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.'
अस्माभिः परमेशानी सेव्यते ध्यानयोगतः । प्रसन्ना सा भगवती साहाय्यं ते करिष्यति
'We will serve the Supreme Lady through meditation and yoga; if she is pleased, the Blessed Goddess will grant you assistance.'
इत्यादिश्य गुरुं सर्वे जग्मुर्जाम्बूनदेश्वरीम् । सास्मान्दैत्यभयत्रस्तान् पालयिष्यति शोभना
Thus instructing the teacher, they all went to the Lady of Jambunada; that Auspicious One will protect us, who are terrified by the fear of the demon.
तत्र गत्वा तपश्चर्यां चक्रुः सर्वे सुनिष्ठिताः । मायाबीजजपासक्ता देवीमखपरायणाः
Going there, they all undertook austerities with firm resolve; absorbed in the recitation of the seed-mantra of Maya, devoted to the worship of the Goddess.
बृहस्पतिस्तदा शीघ्रं जगामासुरसन्निधौ । आगतं मुनिवर्यं तं पप्रच्छाथ स दैत्यराट्
Then Brihaspati quickly went to the presence of the demon; seeing the eminent sage arrive, the demon king questioned him.
मुने कुत्रागमः कस्मात्किमर्थमिति मे वद । नाहं युष्मत्पक्षपाती प्रत्युतारातिरेव च
'O sage, why have you come here, for what reason, and for what purpose? Tell me. I am not partial to your side; in fact, I am your enemy.'
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच मुनिनायकः । अस्मत्सेव्या च या देवी सा त्वया पूज्यतेऽनिशम्
Hearing his words, the chief of sages replied: 'The very Goddess whom we serve is the one you worship constantly.'
तस्मादस्मत्पक्षपाती न भवेस्त्वं कथं वद । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मोहितो देवमायया
Therefore, tell me, how could you not be partial to our side? Hearing these words, he was bewildered by the divine illusion.
तत्याज परमं मन्त्रमभिमानेन सत्तम । गायत्रीत्यागतो दैत्यो निस्तेजस्को बभूव ह
Out of pride, the excellent Daitya abandoned the supreme mantra; having forsaken the Gayatri, he became devoid of brilliance.
कृतकार्यो गुरुस्तस्मात्स्थानान्निर्गतवान्पुनः । ततो वृत्तान्तमखिलं कथयामास वज्रिणे
Having accomplished his task, the guru departed from that place; then he narrated the entire event to the wielder of the thunderbolt.
संतुष्टास्ते सुराः सर्वे भेजिरे परमेश्वरीम् । एवं बहुगते काले कस्मिंश्चित्समये मुने
All the gods, satisfied, worshipped the Supreme Goddess; thus, after much time had passed, at some moment, O sage—