गायत्रीजपसंसक्तः सकामस्तमसा युतः । दशवर्षसहस्राणि ततो वारिकणाशनः
Absorbed in reciting the Gāyatrī, filled with desire and enveloped in darkness, for ten thousand years he subsisted on water droplets.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि ततः पवनभोजनः । दशवर्षसहस्राणि निराहारोऽभवत्ततः
For another ten thousand years, he lived on air alone; then, for ten thousand years more, he remained without any food at all.
एवं तपस्यतस्तस्य शरीरादुत्थितोऽनलः । ददाह जगतीं सर्वां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
As he performed such austerities, fire arose from his body and burned the entire world; this appeared as something wondrous.
किमिदं किमिदं चेति देवाः सर्वे चकम्पिरे । सन्त्रस्ताः सकला लोका ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः
"What is this? What is this?" all the gods trembled; terrified, all the worlds sought refuge with Brahmā.
विज्ञापितं देववरैः श्रुत्वा तत्र चतुर्मुखः । गायत्रीसहितो हंससमारूढो ययौ मुदा
Hearing the plea of the best of the gods, the four-faced one, accompanied by Gāyatrī and mounted on a swan, joyfully set out.
प्राणमात्रावशिष्टं तं धमनीशतसङ्कुलम् । शुष्कोदरं क्षामगात्रं ध्यानमीलितलोचनम्
He saw him reduced to just breath, veins crowded together, his belly shriveled, limbs emaciated, and eyes closed in meditation.
ददर्श तेजसा दीप्तं द्वितीयमिव पावकम् । वरं वरय भद्रं ते वत्स यन्मनसि स्थितम्
He beheld him shining with brilliance, like a second fire; he said, "Choose a boon, good one, whatever is in your heart."
श्रुतिमात्रेण सन्तोषकारकं वाक्यमूचिवान् । श्रुत्वा ब्रह्ममुखाद्वाणीं सुधाधारामिवारुणः
Hearing these words, which brought satisfaction at their mere sound, Aruṇa, as if receiving a stream of nectar from Brahmā's mouth, was pleased.
उन्मीलिताक्षः पुरतो ददर्श जलजोद्भवम् । गायत्रीसहितं देवं चतुर्वेदसमन्वितम्
Opening his eyes, he saw before him the lotus-born god, accompanied by Gāyatrī and endowed with the four Vedas.
अक्षस्रक्कुण्डिकाहस्तं जपन्तं ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् । दृष्ट्वोत्थाय ननामाथ स्तुत्वा च विविधैः स्तवैः
He saw the eternal Brahmā, holding a rosary and water pot, reciting japa; rising up, he bowed and praised him with various hymns.
वरं वव्रे स्वबुद्धिस्थं मा भवेन्मृत्युरित्यपि । श्रुत्वारुणवचो ब्रह्मा बोधयामास सादरम्
He chose the boon that was fixed in his mind: 'Let there not be death for me.' Hearing Aruṇa's words, Brahmā began to instruct him respectfully.
ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्या मृत्युना कवलीकृताः । तदान्येषां तु का वार्ता मरणे दानवोत्तम
"Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa and others have been swallowed by death; so what can be said of others regarding death, O best of Dānavas?
वरं योग्यं ततो ब्रूहि दातुं यः शक्यते मया । नात्राग्रहं प्रकुर्वन्ति बुद्धिमन्तो जनाः क्वचित्
Therefore, ask for a suitable boon, one that I am able to grant; wise people never insist on the impossible.
इति ब्रह्मवचः श्रुत्वा पुनः प्रोवाच सादरम् । न युद्धे न च शस्त्रास्त्रान्न पुंभ्यो नापि योषितः
Hearing Brahmā's words, he again spoke respectfully: 'Let my death not come in battle, nor by weapons or missiles, nor from men or women.'
द्विपाद्भ्यो वा चतुष्पाद्भ्यो नोभयाकारतस्तथा । भवेन्मे मृत्युरित्येवं देव देहि वरं प्रभो
'Nor from two-footed or four-footed beings, nor from those of both forms; O Lord, grant me such a boon regarding death.'
बलं च विपुलं देहि येन देवजयो भवेत् । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तथास्त्विति वचोऽब्रवीत्
'And grant me great strength by which I may conquer the gods.' Hearing his words, Brahmā replied, 'So be it.'
