दानवाः प्रेषयामासुः प्रह्लादं सुरसन्निधौ । सत्यवादिनमव्यग्रं सुराणां प्रत्ययप्रदम्
The demons sent Prahlada to the assembly of the gods, he who speaks truth, is undisturbed, and inspires confidence among the gods.
प्रह्लादस्तु सुरान्प्राह प्रश्रयावनतो नृपः । असुरैः सहितस्तत्र वचनं नम्रतायुतम्
Prahlada, bowing respectfully, addressed the gods, O king, together with the Asuras, his words filled with humility.
न्यस्तशस्त्रा वयं सर्वे निःसन्नाहास्तथैव च । देवास्तपश्चरिष्यामः संवृता वल्कलैर्युताः
We have all laid down our weapons and armor; O gods, we shall practice austerity, clothed in bark garments.
प्रह्लादस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सत्याभिव्याहृतं तु तत् । ततो देवा न्यवर्तन्त विज्वरा मुदिताश्च ते
Hearing Prahlada's words, spoken truthfully, the gods then withdrew, free from distress and filled with joy.
न्यस्तशस्त्रेषु दैत्येषु विनिवृत्तास्तदा सुराः । विश्रब्धाः स्वगृहान्गत्वा क्रीडासक्ताः सुसंस्थिताः
When the demons had laid down their weapons, the gods withdrew; feeling secure, they returned to their own homes, absorbed in play and well-settled.
दैत्या दम्भं समालम्ब्य तापसास्तपिसंयुताः । कश्यपस्याश्रमे वासं चक्रुः काव्यागमेच्छया
The demons, adopting hypocrisy and assuming the guise of ascetics, took up residence in Kaśyapa’s hermitage, desiring to learn the Vedic rituals.
काव्यो गत्वाथ कैलासं महादेवं प्रणम्य च । उवाच विभुना पृष्टः किं ते कार्यमिति प्रभुः
Kāvya then went to Kailāsa, bowed to Mahādeva, and when the Lord asked, 'What do you seek?' he replied.
मन्त्रानिच्छाम्यहं देव ये न सन्ति बृहस्पतौ । पराजयाय देवानामसुराणां जयाय च
O God, I desire those mantras which are not with Bṛhaspati, for the defeat of the gods and the victory of the demons.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सर्वज्ञः शङ्करः शिवः । चिन्तयामास मनसा किं कर्तव्यमतः परम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, Śaṅkara, the all-knowing Śiva, pondered in his mind what should be done next.
सुरेषु द्रोहबुद्ध्यासौ मन्त्रार्थमिह साम्प्रतम् । प्राप्तः काव्यो गुरुस्तेषां दैत्यानां विजयाय च
Now, Kāvya, the guru of the demons, has come here seeking mantras with the intention of betraying the gods and ensuring the victory of the demons.
रक्षणीया मया देवा इति सञ्चिन्त्य शङ्करः । दुष्करं व्रतमत्युग्रं तमुवाच महेश्वरः
Thinking, 'I must protect the gods,' Śaṅkara, the great Lord, spoke to him of a most difficult and severe vow.
पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु कणधूममवाक्छिराः । यदि पास्यसि भद्रं ते ततो मन्त्रानवाप्स्यसि
If, for a full thousand years, you drink only smoke, standing with your head downward, then you will obtain the mantras—may you fare well.
इत्युक्तोऽसौ प्रणम्येशं बाढमित्यब्रवीद्वचः । व्रतं चराम्यहं देव त्वयाज्ञप्तः सुरेश्वर
Thus addressed, he bowed to the Lord and said, 'So be it; I will observe the vow, O Lord of the gods, as you have commanded.'
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा शङ्करं काव्यश्चकार व्रतमुत्तमम् । धूमपानरतः शान्तो मन्त्रार्थं कृतनिश्चयः
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus to Śaṅkara, Kāvya undertook the supreme vow, devoted to consuming smoke, tranquil, and firmly resolved to obtain the mantras.
ततो देवाः परिज्ञाय काव्यं व्रतरतं तदा । दैत्यान्दम्भरतांश्चैव बभूवुर्मन्त्रतत्पराः
Then the gods, perceiving that Kāvya was engaged in his vow and the demons were absorbed in hypocrisy, became intent on the mantras.
