं तस्मै स प्राहिणोन्मुनये रुषा
Viśvāmitra, furious and intent on destroying his enemy, again sent a divine shower of weapons at the sage out of wrath.
आग्नेयं वारुणं चैन्द्रं याम्यं वायव्यमेव च। विससर्ज महाभागे वसिष्ठे ब्रह्मणः सुते
He released the weapons of Agni, Varuṇa, Indra, Yama, and Vāyu against the illustrious Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahmā.
अस्त्राणि सर्वतो ज्वालां विसृजन्ति प्रपेदिरे। युगान्तसमये घोराः पतङ्गस्येव रश्मयः
The weapons, blazing on all sides, rushed forth, emitting flames like the fierce rays of the sun at the end of an age.
वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ब्रह्मशक्तिप्रयुक्तया। यष्ट्या निवारयामास सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि स स्मयन्
But Vasiṣṭha, of great brilliance, smiling, repelled all those weapons with his staff, empowered by the might of Brahman.
ततस्ते भस्मसाद्भूताः पतन्ति स्म महीतले। अपोह्य दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, all those divine weapons, reduced to ashes, fell to the earth; having dispelled the celestial weapons, Vasiṣṭha spoke these words: