व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नरः प्रोवाच भारत । का ते चिन्तात्र दैत्येन्द्र वृथा तपसि चावयोः
Vyasa said: Hearing these words, Nara spoke, 'Why are you, O lord of the Daityas, needlessly concerned about our austerities?''
सामर्थ्ये सति यत्कुर्यात्तत्संपद्येत तस्य हि । आवां कार्यद्वये मन्द समर्थौ लोकविश्रुतौ
'Whatever one does with ability, that alone succeeds for him. We are renowned in the world as capable in both undertakings, O dull one.'
युद्धे तपसि सामर्थ्यं त्वं पुनः किं करिष्यसि । गच्छ मार्गे यथाकामं कस्मादत्र विकत्थसे
'Whether in battle or in austerity, ability is what matters. What else will you do? Go your way as you wish—why do you boast here?''
ब्रह्मतेजो दुराराध्यं न त्वं वेद विमोहितः । विप्रचर्चा न कर्तव्या प्राणिभिः सुखमीप्सुभिः
'The Brahmanic power is difficult to attain—you do not know this, being deluded. Disputes should not be engaged in by those who desire happiness.'
प्रह्लाद उवाच तापसौ मन्दबुद्धी स्थो मृषा वां गर्वमोहितौ । मयि तिष्ठति दैत्येन्द्रे धर्मसेतुप्रवर्तके
Prahlada said: 'You two ascetics are of dull intellect, your pride is in vain. While I, Prahlada, lord of the Daityas and upholder of dharma, stand here.'
न युक्तमेतत्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नधर्माचरणं पुनः । का शक्तिस्तव युद्धेऽस्ति दर्शयाद्य तपोधन
'It is not proper to act unrighteously at this holy place. What power do you have in battle? Show it today, O possessor of austerity.'
व्यास उवाच तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य नरस्तं प्रत्युवाच ह । युद्धस्वाद्य मया सार्धं यदि ते मतिरीदृशी
Vyasa said: Hearing those words, the man replied to him, 'If such is your resolve, then fight with me now.'
अद्य ते स्फोटयिष्यामि मूर्धानमसुराधम । ( युद्धे श्रद्धा न ते पश्चाद्भविष्यति कदाचन ।)
'Today I will shatter your head, O lowest of asuras! After this, you will never again have any confidence in battle.'
प्रह्लादो बलवानत्र प्रतिज्ञामारुरोह सः । येन केनाप्युपायेन जेष्यामि तावुभावपि
Prahlada, who was powerful, then made a vow: 'By any means whatsoever, I will defeat both of them.'
नरनारायणौ दान्तावृषी तपिसमन्वितौ । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा वचनं दैत्यः प्रतिगृह्य शरासनम्
Nara and Narayana, restrained and endowed with ascetic power—Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the demon took up his bow.
आकृष्य तरसा चापं ज्याशब्दञ्च चकार ह । नरोऽपि धनुरादाय शरांस्तीव्राञ्छिलाशितान्
Drawing his bow with force, he made the string resound; Nara, too, took up his bow and sharp, stone-tipped arrows.
मुमोच बहुशः कोधात्प्रह्लादोपरि पार्थिव
Out of anger, the king released many fierce arrows upon Prahlada.
तान्दैत्यराजस्तपनीयपुङ्खै- श्चिच्छेद बाणैस्तरसा समेत्य । समीक्ष्य छिन्नांश्च नरः स्वसृष्टा- नन्यान्मुमोचाशु रुषान्वितो वै
The king of the demons swiftly cut down those arrows with his own, tipped with golden points; seeing his arrows cut down, Nara, enraged, quickly released others that he had created.
दैत्याथिपस्तानपि तीव्रवेगै- श्छित्त्वा जघानोरसि तं मुनीन्द्रम् । नरोऽपि तं पञ्चभिराशुगैश्च कुद्धोऽहनद्दैत्यपतिं बाहुदेशे
The lord of the demons, too, cut down those arrows, which came with great speed, and struck that best of sages in the chest; Nara, angered, struck the lord of the demons on the arm with five swift arrows.
सेन्द्राः सुरास्तत्र तयोर्हि युद्धं द्रष्टुं विमानैर्गगनस्थिताश्च । नरस्य वीर्यं युधि संस्थितस्य ते तुष्टुवुर्दैत्यपतेश्च भूयः
The gods, along with Indra, stood in the sky in their celestial chariots to witness the battle between the two; they praised Nara's valor in combat, and also praised the lord of the demons.