विचार्य मनसा सर्वे संग्रामायोद्यता नृप । ययुर्धृतायुधास्तत्र यत्र ते दानवोत्तमाः
Having considered in their minds, all prepared for battle, O King, and, taking up their weapons, went to where those foremost of the Dānavas were.
तानागतान्समीक्ष्याथ सायुधान्दंशितांस्तथा । आसंस्ते भयसंविग्ना दैत्या देवान्समन्ततः
Seeing them arrive, armed and fierce, the demons, surrounded on all sides by the gods, became filled with fear and anxiety.
उत्पेतुः सहसा ते वै सन्नद्धान्भयकर्शिताः । अब्रुवन्वचनं तथ्यं ते देवान्वलदर्पितान्
Suddenly, seized by fear, they sprang up, fully armed, and spoke these truthful words to the gods, proud of their strength.
न्यस्तशस्त्रे भयवति आचार्ये व्रतमास्थिते । दत्त्वाभयं पुरा देवाः सम्प्राप्ता नो जिघांसया
While our weapons are laid down, our teacher is engaged in a vow, and you gods, having previously granted us safety, have now come with the intent to kill us.
सत्यं वः क्व गतं देवा धर्मश्च श्रुतिनोदितः । न्यस्तशस्त्रा न हन्तव्या भीताश्च शरणं गताः
Where has your truth gone, O gods, and the righteousness spoken of in the scriptures? Those who have laid down their weapons and are fearful, having sought refuge, should not be slain.
देवा ऊचुः भवद्भिः प्रेषितः काव्यो मन्त्रार्थं कुहकेन च । तपो ज्ञातं हि युष्माकं तेन युध्याम एव हि
The gods said: Kāvya was sent by you, through deceit, to obtain the mantras; your austerity is known, and therefore we fight.
सज्जा भवन्तु युद्धाय संरब्धाः शस्त्रपाणयः । शत्रुश्छिद्रेण हन्तव्य एष धर्मः सनातनः
Let all be ready for battle, eager, with weapons in hand; the enemy must be struck at his vulnerable point—this is the eternal law.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं दैत्या विचार्य च परस्परम् । पलायनपराः सर्वे निर्गता भयविह्वलाः
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words, the demons deliberated among themselves; then, overwhelmed by fear, they all fled.
शरणं दानवा जग्मुर्भीतास्ते काव्यमातरम् । दृष्ट्वा तानतिसन्तप्तानभयं च ददावथ
The terrified demons sought refuge with Kāvya's mother; seeing them so greatly distressed, she granted them safety.
काव्यमातोवाच न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं भयं त्यजत दानवाः । मत्सन्निधौ वर्तमानान्न भीर्भवितुमर्हति
Kāvya's mother spoke: 'Do not fear, do not fear; abandon your terror, O demons. While you remain in my presence, you need not be afraid.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं दैत्याः स्थितास्तत्र गतव्यथाः । निरायुधा ह्यसंभ्रान्तास्तत्राश्रमवरेऽसुराः
Hearing her words, the demons stayed there, free from distress; unarmed and untroubled, they remained in that excellent hermitage.
देवास्तान्विद्रुतान्वीक्ष्य दानवास्ते पदानुगाः । अभिजग्मुः प्रसह्यैतानविचार्य बलाबलम्
The gods, seeing the demons fleeing and following their footsteps, pursued them, considering their own strength and weakness.
तत्रागताः सुराः सर्वे हन्तुं दैत्यान्समुद्यताः । वारिताः काव्यमात्रापि जघ्नुस्तानाश्रमस्थितान्
There, all the gods arrived, intent on killing the demons; though restrained by Kāvya's mother, they struck those who dwelled in the hermitage.
हन्यमानान्सुरैर्दृष्ट्वा काव्यमातातिवेपिता । उवाच सर्वान्सनिद्रांस्तपसा वै करोम्यहम्
Seeing the demons being slain by the gods, Kāvya's mother trembled greatly and said to all, 'I will make you sleep by my austerity.'
इत्युक्त्वा प्रेरिता निद्रा तानागत्य पपात च । सेन्द्रा निद्रावशं याता देवा मूकवदास्थिताः
Having spoken thus, she sent forth sleep, which descended upon them; with Indra, the gods fell under the sway of sleep and stood as if mute.