तस्य होताभवत् त्व् अग्निर् हव्यवाहन एव च एवं सत्त्रे तु संपूर्ण इष्टिं माहेश्वरीं पुनः
For him, Agni became the Hotṛ priest and the bearer of offerings; thus, in that sacrifice, he completed the Maheśvara offering once again.
कृत्वैश्वर्यम् अगाद् विप्रः सर्वत्र गतिम् एव च इन्द्रस्य भवनं रम्यं स्वर्गलोकं रसातलम्
Having performed the sacrifice, the sage attained lordship and the ability to go everywhere—even to Indra's delightful abode, the world of the gods, and the netherworld.
स्वेच्छया याति विप्रेन्द्रः प्रभावात् तपसः शुभात् स कदाचिद् दिवं गत्वा इन्द्रलोकम् अगात् पुनः
By his own will, O best of Brahmins, through the power of his auspicious austerity, he sometimes went to heaven and again reached Indra's world.
तत्रापश्यत् सहस्राक्षं सुरैः परिवृतं शुभैः स्तूयमानं सिद्धसाध्यैः प्रेक्षन्तं नृत्यम् उत्तमम् शृण्वानं मधुरं गीतम् अप्सरोभिश् च वीजितम्
There he saw thousand-eyed Indra, surrounded by excellent gods, being praised by Siddhas and Sādhya deities, watching supreme dancing, listening to sweet singing, and fanned by Apsarases.
उपोपविष्टैः सुरनायकैस् तैः संपूज्यमानं महदासनस्थम् जयन्तम् अङ्के विनिधाय सूनुं शच्या युतं प्राप्तरतिं महिष्ठम्
He saw Indra being honored by those seated leaders of the gods, occupying a great throne, holding his son Jayanta on his lap, united with Śacī, and enjoying supreme delight.
सतां शरण्यं वरदं महेन्द्रं समीक्ष्य विप्राधिपतिर् महात्मा विमोहितो ऽसौ मुनिर् इन्द्रलक्ष्म्या समीहयाम् आस तद् इन्द्रराज्यम्
Beholding Mahendra, refuge of the virtuous and bestower of boons, the great-souled lord of Brahmins was bewildered by Indra's splendor and began to desire that very kingship of Indra.
संपूजितो देवगणैर् यथावत् स्वम् आश्रमं वै पुनर् आजगाम समीक्ष्य तां शक्रपुरीं सुरम्यां रत्नैर् युतां पुण्यगुणैः सुपूर्णाम्
Duly honored by the hosts of gods, he returned again to his own hermitage, having seen that delightful city of Śakra, filled with jewels and abundant in meritorious qualities.
स्वम् आश्रमं निष्प्रभहेमवर्ज्यं समीक्ष्य विप्रो विरमं जगाम समीहमानः सुरराज्यम् आशु प्रियां तदोवाच महात्रिपुत्रः
Seeing his own hermitage devoid of brilliance and gold, the Brahmin became disinterested, longing swiftly for the sovereignty of the gods, and then spoke to his beloved, the son of Mahātri.
भोक्तुं न शक्तो ऽस्मि फलानि मूलान्य् अनुत्तमान्य् अप्य् अतिसंस्कृतानि स्मृत्वामृतं पुण्यतमं च तत्र भक्ष्यं च भोज्यं च वरासनानि
I am unable to enjoy even the finest fruits and roots, though they are well prepared, remembering the nectar, the most sacred food, the delicacies and splendid seats there.
इच्छेयम् इन्द्रत्वम् अहं महात्मन् कुरुष्व शीघ्रं पदम् ऐन्द्रम् अत्र ब्रूषे ऽन्यथा चेन् मदुदीरितं त्वं भस्मीकरोम्य् एव न संशयो ऽत्र
I desire Indrahood, O great one; quickly grant me the station of Indra here. If you speak otherwise than what I have declared, I will surely reduce you to ashes—there is no doubt of this.
तदत्रिवाक्यात् त्वरितः प्रजानां स्रष्टा विभुर् विश्वकर्मा तदैव चकार मेरुं च पुरीं सुराणां कल्पद्रुमान् कल्पलतां च धेनुम्
Then, at Atri's words, the mighty creator of beings, Viśvakarman, swiftly made Meru, the city of the gods, wish-fulfilling trees, wish-fulfilling creepers, and the cow of plenty.
चकार वज्रादिविभूषितानि गृहाणि शुभ्राण्य् अतिचित्रितानि चकार सर्वावयवानवद्यां शचीं स्मरस्येव विहारशालाम्
He made splendid houses adorned with vajra and other jewels, exceedingly beautiful; he fashioned Śacī, flawless in every limb, and a pleasure hall like that of Kāma.
सभां सुधर्माणम् अहो क्षणेन तथा चकाराप्सरसो मनोज्ञाः चकार चोच्चैःश्रवसं गजं च वज्रादि चास्त्राणि सुरान् अशेषान्
He made the assembly hall Sudharmā in an instant, and charming Apsarases; he created the elephant Airāvata and weapons like the thunderbolt, and all the gods without exception.
निवार्यमाणः प्रिययात्रिपुत्रः शचीसमाम् आत्मवधूं चकार तदात्रिपुत्रो ऽत्रिमुखैः समेतो वज्रादिरूपं च चकार चास्त्रम्
Though restrained by his beloved, Atri's son created a wife equal to Śacī; then, joined by Atri's faces, he fashioned the thunderbolt and other weapons.
