च्यवन उवाच - मावमंस्था महात्मानौ रूपद्रविणवर्चसा । यौ चक्रतुर्मां मघवन् वृन्दारकमिवापरम्
Cyavana said: Do not underestimate these two great souls, endowed with beauty, wealth, and splendor, who made me, O Maghavan, like another leader among the gods.
ऋते त्वां विबुधाश्चान्ये कथं वाददते ग्रहम् । अश्विनावपि देवेन्द्र देवौ विद्धि परन्तपौ
Except for you, how could other gods object to their receiving the offering? Even the Aśvins, O Indra, are gods; know them as mighty heroes.
इन्द्र उवाच - भिषजौ नार्हतः कामं ग्रहं यज्ञे कथञ्चन । यदि दित्ससि मन्दात्मन् शिरश्छेत्स्यामि साम्प्रतम्
Indra said: Physicians are not fit to receive the offering in the sacrifice. If you persist, O foolish one, I will now sever your head.
व्यास उवाच अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं वासवस्य च भार्गवः । ग्रहं तु ग्राहयामास भर्त्सयन्निव तं भृशम्
Vyāsa said: Disregarding Vāsava's words, the Bhārgava caused the offering to be received, rebuking him harshly.
सोमपात्रं यदा ताभ्यां गृहीतं तु पिपासया । समीक्ष्य बलभिद्देव इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
When the Soma vessel was taken by them out of thirst, the mighty god, seeing this, spoke these words.
आभ्यमर्थाय सोमं त्वं ग्राहयिष्यसि चेत्स्वयम् । वज्रं तु प्रहरिष्यामि विश्वरूपमिवापरम्
If you yourself cause them to receive Soma for their sake, I will strike you with the thunderbolt, as I did another Viśvarūpa.
वासवेनैवमुक्तस्तु भार्गवश्चातिगर्वितः । जग्राह विधिवत्सोममश्विभ्यामतिमन्युमान्
Thus addressed by Vāsava, the proud Bhārgava properly gave Soma to the Aśvins, full of wrath.
इन्द्रोऽपि प्राक्षिपत्कोपाद्वज्रमस्मै स्वमायुधम् । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम्
Indra, out of anger, hurled his own weapon, the thunderbolt, at him, shining like ten million suns, before all the gods.
प्रेरितं चाशनिं प्रेक्ष्य च्यवनस्तपसा ततः । स्तम्भयामास वज्रं स शक्रस्यामिततेजसः
Seeing the thunderbolt launched, Cyavana, through his ascetic power, halted the mighty thunderbolt of Indra, whose brilliance is immeasurable.
कृत्यया स महाबाहुरिन्द्रं हन्तुमिहोद्यतः । जुहावाग्नौ श्रुतं हव्यं मन्त्रेण मुनिसत्तमः
That great-armed sage, intent on destroying Indra, offered the prescribed oblation into the fire with mantra, O best of sages.
तत्र कृत्या समुत्पन्ना च्यवनस्य तपोबलात् । प्रबलः पुरुषः क्रूरो बृहत्कायो महासुरः
There, by the power of Cyavana’s asceticism, a formidable, fierce, and gigantic asura named Kritya arose, possessing immense strength.
मदो नाम महाघोरो भयदः प्राणिनामिह । शरीरे पर्वताकारस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो मयानकः
His name was Mada, exceedingly terrifying and a source of fear for all beings here; his body was mountain-like, with sharp fangs and a dreadful appearance.
चतस्रश्चायता दंष्ट्रा योजनानां शतं शतम् । इतरे त्वस्य दशना बभूवुर्दशयोजनाः
He had four long fangs, each a hundred yojanas in length; his other teeth were ten yojanas each.
बाहू पर्वतसंकाशावायतौ क्रूरदर्शनौ । जिह्वा तु भीषणा क्रूरा लेलिहाना नभस्तलम्
His arms resembled mountains, long and fearsome to behold; his tongue was terrifying, cruel, and licked the sky itself.
ग्रीवा तु गिरिशृङ्गाभा कठिना भीषणा भृशम् । नखा व्याघ्रनखप्रख्याः केशाश्चातीवभीषणाः
His neck was like a mountain peak, exceedingly hard and dreadful; his nails were like those of a tiger, and his hair was extremely frightening.
