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.
मिथ्या ते नोद्यमो ह्येष भवत्येव तपोधन । जाने त्वमपि धर्मज्ञ मिथ्या नैव करिष्यसि
Your effort is not in vain, O possessor of austerity; I know, O knower of dharma, that you will not act falsely.
सोमपावश्विनावेतौ त्वत्कृतौ च सदैवे हि । भविष्यतश्च शर्यातेः कीर्तिस्तु विपुला भवेत्
Soma and the two Aśvins will always partake, as you have ordained; and the fame of Śaryāti will become widespread.
मया यद्धि कृतं कर्म सर्वथा मुनिसत्तम । परीक्षार्थं तु विज्ञेयं तव वीर्यप्रकाशनम्
Whatever action I have taken, O best of sages, should be understood as a test, a display of your own power.
प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मन् मदं संहर चोत्थितम् । कल्याणं सर्वदेवानां तथा भूयो विधीयताम्
Grant me your favor, O brāhmaṇa, and dispel the pride that has arisen in me. Let the welfare of all the gods be established once again.
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण च्यवनः परमार्थवित् । संजहार तपः कोपं समुत्पन्नं विरोधजम्
Thus addressed by Indra, Cyavana, who knew the highest truth, relinquished the ascetic anger that had arisen from their conflict.
देवमाश्वास्य संविग्नं भार्गवस्तु मदं ततः । व्यभजत्स्त्रीषु पानेषु द्यूतेषु मृगयासु च
Having reassured the anxious god, the Bhārgava then distributed his pride among women, intoxicating drinks, gambling, and hunting.
मदं विभज्य देवेन्द्रमाश्वास्य चकितं भिया । संस्थाप्य च सुरान्सर्वान्मखं तस्य न्यवर्तयत्
Dividing his pride, and reassuring the fearful Indra, he restored all the gods and brought their sacrifice to completion.
ततस्तु संस्कृतं सोमं वासवाय महात्मने । अश्विभ्यां सर्वधर्मात्मा पाययामास भार्गवः
Then the purified Soma was given by the virtuous Bhārgava to mighty Vāsava and the two Aśvins to drink.
एवं तौ च्यवनेनार्यावश्विनौ रविपुत्रकौ । विहितौ सोमपौ राजन् सर्वथा तपसो बलात्
Thus, by Cyavana's power, the noble Aśvins, sons of the Sun, became Soma-drinkers, O King, entirely by the force of his austerity.
सरस्तदपि विख्यातं जातं यूपविमण्डितम् । आश्रमस्तु मुनेः सम्यक् पृथिव्यां विश्रुतोऽभवत्
That lake, adorned with sacrificial posts, became renowned, and the sage's hermitage became famous throughout the earth.