देवान्स पीडयामास प्रह्लादः शत्रुकर्षणः । संग्रामो ह्यभवद् घोरः शक्रप्रह्लादयोस्तदा
Prahlāda, the subduer of enemies, began to oppress the gods; then there was a fierce war between Śakra and Prahlāda.
पूर्णं वर्षशतं राजँल्लोकविस्मयकारकम् । देवैर्युद्धं कृतं चोग्रं प्रह्रादस्तु पराजितः
For a full hundred years, O King, a terrible war was waged by the gods, astonishing the worlds, and at last Prahlāda was defeated.
निर्वेदं परमं प्राप्तो ज्ञात्वा धर्मं सनातनम् । विरोचनसुतं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य बलिं नृप
Having attained supreme dispassion, and realizing the eternal Dharma, Prahlāda installed Bali, the son of Virocana, on the throne.
जगाम स तपस्तप्तुं पर्वते गन्धमादने । प्राप्य राज्यं बलिः श्रीमान्सुरैर्वैरं चकार ह
He went to perform austerities on Mount Gandhamādana; Bali, having gained the kingdom, entered into enmity with the gods.
यतः परस्परं युद्धं जातं परमदारुणम् । ततः सुरैर्जिता दैत्या इन्द्रेणामिततेजसा
Because of this, a most dreadful war broke out between them; then the Daityas were defeated by the gods, led by Indra of immeasurable brilliance.
विष्णुना च सहायेन राज्यभ्रष्टाः कृता नृप । ततः पराजिता दैत्याः काव्यस्य शरणं गताः
With Viṣṇu as their ally, O King, the gods deprived the Daityas of their kingdom; thus defeated, the Daityas sought refuge with Kāvya.
किं त्वं न कुरुषे ब्रह्मन् साहाय्यं नः प्रतापवान् । स्थातुं न शक्नुमो ह्यत्र प्रविशामो रसातलम्
"O powerful Brāhmaṇa, why do you not help us? We are unable to remain here; let us enter the netherworld."
यदि त्वं न सहायोऽसि त्रातुं मन्त्रविदुत्तम । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्तः सोऽब्रवीद्दैत्यान्काव्यः कारुणिको मुनिः
"If you, O foremost knower of mantras, will not assist us and protect us, then—" Vyāsa said: Thus addressed, the compassionate sage Kāvya spoke to the Daityas.
मा भैष्ट धारयिष्यामि तेजसा स्वेन भोऽसुराः । मन्त्रैस्तथौषधीभिश्च साहाय्यं वः सदैव हि
"Do not fear, O Asuras; I will protect you with my own power, and always aid you with mantras and herbs."
करिष्यामि कृतोत्साहा भवन्तु विगतज्वराः । व्यास उवाच ततस्ते निर्भया जाता दैत्याः काव्यस्य संश्रयात्
"I will help you with all my effort; let your distress be gone." Vyāsa said: Then, by taking refuge in Kāvya, the Daityas became fearless.
देवैः श्रुतस्तु वृत्तान्तः सर्वैश्चारमुखात्किल । तत्र संमन्त्र्य ते देवाः शक्रेण च परस्परम्
The gods learned all these events from their spies; thereupon, they held counsel together with Śakra.
मन्त्रं चक्रुः सुसंविग्नाः काव्यमन्त्रप्रभावतः । योद्धुं गच्छामहे तूर्णं यावन्न च्यावयन्ति वै
Greatly disturbed by the power of Kāvya's mantras, they devised a plan: "Let us go quickly to fight, before they recover."
प्रसह्य हत्वा शिष्टांस्तु पातालं प्रापयामहे । दैत्याञ्जग्मुस्ततो देवाः संरुष्टाः शस्त्रपाणयः
"Let us forcibly slay the survivors and send them to Pātāla." Then the gods, enraged and armed, marched against the Daityas.
जग्मुस्तान्विष्णुसहिता दानवान् हरिणोदिताः । वध्यमानास्तु ते दैत्याः सन्त्रस्ता भयपीडिताः
Accompanied by Viṣṇu, the gods, urged on by Hari, attacked the Dānavas; as they were being slain, the Daityas, terrified and afflicted by fear,
काव्यस्य शरणं जग्मू रक्ष रक्षेति चाब्रुवन् । ताञ्छुक्रः पीडितान्दृष्ट्वा देवैर्दैत्यान्महाबलान्
sought refuge with Kāvya, crying, "Protect us, protect us!" Seeing the mighty Daityas oppressed by the gods,
मा भैष्टेति वचः प्राह मन्त्रौषधिबलाद्विभुः । दृष्ट्वा काव्यं सुराः सर्वे त्यक्त्वा तान्प्रययुः किल
Śukra, empowered by mantras and herbs, said, "Do not fear." When the gods saw Kāvya, they withdrew and left the Daityas.
