नाकालमरणं तस्य कदापि च भविष्यति । सन्ततिश्चिरकालस्था भोगाः सर्वे सुखादयः
Untimely death will never befall him; his lineage will endure for a long time, and all enjoyments and happiness will arise.
सम्भविष्यन्ति तन्मर्त्यगृहे यः स्तोत्रपाठकः । किं पुनर्बहुनोक्तेन स्तोत्रं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
Such blessings will manifest in the house of that mortal who recites this hymn. Why say more? This hymn accomplishes all aims.
एतस्य पठनानॄणां भुक्तिमुक्ती न दूरतः । देवा भवत्सु यद्दुःखं कथ्यतां तदसंशयम्
By the recitation of this, enjoyment and liberation are not far off for people. O gods, whatever suffering you have, speak it without doubt.
नाशयामि न सन्देहश्चात्र कार्योऽणुरेव च । एवं श्रीभगवद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सर्वे दिवौकसः । प्रसन्नमनसः सर्वे पुनरूचुर्वृषाकपिम्
"I will destroy it—let there be no doubt at all in this." Thus, hearing the blessed Lord's words, all the dwellers of heaven, their minds gladdened, again addressed the bull-bannered one.
अगस्त्याश्वासनवर्णनम् सूत उवाच श्रीशस्य वचनाद्देवाः सन्तुष्टाः सर्व एव हि । प्रसन्नमनसो भूत्वा पुनरेनं समूचिरे
Sūta said: By the words of the blessed Lord, all the gods were satisfied; becoming gladdened in mind, they again addressed him.
देवा ऊचुः देवदेव महाविष्णो सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारण । विष्णो विन्ध्यनगोऽर्कस्य मार्गरोधं करोति हि
The gods said: "O God of gods, great Viṣṇu, cause of creation, maintenance, and destruction, O Viṣṇu, the Vindhya mountain is obstructing the path of the sun.
तेन भानुविरोधेन सर्व एव महाविभो । अलब्धभोगभागा हि किं कुर्मः कुत्र याम हि
Because of this opposition to the sun, O great Lord, we are all deprived of our share of enjoyment. What shall we do? Where shall we go?
श्रीभगवानुवाच या कर्त्री सर्वजगतामाद्या च कुलवर्धनी । देवी भगवती तस्याः पूजकः परमद्युतिः
The Blessed Lord said: "She who is the originator and increaser of all the worlds, the blessed Goddess—her worshipper, radiant in austerity,
अगस्त्यो मुनिवर्योऽसौ वाराणस्यां समासते । तत्तेजोवञ्चकोऽगस्त्यो भविष्यति सुरोत्तमाः
is the eminent sage Agastya, who resides in Vārāṇasī. O best of gods, Agastya will be the one to subdue that power.
तं प्रसाद्य द्विजवरमगस्त्यं परमौजसम् । याचध्वं विबुधाः काशीं गत्वा निःश्रेयसः पदीम्
Having propitiated that foremost of twice-born, Agastya of great might, go, O gods, to Kāśī and beseech him for the supreme good.
सूत उवाच एवं समुपदिष्टास्ते विष्णुना विबुधोत्तमाः । प्रतीताः प्रणताः सर्वे जग्मुर्वाराणसीं पुरीम्
Sūta said: Thus instructed by Viṣṇu, the best of the gods, full of faith and reverence, all went to the city of Vārāṇasī.
क्षणेन विबुधश्रेष्ठा गत्वा काशीपुरीं शुभाम् । मणिकर्णीं समाप्लुत्य सचैलं भक्तिसंयुताः
In a moment, the foremost of the gods reached the auspicious city of Kāśī; entering Maṇikarṇikā, clothed and filled with devotion, they bathed.
सन्तर्प्य देवांश्च पितॄन्दत्त्वा दानं विधानतः । आगत्य मुनिवर्यस्य चाश्रमं परमं महत्
Having satisfied the gods and ancestors by giving offerings according to the prescribed rites, they came to the great and exalted hermitage of the eminent sage.
प्रशान्तश्वापदाकीर्णं नानापादपसङ्कुलम् । मयूरैः सारसैर्हंसैश्चक्रवाकैरुपाश्रितम्
It was a place peaceful and free from wild beasts, dense with various trees, and frequented by peacocks, cranes, swans, and chakravaka birds.
महावराहैः कोलैश्च व्याघ्रैः शार्दूलकैरपि । मृगै रुरुभिरत्यर्थं खड्गैः शरभकैरपि
There were great wild boars, mongooses, tigers, leopards, deer, antelopes, and also rhinoceroses and sarabhas in abundance.
