प्रह्लादो निर्जितो ऽभूच्च तावत्कालं सहासुरैः
Prahlada was defeated, along with the asuras, for that period of time.
दैत्यसंस्थमिदं सर्वमासीद्दशयुगं किल
All this remained under the Daityas for ten yugas, indeed.
त्रैलोक्यमिदमव्यग्रं महेन्द्रो ह्यभ्ययाद्बलेः
Mahendra then regained the three worlds, undisturbed, from Bali.
पर्यायेणैव संप्राप्तं त्रैलोक्यं पाकशासनम्
In turn, the rulership of the three worlds came to Pakaśāsana.
यज्ञे देवानथ गते काव्यं ते ह्यसुरां ब्रुवन्
When the gods had departed from the sacrifice, the Asuras said to Kāvya:
स्थातुं न शक्रुमो ह्यद्य प्रविशाम रसातलम्
Today we are unable to stand; let us enter Rasatala.
माभैष्ट धारयिष्यामि तेजसा स्वेन वः सुराः
Do not fear, O gods; by my own power I shall sustain you.
कृत्स्नानि ह्यपि तिष्ठन्तु पापस्तेषां सुरेषु वै
Even if all sins remain among them, let them persist among the gods.
ततो देवासुरान्दृष्ट्वा धृतान्काव्येन धीमता
Then, seeing the gods and asuras protected by the wise Kāvya,
एष काव्य इदं सर्वं व्यावर्त्तयति नो बलात्
This Kāvya, by force, turns all this away from us.
प्रसह्य हत्वा शिष्टांस्तु पातालं प्रापयामहे
Having overpowered and slain the rest, we shall send them to the netherworld.
जघ्नुस्तैर्वध्यमानास्ते काव्यमेवाभिदुद्रुवुः
Assailed and being slain by them, they fled straight to Kāvya.
समारक्षत संत्रस्तान्देवेभ्यस्तान्दितेः सुतान्
He protected those terrified sons of Diti from the gods.
तानुवाच ततो ध्यात्वा पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्
Then, recalling past events and meditating, he spoke to them.
बलिर्बद्धो हतो जंभो निहतश्च विरोचनः
Bali is bound, Jambha is slain, and Virocana is also killed.
तैस्तैरुपायैर्भूयिष्ठा निहता ये प्रधानतः
By various means, most of those leaders have been destroyed.
नीतिं वो हि विधास्यामि कालः कश्चित्प्रतीक्ष्यताम्
I shall devise a strategy for you; wait for some time.
अग्निमाप्याययेद्धोता मेत्रैरेष दहिष्यति
The Hotṛ will replenish the fire; with mantras, he will burn.
युष्माननुग्रहीष्यामि पुनः पश्चादिहागतः
When I return here again, I will show you favor once more.
न वै देवा वाधिष्यन्ति यावदागमनं मम
Indeed, the gods will not defeat you until my return.
योत्स्यामहे पुनर्देवांस्ततः प्राप्स्यथ वै जयम्
Then we shall fight the gods again, and you will surely obtain victory.
न्यस्तशस्त्रा वयं सर्वे लोकान्यूयं क्रमन्तु वै
We all lay down our weapons; you may go to the worlds as you wish.
प्रह्लादस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सत्यानुव्यात्दृतं तु तत्
Hearing Prahlāda’s words, they recognized them as true and steadfast.
न्यस्तशस्त्रेषु दैत्येषु स्वान्वै जग्मुर्यथागतान्
When the Daityas had laid down their weapons, they returned to their own as they had come.
निरुत्सुकास्तपोयुक्ताः कालः कार्यार्थसाधकः
Untroubled and devoted to austerity, time accomplishes its intended purpose.
स संदिश्यसुरान्काव्यो महोदेवं प्रपद्य च
Having instructed the gods, Kāvya then approached the great Lord.
मन्त्रानिच्छामि हे देव ये न संति बृहस्पतौ
"O Lord, I desire those mantras which are not with Bṛhaspati."
एवमुक्तो ऽब्रवीद्देवो मन्त्रानिच्छसि वै द्विज
Thus addressed, the god said, "You indeed desire the mantras, O twice-born."
पूर्मं वर्षसहस्रं वै कुण्डधूममवाक्शिराः
"For a thousand years, with head downward in the smoke of the fire-pit—"
तथोक्तो देवदेवेन स शुक्रस्तु महातपाः
Thus spoken to by the Lord of gods, Śukra, of great austerity, [replied].