नृत्यादि गीतादि च सर्वम् एव चकार शक्रस्य पुरे च दृष्टम् तत् सर्वम् आसाद्य तदा मुनीन्द्रः प्रहृष्टचेताः सुतरां बभूव
He created all the dancing and singing as seen in Indra's city; having obtained all that, the chief of sages became exceedingly delighted at heart.
आपातरम्येष्व् अपि कस्य नाम भवत्य् अपेक्षा नहि गोचरेषु श्रुत्वा च दैत्या दनुजाः समेता रक्षांसि कोपेन युतानि सद्यः
Indeed, in such supremely pleasant places, who could feel any longing? Not even for visible things. But when the Daityas and Dānavas heard, they gathered, and the Rākṣasas, filled with anger, at once—
स्वर्गं परित्यज्य कुतो हरिर् भुवं समागतो न्व् एष मिथः सुखाय तस्माद् वयं याम इतो नु योद्धुं वृत्रस्य हन्तारम् अदीर्घसत्त्रम्
Having abandoned heaven, why has Hari come to earth? Is it for mutual pleasure? Therefore, let us go from here to fight the slayer of Vṛtra, whose sacrifice was brief.
ततः समागत्य तदात्रिपुत्रं संवेष्टयाम् आसुर् अथासुरास् ते संवेष्टयित्वा पुरम् अत्रिपुत्र कृतं तथा चेन्द्रपुराभिधानम्
Then those Asuras surrounded Atri's son, and after encircling the city made by Atri's son, they named it Indra's city.
यो जात एव प्रथमो मनस्वान् देवो देवान् क्रतुना पर्यभूषत् यस्य शुष्माद् रोदसी अभ्यसेतां नृम्णस्य मह्ना स जनास इन्द्रः
He who was born first, resolute in mind, the god who surpassed the gods by sacrifice, by whose power heaven and earth were sustained, by whose might he is called Indra among men.
नाहं हरिर् नैव शची मदीया नेयं पुरी नैव वनं तद् ऐन्द्रम् स एव चेन्द्रो वृत्रहन्ता स वज्री सहस्राक्षो गोत्रभिद् वज्रबाहुः
I am not Hari, nor is Śacī my wife, nor is this city or forest that of Indra. He alone is Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, thousand-eyed, breaker of enemies, with arms like thunderbolts.
अहं तु विप्रो वेदविद् ब्रह्मवृन्दैः समाविष्टो गौतमीतीरसंस्थः यत्रायत्यां नाद्य वा सौख्यहेतुस् तच् चाकार्षं कर्म दुर्दैवयोगात्
I am indeed a Brahmin, a knower of the Vedas, surrounded by assemblies of Brahmins, dwelling on the bank of the Gautamī; there, whether in the future or today, for the sake of happiness, I performed that act due to the force of misfortune.
संहरस्वेदम् आत्रेय यद् इन्द्रस्य विडम्बनम् क्षेमस् ते भविता सत्यं नान्यथा मुनिसत्तम
O best of sages, the sweat of Indra which you have removed, O Ātreya, was a mere imitation; your welfare will certainly be assured, it cannot be otherwise.
तदात्रेयो ऽब्रवीद् वाक्यं यथा वक्ष्यन्ति माम् इह करोम्य् एव महाभागाः सत्येनाग्निं समालभे
Then Ātreya spoke these words: 'As you all will declare of me here, so indeed I shall act, O greatly fortunate ones; by truth I invoke the sacred fire.'
एवम् उक्त्वा स दैतेयांस् त्वष्टारं पुनर् अब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, he addressed the Daityas and then again spoke to Tvaṣṭṛ.
यत् कृतं त्व् अत्र मत्प्रीत्याऐ ऐन्द्रं त्वष्टः पदं त्वया संहरस्व पुनः शीघ्रं रक्ष मां ब्राह्मणं मुनिम्
Whatever you have done here, O Tvaṣṭṛ, out of affection for me—this position of Indra—withdraw it again quickly; protect me, a Brahmin sage.
पुनर् देहि पदं मह्यम् आश्रमं मृगपक्षिणः वृक्षांश् च वारि यत्रासीन् न मे दिव्यैः प्रयोजनम् सर्वम् अक्रमम् आयातं न सुखाय मनीषिणाम्
Restore to me again my place, my hermitage with its deer and birds, and trees and water as before; I have no use for divine things. All that has come to me out of order is not conducive to the happiness of the wise.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा प्रजानाथस् त्वष्टा संहृतवांस् तदा दैत्याश् च जग्मुः स्वस्थानं कृत्वा देशम् अकण्टकम्
Having said 'so be it,' the lord of creatures, Tvaṣṭṛ, then withdrew that (boon); and the Daityas returned to their own places, making the land free of thorns.
त्वष्टा चापि ययौ स्थानं स्वकं संप्रहसन्न् इव आत्रेयो ऽपि तदा शिष्यैः संवृतः सह भार्यया
And Tvaṣṭṛ too went to his own place, as if smiling; and Ātreya, surrounded by his disciples and with his wife, (remained there).
गौतमीतीरम् आश्रित्य तपोनिष्ठो ऽखिलैर् वृतः वर्तमाने महायज्ञे लज्जितो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Residing on the bank of the Gautamī, devoted to austerity and surrounded by all, while a great sacrifice was underway, he, feeling ashamed, spoke these words:
अहो मोहस्य महिमा ममापि भ्रान्तचित्तता किं महेन्द्रपदं लब्धं किं मयात्र पुरा कृतम्
Alas, such is the power of delusion—even my mind was led astray! What use was there for me in attaining the position of Mahendra? What did I do here before?