शुक्रमातुर्वधवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच तथा गतेषु देवेषु काव्यस्तान्प्रत्युवाच ह । ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमुक्तं यच्छ्रुणुध्वं दानवोत्तमाः
Vyasa said: When the gods had departed, Kavi addressed them thus: Hear what was formerly spoken by Brahma, O foremost among the Danavas.
विष्णुर्दैत्यवधे युक्तो हनिष्यति जनार्दनः । वाराहरूपं संस्थाय हिरण्याक्षो यथा हतः
Vishnu, intent on the destruction of the demons, will slay them, O Janardana; assuming the form of the boar, he killed Hiranyaksha.
यथा नृसिंहरूपेण हिरण्यकशिपुर्हतः । तथा सर्वान्कृतोत्साहो हनिष्यति न चान्यथा
Just as, in the form of Narasimha, he killed Hiranyakashipu, so, being fully determined, he will slay all; it cannot be otherwise.
न मे मन्त्रबलं सम्यक्प्रतिभाति यथा हरिम् । जेतुं यूयं समर्थाः स्थ मया त्राताः सुरानथ
My power of mantra does not seem sufficient to overcome Hari; you are capable of victory, having been protected by me, O lord of the gods.
तस्मात्कालं प्रतीक्षध्वं कियन्तं दानवोत्तमाः । अहमद्य महादेवं मन्त्रार्थं प्रव्रजामि वै
Therefore, wait for some time, O foremost among the Danavas; today I shall go to Mahadeva for the sake of mantras.
प्राप्य मन्त्रान्महादेवादागमिष्यामि साम्प्रतम् । युष्मभ्यं तान्प्रदास्यामि यथार्थं दानवोत्तमाः
Having obtained the mantras from Mahadeva, I will return soon; I will give them to you as is proper, O foremost among the Danavas.
दैत्या ऊचुः पराजिताः कथं स्थातुं पृथिव्यां मुनिसत्तम । शक्ता भवामोऽप्यबलास्तावत्कालं प्रतीक्षितुम्
The demons said: How can we, having been defeated, remain on earth, O best of sages? Though weak, we are able to wait for some time.
निहता बलिनः सर्वे केचिच्छिष्टाश्च दानवाः । नाद्य युक्ताश्च संग्रामे स्थातुमेवं सुखावहाः
All the powerful ones have been slain; only a few demons remain. We are not fit to stand in battle now, nor is it pleasant thus.
शुक्र उवाच यावदहं मन्त्रविद्यामानयिष्यामि शङ्करात् । तावद्भवद्भिः स्थातव्यं तपोयुक्तैः शमान्वितैः
Shukra said: Until I bring the mantra knowledge from Shankara, you must remain engaged in austerity and endowed with tranquility.
सामदानादयः प्रोक्ता विद्वद्भिः समयोचिताः । देशं कालं बलं वीरैर्ज्ञात्वा शक्तिं बलं बुधैः
Conciliation and other means, as spoken by the wise, are appropriate to the situation; knowing the place, time, strength, and power, the wise heroes act accordingly.
सेवाथ समये कार्या शत्रूणां शुभकाम्यया । स्वशक्त्युपचये काले हन्तव्यास्ते मनीषिभिः
Service at the proper time should be performed for the welfare of enemies; when one's own strength increases, then the wise should destroy them.
तदद्य विनयं कृत्वा सामपूर्वं छलेन वै । तिष्ठध्वं स्वनिकेतेषु मदागमनकाङ्क्षया
Therefore, today, act with humility, using conciliation and deception; remain in your own dwellings, awaiting my return.
प्राप्य मन्त्रान्महादेवादागमिष्यामि दानवाः । युध्यामहे पुनर्देवान्मान्त्रमास्थाय वै बलम्
Having obtained the mantras from Mahadeva, I will return, O demons; then, relying on mantra power, we shall fight the gods again.
इत्युक्त्वाथ भृगुस्तेभ्यो जगाम कृतनिश्चयः । महादेवं महाराज मन्त्रार्थं मुनिसत्तमः
Having spoken thus, Bhrigu, resolved in mind, departed to Mahadeva, O great king, for the sake of mantras, O best of sages.