अन्तर्भूमिगतान्नागाञ्जित्वा तौ च महारथौ। समुद्रवासिनीः सर्वा म्लेच्छजातीर्विजिग्यतुः
Those two great chariot-warriors, having subdued the Nagas dwelling underground, also conquered all the sea-dwelling and foreign-born races.
ततः सर्वां महीं जेतुमारब्धावुग्रशासनौ। सैनिकांश्च समाहूय सुतीक्ष्णं वाक्यमूचतुः
Then, having begun to conquer the entire earth, those two of terrible commands summoned their soldiers and spoke harsh words.
राजर्षयो महायज्ञैर्हव्यकव्यैर्द्विजातयः। तेजो बलं च देवानां वर्धन्ति श्रियं तथा
The royal sages, through great sacrifices, and the twice-born by offerings to gods and ancestors, increase the energy, strength, and prosperity of the gods.
तेषामेवं प्रवृत्तानां सर्वेषामसुरद्विषाम्। संभूय सर्वैरस्माभिः कार्यः सर्वात्मना वधः
Therefore, as all these enemies of the asuras are thus engaged, we must all together, with all our might, bring about their destruction.
एवं सर्वान्समादिश्य पूर्वतीरे महोदधेः। क्रूरां मतिं समास्थाय जग्मतुः सर्वतोमुखौ
Having thus instructed everyone on the eastern shore of the great ocean, they adopted a cruel resolve and set out in all directions.
यज्ञैर्यजन्ति ये केचिद्याजयन्ति च ये द्विजाः। तान्सर्वान्प्रसभं हत्वा बलिनौ जग्मतुस्ततः
Those who performed sacrifices and those twice-born who officiated at them—all of them were forcefully slain by the two powerful ones, who then departed.
आश्रमेष्वग्निहोत्राणि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। गृहीत्वा प्रक्षिपन्त्यप्सु विश्रब्धं सैनिकास्तयोः
In the hermitages, the sacred fires of the sages devoted to spiritual practice were seized and confidently cast into the waters by the soldiers of those two.
तपोधनैश्च ये क्रुद्धैः शापा उक्ता महात्मभिः। नाक्रामन्त तयोस्तेऽपि वरदाननिराकृताः
Even when the ascetics, rich in austerity, uttered curses in anger, those two were not affected, for they were protected by boons.
नाक्रामन्त यदा शापा बाणा मुक्ताः शिलास्विव। नियमान्संपरित्यज्य व्यद्रवन्त द्विजातयः
When the curses did not take effect, like arrows striking stones, the twice-born abandoned their vows and fled in all directions.
पृथिव्यां ये तपःसिद्धा दान्ताः शमपरायणाः। तयोर्भयाद्दुद्रुवुस्ते वैनतेयादिवोरगाः
Those perfected in austerity on earth, self-restrained and devoted to tranquility, fled in fear of the two, like serpents from Garuda.
मथितैराश्रमैर्भग्नैर्विकीर्णकलशस्रुवैः। शून्यमासीज्जगत्सर्वं कालेनेव हतं तदा
With the hermitages plundered and destroyed, their ritual vessels scattered and broken, the whole world became desolate, as if struck down by Time.
ततो राजन्नदृश्यद्भिर्ऋषिभिश्च महासुरौ। उभौ विनिश्चयं कृत्वा विकुर्वाते वधैषिणौ
Then, O King, unseen by the sages, the two great asuras, having made their decision, roamed about intent on slaughter.
प्रभिन्नकरटौ मत्तौ भूत्वा कुञ्जररूपिणौ। संलीनमपि दुर्गेषु निन्यतुर्यमसादनम्
Taking the form of maddened elephants with broken tusks, they drove even those hidden in fortresses to the abode of Yama.
सिंहौ भूत्वा पुनर्व्याघ्रौ पुनश्चान्तर्हितावुभौ। तैस्तैरुपायैस्तौ क्रूरावृषीन्दृष्ट्वा निजघ्नतुः
Becoming lions, then tigers, and then vanishing again, those two cruel ones, by various means, slew the sages they encountered.