शरीरं कज्जलाभं च तस्य चास्यं भयानकम् । नेत्रे दावानलप्रख्ये भीषणेऽतिभयानके
His body was black as soot, and his face was terrifying; his eyes blazed like forest fires, dreadful and exceedingly fearsome.
हनुरेका स्थिता तस्य भूमावेका दिवं गता । एवंविधः समुत्पन्नो मदो नाम बृहत्तनुः
One of his jaws rested on the earth, and the other reached the sky; thus arose Mada, of immense form.
तं विलोक्य सुराः सर्वे भयमाजग्मुरंहसा । इन्द्रोऽपि भयसंत्रस्तो युद्धाय न मनो दधे
Seeing him, all the gods were instantly seized by fear; even Indra, overwhelmed by terror, could not bring his mind to fight.
दैत्योऽपि वदने कामं वज्रमादाय संस्थितः । व्याप्तं नभो घोरदृष्टिर्ग्रसन्निव जगत्त्रयम्
The asura stood with his mouth open, holding the thunderbolt as he wished; his dreadful gaze filled the sky, as if he would devour the three worlds.
स भक्ष्ययिष्यन्संक्रुद्धः शतक्रतुमुपाद्रवत् । चक्रुशुश्च सुराः सर्वे हा हताः स्मेति संस्थिताः
Enraged and ready to consume, he rushed at Indra; all the gods cried out, 'Alas, we are destroyed!' and stood helpless.
इन्द्रः स्तम्भितबाहुस्तु मुमुक्षुर्वज्रमन्तिकात् । न शशाक पविं तस्मिन्प्रहर्तुं पाकशासनः
Indra, his arm paralyzed, wished to hurl the thunderbolt from nearby, but the lord of the gods, wielder of the thunderbolt, could not strike him.
वज्रहस्तः सुरेशानस्तं वीक्ष्य कालसन्निभम् । सस्मार मनसा तत्र गुरुं समयकोविदम्
The lord of the gods, holding the thunderbolt, seeing that being resembling Death, remembered in his mind his guru, the knower of sacred duties.
स्मरणादाजगामाशु बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः । गुरुस्तत्समयं दृष्ट्वा विपत्तिसदृशं महत्
At the very thought, Brihaspati, wise of intellect, swiftly arrived; seeing the situation, the guru recognized it as a great calamity.
विचार्य मनसा कृत्यं तमुवाच शचीपतिम् । दुःसाध्योऽयं महामन्त्रैस्त्वयं वज्रेण वासव
After considering what should be done, he spoke to Indra, lord of Shachi: 'This one cannot be subdued by you, even with great mantras or the thunderbolt, O Vasava.'
असुरो मदसंज्ञस्तु यज्ञकुण्डात्समुत्थितः । तपोबलमृषेः सम्यक् च्यवनस्य महाबलः
This asura named Mada has arisen from the sacrificial fire, endowed with the full ascetic power of the great sage Cyavana.
अनिवार्यो ह्ययं शत्रुस्त्वया देवैस्तथा मया । शरणं याहि देवेश च्यवनस्य महात्मनः
This enemy cannot be resisted by you, the gods, or by me; seek refuge, O lord of the gods, with the great-souled Cyavana.
स निवारयिता नूनं कृत्यामात्मकृतां किल । न निवारयितुं शक्ताः शक्तिभक्तरुषं क्वचित्
He can certainly restrain the action he himself has set in motion, but no one is able to restrain the wrath of a devotee empowered by the Goddess.
व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तो गुरुणा शक्रस्तदागच्छन्मुनिं प्रति । प्रणम्य शिरसा नम्रः तमुवाच भयान्वितः
Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by his teacher, Indra then approached the sage, bowed his head in humility, and spoke to him, filled with fear.
क्षमस्व मुनिशार्दूल शमयासुरमुद्यतम् । प्रसन्नो भव सर्वज्ञ वचनं ते करोम्यहम्
Forgive me, O best of sages; pacify the demon you have raised. Be gracious, all-knowing one; I will do as you command.
सोमार्हावश्विनावेतावद्यप्रभृति भार्गव । भविष्यतः सत्यमेतद्वचो विप्र प्रसीद मे
From now on, O Bhārgava, Soma and the two Aśvins shall be worthy of the Soma offering; this is the truth, O brāhmaṇa—be pleased with me.