दत्त्वा वरं जगामाशु पद्मजः स्वं निकेतनम् । ततोऽरुणाख्यो दैत्यस्तु पातालात्स्वाश्रयस्थितान्
Having granted the boon, the lotus-born swiftly returned to his own abode; then the demon named Aruṇa, filled with pride from Brahmā's boon, summoned the Daityas who dwelt in the netherworld.
दैत्यानाकारयामास ब्रह्मणो वरदर्पितः । आगत्य तेऽसुराः सर्वे दैत्येशं तं प्रचक्रिरे
The Daityas, coming at his command, all approached and acknowledged him, the lord of the Daityas.
दूतं च प्रेषयामासुर्युद्धार्थममरावतीम् । दूतवाक्यं तदा श्रुत्वा देवराड् भयकम्पितः
A messenger was sent to Amaravati for the purpose of war; upon hearing the messenger’s words, the king of the gods trembled with fear.
देवैः सार्धं जगामाशु ब्रह्मणः सदनं प्रति । ब्रह्मविष्णू पुरस्कृत्य जग्मुस्ते शङ्करालयम्
Together with the gods, he quickly went to the abode of Brahma; with Brahma and Vishnu at the forefront, they proceeded to the dwelling of Shankara.
विचारं चक्रिरे तत्र वधार्थं ते सुरद्रुहाम् । एतस्मिन्समये तत्र दैत्यसेनासमावृतः
There, they deliberated about destroying those who were enemies of the gods; at that very moment, the place was surrounded by the army of the demons.
अरुणाख्यो दैत्यराजो जगामाशु त्रिविष्टपम् । सूर्येन्दुयमवह्नीनामधिकारान्पृथक्पृथक्
Aruna, the king of the demons, quickly went to the realm of the gods; he seized the separate domains of the Sun, Moon, Yama, and Agni.
स्वयं चकार तपसा नानारूपधरो मुने । स्वस्वस्थानच्युताः सर्वे जग्मुः कैलासमण्डलम्
By his own austerity, assuming various forms, O sage, he himself took control; all the deities, displaced from their own abodes, went to the region of Kailasa.
शशंसुः शङ्करं देवाः स्वस्वदुःखं पृथक्पृथक् । महान् विचारस्तत्रासीत्किं कर्तव्यमतः परम्
The gods each separately reported their own suffering to Shankara; there was great deliberation there about what should be done next.
न युद्धेन च शस्त्रास्त्रैर्न पुंभ्यो नापि योषितः । द्विपाद्भ्यो वा चतुष्पाद्भ्यो नोभयाकारतोऽपि वा
Neither by war, nor by weapons or missiles, nor by men, nor by women, nor by bipeds, nor by quadrupeds, nor by any being of both forms—
मृत्युर्भवेदिति ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच वचनं यतः । इति चिन्तातुराः सर्वे कर्तुं किञ्चिन्न च क्षमाः
—can death come to him, said Brahma, explaining the reason; thus, all were anxious in thought, unable to do anything.
एतस्मिन्समये तत्र वागभूदशरीरिणी । भजध्वं भुवनेशानीं सा वः कार्यं विधास्यति
At that moment, a bodiless voice arose there: 'Worship the Lady of the Worlds; she will accomplish your task.'
गायत्रीजपसंसक्तो दैत्यराड् यदि तां त्यजेत् । मृत्युयोग्यस्तदा भूयादित्युच्चैस्तोषकारिणी
'If the demon king, absorbed in the recitation of Gayatri, should abandon her, then he will become subject to death,' the voice declared loudly, bringing joy.
श्रुत्वा दैवीं तथा वाणीं मन्त्रयामासुरादृताः । बृहस्पतिं समाहूय वचनं प्राह देवराट्
Hearing that divine voice, the gods respectfully consulted together; summoning Brihaspati, the king of the gods spoke these words:
गुरो गच्छ सुराणां तु कार्यार्थमसुरं प्रति । यथा भवेच्च गायत्रीत्यागस्तस्य तथा कुरु
'O teacher, go to the demon for the sake of the gods’ purpose; do whatever is needed so that he abandons the Gayatri.'