ववर्ष दैत्याधिप आत्तचापः शिलीमुखानम्बुधरो यथापः । आदाय शार्ङ्ग धनुरप्रमेयं मुमोच बाणाञ्छितहेमपुङ्खान्
The lord of the demons, bow in hand, rained arrows like a cloud pours down water; taking up the immeasurable Sharnga bow, he released arrows with golden-feathered shafts.
बभूव युद्धं तुमुलं तयोस्तु जयैषिणोः पार्थिव देवदैत्ययोः । ववर्षुराकाशपथे स्थितास्ते पुष्पाणि दिव्यानि प्रहृष्टचित्ताः
A tumultuous battle arose between those two, the king and the divine demon, both striving for victory; those standing in the sky, their hearts delighted, showered divine flowers.
चुकोप दैत्याधिपतिर्हरौ स मुमोच बाणानतितीव्रवेगान् । चिच्छेद तान्धर्मसुतः सुतीक्ष्णै- र्धनुर्विमुक्तैर्विशिखैस्तदाऽऽशु
The lord of the demons grew angry at Hari and released arrows with tremendous speed; the son of Dharma swiftly cut them down with his own sharp, bow-released arrows.
ततो नारायणं बाणैः प्रह्लादश्चातिकर्षितैः । ववर्ष सुस्थितं वीरं धर्मपुत्रं सनातनम् । नारायणोऽपि तं वेगान्मुक्तैर्बाणैः शिलाशितैः
Then Prahlada showered Narayana, the steadfast and eternal son of Dharma, with exceedingly powerful arrows; Narayana, too, struck him forcefully with stone-tipped arrows released from his bow.
तुतोदातीव पुरतो दैत्यानामधिपं स्थितम् । सन्निपातोऽम्बरे तत्र दिदृक्षूणां बभूव ह
He struck the lord of the demons, who stood before him, with great force; in the sky there was a gathering of those eager to witness the event.
देवानां दानवानाञ्च कुर्वतां जयघोषणम् । उभयोः शरवर्षेण छादिते गगने तदा
The gods and the demons both proclaimed victory as they fought; at that time, the sky was covered by the shower of arrows from both sides.
दिवापि रात्रिसदृशं बभूव तिमिरं महत् । ऊचुः परस्परं देवा दैत्याश्चातीव विस्मिताः
Even in daylight, a great darkness arose, as if it were night; the gods and demons, greatly astonished, spoke to one another.
अदृष्टपूर्वं युद्धं वै वर्ततेऽद्य सुदारुणम् । देवर्षयोऽथ गन्धर्वा यक्षकिन्नरपन्नगाः
'Such a fierce battle as this has never been seen before!' The divine sages, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Nagas—
विद्याधराश्चारणाश्च विस्मयं परमं ययुः । नारदः पर्वतश्चैव प्रेक्षणार्थं स्थितौ मुनी
The Vidyadharas and Charanas, too, were filled with utmost wonder; Narada and Parvata, the sages, stood there to witness the scene.
नारदः पर्वतं प्राह नेदृशं चाभवत्पुरा । तारकासुरयुद्धञ्च तथा वृत्रासुरस्य च
Nārada said to Parvata: Never before has there been such a battle, not even in the wars with Tārakāsura or Vṛtrāsura.
मधुकैटभयोर्युद्धं हरिणा चेदृशं कृतम् । प्रह्लादः प्रबलः शूरो यस्मान्नारायणेन च
Even in the battle between Madhu and Kaiṭabha, Hari did not fight in this way; Prahlāda is powerful and valiant, for even Nārāyaṇa himself—
करोति सदृशं युद्धं सिद्धेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । व्यास उवाच दिने दिने तथा रात्रौ कृत्वा कृत्वा पुनः पुनः
—fights a battle of equal might with this accomplished and wondrous warrior. Vyāsa said: Day after day and night after night, again and again,
चक्रतुः परमं युद्धं तौ तदा दैत्यतापसौ । नारायणस्तु चिच्छेद प्रह्लादस्य शरासनम्
those two, the Daitya ascetic and Nārāyaṇa, engaged in supreme combat. Then Nārāyaṇa swiftly cut Prahlāda’s bow with a single arrow.
तरसैकेन बाणेन स चान्यद्धनुराददे । नारायणस्तु तरसा मुक्त्वान्यञ्च शिलीमुखम्
With one arrow, he broke it, and Prahlāda took up another bow. Nārāyaṇa, with force, released another sharp arrow—
तदैव मध्यतश्चापं चिच्छेद लघुहस्तकः । छिन्नं छिन्नं पुनर्दैत्यो धनुरन्यत्समाददे
and at once, with his nimble hand, he split that bow in the middle. Each time his bow was broken, the Daitya took up another.