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.
नारायणस्तु चिच्छेद विशिखैराशु कोपितः । छिन्ने धनुषि दैत्येन्द्रः परिघं तु समाददे
Nārāyaṇa, enraged, quickly cut those bows with his arrows. When his bow was destroyed, the lord of Daityas seized a mace.
जघान धर्मजं तूर्णं बाह्वोर्मध्येऽतिकोपनः । तमायान्तं स बलवान्मार्गणैर्नवभिर्मुनिः
In great anger, he struck Dharmaja swiftly between the arms. As he charged, the powerful sage struck him with nine arrows.
चिच्छेद परिघं घोरं दशभिस्तमताडयत् । गदामादाय दैत्येन्द्रः सर्वायसमयीं दृढाम्
With ten arrows, he cut the dreadful mace and struck him. Then the Daitya king took up a mighty iron club.
जानुदेशे जघानाशु देवं नारायणं रुषा । गदया चापि गिरिवत्संस्थितः स्थिरमानसः
In anger, he struck Nārāyaṇa on the knee with that club. Yet, standing firm like a mountain, his mind unwavering,
धर्मपुत्रोऽतिबलवान्मुमोचाशु शिलीमुखान् । गदां चिच्छेद भगवांस्तदा दैत्यपतेर्दृढाम्
the son of Dharma, exceedingly strong, swiftly released arrows. At that moment, the Blessed Lord cut the Daitya king’s sturdy club.
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः प्रेक्षका गगने स्थिताः । स तु शक्तिं समादाय प्रह्लादः परवीरहा
Those watching from the sky were filled with utmost wonder. Then Prahlāda, destroyer of enemy heroes, took up a spear.
चिक्षेप तरसा क्रुद्धो बलान्नारायणोरसि । तामापतन्तीं संवीक्ष्य बाणेनैकेन लीलया
Enraged, he hurled it with force at Nārāyaṇa’s chest. Seeing it rushing toward him, with a single effortless arrow,
सप्तधा कृतवानाशु सप्तभिस्तं जघान ह । दिव्यवर्षशतं चैव तद्युद्धं परमं तयोः
he instantly split it into seven pieces and struck Prahlāda with seven arrows. That supreme battle between them lasted a divine hundred years.
जातं विस्मयदं राजन् सर्वेषां तत्र चाश्रमे । तदाऽऽजगाम तरसा पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः
O King, that wondrous event in the hermitage amazed everyone. Then, with great speed, the yellow-robed, four-armed one arrived.
प्रह्लादस्याश्रमं तत्र जगाम च गदाधरः । चतुर्भुजो रमाकान्तो रथाङ्गदरपद्मभृत्
Gadādhara came to Prahlāda’s hermitage, bearing the discus, lotus, and club, the four-armed beloved of Lakṣmī.
दृष्ट्वा तमागतं तत्र हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः । प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्युवाच ह
Seeing him arrive, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu bowed with deep devotion, palms joined, and spoke as follows:
प्रह्लाद उवाच देवदेव जगनाथ भक्तवत्सल माधव । कथं न जितवानाजावहमेतौ तपस्विनौ । संग्रामस्तु मया देव कृतः पूर्णं शतं समाः
Prahlāda said: O God of gods, Lord of the universe, friend of devotees, Mādhava, how is it that I have not conquered these two ascetics in battle? O Lord, I have fought this war for a full hundred years.
सुराणां न जितौ कस्मादिति मे विस्मयो महान् । विष्णुरुवाच सिद्धाविमौ मदंशौ च विस्मयः कोऽत्र मारिष
Why were the gods not victorious? This greatly amazes me. Vishnu said: These two are perfected beings, free from pride; what is there to wonder at in this, O Marisha?
तापसौ न जितात्मानौ नरनारायणौ जितौ । गच्छ त्वं वितलं राजन् कुरु भक्तिं ममाचलाम्
Those ascetics, Nara and Narayana, have conquered themselves and cannot be overcome. Go, O King, to Vitala and render unwavering devotion to me.
नाभ्यां कुरु विरोधं त्वं तापसाभ्यां महामते । व्यास उवाच इत्याज्ञप्तो दैत्यराजो निर्ययावसुरैः सह
Do not oppose those two ascetics, O wise one. Vyasa said: Thus instructed, the king of the Daityas departed together with the asuras.
नरनारायणौ भूयस्तपोयुक्तौ बभूवतुः
Nara and Narayana again became engaged in intense austerities.
भृगुशापकारणवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच सन्देहोऽयं महानत्र पाराशर्य कथानके । नरनारायणौ शान्तौ वैष्णवांशौ तपोधनौ
The reason for Bhrigu's curse. Janamejaya said: O descendant of Parashara, I have a great doubt regarding this story. Nara and Narayana are peaceful, of the Vaishnava line, and rich in austerity.
तीर्थाश्रयौ सत्त्वयुक्तौ वन्याशनपरौ सदा । धर्मपुत्रौ महात्मानौ तापसौ सत्यसंस्थितौ
They dwell at sacred places, endowed with purity, always subsisting on forest fare; sons of Dharma, great-souled ascetics, steadfast in truth.
कथं रागसमायुक्तौ जातौ युद्धे परस्परम् । संग्रामं चक्रतुः कस्मात्त्यक्त्वा तपिमनुत्तमाम्
How did they, possessed of passion, come to fight each other in battle? For what reason did they abandon supreme austerity and engage in war?
प्रह्लादेन समं पूर्णं दिव्यवर्षशतं किल । हित्वा शान्तिसुखं युद्धं कृतवन्तौ कथं मुनी
For a full divine hundred years, it is said, together with Prahlada, they fought, forsaking the peace and happiness of tranquility—how did those sages do so?