निवृत्तयज्ञस्वाध्याया प्रनष्टनृपतिद्विजा। उत्सन्नोत्सवयज्ञा च बभूव वसुधा तदा
With sacrifices and study ceased, kings and Brahmins destroyed, and festivals and rites lost, the earth became thus.
हाहाभूता भयार्ता च निवृत्तविपणापणा। निवृत्तदेवकार्या च पुण्योद्वाहविवर्जिता
Filled with cries of distress and fear, with markets and shops closed, divine duties suspended, and holy marriages absent.
निवृत्तकृषिगोरक्षा विध्वस्तनगराश्रमा। अस्थिकङ्कालसंकीर्णा भूर्बभूवोग्रदर्शना
With agriculture and cattle-tending stopped, cities and hermitages ruined, and the ground strewn with bones and skeletons, the earth became dreadful to behold.
निवृत्तपितृकार्यं च निर्वषट्कारमङ्गलम्। जगत्प्रतिभयाकारं दुष्प्रेक्ष्यमभवत्तदा
With ancestral rites ceased, auspicious chants silenced, the world took on a terrifying aspect, dreadful to look upon.
चन्द्रादित्यौ ग्रहास्तारा नक्षत्राणि दिवौकसः। जग्मुर्विषादं तत्कर्म दृष्ट्वा सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः
The moon, sun, planets, stars, and celestial beings became despondent, seeing the deeds of Sunda and Upasunda.
एवं सर्वा दिशो दैत्यौ जित्वा क्रूरेण कर्मणा। निःसपत्नौ कुरुक्षेत्रे निवेशमभिचक्रतुः
Thus, having conquered all directions with cruel deeds, the two asuras, with no rivals left, established themselves in Kurukshetra.
ततो देवर्षयः सर्वे सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। जग्मुस्तदा परमार्तिं दृष्ट्वा तत्कदनं महत्
Then all the divine sages, the Siddhas, and the supreme seers came together, having witnessed that great slaughter and extreme distress.
तेऽभिजग्मुर्जितक्रोधा जितात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः। पितामहस्य भनं जगतः कृपया तदा
Those who had conquered anger, mastered themselves, and subdued their senses, approached Pitāmaha, the grandsire of the worlds, moved by compassion.
ततो ददृशुरासीनं सह देवैः पितामहम्। सिद्धैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्चैव समन्तात्परिवारितम्
There they saw Pitāmaha seated with the gods, surrounded on all sides by Siddhas and Brahmarṣis.
तत्र देवो महादेवस्तत्राग्निर्वायुना सह। चन्द्रादित्यौ च शक्रश्च पारमेष्ठ्यास्तथर्षयः
There were present the great god Mahādeva, Agni with Vāyu, the Moon and Sun, Indra, the lords of creation, and the seers.
वैखानसा वालखिल्या वानप्रस्था मरीचिपाः। अजाश्चैवाविमूढाश्च तेजोगर्भास्तपस्विनः
The Vaikhānasas, Vālakhilyas, forest-dwellers, Marīcipas, the unborn and the wise, ascetics filled with radiance, were also there.
ऋषयः सर्व एवैते पितामहमुपागमन्। ततोऽभिगम्य ते दीनाः सर्व एव महर्षयः
All these seers approached Pitāmaha; then, having come near, all the great sages, afflicted, spoke to him.
सुन्दोपसुन्दयौः कर्म सर्वमेव शशंसिरे। यथा हृतं यथा चैव कृतं येन क्रमेण च
They reported in full the deeds of Sunda and Upasunda—how it was done, by whom, and in what manner.
न्यवेदयंस्ततः सर्वमखिलेन पितामहे। ततो देवगणाः सर्वे ते चैव परमर्षयः
Then they conveyed everything in its entirety to Pitāmaha; and all the hosts of gods and the supreme seers as well.
तमेवार्थं पुरस्कृत्य पितामहमचोदयन्। ततः पितामहः श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां तद्वचस्तदा
Having placed that matter before him, they urged Pitāmaha; then Pitāmaha, having heard their words,
मुहूर्तमिव संचिन्त्य कर्तव्यस्य च निश्चयम्। तयोर्वधं समुद्दिश्य विश्वकर्माणमाह्वयत्
After reflecting for a moment and determining what should be done, he summoned Viśvakarman, intending the destruction of the two.