समाश्रितं परमया लक्ष्म्या मुनिवरं तदा । दण्डवत्पतिताः सर्वे प्रणेमुश्च पुनः पुनः
That eminent sage was endowed with supreme prosperity; all approached him, fell prostrate in reverence, and repeatedly bowed.
देवा ऊचुः जय द्विजगणाधीश मान्य पूज्य धरासुर । वातापीबलनाशाय नमस्ते कुम्भयोनये
The gods said: Victory to you, lord of the twice-born, honored and worshipped by gods and demons; salutations to you, O Kumbhayoni, destroyer of Vātāpī's strength.
लोपामुद्रापते श्रीमन्मित्रावरुणसम्भव । सर्वविद्यानिधेऽगस्त्य शास्त्रयोने नमोऽस्तु ते
O illustrious lord of Lopāmudrā, born of Mitra and Varuṇa, O Agastya, treasure of all knowledge, origin of scriptures, salutations to you.
यस्योदये प्रसन्नानि भवन्त्युज्ज्वलभांज्यपि । तोयानि तोयराशीनां तस्मै तुभ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते
At whose rising even the brightest waters of the oceans become serene; to you, salutations.
काशपुष्पविकासाय लङ्कावासप्रियाय च । जटामण्डलयुक्ताय सशिष्याय नमोऽस्तु ते
To you who cause the blooming of the Kāśa flowers, who are dear to the dwellers of Lanka, who are adorned with matted locks, together with your disciples, salutations.
जय सर्वामरस्तव्य गुणराशे महामुने । वरिष्ठाय च पूज्याय सस्त्रीकाय नमोऽस्तु ते
Victory to you, O sage praised by all the immortals, repository of virtues, most eminent and revered, together with your wife; salutations to you.
प्रसादः क्रियतां स्वामिन् वयं त्वां शरणं गताः । दुस्तराच्छैलजाद्दुःखात्पीडिताः परमद्युते
Grant us your favor, O master; we have come to you for refuge, afflicted by the unbearable suffering caused by the daughter of the mountain, O radiant one.
इत्येवं संस्तुतोऽगस्त्यो मुनिः परमधार्मिकः । प्राह प्रसन्नया वाचा विहसन् द्विजसत्तमः
Thus praised, Agastya, the supremely righteous sage, spoke with a gracious voice, smiling, O best of the twice-born.
मुनिरुवाच भवन्तः परमश्रेष्ठा देवास्त्रिभुवनेश्वराः । लोकपाला महात्मानो निग्रहानुग्रहक्षमाः
The sage said: You are the most excellent, O gods, rulers of the three worlds, guardians of the realms, great souls, capable of both restraint and favor.
योऽमरावत्यधीशानः कुलिशं यस्य चायुधम् । सिद्ध्यष्टकं च यद्द्वारि स शक्रो मरुतां पतिः
He who is the lord of Amaravati, whose weapon is the thunderbolt, at whose door are the eight siddhis—that is Śakra, lord of the Maruts.
वैश्वानरः कृशानुर्हि हव्यकव्यवहोऽनिशम् । मुखं सर्वामराणां हि सोऽग्निः किं तस्य दुष्करम्
Vaiśvānara, the fire, indeed carries offerings for gods and ancestors without ceasing; he is the mouth of all the immortals—what is difficult for him?
रक्षोगणाधिपो भीमः सर्वेषां कर्मसाक्षिकः । दण्डव्यग्रकरो देवः किं तस्यासुकरं सुराः
The formidable lord of the hosts of demons, witness of all deeds, the god whose hand wields the rod—what is hard for him, O gods?
तथापि यदि देवेशाः कार्यं मच्छक्तिसिद्धिभृत् । अस्ति चेदुच्यतां देवाः करिष्यामि न संशयः
Nevertheless, if you, O lords of the gods, have a task requiring the accomplishment of my power, then speak, O gods; I will do it without doubt.
एवं मुनिवरेणोक्तं निशम्य विबुधर्षभाः । प्रतीताः प्रणयोद्विग्नाः कार्यं निजगदुर्निजम्
Hearing these words spoken by the eminent sage, the foremost among the gods became confident, yet anxious with affection, and each stated their own purpose.
महर्षे विन्ध्यगिरिणा निरुद्धोऽर्कविनिर्गमः । त्रैलोक्यं तेन संविष्टं हाहाभूतमचेतनम्
O great sage, the passage of the sun has been obstructed by Mount Vindhya; because of this, the three worlds have become plunged into darkness and lifelessness.